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Heidi Li

As a travel advisor, I love traveling at home and abroad. I traveled to 14 countries and most destinations in Japan, which helps me better understand different cultures and travelers’ expectation. You can rely on me to customize a unique tour for you. Our private tour will lead you to explore the stunning scenery and hidden history.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialize in the itinerary throughout Japan, Southeast Asia, and Japan, offering you valuable insights and services that will unlock the treasures of these destinations for you."

How did you get involved in travel?

"Ever since I was young, I have had a deep passion for traveling. As I grew older, it became a natural choice for me to pursue a career in the tourism industry. I firmly believe that travel holds the key to unlocking valuable insights and knowledge. Each journey I embark upon is an opportunity for me to."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"This journey to Chengdu was not only my first solo trip but also a turning point in my life. As I embarked on this adventure, I was determined to leave my comfort zone and step into the unknown. With a mix of carefully planned activities and ample free time, I hoped to immerse myself in the culture of this intriguing city. During my time in Chengdu, I had the opportunity to visit magnificent temples, experience the joy of witnessing pandas up close at the panda base, and indulge in the local specialty of street hot pot. Additionally, I had a serene moment at a teahouse where I shared cups of tea with the welcoming locals. It was during these casual encounters that I engaged in conversations that unveiled the hidden facets of Chengdu's customs, history, and culture. These interactions not only enriched my travel experience but also broadened my perspective. Exploring Chengdu on my own allowed me to push boundaries and discover things I had never known before. It taught me the value of being independent and embracing new experiences. This trip marked the beginning of my professional journey as a travel advisor and reinforced my love for exploring the world."

Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent trip reviews for Heidi

2 weeks in Japan
Japan | Oct 12 - Oct 24, 2024

Shirish
Shirish P.
Rochester, NY | Reviewed on Oct 27, 2024
First the positives:
1. Guides: Friendly, punctual, accommodating.
2. Vehicles: Clean and very comfortable (except in Kanazawa which had cigarette smoke).
Most interesting places/activities:
1. Miho Museum
2. Hiroshima - tear-jerker.
3. Ina
4. Mt Fuji panoramic ropeway
5. Bullet train rides (made better by travelling in Green Car).
Room for improvement:
1. Guides: Often difficult to understand (except Wesley). This was a major issue.
2. Hotel Higashiyama in Kyoto: Very small,...
Read more

First the positives:
1. Guides: Friendly, punctual, accommodating.
2. Vehicles: Clean and very comfortable (except in Kanazawa which had cigarette smoke).
Most interesting places/activities:
1. Miho Museum
2. Hiroshima - tear-jerker.
3. Ina
4. Mt Fuji panoramic ropeway
5. Bullet train rides (made better by travelling in Green Car).
Room for improvement:
1. Guides: Often difficult to understand (except Wesley). This was a major issue.
2. Hotel Higashiyama in Kyoto: Very small, uncomfortable esp. since we stayed there for 5 nights, probably equivalent to a 2/3 star hotel in USA. Would definitely not recommend it.
3. Ina: would have liked to spend more time there by getting there early. Advise visitors to carry own food and drinks as the few eating places there close early.
4. Explore purchasing tickets for cable car, Skytree, etc in advance, if possible, as it will save a lot of time.
5. Itinerary:
a. Share the final itinerary with ALL changes a few days before the tourist's departure.
b. Include addresses of hotels, train stations, etc in JAPANESE so that we can show these to the taxi driver. We ended up at the wrong hotel in Kyoto because the 2 hotels had identical names.

Local specialist: Heidi Li
Heidi
Heidi Li
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Oct 28, 2024
Dear Shirish,
Hope you had a great weekend.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences and insights from your recent trip. We truly value your feedback as it helps us enhance our services and ensure future travelers have an exceptional experience. I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed the friendly and accommodating nature of our guides, as well as the comfort of our vehicles. It’s wonderful that the Miho Museum, Hiroshima, and the scenic views from Mt. Fuji's panoramic ropeway... Read more

Dear Shirish,
Hope you had a great weekend.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences and insights from your recent trip. We truly value your feedback as it helps us enhance our services and ensure future travelers have an exceptional experience.

I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed the friendly and accommodating nature of our guides, as well as the comfort of our vehicles. It’s wonderful that the Miho Museum, Hiroshima, and the scenic views from Mt. Fuji's panoramic ropeway stood out to you.

Thank you once again for your valuable feedback. We hope to have the opportunity to assist you in your future travels and provide an even better experience!

Best regards,
Heidi

So we went to China. Here are some notes. T...
Japan | Jun 23 - Jul 11, 2024

Leah
Leah F.
New Zealand | Reviewed on Jul 22, 2024
So we went to China. Here are some notes.
Take in an acrobatics show. Good call on Nina's part.
Do a tea ceremony.
Be aware that the main meal of the day in China is lunch so it might be later in the day. Eat a decent breakfast.
I get the feeling that they're taking the tourism seriously. Clean and safe.
Cycled round the wall in Xi an. Mark was quite right to go early early, too hot otherwise. Terracotta warriors was an absolute bun fight.
Personally I didn't see the...
Read more

So we went to China. Here are some notes.
Take in an acrobatics show. Good call on Nina's part.
Do a tea ceremony.
Be aware that the main meal of the day in China is lunch so it might be later in the day. Eat a decent breakfast.
I get the feeling that they're taking the tourism seriously. Clean and safe.
Cycled round the wall in Xi an. Mark was quite right to go early early, too hot otherwise. Terracotta warriors was an absolute bun fight.
Personally I didn't see the point in going around the harbour in Hong Kong to see a boat the had sunk ages ago. However my daughter loved it.
Chengdu for the panda's. Again take the guides advice and walk up because you miss part of the zoo otherwise.
Guilin for the rice fields. Lime mountains cruise very cool. Underground cave! Only saw one black snake walking down from the rice fields. The water show in Yangshou is not worth the money. Also Chinese people talk during a show, eat, join in etc. Part of learning the culture!
Trains were cool! These people are efficient, things are pretty much on time, so don't dither. Queues move so they're not a problem.
Daughter knew a bit of Mandarin which was super helpful. I don't think you could do a trip like this without guides to be honest. Local people were onto it though, they had Google translate loaded, as did I.
Just occurred to me now that we didn't go and see anything about porcelain.
Ladies take tissues with you. I got used to the hole in the floor type toilet. Glad my legs are still strong.
Kris in Shanghai did some great problem solving when we threw some extra activities at him, namely shopping! Barter hard people (not in stores with price tags).

Hotel Review
Harbour Plaza 8 Degrees
Hong Kong

Ok. Noisy but. Can hear people in their rooms.

Location
Local specialist: Heidi Li
Heidi
Heidi Li
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Jul 22, 2024

Hi Leah!

I am delighted to receive your 5* comment. Your positive feedback means a lot to us, and we truly appreciate you sharing your experience with us.
Thank you for taking the time to write a review and note. I am sure this note will also can help the others :).
Should you decide to visit our region again in the future, please do not hesitate to reach out. We look forward to welcoming you back for another fantastic experience.
Once again, thank you for your feedback and for choosing to explore China with us. Wish you a wonderful day!

Best,
Heidi :)

Kanazawa, Nagoya, Takayama, Japan tour
Japan | Apr 13 - Apr 22, 2024

R
Richard S.
Canada | Reviewed on Apr 24, 2024
We contracted KimKim when other tour operators in Japan advised that they were fully booked during the popular Cherry Blossom season. KimKim outsourced our Japan trip to Asia Highlights. We provided Asia Highlights with some suggested destinations in Japan that we would like to visit outside of the major tourist cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka and they developed a varied, well-paced 8 day itinerary that met our interests and budget. Heidi, our tour planner, was understanding of our needs... Read more

We contracted KimKim when other tour operators in Japan advised that they were fully booked during the popular Cherry Blossom season. KimKim outsourced our Japan trip to Asia Highlights. We provided Asia Highlights with some suggested destinations in Japan that we would like to visit outside of the major tourist cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka and they developed a varied, well-paced 8 day itinerary that met our interests and budget. Heidi, our tour planner, was understanding of our needs and very responsive to any questions that we had along the way. She connected us with our guide Nina and drivers (principally, Lyo) who were attentive, prompt and kind. Nina and Lyo went out of their way to show us the highlights of each of the attractions and destinations we visited. They quickly recognized our interests and would not rush us when we wanted to take extra time. Outside of our tour schedule, Nina helped us make dinner reservations and placed some meal orders for us when we encountered language challenges. Overall we had a wonderful time and highly recommend the services of KimKim and their subcontract Asia Highlights.

Activity Reviews
Full day Nagoya Tour by Private Vehicle
Full day Nagoya Tour by Private Vehicle
Nagoya

The Nagoya Castle grounds and Tokugawa Garden were very nice and the Nabano no Sato Illumination was an unexpected bonus to end our day.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full day Nagoya Tour by Public transfer with guide: Inuyama Castle, Meiji Mura, Inuyama Karakuri Museum
Full day Nagoya Tour by Public transfer with guide: Inuyama Castle, Meiji Mura, Inuyama Karakuri Museum
Nagoya

The day was special because we had the opportunity to tour Inuyama Castle, one of Japan's few remaining original castle structures. We also enjoyed the demonstration of dolls and puppets in the Inuyama Castle Historical Museum annex, Karakuri Exhibition Room. Truly an unique Japanese experience.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Kanazawa Traditional Crafts Experience by Private Car(Gold Leaf, Kimono Cloth Dyeing) :
Half Day Kanazawa Traditional Crafts Experience by Private Car(Gold Leaf, Kimono Cloth Dyeing) :
Kanazawa

This day involved two craft projects - chop stick gold leaf design and kimono cloth painting recommended by Asia Highlights that were outside our normal vacation day activities. We enjoyed the creative challenge and appreciated the guidance of the shop staff and the support from our guide Nina. These activities also generated souvenirs that well serve as great memories of our time in Kanazawa.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
🚗Unforgettable Day in Kanazawa: Kenroku-en Garden, Kagayuzen Kaikan, Nagamachi Samurai District, Higashi Chaya District, Shima Teahouse (Private Vehicle+Private Guide)
🚗Unforgettable Day in Kanazawa: Kenroku-en Garden, Kagayuzen Kaikan, Nagamachi Samurai District, Higashi Chaya District, Shima Teahouse (Private Vehicle+Private Guide)
Kanazawa

We suggested Kanazawa as a city to Asia Highlights that we would like to visit and it more than exceeded our expectations. It is a beautiful city and after having experienced the crowds in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, a welcome change. Kanazawa Castle and the neighbouring Kenrokuen Garden are must sees when travelling to Japan.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Takayama & Shirakawago Tour by Private Car(Miyagawa Market, Takayama Jinya, Shirakawa-go region )
Full Day Takayama & Shirakawago Tour by Private Car(Miyagawa Market, Takayama Jinya, Shirakawa-go region )
Takayama

The market streets of Takayama were historic and interesting and we did a lot of shopping, causing us to be a little delayed in reaching Shirakawago. Shirakawago is beautifully situated and it gave us a glimpse of Japanese country life from centuries ago. Our guide Nina and driver Lyo recognized that we were enjoying ourselves, were very patient and put in extra time.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Heidi Li
Heidi
Heidi Li
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Apr 24, 2024
Dear Richard and Mary, I am delighted to hear that you had a wonderful time visiting Kanazawa, Takayama, and Nagoya. Your positive feedback means a lot to us, and we truly appreciate you sharing your experience with us.
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. Your kind words are a great source of encouragement for us, and we are thrilled to know that you enjoyed your trip.
Should you decide to visit our region again in the future, please do not hesitate to reach out. We look forward...
Read more

Dear Richard and Mary,

I am delighted to hear that you had a wonderful time visiting Kanazawa, Takayama, and Nagoya. Your positive feedback means a lot to us, and we truly appreciate you sharing your experience with us.
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. Your kind words are a great source of encouragement for us, and we are thrilled to know that you enjoyed your trip.
Should you decide to visit our region again in the future, please do not hesitate to reach out. We look forward to welcoming you back for another fantastic experience.
Once again, thank you for your feedback and for choosing to explore Japan with us. Wish you a wonderful day!

Best,
Heidi :)