About Asialink Holidays

Asialink's story began in 1996, when Arjen started operating tours in Indonesia. For many travelers at the time, Indonesia was a place of incredible fascination, a country full of colour, culture, and contrasts. Bustling markets, volcanic landscapes, ancient temples, and island traditions created a destination that felt vibrant, raw, and endlessly interesting to explore.

Yet Indonesia was also a place that was not always easy to navigate for international visitors. Travel infrastructure was still developing, information was limited, and many of the most memorable experiences required local knowledge and trusted connections. To truly understand the country, its cultures, its rhythms, and its hidden places, travelers needed someone on the ground who knew how everything worked.

What drew us to Indonesia was the same sense of curiosity that has inspired many travelers and storytellers to explore the region, the richness of everyday life, the diversity between islands, and the authenticity that could be found in every encounter. It was a destination that rewarded those willing to look deeper.

From the beginning, Asialink focused on helping visitors experience Indonesia in a way that felt both seamless and authentic, combining reliable organization with local insight and creating journeys that revealed the true character of the country.

Asialink's growth beyond Indonesia began in 2006, following the remarkable success of our Indonesia operations with one of the Netherlands' leading tour operators. Encouraged by the results, the company asked whether we could replicate the same model in another Southeast Asian destination. Vietnam quickly stood out as the natural choice. Having only opened to international tourism roughly a decade earlier, the country was experiencing rapid growth and offered exciting new opportunities.

That same year, our first Vietnam office was established in Hanoi. The expansion was led by Arjen, together with Giang, who became the very first team member in the office. It was an exciting and pioneering time, laying the foundation for what would become one of our strongest destinations in the region.

In 2011, Asialink continued its regional expansion by entering Thailand through the acquisition of East West Siam Holidays, a well-established DMC that had been operating since the 1980s. Thailand also holds a special place in Arjen's personal story, as it was the first country where he worked as a tour leader in the late 1980s. With an experienced and passionate team already in place, the Thailand office quickly became an integral part of the Asialink network, continuing to welcome travelers from around the world.

Our people are at the heart of every journey we create. Across our destinations, our local guides and operations teams bring not only professional expertise, but also a genuine passion for sharing their home countries with travelers.

Many of our guides are trained in-house, ensuring they understand the Asialink approach to service, storytelling, and guest care. Beyond simply guiding tours, they share personal perspectives, cultural insights, and local knowledge that help travelers experience each destination in a deeper and more meaningful way.

What makes our team especially unique is their long-standing dedication. Many of our staff have been with Asialink for more than 15 years, having started their careers with us and grown within the company under the mentorship of senior team members. This continuity has created a strong culture of knowledge sharing, professionalism, and pride in the work we do.

Almost all of our team members are locals from the destinations we operate in. Their deep understanding of the culture, traditions, and everyday life of their home countries allows us to create travel experiences that feel authentic and personal.

We also encourage our team to continue exploring the world themselves. Whether through inspection trips or personal travel, this curiosity and passion for discovery helps them stay inspired and constantly refine the experiences we create for our guests.