Asia Tours & Trips 2020

• Experience the character of Old Delhi on a rickshaw and walking tour, weaving through the narrow alleyways and exploring Delhi’s oldest mosque.
• See the Taj Mahal up close and wonder at the intricate optical illusions that decorate the marble on this sumptuous masterpiece of Indian architecture.
• Tour the spectacular hillside Amber Fort and wonder at the Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors), where the walls are covered in a mosaic of reflective and coloured glass.
• Take a break from bustling cities in rural Rajasthan, where you can catch your breath and spend the night in the faded opulence of your heritage stay.
• This trip is perfect for people short on time, as long travel days are kept to a minimum on an itinerary that hits several icons of North India.

• Discover the beauty in buildings that lie across the north of India, from Jaipur’s Amber Fort and Royal City Palace to Agra’s Red Fort and iconic Taj Mahal.
• Taste the best of Indian cuisine during Exclusive Experiences, including a street food tour with a local expert in Agra and a wonderful meal in the home of a Brahmin family in Jaipur.
• Embark on both morning and sunset safaris through Ranthambore National Park in search of antelope, sloth bears, leopards and the elusive tigers that call this park home.
• Spend two elegant evenings at your Feature Stay hotel in Jaipur. The heritage hotel has been in the same family since its opening in 1928 and offers opulent details and warm, friendly service.
• Take part in Exclusive Experiences to remember – visit to a royal haveli in Jaipur and hear the stories of its owner’s ancestors, and cruise down the Ganges at sunset accompanied by local musicians.

Day 1 – Arrive Delhi
• Welcome to India’s capital city! Upon arrival, you are treated to a traditional Indian greeting before being escorted to your hotel.
Day 2 – Old Delhi Sightseeing
• After a morning of leisure, you will explore the many sights of Old Delhi, Red Fort (drive by), Raj Ghat, and the mile-long Chandni Chowk bazaar. Welcome dinner at the hotel. (BD)
Day 3 – New Delhi Sightseeing / Jaipur
• Enjoy a morning tour of New Delhi driving past the Parliament House, the President’s House and India Gate. Later visit Humayun’s Tomb, Qutab Minar and Birla Temple. In the afternoon, you will be driven to Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, where you will check in at your hotel. (B)
Day 4 – Amber Fort Excursion / Jaipur Sightseeing
• Visit the mountain fortress of Amber, a superb example of Rajput architecture with its complex of palaces, temples, and ornate apartments. In the afternoon you will tour Jaipur City and visit the Hawa Mahal, City Palace and the ancient observatory. (B)
Day 5 – Jaipur / Fatehpur Sikri / Agra
• This morning drive to Agra, en route, visiting the abandoned ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri. In Agra, visit the 16th century Agra Fort and enjoy the magnificent Taj Mahal in the warm glow of sunset. (B)
Day 6 – Agra / Khajuraho
• Today, board the train for Jhansi. Visit the medieval city of Orcha en route to Khajuraho. This afternoon visit the Western group of temples. Not much has changed to the appearance of the city since the 17th century. (B)
Day 7 – Khajuraho / Varanasi
• Fly out to the holy city of Varanasi (Benares) after visiting the Eastern Group of Temples. Later visit Sarnath, site of Buddha’s first sermon, with its stupas and museum. In the evening proceed to the ghats in cycle rickshaws to witness the evening aarti ceremony.(BD)
Day 8 – Varanasi / Delhi
• Early this morning embark on a cruise on the Ganges. Witness a stunning sight as a multitude of devotees swarm the river and pay obeisance to the rising sun. Later continue on a walking tour of the historic city where spiritualism permeates the walls around you. Fly to for Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi you will be provided a day room for your rest and relaxation before being transferred in the evening to board your flight home. (B)

• Dubai City Tour (half day)

• Discover the rich history and architecture of the impressive forts scattered across the province, from Jaipur’s Amber Fort and Royal City Palace to Agra’s Red Fort and iconic Taj Mahal.
• Take the chance to get closer to India’s incredible wildlife, and perhaps catch more than a glimpse of its elusive animal king, the magnificent tiger, in Ranthambhore National Park
• Savour Indian cuisine during Exclusive Experiences, including dinner with a Rajput family in Bundi and a Brahmin family in Jaipur, a street food tour in Agra and a spectacular meal in the sand dunes of Pushkar, accompanied by a traditional dance performance.
• Your Feature Stay hotel in Jaipur has been delighting visitors since its opening in 1928, offering up elegant decor, traditional touches and world-class service.
• Visit a royal haveli in Jaipur during an unforgettable Exclusive Experience, where the owner will show you around the ornately decorated property and share photographs and stories of his ancestors who once ruled the nearby provinces.

Day 1 – Arrive Hanoi
• Arrive in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. You are welcomed at the airport and escorted to your hotel.
Day 2 – Hanoi
• Start your day off by exploring Hanoi’s illustrious history. In the morning, visit the imposing marble edifice housing the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (Closed on Mondays & Fridays) before moving onto his wooden stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda. You will then explore the first university of Vietnam, the Temple of  Literature, which is imbued with the profound philosophies of Confucianism. In the afternoon, visit the Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ngoc Son Temple. A one-hour cyclo tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter allows you to catch a glimpse of ancient Hanoi and learn about traditional Vietnamese architecture. The tour includes a stop at an ancient Vietnamese “long house.” In the evening, take delight in watching a traditional water puppet performance whose origin dates back over a thousand years. (B)
Day 3 – Hanoi / Ha Long Bay
• Drive through green rice paddy fields to Ha Long Bay. You will board a junk for a cruise among the hundreds of islets of Ha Long Bay. Enjoy a seafood lunch and a swim (if weather permits) before visiting a grotto of gigantic stalactites and stalagmites. Drop anchor in the late evening for an overnight stay among the dramatic limestone peaks rising out of the sea. (BLD)
Day 4 – Ha Long Bay / Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh City
• Spend the morning cruising through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay before returning to the wharf. You will be returned to Hanoi and transferred to the airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. (B)
Day 5 – Ho Chi Minh City
• In the morning you will visit the amazing Cu Chi Tunnels where Vietnamese guerrillas built a labyrinth of narrow tunnels as hideouts during the war. Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon for a half-day city tour. Highlights include the Reunification Palace (photo stop), the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, Chinatown, the Binh Tay Market and either the Thien Hau Temple or the Quan Am Pagoda. (B)
Day 6 – Ho Chi Minh City / Mekong Delta
• Depart for the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival in My Tho, enjoy a boat cruise along the river. Experience an exciting horse-drawn cart ride to visit a local house where you will enjoy tea and taste home grown fruits. Board a sampan and drift along the narrow, tree-lined canals for further exploration of the Mekong Delta. After lunch, visit a family-run business making coconut candy before returning to My Tho. On the return trip to Ho Chi Minh City, visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda if time permits. Return to Ho Chi Minh City by the late afternoon. (BL)
Day 7 – Ho Chi Minh City / Nha Trang
• You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the coastal city of Nha Trang. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. (B)
Day 8 – Nha Trang
• Enjoy Nha Trang’s turquoise waters and white sandy beaches with a morning boat cruise to offshore islands in Nha Trang Bay. In the afternoon, visit the Po Nagar Cham Towers, the Dam Market, the Nha Trang Stone Cathedral or the Long Son Pagoda where the giant Sakyamuni Buddha statue sits on the top of the hill. (BL)
Day 9 – Nha Trang
• The day is at your leisure to explore the city. (B)
Day 10 – Nha Trang / Ho Chi Minh City / Departure
• You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Saigon and connecting departure flight home, taking along with you memories of a most enchanting trip. (B)

• Want to stay longer? You can extend this trip up to a total of 8 days!

• Enjoy a sake tasting at a local sake brewery followed by a Hida beef dinner.
• Experience a traditional kaiseki dinner with geisha show in Kyoto.
• Participate in a sushi-making class.
• Try your hand at the centuries-old art of the Japanese tea ceremony, gold leaf decorating and stenciling.
• Travel by the famous Shinkansen bullet train.
• Explore the famous Ginza District, the first Western-style shopping district in Japan where modern and history blends.
• Visit multiple UNESCO sites including Shirakawa-go, Nijo Castle, Itsukushima Shinto Shrine and Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
• Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha, made famous by the movie Memoirs of a Geisha.
• Explore Takayama’s beautiful old town, nestled in the Japanese Alps.

HIGHLIGHTS

• EXCURSIONS INCLUDED:
  • Discover three historic cities: Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap
  • Unique and unforgettable cruise along the Cho Gao Canal
  • Tour six major temples in Angkor
  • Meet local inhabitants and discover their daily life in Koh Chen and My Tho
• Explore the temples a bit more and spend an extra day in Siem Reap for Christmas

• Enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine during Exclusive Experiences, including a homecooked lunch with a local family in Huizhou and a delicious duck dinner in a Beijing courtyard.
• With karst hills dotted along Li River, the scenery in Yangshuo is spectacular – here you’ll enjoy a Feature Stay in a splendid hotel offering old-fashioned charm, modern comforts and awe-inspiring mountain views.
• Get a sense of the scale of China’s epic history when you come face to face with the Terracotta warriors, and visit a lesser-known section of the Great Wall during an Exclusive Experience.
• Journey to the peaceful Huizhou villages, home to the quintessential image of white walled, black tiled traditional houses, and enjoy a Feature Stay in a heritage hotel converted from the mansion home of a famous Ming Dynasty poet.
• Discover the bright lights of modern China in Shanghai, and uncover a different side of Beijing as you follow an expert guide through the city’s hutongs, followed by a homecooked lunch in the hutong house of a retired chef.

• Experience the legendary hospitality of Central Asia. With five nights spent across Tajikistan's excellent homestay network, you'll immerse yourself in local life.
• Skirting the border with Afghanistan, get glimpses of the other side, from the hair-raising Afghan-built footbridges (ovrings) to the exotic imports on display in Khorog's local bazaar.
• Enjoy a picnic lunch as you take in the splendour of Karakul, the largest lake of some 800 in the Pamirs.
• Soaring along the iconic Pamir Highway is an unforgettable experience, especially in fine weather when the mighty peak of Muztag Ata rears its head.
• Discover Tajikistan's capital while learning more about the country's fascinating past with included visits to the Hissor Fort and National Museum of Antiquities.
• The much-photographed Registan in Samarkand is one of the true pinnacles of Islamic architecture. You'll be wowed by the scale, grandeur and beauty of the monuments to iconic figures such as Tamerlane and the Persian influenced madressas, mosques and mausoleums.

• Embrace the local rituals and customs at our homestay in Varanasi. Upon arrival, be treated to a home-cooked meal, sharing food and interacting with your warm and welcoming hosts.
• Spend sunrise cruising along the Ganges, watching Varanasi emerge into a new day, passing the many ghats and temples along the river banks while pilgrims wash themselves in the holy waters.
• Head out of town to Sarnath and visit the place where Gautama Buddha first began his teachings of the sacred Dharma.

• The trip may be quick, but it is packed full of experiences that will give you great insight into Cambodia in a short amount of time
• Begin your adventure in bustling Bangkok, full of interesting sights and delectable cuisine. With the option of adding an extra couple of days before your trip begins, you’ll fit into the lifestyle of South East Asia straight away
• As well as a guided tour, you’ll also have a three-day Angkor pass to cover your whole time in Siem Reap, so that you can explore this incredible temple complex as much and as often as you like
• Discover the temple ruins at Sambor Prei Kuk and enjoy a local village homestay to experience everyday life in rural Cambodia.
• Learn the confronting yet important history of Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek in Phnom Penh

• It’s true – Japanese people take incredible pride in their cuisine. Explore a country where food is taken seriously, all the way from the station tonkatsu restaurant to a high-end sushi establishment.
• Travel by Shinkansen to the Japanese Alps and taste succulent wagyu beef in the 17th-century Edo period town of Takayama – the definition of a melt-in-your-mouth moment.
• Snack on awesome and adventurous street food in the unofficial culinary capital of Osaka and master the skill behind making the famous takoyaki (octopus and pickled ginger in batter).
• Discover the traditions, culture and history behind tea in Kyoto during a private ceremony with a long-time practitioner of this art with your small group.
• Venture into mountainous Koya-san, spending the night in a monastery and discovering shojin ryori – a traditional plant-based Buddhist meal with over 800 years of history.