Top 25 Things to Do in Asia: 2011 Viator Travel Awards

Get ready for the Top 25 Things to Do in Asia!

Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Viator Travel Awards, an annual awards competition where we let our travelers select the top things to do and see in each of the major regions we serve, as well as the top things to do in our most popular tour categories. The awards culminate in the Viator Top Travel Destinations and our annual list of the world’s most travel-inspiring attractions.

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Welcome to the 2011 Viator Travel Awards: Asia Edition! We’ve combined input from traveler reviews and photos, data from the millions of travelers who visit Viator.com each year, plus data on which tours generated the most bookings in 2011, in order to crown the Top 25 Things to Do in Asia in 2011!

#25. Experience a Tea Ceremony

Full of great sights and experiences, the Tokyo Tower, Tea Ceremony and Sumida River Cruise Day Tour by Viator packs in the most of what Tokyo has to offer. Enjoy a cruise on the Sumida River or explore the Asakusa Kannon Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, it is all organized in one unforgettable day for you.

#24. Sightsee in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur may be known as a layover destination to some, but the true explorer will tell you Malaysia is full of worthwhile gems, including KL! The Kuala Lumpur Grand Full-Day Tour including Lunch private tour gives you the best opportunity to see it all, stopping at the National Museum, Batu Caves and of course, Petronas Twin Towers.

#23. Discover Malacca

The Historical Malacca Full-Day Tour from Kuala Lumpur including Lunch gets you to the oldest trading port in Malaysia. Get a close look at St Paul’s Hill and the famous gateway of St Paul’s Church.

#22. Dine Aboard the Singapore Flyer

View from the Singapore Flyer

Singapore Flyer Sky Dining, by Viator, is a 90-minute luxury fine-dining experience atop the world’s largest observation wheel. The apple of many a-visitors eyes when in beautiful Singapore, this family-friendly experience is an Asia tour not worth missing.

#21. Day Trip to Nikko National Park

Get out to the scenic countryside and shrines of the famous Nikko National Park. With the Viator day trip from Tokyo see Toshogu Shrine, Irohazaka and even have a nice Japanese lunch at a local restaurant.

#20. Explore the Mekong Delta

One of the most famous bodies of water in the world, a trip to Vietnam must include time spent at the Mekong Delta. With the Mekong Delta Discovery Small Group Adventure Tour from Ho Chi Minh City, you are only a short distance away from the exotic and narrow corridors of a scenic wonderment that is Southeast Asia.

#19. Watch the Symphony of Lights

Truly eye candy, the Symphony of Lights Hong Kong Harbor Night Cruise takes synchronized light shows to another level. Cruise Hong Kong‘s Victoria Harbor and see a full-on skyscraper light show, with music and commentary–a hi-tech evening, in a hi-tech city.

#18. Tour Picturesque Chinese Towns

Zhouzhuang Water Village

Taking the Suzhou and Zhouzhuang Water Village Day Trip from Shanghai, you get to see two great picturesque towns for the price of one. See how daily life in these old and majestic towns has remained unchanged over centuries, visiting its magnificent gardens, and quaint streets.

#17. Take a Boat to Ayutthaya

A wonderfully cultural in Thailand should include a trip to the Ayutthaya Temples. Going through the ancient capital of Siam via riverboat through Viator’s Thailand’s Ayutthaya Temples and River Cruise from Bangkok, see Wat Mahathat and Buddha’s head entwined in tree roots as you get acquainted with one of Asia’s most storied cultures.

#16. Visit Sentosa Island

Singapore Sentosa Island Afternoon Trip is a great way to see the most relaxing resort around. Take a cable car through the scenic wonder of island haven, while pink dolphins play at the lagoon and the diverse and beautiful underwater beneath awaits your arrival.

#15. Take a Sunset Cruise in Hong Kong

An absolutely romantic oriental delight, taking the Hong Kong Sunset Cruise plus Dinner at the Jumbo Floating Restaurant is the perfect way to woo a loved one in the pearl of Asia. Watch as the city lights up on your cruise as you enjoy unlimited drinks and a 9-course Chinese dinner.

Vibrant and exciting, on the Singapore Chinatown Trishaw Night Tour or the Singapore by Night Tour with Dinner at Clarke Quay, you can see what all the hubbub is about in Singapore. Take an unforgettable trishaw ride through the Night Market, night cruise by traditional bumboat and see a master calligrapher convert your name into Chinese characters at the Yong Gallery.

#13. Tour Hong Kong Island

Get yourself oriented with one of Asia’s best-known towns with the Hong Kong Island Half-Day Tour. Ride the Victoria Peak tram, see Panoramic views from atop Victoria Peak, and the Picturesque Repulse Bay all before noon.

#12. Experience Kyoto

The magic of Kyoto is undeniable. A historical and monumental destination for any Asia goer, with the Kyoto Full-Day Sightseeing Tour including Nijo Castle and Kiyomizu Temple, you get to all the major sights, as well as do a little shopping at the Kyoto Handicraft Center.

#11. Sightsee in Tokyo

One of Asia’s greatest cities, take what time you have in Tokyo, and use it wisely. With the Panoramic Tokyo Day Tour – Meiji Shrine, Asakusa Temple and Tokyo Bay Cruise, you’ll get to visit the country’s most famous Shinto shrine, see the Imperial Palace and take a nice cruise on the Tokyo Bay.

#10. Ride an Elephant in Bangkok

Ride an elephant in Thailand

When in Bangkok, all the stress of a busy city may leave you yearning for a little nature. With the Khao Yai National Park and Elephant Ride Day Trip from Bangkok you get the chance to sample indigenous fruits, see black bears and leopards and take an elephant ride through Pakchong Creek.

#9. Tour Guangzhou

In mainland China, Guangzhou has iconic sights of the city, a Chinese panda at the Safari Park, or Qin Dynasty Terracotta Warriors and Horses from Xi’an. For this, we recommend the Guangzhou (Canton) China Day Trip from Hong Kong.

#8. Sightsee in Singapore

As a main central business hub of Asia, Singapore may not seem as ideal a spot for visitors as you think, but it is. With the Singapore City Tour with optional Singapore Flyer or the See Singapore Attraction Pass, check out Chinatown’s ancient Thian Hock Keng Temple and handicraft center, Marina Bay, or the Thousands of colorful orchid species in the National Orchid Garden.

#7. Travel around Japan by Train

Japan is commonly at the top of most peoples what to do in Asia list, and it is no wonder. Seeing Mt Fuji, visiting Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Shrine and Deer Park or Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, with the Kyoto and Nara 2-Day or 3-Day Rail Tour by Bullet Train from Tokyo, you can have it all.

#6. Explore one of Asia’s Seven Wonders

The Taroko Gorge Full-Day Tour from Taipei you take a short plane trip one of the most impressive sights in the world. Travel through the tunnel of nine turns, see the eternal spring shrine, and visit a marble park.

#5. Travel to Macau

Giant Buddha on Lantau Island

Taking a trip to Macau is one of the most wonderful things to do in Asia. One of the oldest European settlements on the continent, with a Macau Day Trip from Hong Kong you can see the evocative ruins of the Old Fort and the famous St Paul Church.

#4. See the Giant Buddha on Lantau Island

Go to Hong Kong’s largest island via Viator’s Lantau Island and Giant Buddha Day Trip from Hong Kong and discover amazing beaches, wonderful valley’s beautiful mountains and spiritual enlightenment.

#3. Visit the Elephant Orphanage Sanctuary in Kuala Lumpur

Only 30 minutes from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Viator’s Elephant Orphanage Sanctuary Day Private Tour, gets you into the tropical forest for an up and close look at the elephants that have defined Asia for so many years. Feed, ride and experience the thrill of bathing the elephants and take a trip to an oil and rubber plantation.

#2. Tour the Singapore Zoo

As exotic as it gets, see the monkey’s of the Singapore Zoo with the Singapore Zoo Morning Tour with optional Jungle Breakfast and see first hand one of Viator’s top Asia tours, complete with a tour of the zoo’s beautiful grams by tram and Asia’s most majestic wildlife.

#1. Take a Bullet Train to Mt Fuji

Quite simply one of the greatest natural sights to visit on the globe, Japan’s hottest attraction, Mt Fuji is always a winner. With Viator’s Mt Fuji, Lake Ashi and Bullet Train Day Trip from Tokyo, you can cruise Lake Ashi enjoy the famous bullet train and of course, Mt Fuji. Also try the 2-Day Mt Fuji, Hakone and Bullet Train Tour from Tokyo and 2-Day Mt Fuji and Kyoto Rail Tour by Bullet Train from Tokyo.

We hope you enjoyed Viator’s list of the Top 25 Things to Do in Asia in 2011. Stay tuned for more lists in the coming days, to help you plan your next trip across the globe. Let us know what you think, tell us about your own travel experiences, and most important of all – happy travels in 2012!.

- Viator Travel Team