At Highlights Travel (formerly Asia Highlights), we believe that the best journeys don't just take you to new places — they bring you closer to what truly matters: meaningful encounters, shared stories, and a deeper sense of place. Since 1998, we've been designing private, tailor-made trips across China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, with a focus on meaningful connection, cultural depth, and effortless travel. Our expert travel designers work one-on-one with each traveler, while our trusted local hosts open doors to authentic, personal experiences. With over 10,000 reviews and an outstanding 98.8% 5-star rating on platforms, our travelers consistently return with more than memories — they return with a deeper understanding. Our current journeys on Highlights Travel website focus on Southeast and South Asia, where vibrant cultures and meaningful moments await. Interested in China or Japan? Discover more curated journeys at China Highlights, Japan Highlights and Thailand Highlights — part of the Highlights Travel family.
Reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Consumers frequently highlight the exceptional staff, describing team members as professional, exceptionally polite, and incredibly quick to respond to every single inquiry. Travelers truly appreciate the dedicated support in creating wonderful, tailored holiday itineraries that perfectly match their specific desires and requirements.
However, some customers also noted that while the planning phase was wonderful, they were still awaiting the actual execution of their upcoming trips. People often mention looking forward to seeing how all the organized activities, expert guides, and recommended accommodations will actually perform during their upcoming adventures.
In our stay in Kyoto, Singing was a very pleasant guide. She would gather our group together before every activity to give a brief explanation/ introduction then let us enjoy the activity at our leisure, which was great because we could explore as we liked. She was always very polite and friendly! The deer park was my favorite!!
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Fergie,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so delighted to hear Singing was such a pleasant guide during your stay in Kyoto. We're especially pleased that her clear introductions allowed you to explore at your leisure and that her polite and friendly demeanor enhanced your experience. It's fantastic that you enjoyed the deer park so much!
Asia Highlights Team
Poli, our tour guide was amazing. He was very informative and flexible with the interests and needs of our group
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Aidan,
We're so pleased to hear Poli was an amazing tour guide for your group, and that you found him very informative and flexible with your interests and needs.
Asia Highlights Team
Kimura was a great guide! He is knowledgeable, patient, clear and funny! Our family group of 10 ranged in age from 8 months old to late 50s and we all enjoyed our time. There were many great views he showed us, he told us some Japanese history and always made sure we had a great photo for memories!
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Fergie,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're absolutely thrilled to hear Kimura was such a great guide for your family group, and that his knowledge, patience, clarity, and humor made your time so enjoyable, regardless of age. We're delighted he showed you many great views, shared Japanese history, and ensured you captured fantastic photos for your memories!
Asia Highlights Team
Aloha and Mahalo for all your help during our family trip to Japan kimura San is very knowledgeable with information about shrine and temples and great places too eat!!! He also has good English and was an amazing guide
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Korri,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're absolutely delighted to hear Kimura-san was an amazing guide and provided so much helpful information about shrines, temples, and great places to eat during your family trip to Japan. We're so pleased his knowledge and good English enhanced your experience!
Asia Highlights Team
This trip was my 2nd trip to Japan. I was happy to have our guide Kimura get us to our destination and learn a little bit of history throughout the way. He was very knowledgeable and very kind to me and my family, he was very outgoing and patient as well. He really took the time to teach us and help us learn and respect the traditions.
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so delighted to hear that on your second trip to Japan, Kimura made your experience so enjoyable. It's fantastic to know he was knowledgeable, kind, outgoing, and patient, taking the time to help you and your family learn and respect local traditions while getting you to your destinations.
Asia Highlights Team
Kimura was an awesome tour guide! Very friendly and knowledgeable. The tour was filled with great things to see but not too overloaded where it became too tiring. Would be a very challenging vacation without Kimura! Thank you!
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Mike,
We're absolutely thrilled to hear Kimura was an awesome tour guide and made your vacation so enjoyable. We're delighted his friendly demeanor and knowledge, combined with a perfectly paced itinerary, ensured you saw great things without feeling overloaded.
Asia Highlights Team
Am with my family, and Kimura is very helpful.and friendly. The tour was packed with fun things to do an see. Also gave enough free time to rest and enjoy doing our own things.
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Geny,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so delighted to hear you and your family had a fun-packed tour and that Kimura was very helpful and friendly. We're also pleased you had enough free time to rest and enjoy your own activities.
Asia Highlights Team
Susie in Chiang Mai was absolutely amazing. She listened to what we wanted to do and adjusted the itinerary perfectly. Her energy was amazing and cannot recommend her enough!
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Brooke,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're absolutely thrilled to hear Susie in Chiang Mai was amazing, and that her energy and ability to perfectly adjust the itinerary to your wishes made such a positive impact on your trip. We truly appreciate your high recommendation for her!
Asia Highlights Team
Susie is the best guide!! She made the trip so enjoyable and tailored it to what we wanted to do. We loved her!!
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Carli,
We're absolutely thrilled to hear Susie is the best guide and made your trip so enjoyable. We're delighted she tailored it perfectly to what you wanted to do, and we'll be sure to pass on your kind words to her!
Asia Highlights Team
Our next half of Japan trip was as easy breezy as the first one. We enjoyed the company of Singing He. She made all of the tours well planned and no issues. Our Kyoto and Osaka tour was perfect! Thank you. We are very happy.
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Theresa,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so delighted to hear the second half of your Japan trip was as easy and breezy as the first, and that your Kyoto and Osaka tour was perfect. We're thrilled that Singing He made all your tours well-planned and issue-free, and that you enjoyed her company so much!
Asia Highlights Team
Our hotel, Chatrium in Bangkok, was PERFECT. Our tour guide Tanny was awesome. She spoke perfect English and was super engaging.
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Lisa,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so delighted to hear your hotel, Chatrium in Bangkok, was perfect, and that your tour guide, Tanny, was awesome, speaking perfect English and being super engaging. We truly appreciate your kind words!
Asia Highlights Team
Dear Aidan,
Thank you for your review! We're so thrilled to hear you had an amazing time in Vietnam and that you had the best time.
Asia Highlights Team
Allan was really knowledgeable, enthusiastic and helpful throughout our trip in Tokyo and Fuji. He answered all our questions with great patience, was flexible where needed and gave great recommendations too. Despite our very rainy trip, we had a lovely time thanks to him! 😊
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear MM,
We're so delighted to hear Allan was a truly knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and helpful guide throughout your Tokyo and Fuji trip. We're especially pleased that his patience, flexibility, and great recommendations ensured you still had a lovely time, even with the rainy weather!
Asia Highlights Team
William, our Japan guide for Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Takayama, and Kanazawa, is superbly knowledgeable, so our every curiosity and question can be satisfied. He is capable; he is calm and easy to relate to. It was fun to banter with him during the long rides to locales or long walks to shrines, through extensive site grounds. Our group of four had a good time with him, and appreciated how he was flexible enough to provide us with his consistent pleasing presence over all those locations and their many diverse delights. Asia Highlights did a great service by providing us with best top guides for our Japan adventures.
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Kenneth,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're absolutely thrilled to hear your group had such a great time with William as your guide across Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Takayama, and Kanazawa. We're delighted his superb knowledge, calm demeanor, and flexible, pleasing presence satisfied your curiosities and made your long rides and walks through diverse locations so enjoyable and fun.
Asia Highlights Team
Memorable Time in Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Osaka
We had a wonderful time in the two small towns and two larger cities that Asia Highlights booked for us. Kaya Han was very very helpful in booking great interactive activities that enhanced our experience and knowledge. Also, our guide, William was thoughtful and considerate, helping on his initiative to help us board and debark from the bullet train. He also spent long days with us, taking time to show us the best of each site. We would definitely use Asia Highlights to plan and book our travels
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Pat,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so delighted to hear you had such a fantastic time in the towns and cities we booked for you. We're especially thrilled that Kaya Han was very helpful in enhancing your experience with great interactive activities, and that your guide, William, was so thoughtful and considerate, ensuring you saw the best of each site and even assisting with the bullet train. We truly appreciate your trust and look forward to helping you plan future travels!
Asia Highlights Team
Albee helped plan an incredible trip to Morocco. She was very professional and thoughtful by incorporating personal features for a trip. It is always a pleasure to work with Albee
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Bob,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that Albee helped plan an incredible trip to Morocco for you. We're delighted that you found her very professional and thoughtful in incorporating personal features, and it's fantastic to know it's always a pleasure to work with her!
Asia Highlights Team
Albee put together a great itinerary and we had a smooth and enjoyable 8-day family trip to Japan. We visited Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Hiroshima. Best part of Tokyo: make your own ramen and museums (National Museum and team lab Borderless). Best part of Kyoto: Tea with Geisha, sake brewery and Hotel Gracery (great locale and near lots of good food). Best part of Hakone: boat and cable car ride in the park was very scenic and Yoshiike Ryokan was an adventure (lovely spacious rooms. Beautifully and artfully presented set menu dinner - not for picky eaters but a fun adventure!)
Highlights Travel 回复2025-06-13
Dear Wendy,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're absolutely delighted to hear that Albee put together such a great itinerary for your smooth and enjoyable 8-day family trip to Japan. We're so pleased you highlighted memorable experiences like making ramen, enjoying tea with a Geisha, the scenic Hakone rides, and the adventurous Yoshiike Ryokan, truly appreciating the diverse delights of Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Hiroshima.
Asia Highlights Team
The tour guide was amazing and showed us a lot! Kimura was wonderful and the best tour guide! The tokyo experience was perfect!
Highlights Travel 回复2025-05-27
That's absolutely wonderful to hear! We're thrilled that your tour guide was amazing and showed you so much of Tokyo. It's fantastic that you found Kimura to be wonderful and the best tour guide, making your Tokyo experience perfect! We appreciate your enthusiastic feedback!
Very personal guide Kimura was very kind and helpful! Showed us all of the amazing sites and gave us very helpful information. Excellent tour guide! The food experience was amazing, took us to the best spots and was very funny!
Highlights Travel 回复2025-05-27
We're so glad that Kimura was such a personal, kind, and helpful guide for you. It sounds like he did an excellent job showing you all the amazing sites, providing helpful information, and making the food experience amazing with his great restaurant choices and humor! We appreciate your wonderful feedback about him!
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