TEMPLES & SHRINES · HISTORICAL TOURS

15 Ancient Site Tours to Book Around the World

51 tours  ·  from $13 a head

Every trip has one free morning too few. These 15 ancient site tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide quickly and get back to packing.

Bali: Tanah Lot UNESCO World Heritage Sites Full-Day Tour - Taman Ayun, the royal water temple
Bali Temple Tours, Full-Day, Historical Tours, Indonesia Temple Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Uluwatu & Tanah Lot Temple Tours

Bali: Tanah Lot UNESCO World Heritage Sites Full-Day Tour

1.Tanah Lot UNESCO World Heritage Sites Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,947 reviews · 10 hours · from $40Our pick

Join a small group of up to five with an English, French, or German-speaking guide such as Alit, Dewa, or Didik. Visit Taman Ayun, Ulun Danu Bratan, Jatiluwih, and Tanah Lot in an air-conditioned vehicle, with hotel pickup, entry options, water, and time for lunch.

“Made was an awesome guide! He was very patient and informative. He did not rush, what turned into a very long day! He was also a great photographer. I had him the next day for another tour and he showed up bright and ready for another long day! I would highly recommend this tour, and if possible requesting Made, you won't be disappointed.”

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2 Days Guided Historical Tour in Angkor - Day one begins before dawn at Angkor Wat
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2 Days Guided Historical Tour in Angkor

2.2 Days Guided Historical Tour in Angkor

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 855 reviews · from $35Top rated

Start at 4:30 a.m. for Angkor Wat’s sunrise, then visit Bayon, Ta Prohm, and other major temples with guides such as Sam, Sok, Vone, and Heang. Day two covers quieter sites including Ta Som, Neak Pean, and Preah Khan before sunset at Phnom Bakheng. Transport, water, and hotel pickup are included.

“unforgettable, we visited over 2 days with 2 different guides (Pheap and Sam) great. we visited this wonder at 4:30 in the morning (provide a flashlight) being French , we had difficulty understanding, maybe plan a Francophone guide , there were some French with usAuto-translated”

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Chiang Mai: Historic Temples and City Guided Walking Tour - Three Kings Monument and the Old City story
Chiang Mai Temple Tours, Guided, Historical Tours, Temple Tours, Temple Walking Tours, Temple Walking Tours in Chiang Mai, Temple Walking Tours in Thailand, Thailand Temple Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Chiang Mai: Historic Temples and City Guided Walking Tour

3.Historic Temples and City Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 650 reviews · 3 hours · from $21

Walk Chiang Mai’s Old City with an English-speaking local guide, visiting Wat Chiang Man, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Phan Tao, and Wat Chedi Luang. Expect a relaxed pace, useful temple context, a small group of up to 10, and practical food and café tips from guides such as Jen, Pun, and Danny.

“Having recently arrived in Chiang Mai it was a great introduction to the Old City, Buddhism and visit a few of the temples. Great for those who want a better understanding of the temples details. It was well worth the minimal price.”

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Mt. Fuji Heritage Tour: Traditional Villages, Lakes & Shrine - Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nenba and the Thatched Fuji View
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Mt. Fuji Heritage Tour: Traditional Villages, Lakes & Shrine

4.Mt. Fuji Heritage Tour: Traditional Villages, Lakes & Shrine

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 509 reviews · 10 hours · from $50

Spend 10 hours visiting Mt. Fuji highlights with guides such as Sia, Kazi, Wanting, or Alex. See a thatched village, Lake Kawaguchi, Chureito Pagoda, and Oshino Hakkai. The $50 price covers transport, guide, parking, and village admission, but not lunch.

“We did the Tour with Ms Feng on 19th Nov and I felt reassured from her eve's wsapp msge as regards precise photo of exact location of Tokyo Gakuen and her flag pole with the plush. She was very rigorous in terms of security checks & gave very precise & pertinent explanation on each of the locations to be visited. My wife & I highly appreciated the tour and the high level competency of the guide. I highly recommend a tour guide with her, specially for first timers.”

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Malta: Prehistoric Temples, Limestone Heritage & Blue Grotto - Limestone Heritage: Malta explained through its stone
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Malta: Prehistoric Temples, Limestone Heritage & Blue Grotto

5.Malta: Prehistoric Temples, Limestone Heritage & Blue Grotto

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 412 reviews · 4 hours · from $41

Visit the Limestone Heritage Park, UNESCO-listed Ħaġar Qim, and Malta’s Blue Grotto with a local guide such as Anna, Maria, or Mary. You get hotel transport, site entry, and a compact look at Malta’s stone, archaeology, and coast. The boat ride costs extra and depends on weather.

“I loved the boat trip to the Blue Grotto. I had taken a boat trip to Comino and Gozo the day before and was wondering if it would be worth to do this one but glad I did. Since Marsaxlokk seems to be in that area of the island it would be great to have a combined trip there. Thoug the length of the tour would have to be extended. The guide Mary made the tour much more enjoyable with her clear passionate explanations about archeology. In archeological sites I feel one loses a lot going alone. With Mary I learned a lot of details that I would otherwise miss…”

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Day Trip From Addis Ababa See Historical Monastery,Stunning Nature,Animals,Birds - Walking toward the Portuguese Bridge
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Day Trip From Addis Ababa See Historical Monastery,Stunning Nature,Animals,Birds

6.Day Trip From Addis Ababa See Historical Monastery,Stunning Nature,Animals,Birds

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 303 reviews · from $90

Leave Addis Ababa for Debre Libanos, a cliffside monastery linked to Saint Tekle Haymanot, then hike toward the Portuguese Bridge and Blue Nile Gorge. Guides such as Sisay, Yihun, or Freaw lead the day, with Ethiopian lunch, coffee, transport, and entrance fees included. Gelada sightings depend on season and location.

“Excellent trip and driver. Rift Valley and Portuguese bridge stunning. Great to see outside of abbiss Freya driver was great and provided lots of information”

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From Tokyo: Nikko World Heritage Site Private Full-Day Trip - A luxury vehicle makes the long day easier
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From Tokyo: Nikko World Heritage Site Private Full-Day Trip

7.Nikko World Heritage Site Private Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 243 reviews · 1 day

Spend a private day in Nikko with an English-speaking driver, hotel pickup, and a luxury Toyota, Lexus, or Land Cruiser. See Toshogu Shrine, Rinno-ji, Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji, and mountain views. Guides such as Jagroop, Hamza, and Haroon are praised for careful driving and flexible pacing.

“traffic getting out of Tokyo we should have left earlier to avoid some traffic we lost time from our trip. Perhaps emphasize the importance of getting an early start.”

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Beijing Historical Tour II including Summer Palace, Lama Temple & Panda Garden - Lama Temple and the 18-meter sandalwood Buddha
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Beijing Historical Tour II including Summer Palace, Lama Temple & Panda Garden

8.Beijing Historical Tour II including Summer Palace, Lama Temple & Panda Garden

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 187 reviews · from $93

See Beijing’s Lama Temple, Summer Palace and Panda Garden with hotel pickup, lunch, admission and an English-speaking guide. Guides such as William, Mary and Cathy have earned strong praise, but extra shopping stops and a possible boat fee can change the pace and cost.

“It was nice and fun. Explored some highlights of Beijing with an informative tourguide. I really enjoyed it”

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“Porto: Fado Show with Guided Tour in a Historic Monastery” - The music: traditional, close, and emotional
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“Porto: Fado Show with Guided Tour in a Historic Monastery”

9.“Porto: Fado Show with Guided Tour in a Historic Monastery”

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 164 reviews · 1h 30m · from $15Best value

Join a local guide at São Bento da Vitória Monastery, then hear one hour of Fado with a singer, Portuguese guitar, and Fado viola. Your 90-minute visit includes Port wine and a tasting of Singeverga liqueur made by Benedictine monks. The tour is offered in English, Portuguese, or Spanish.

“Good to see a traditional Fado show. Would’ve been helpful to know a bit more about the sone & what it was about.”

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Tokyo: Nikko World Heritage Private Day Trip Hotel Pick-up - The long ride from Tokyo to Nikko
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Tokyo: Nikko World Heritage Private Day Trip Hotel Pick-up

10.Nikko World Heritage Private Day Trip Hotel Pick-up

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 145 reviews · 11 hours - 1 day

Travel from Tokyo to Nikko in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with a chauffeur-guide such as Sarfraz, Sarfy, or Hamza Ali. Visit Toshogu Shrine, Shinkyo Bridge, Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji, Narabi Jizo, and possibly Edo Wonderland, with route changes based on your interests.

“Great day Fahed try his best to give me the great joy! It was an unforgettable day for me”

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Kamakura Historical Walking Tour with the Great Buddha - Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and the customs of Kamakura
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Kamakura Historical Walking Tour with the Great Buddha

11.Kamakura Historical Walking Tour with the Great Buddha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 129 reviews · from $98

Spend about five hours walking and hiking through Kamakura with a certified MagicalTrip guide. Sample street food, visit Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Hasedera, and the Great Buddha, then see Yuigahama Beach. The group is capped at seven, with temple lunch, entrance fees, snacks, and photos included.

“Great tour with Isao (Isaac)! Enjoyed the town of kamakura and learning the history of the shrines/temples.”

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Private Half-Day Temples and Cultural Tour in Kuala Lumpur - Thean Hou Temple and its painted details
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Private Half-Day Temples and Cultural Tour in Kuala Lumpur

12.Private Half-Day Temples and Cultural Tour in Kuala Lumpur

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 125 reviews · from $35

Spend four hours with a private driver-guide visiting Batu Caves, Masjid Negara, Thean Hou Temple, a Sikh gurdwara, and Petaling Street. You get hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, and a flexible route. Guides such as Aru, Louis, Raj, and Kaila have been praised for clear explanations and friendly service.

“This was a great tour, there was no rush everything is perfectly timed. And all the site is a must see.”

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Beijing Historical Tour I - Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square & Temple of Heaven - The Forbidden City: the reason to reserve early
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Beijing Historical Tour I – Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square & Temple of Heaven

13.Beijing Historical Tour I – Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square & Temple of Heaven

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 120 reviews · from $93

Start with Tiananmen Square, enter the Forbidden City, and visit the Temple of Heaven on a seven-hour Beijing coach tour. English-speaking guides such as Mary, Jenny, and Cherry have earned high praise, but shopping stops and ticket problems can affect the day. Lunch, admissions, and central hotel pickup are included.

“Mary was fantastic. She is a wealth of knowledge and history. Now I need to get some books to learn more about the stories She told.”

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Gyeongju: UNESCO Heritage Tour Including Bulguksa Temple - Gyochon Village and the Gyeongju Choi Clan home
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Gyeongju: UNESCO Heritage Tour Including Bulguksa Temple

14.Gyeongju: UNESCO Heritage Tour Including Bulguksa Temple

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 104 reviews · 8 hours · from $189

Spend eight hours exploring Gyeongju with an English-speaking guide such as Sue or Steve. Visit Bulguksa, Seokguram Grotto, royal tombs, Cheomseongdae, Wolji Pond, and Gyochon Village, with lunch, entrance fees, and hotel pickup included.

“Sue and Mr Joe were excellent at their jobs ie making clients feel comfortable and learn about the history of the Shillo dynasty. We also saw how tourism hit the area from 1979s to Modern day with very busy traffic today. Lunch was excellent.”

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Bangkok: Backstreets and Historic Temples Bike Tour - Crossing the Chao Phraya on the Rama VIII Bridge
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Bangkok: Backstreets and Historic Temples Bike Tour

15.Backstreets and Historic Temples Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 98 reviews · 4 hours · from $39

Ride 15 kilometers through Bangkok’s lanes, canals, temples, and local neighborhoods with an English-speaking guide. You’ll cross the Rama VIII Bridge, explore Bangkok Noi, visit Baan Bu’s bronze-working area, take a local ferry, and finish near the Giant Swing. Guides such as Max, Bett, and Seen have earned strong praise.

“I did this tour the first morning that I arrived in Bangkok, and I’m so glad that I did. Bett (my guide) was so kind and knowledgeable. I hadn’t been able to get breakfast before we started so we stopped at the market so I could eat some things on the way. The roads were definitely narrow at times, but he was so great at making sure I was always behind, and that I was comfortable. I would never have been able to see as much of Bangkok as I did without this tour. Thank you! Highly recommend!”

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Angkor Wat Tours164Uluwatu & Tanah Lot Temple Tours108Grand Palace & Wat Pho Tours83Fushimi Inari Shrine Tours51Temple Sunrise Tours107Temple Tours1718
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Temples by kind

Sunrise, sunset, on foot or by tuk-tuk.

The big ones

Angkor WatBorobudur & PrambananUluwatu & Tanah LotGrand Palace & Wat PhoFushimi Inari

Time of day

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How you go

Private GuidesHotel PickupTemples & WaterfallsMonkey ForestWater Temples

Beyond Asia

Karnak & the KingsAbu Simbel & PhilaeAcropolisMeteoraRila Monastery