Our Southeast Asia Travel Specialists

Overall, very pleased, with some challenges and hiccups along the way. We gave Zicasso’s travel specialist the general parameters of our trip request and received a very detailed itinerary suggestion, which we adjusted as needed. Our travel specialist was also able to offer very helpful recommendations and suggestions. We had many requested places to visit in a short amount of time. Our travel company put together an itinerary that made sense and that worked for us.
Excellent Tour Guides: Our guides in Tokyo and Hakone, in Osaka, on the Osaka night tour, and in Hiroshima were excellent! They were kind, respectful, and knowledgeable, and did a really good job making sure we were all accounted for, asking if we were doing OK and if we needed bathroom stops. It was impressive that they were able to move us along on our tour to see all that was promised, while not making us feel rushed.
Tour Guide, Not Good: Our guide in Kyoto kind of abandoned one group of us when he had the taxi drop us off at a spot near the second temple stop. He followed with the rest of our group in a different taxi, but he didn’t look for our group and headed straight up to the temple without us. After much confusion and walking while trying to find him, my sister and I decided not to make the walk to the temple because of difficulty walking. He said: you have the itinerary and knew which temple we were going to. Really?! The temple was so crowded that no one went in. My sister and her husband decided not to finish the tour and took a taxi back to the hotel. This tour was a lot of walking and not the best fit for our group of seniors. I would have preferred to visit less traveled, less busy temples and spots in Kyoto.
One slight hiccup was when I requested an 11am pickup instead of 1pm from our hotel to Haneda on the day of our departure. I thought it was set for the 11am pickup. It was not. After talking with the local contact from our travel company, we were able to get picked up around 12:30pm. This was one detail that our travel company said was received well in advance of our departure from the States, but never confirmed back with an itinerary change. And it was one I never followed up on. Lesson learned: don’t assume your plans are confirmed, always follow up.
The self-guide app was extremely helpful, and one that we referred to often to guide us on our trip. However, some details not in the self-guide app were in the second app. It was confusing to have to go back and forth to double-check things. One situation was with our Osaka to Kyoto pickup. By mistake we read in the self-guide app that the pickup time would be 11am, but that was the start time of our Kyoto tour! You have to go to the second app to see the pickup time was 9:00am. As a result, we were 30 minutes late getting to the start of our Kyoto Cultural tour!

We had a fantastic trip to Vietnam! Zicasso’s travel specialist put together a great itinerary, communicated well throughout the planning process, and was supportive during the trip. We would definitely use the tour company again.

I really enjoyed this trip. The vacation was carefully planned by Zicasso's travel specialist and I appreciated the flexibility during the trip as well. For example, when our guide learned that a temple was closed on the day I was scheduled to visit, he modified my itinerary to make sure I would be able to see the temple the next day. I really appreciated that foresight!

The trip was fabulous and the itinerary by Zicasso’s travel company was excellent. Our travel specialist and the team went above and beyond in making sure we had a fabulous time and that everything worked out better than we hoped for.
When my wife and I each got sick on different days, they rescheduled our planned activity for when we got better, making sure we did not miss anything. And when a local concert made our hotel room loud, they spoke to the hotel and got us an upgrade, and moved us to a room away from the noise, so we were undisturbed. They really went all out to ensure we had a good time.

My son and I recently completed an incredible three-week journey through India, Nepal, and Bhutan with Zicasso’s travel company, and I can confidently say it was one of the most seamless and enriching travel experiences I’ve ever had.
From the very beginning, their team demonstrated exceptional attention to detail and deep knowledge of the region. Planning a multi-country itinerary covering Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, Kathmandu, Chitwan National Park, and Paro could have been overwhelming, but the travel company made the entire process smooth and stress-free. They were highly responsive, flexible with customization, and clearly experienced in handling complex itineraries. They checked in with us regularly via WhatsApp.
Each destination was thoughtfully curated. In India, we explored the vibrant contrasts of Delhi, celebrated Holi in Agra, and experienced an unforgettable sunrise at the Taj Mahal. Jaipur was equally special, where we stayed in a beautiful heritage hotel and enjoyed a memorable cooking lesson led by the current owner, the great-grandson of the founder. Exploring the colorful spice markets added another rich cultural layer to our time there. Another highlight was visiting an elephant sanctuary. We were introduced to a 52-year-old elephant named Pinky who was rescued from a circus. Feeding and bathing her was an experience I’ll never forget.
Varanasi was a deeply moving experience. The sunrise boat ride on the Ganges, watching locals and pilgrims perform sacred rituals along the riverbanks, was both peaceful and powerful. The travel company ensured we had knowledgeable local guides who helped us truly understand the spiritual significance of these moments.
In Nepal, Kathmandu offered a fascinating blend of history, culture, and personal connection. Highlights included a private meeting with a Buddhist monk, visiting stunning temples and stupas, and a wonderful hands-on experience making momos with a local family. What truly elevated our time there was our guide, whose deep knowledge and thoughtful explanations of both Hindu and Buddhist rituals and beliefs gave us a much richer understanding of everything we were seeing.
Chitwan National Park was another unforgettable highlight. During our time there, we saw an incredible variety of wildlife. Many of the animals were with their babies: rhinos, bears, gaur, deer, and monkeys. We even came across a wild elephant on our way out of the park! The jungle safaris were expertly organized and surpassed any expectations we had. The accommodations were both comfortable and well integrated into the natural surroundings.
Bhutan was the perfect finale to the trip. Paro’s breathtaking landscapes and serene monasteries were arranged flawlessly, and the logistics of entering and traveling within Bhutan were handled expertly, which is something that can often be complicated. My son was able to hike the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, which has long been on his wishlist and it did not disappoint.
What stood out most was the consistency of service throughout the trip. Every transfer, hotel, guide, and activity was well-coordinated. We always felt supported, safe, and well taken care of, no matter where we were. The guides were not only knowledgeable, but also genuinely warm and engaging, adding so much depth to the experience.
Overall, I highly recommend the travel company to anyone considering a multi-destination trip in South Asia. Their professionalism, local expertise, and commitment to creating meaningful travel experiences truly set them apart. This was a once-in-a-lifetime journey made unforgettable by an outstanding team.

Zicasso's travel company planned a wonderful trip that covered the highlights of what I was interested in for the cities I chose: Beijing, Xi'an, Chongqing, and Chengdu.
The guides in each city were all wonderful and prepared. They spoke English more than well enough to communicate the history and culture of each. They also provided wonderful suggestions in terms of activities and food for when the tours were done and remained open for communication.
All in all, China was a wonderful time, and our travel company made it easy to travel to.

I decided to go on my first solo international vacation this year and I could not have had a more amazing trip, thanks to Zicasso's travel specialist and the travel company! He took so much care in putting together my itinerary and making sure it included everything I wanted. Everything was very detailed, organized, and easy to understand. His communication was great and he even stayed in touch during my trip in case there were any issues. I had a phenomenal experience overall!

We had a well-organized itinerary, with great guides, great drivers, and a comfortable van. Hotels booked were also great.