Casting your eyes on Mount Fuji for the first time, feeling the buzz of bustling Bangkok, or standing in the rice terraces of northern Vietnam are all incredible moments to savor East Asia – but what makes these bucket-list experiences special? Travel is about more than just seeing the sights – it’s learning about new cultures, connecting with locals, and finding the essence of a place and its traditions.
It’s why on every Trafalgar trip we include a Be My Guest experience, where our guests join a local family for lunch or dinner. But these moments are about more than the meal itself. It’s a chance to gain insight into the daily lives of locals, learn about local traditions, and feel more deeply connected to the place and culture.
From visiting a tea plantation to tasting Northern Thai cuisine, we’re diving into four Be My Guest experiences you can join on our East Asia tours. Which family do you want to meet?
Visit a traditional Japanese tea plantation for lunch
On Day 6 of Trafalgar’s Classic Japan tour you’ll be exploring Nara, Japan’s first permanent capital that’s a gem of ancient culture and architecture. Here you’ll ‘Connect With Locals’ during a special Be My Guest lunch that takes you to a local tea plantation where the farmer and his family welcome you into their home.
Sit down together for a home-cooked flavor-packed meal and hear firsthand about their lives as tea farmers and the art of tea cultivation. You’ll learn everything about the art of tea growing, from leaf to cup, and savor freshly brewed high-quality Japanese tea grown right there on the property. Finally, take a walk through the verdant rows of tea bushes and take photos with the stunning green landscape.
After this delicious and educational look at a cherished Japanese tradition you’ll continue to the city of Nara where historic temples, one of Japan’s largest bronze statues of Buddha, and the deer-filled Nara Park await.
Meet the Sawangijt family in Northern Thailand
Get ready for a proper peek into Thai life on Day 9 of Trafalgar’s Treasures of Thailand tour. First, you’ll visit Wat Suan Dok, a beautiful temple with a magnificent golden chedi in the middle of Chiant Mai. Here you’ll meet a local monk and learn about the principles of Buddhism.
After, head out to a small village where you’ll join the Saiwangjit family for an authentic lunch experience. This local family in Northern Thailand live in a wooden Thai stilt house, and with this East Asia Be My Guest experience you’ll sit down for a feast of dishes specific to Northern Thailand while learning about how and why people here built stilt homes from wood.
Explore Vietnam’s former Royal Empire in Hue
Step aboard a traditional dragon boat for a journey along the Perfume River of Hue on Day 8 of Trafalgar’s Highlights of Vietnam tour. This exclusive boat ride drops us at the historic residence of former Princess Ngoc Son. Here one of her descendants (most likely the historian Phan Thuan An) awaits to share their story during a Be My Guest lunch.
This special historic residence is one of Hue’s few distinguished garden houses. It has been preserved by the same family for seven generations – since Emperor Dong Khanh gave the princess the land when she married. The walls are adorned with historic artifacts that share insights into their heritage and the time of Vietnam’s Royal Empire. You’ll learn about the empire, Hue’s fascinating past and the family as you feast on a meal of traditional Hue specialties.
Village lunch with a local family in Malaysia
On Day 4 of Trafalgar’s Highlights of Singapore & Malaysia tour you’ll leave Singapore behind and head to Malaysia. First stop: Kampung Cantik village to Connect With Locals. Your first taste of Malaysia will be a Be My Guest lunch with a local family. Here you’ll enjoy a feast of regional dishes that make the most of local spices, fruits and produce.
After lunch, a Local Specialist will lead a walk around the village. You’ll admire the distinct Malacca kampong stilt houses and learn about how the villagers live. Pass by gardens with aromatic herbs such as lemongrass and curry leaves. Look for seasonal fruits such as durian or mangosteen – all used in the local cuisine. Finally, you’ll have a chance to experience local culture. Learn some pastimes such as top spinning and silat, a Malaysian art of self-defence.
Join these Be My Guest experiences on our East Asia tours. Let us know in the comments which family you want to meet?