Holidays to Asia

Holidays to Asia: escorted travel across Asia for the over-50s

Holidays to Asia is a UK-based tour operator that designs tailor-made and escorted trips to Asia for travellers over 50, departing from the UK and Ireland. The company presents itself as part of Halo Holidays and states that its parent group holds more than 4,500 verified reviews. Its catalogue is built around roughly 90 holidays, with itineraries graded by pace and a stated focus on comfort, culture and manageable daily schedules.

Bookings are covered by ATOL protection, issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, which the company describes as safeguarding customer money if it or any of its suppliers cease trading, with repatriation or a full refund in that event. It also advertises refundable deposits on most tours and interest-free monthly payments from £150 per month.

Destinations and tour formats

The destination list spans Bali and Indonesia, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, alongside Jordan, the Silk Road, the Maldives, Hong Kong and South Korea. Each country page groups several tours, with starting prices shown per destination — for example, from £1,795 for Bali, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and South Korea, from £1,895 for China, and from £1,995 for India, Japan, the Philippines, Jordan and the Silk Road. The Maldives starts at £2,295.

Two travel styles are offered. Private escorted tours include a dedicated guide and vehicle with no other travellers, while small-group tours cap participation at 10 to 12 guests. Every tour page labels which format applies.

Multi-country grand tours

The company markets a set of eight multi-centre "grand tours" combining two or three countries in a single journey. Its flagship example is an 18-night private escorted itinerary across India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, rated 4.9 from 41 reviews and priced from £2,295 per person, which links the Taj Mahal, Sigiriya and a Maldivian lagoon.

Sample itineraries and pricing

• Japan Classic: Tokyo, Kyoto & Beyond — 14 nights, private escorted, gentle pace, rated 5.0 from 78 reviews, from £2,295 per person.
• Thailand Classic: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket — 12 nights, private escorted, gentle pace, rated 4.9 from 127 reviews, from £2,195 per person.
• Vietnam North to South: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An & Saigon — 14 nights, private escorted, moderate pace, rated 4.9 from 118 reviews, from £2,295 per person.

Pacing and accessibility

Planning is described as mobility-aware: guides are briefed on uneven surfaces, long temple walks and altitude before clients arrive. Hotels are presented as personally vetted for firm mattresses, good lighting, walk-in showers and ground-floor options where required.

The operator also lists dedicated travel styles for solo travellers, multi-generational family groups, luxury trips with five-star hotels and business-class flights, multi-centre routes and accessibility-first holidays.

Milestone celebrations

A separate line of business covers celebratory trips: 60th, 70th and 80th birthdays, golden and ruby anniversaries (25, 40 or 50 years), retirement adventures and bucket-list journeys. Suggested destinations for these occasions include Japan, Bhutan, Vietnam, India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bali, Thailand, Nepal, Cambodia and China.

Support and logistics

The company provides on-trip support via WhatsApp, described as a real person available day or night for issues such as delayed flights or medical questions. Logistics handled on the client's behalf include rail passes, domestic flights, visas, transfers and guides. A free planning guide for Asia trips aimed at the over-50s is also offered.

On timing, the company notes that cherry blossom season in Japan (late March to April) and autumn foliage (October to November) are peak periods, that Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia are best from November to March, India from October to March, and that Sri Lanka's south and west are strongest from December to April. It recommends booking three to six months ahead for most tours, and six to nine months for popular dates such as Japan's cherry blossom season.