Here are the best platforms to find and book off‑beat, local, and unusual experiences across Asia, grouped by type with a short note on when each is strongest.

Major Asia‑focused/activity marketplaces

• Klook — huge selection across Asia (instant booking for attractions, day trips, niche activities). Great for last‑minute and budget-friendly offbeat options. (klook.com)
• KKday — Taiwan/Southeast‑Asia strong marketplace that features many local operators and niche tours. Good for region‑specific, hard‑to‑find activities. (prnewswire.com)
• Traveloka Xperience — popular in Southeast Asia for events, classes, tours and local activities across SEA markets. Good for discovering lifestyle/locals’ picks. (traveloka.com)

Global OTAs with wide Asian coverage

• GetYourGuide — large catalogue of tours and unique activities across Asian cities (good filters and user reviews). Use for reliable bookings in many destinations. (getyourguide.co.uk)
• Viator (Tripadvisor Experiences) — very wide inventory worldwide, including Asia; useful for mainstream and some niche excursions but check operator reviews closely. (ir.tripadvisor.com)

Peer‑to‑peer / local‑host marketplaces (more personal, often offbeat)

• Airbnb Experiences — book classes, workshops and local‑host activities run by residents (very good for one‑off, unusual cultural experiences). (airbnb.com)
• Withlocals — focuses on private, tailor‑made experiences and home dinners led by locals; strong for personalized “off the beaten path” city tours. (withlocals.com)
• ToursByLocals — connects you with vetted private guides for fully custom, small‑group or private offbeat itineraries across Asia. Good if you want a guide to take you off‑map. (toursbylocals.com)

Asia‑centric local / community & responsible‑tourism platforms

• Backstreet Academy — specializes in community, craft and artisan experiences in smaller Asian towns (deeply local, impact‑oriented). Ideal for authentic cultural workshops. (backstreetacademy.com)
• LocalAlike — Thailand‑based community tourism platform offering eco and village experiences run with local communities. Strong for sustainable, off‑the‑grid options in Thailand. (localalike.com)
• TakeMeTour — Thailand and Southeast Asia marketplace connecting travellers with local “experts” and personalized day trips. Useful for bespoke local experiences in SEA. (takemetour.com)

Country / market specialists (for niche local experiences)

• Trazy — Korea specialist (K‑pop events, unique Korean day trips and quirky experiences). Use when traveling to South Korea. (trazy.com)

Small‑group/adventure operators (off‑map multi‑day trips)

• Intrepid Travel — small‑group, locally‑led small‑group tours that go to lesser‑visited Asian destinations; good for multi‑day, off‑the‑beaten‑path overland adventures. (intrepidtravel.com)
• G Adventures — similar to Intrepid: small‑group adventure itineraries across Asia that visit remote or less touristy areas. Good for organized, responsibly‑minded trips. (en.wikipedia.org)

Quick booking tips for offbeat experiences

• Prioritize platforms that show host/operator profiles and lots of recent reviews; read recent reviews for reliability. (Platforms above provide reviews and host info.) (withlocals.com)
• Message the host/operator before you book to confirm meeting points, language and accessibility (especially for remote/offbeat tours). Platforms like Withlocals, ToursByLocals and TakeMeTour let you contact hosts directly. (withlocals.com)
• For community or village experiences, look for explicit sustainability/community benefit statements (LocalAlike/Backstreet Academy emphasize community‑based tourism). (localalike.com)
• For safety and refunds: note each platform’s cancellation policy and whether they hold payments in escrow — major OTAs and marketplaces usually provide buyer protection but policies vary. (Check the platform’s Help/Trust & Safety pages when you book.) (ir.tripadvisor.com)

If you want a short, tailored shortlist (3–5 picks) for a particular country or interest (food, crafts, adventures, rural homestays), tell me the country and the kind of offbeat experience you want and I’ll give the best platform+sample listings.