Looking for a fresh way to explore Asia that goes beyond the obvious? Intrepid’s latest batch of new trips and experiences for the year ahead have you covered.
Ready to try something new? From living with reindeer herders in Mongolia to eating your way around India and trying your hand at traditional crafts in Japan and Korea, Intrepid’s new adventures in Asia get you straight to the heart of local cultures and communities.
1. Create traditional crafts in Japan
The Premium Highlights of Japan trip is getting an upgrade. In 2026, you’ll learn about the art of Kyo-yuzen. In a traditional house in Kyoto, local craftspeople will teach you all about the 17th-century textile dyeing technique used for kimonos, yukatas and more – and you can try your hand at making a unique souvenir to take home.
2. Live with reindeer herders in Mongolia
The modern world is changing faster than ever – but in northern Mongolia, you’ll find the nomadic Tsaatan reindeer herders embracing a traditional way of living. Intrepid’s new Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders trip will take you into their world for three days (and nights), where you’ll live off the land, share meals together and get an authentic glimpse into a totally different way of life as part of this homestay experience.
3. Immerse yourself in Korean traditions
Making memories with your family is one of the best parts of travelling, and on Intrepid’s updated South Korea Family Holiday, you’ll get a chance to do just that. New experiences added for 2026 include visiting a traditional Korean folk village and spending time at a temple where you’ll share tea, craft a Buddhist bracelet and hear folk tales from a monk.
4. Discover a secret language in China
For centuries, women in China’s rural Hunan Province found freedom and kinship by communicating with each other in the world’s only known writing system created exclusively for women: Nushu. On Intrepid’s new Southern China Highlights: Hong Kong to Shanghai trip you’ll head to Changsha to meet a Nushu expert who’ll guide you through the history of this UNESCO-protected language. You’ll even get a chance to craft your own message in the ancient script.
Read more: Learn about a secret language in China
5. Visit ancient burial sites in Indonesia
On the new Indonesia Expedition: Sulawesi & Toraja Tribes trip you’ll get first-hand experience of life in some of Indonesia’s hill-tribe villages. Trek through bamboo forests and rice paddies, stay with a family in a traditional Tongkonan house and visit their largest burial site, where you’ll learn about their ancestral beliefs. In Puntondo, you’ll also meet local fishermen and see how they’re working to conserve the region’s mangroves and seaweed.
6. Meet a female sake brewer in Japan
Trying sake, the Japanese rice wine that’s one of the country’s most famous exports, is a quintessential experience. On the revamped Japan: Land of the Rising Sun trip, you’ll travel to Hagi, where you’ll meet a woman who is breaking barriers after taking leadership of her family’s sake business. Sample her wares before staying with a local family who’ll teach you how to cook Japanese comfort food.
7. Take a street-food tour in India
One of the best ways to get to know a place is through its food. On the Premium India trip, there’s a new experience designed to fill your plate and get you closer to local culture. On a street-food tour around the holy city of Banaras, you’ll indulge in hot samosas, sip on refreshing lassi drinks and try chaat – the mouthwatering, crunchy snack that Banara’s known for – while getting to know more about this ancient city.
8. Support turtle conservation in Bali
A new experience on the Bali Family Holiday with Teenagers trip allows families to give back by helping local wildlife. In Sanur, you and the kids will visit a local non-profit that’s working to end the illegal turtle trade. You’ll tour the centre to see how the organisation is rehabilitating turtles and releasing hatchlings back into the wild.
9. Trek and unwind in Nepal
Trekking through the Himalayas may sound daunting but on Intrepid’s new Premium Hiking and Trekking in Nepal trip, the experience is more accessible than ever. Assail a spectacular section of the iconic Annapurna Range, where you’ll get to experience the peaks without getting too exhausted. After each day on the trails, snuggle up with a hot-water bottle in high-standard lodges with scenic mountain views and ensuite bathrooms – a rarity in this part of the world.
10. Eat your way through China
From fiery hotpot in Sichuan to Cantonese dim sum in Hong Kong, you’ll want to bring your appetite on the new China Real Food Adventure, which will introduce you to some of the country’s finest delicacies. Perhaps the best bit? Being welcomed into a local couple’s home in Xi’an, where you’ll get to take part in a fun, hands-on, noodle-making demonstration. After, dig into a delicious dinner cooked by your hosts.
Read more: 14 new food adventures for 2026
11. Set sail through Raja Ampat
The Raja Ampat archipelago is home to some of Indonesia’s most beautiful islands. Set sail between them on the new Indonesia Sailing Adventure: Raja Ampat trip. You’ll travel on a traditional Phinisi-style boat that’s decked out with all the extras, including a Jacuzzi. See what island life is like at local villages, kick back on sundrenched beaches and snorkel among kaleidoscopic fish and sea turtles in their coral-garden habitat.
12. Stay in a traditional village in the Philippines
Make your way through the Philippines on the new Essential Philippines trip for 18 to 35s. Practise your SUP-yoga skills on the Loboc River, before heading into Loboc Village where you’ll get to work and learn how to make a ‘nipa’ roof out of locally sourced materials. Sip on some coconut wine and learn Kuradang, the traditional dance of this area, with your new friends.
13. Walk with purpose in Sri Lanka
Walk a section of Sri Lanka’s scenic Pekoe Trail as part of a new sustainable tourism experience on the Essential Sri Lanka trip for 18 to 35s. The 300 km+ long-distance walking route spans remote villages, tea plantations and incredible viewpoints, allowing you to get to know local culture, food and people while travelling on foot and giving back to rural communities.
14. Embark on a culinary adventure in Thailand
Savour the sweet, sour, savoury and spicy flavours of Thai cuisine with a feast of new experiences on the Thailand Real Food Adventure. Head to Phichit, a destination that’s known for dishes like tom yam gai and wing-bean spicy salad. And hang out with Chef Kosin, a former Intrepid leader who now works at his family-run restaurant, Rosyiam Beef Noodles – one of the best beef-noodle spots in Chiang Mai.
Find out what else is new for 2026 with The Goods – a collection of new trips and experiences to inspire a year of adventure.
