Indochina. & beyond Quality Escorted Small Group Journeys. Vietnam Cambodia Laos Thailand China & Tibet India Japan

Transcription

1 1 JAN MAR 10 NOVEMBER 08 EDITION Indochina & beyond Quality Escorted Small Group Journeys Vietnam Cambodia Laos Thailand China & Tibet India Japan

2 Alex Loizou Asia Product Executive From the vibrancy of Saigon and Hanoi to the spectacular vistas of Northern Thailand and Laos, Indochina has an eclectic mix of thrilling destinations. Witness the aweinspiring spectacle of sunrise over the Temples of Angkor, relax on the beautiful beaches of Vietnam and saviour the delicious cuisine in the company of a small group of like minded people, all guided by a local expert. Experiencing these delights has made me eager to return and I know it will have the same effect on you!

3 Why Choose Travel 2 and Travel Indochina? As one of the UK s leading tailor-made specialists, with over 25 years experience, our team of experts at Travel 2 have a fantastic knowledge of small group tours, which guarantees they ll create the holiday of your dreams. In partnership with Travel Indochina, our sister company, you can rest assured that when travelling in this region, you will be looked after by professionals who are passionate about what they do. The wealth of experience, together with their deep commitment to these countries, will ensure your journey will be truly unique and memorable. See the world your way The rewards of Small Group Journeys are many. It brings a sense of belonging in theplaces you visit as well as the opportunity for exploration, which is why Small Group Journeys operate with a maximum of 15 travellers (16 in Family Journeys). It also enables low key interaction with local cultures and an opportunity to share the joys of the journey with like-minded travellers. Getting there in comfort At Travel 2 we partner with the world s leading scheduled airlines to provide you with the most comprehensive range of flights. Simply pick your travel dates and ask your travel agent to contact us to find the best value flights from your local airport, whether in Economy, Premuim Economy, Business or First Class. Peace of mind Relax in the knowledge that Travel 2 is a fully bonded operator with the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL protected), and that your money is safe when you book with us.

4 Travel The Your genuinely small group Small is beautiful; it s impossible to have an authentic experience when part of a big coach-load of tourists. Experience Asia with 15 or fewer like-minded travellers when you join one of our Small Group Journeys you won t just be a number; you will travel Asia with friends. So if you agree that size matters, we re certain that our Small Group Journeys are for you. Your expert leaders & guides You have the benefit of our professional Englishspeaking local guides and expert Western tour leaders throughout your journey. You will be inspired by their passion for the region and their insight and knowledge means you can expect experiences no guidebook can offer. 2

5 Indochina way Your unique travel experience All our journeys are carefully handcrafted by our passionate product team, each providing you with a unique travel experience. Special touches like lunch in a family home in Beijing s traditional hutongs or our Fisherman s ecotour in Hoi An give you the chance to truly meet the people, experience the culture and savour the cuisine. Your on-theground support You will receive unrivalled support when you travel with us. For 15 years, we ve been committed to maintaining and expanding our offices in Asia we now have six! Rest assured we have our finger on the pulse of this ever-changing region. Before you leave, our expert consultants will gladly assist you with anything you need. meet the people experience the culture savour the cuisine Great Wall at Mutianyu, Beijing China 3

6 asia Your way When you travel with us, you will enjoy the flexibility of independent travel without the hassles. Your local guide and tour leader will always be on hand but there s also plenty of free time for you to explore on your own, relax by the hotel pool or perhaps shop. At night, join your tour leader at a local hidden gem, or do your own thing. It s up to you after all, it s your holiday. free Your single travellers Our small groups are made up of a mix of friends, couples and single travellers. Choose our Willing to Share option on a Classic Journey and you won t pay a single supplement. If we can t match you with another Willing to Share traveller of the same sex, you will get a single room at no extra cost. treat Yourself to our deluxe option Take the Deluxe option on a Small Group Journey and you can expect all the local experiences unique to Travel Indochina by day, and at night retire to some of the most luxurious hotels, resorts and palaces the world has to offer. Your home away from home When it comes to selecting where you stay, we don t cut corners. All our hotels are chosen to suit each itinerary; each one is a place to rest up for the next discovery and give you further insight into the region you re travelling in. A boutique Art Deco villa, a former maharaja s palace, a junk on majestic Halong Bay or a Mekong River ecolodge these are just a few of our favourites. 4

7 dom & flexibility meet the people experience the culture savour the cuisine Amber Fort in Jaipur India 5

8 Your gateway to Asia International Gateways for Small Group Journeys 6

9 CONTENTS Our approach to responsible travel l 8 Cross-border journeys through Indochina l 10 Vietnam Taste of Vietnam 7 days l 16 North Unveiled 10 days l 17 Highlights of Vietnam 10 days l 18 Vietnam Culinary Discovery 15 days l 19 Vietnam Insight 12 days l 20 Indochina Footprints 13 days l 22 Highlights of Indochina 13 days l 24 Vietnam Discovery 14 days l 26 Vietnam & Laos Explorer 14 days l 28 Cambodia & Vietnam Explorer 14 days l 30 Vietnam Experience 15 days l 32 Vietnam Revealed 18 days l 34 Cycling Vietnam 19 days l 36 Inside Vietnam & Cambodia 21 days l 3 8 Trails of Vietnam 21 days l 40 Vietnam Grand Adventure 22 or 27 days l 42 Cambodia Temples of Angkor 5 days l 47 Inside Cambodia 7 days l 48 Cambodia Revealed 12 days l 50 Cycling Cambodia & Vietnam 15 days l 52 Indochina Explorer 18 days l 54 Laos Highlights of Laos 5 days l 59 Laos Experience 8 days l 60 Laos & Cambodia Experience 14 days l 62 Thailand & Laos Experience 14 days l 64 Inside Laos 16 days l 66 Thailand Taste of Thailand 7 days l 72 Northern Encounter 8 days l 73 Treasures of Thailand 10 days l 74 Trails of Thailand 11 days l 76 Thailand Discovery 12 days or 16 days l 78 INDIA Raj & Royalty 11 days l 84 China & Tibet Yunnan Explorer 8 days l 100 Highlights of China 10 days l 101 Treasures of China 10 days l 102 Three Gorges Discovery 12 days l 103 China Panorama 15 days l 104 Middle Kingdom Explorer 16 days l 106 Yangtze & Yunnan 18 days l 108 Yangtze & Beyond 18 days l 110 The Silk Road 19 days l 112 China & Yangtze Encompassed 20 days l 114 Tibet Experience 12 days l 116 Lhasa to Beijing 17 days l 118 Japan Highlights of Japan 10 days l 123 Secrets of Japan 15 days l 124 Land of the Rising Sun 21 days l 126 Family Journeys Mekong, Mountains & Monks 10 days l 129 Vietnamese Hotpot 12 days l 130 River Journey & the Lost City 12 days l 132 Tuk Tuk Thailand 12 days l 134 Pappadoms & Palaces 12 days l 136 Chinese Checkers 12 days l 138 Cross-BORDER Indochina Footprints 13 days l 22 Highlights of Indochina 13 days l 24 Vietnam & Laos Explorer 14 day l 28 Cambodia & Vietnam Explorer 14 days l 30 Inside Vietnam & Cambodia 21 days l 38 Cycling Cambodia & Vietnam 15 days l 52 Indochina Explorer 18 days l 54 Laos Experience 8 days l 60 Laos & Cambodia Experience 14 days l 62 Thailand & Laos Experience 14 days l 64 River Journey & the Lost City 12 days l 132 responsible travel CONTENTS Spirit of the Himalayas 13 days l 85 Kolkata & Himalayan Kingdoms 11 days l 86 Highlights of Rajasthan 14 days l 88 Spice of the South 15 days l 90 Ancient India 17 days l 92 A cross-border Small Group Journey A Deluxe Option is available on this journey Responsible Travel A new journey for 2009 Rajasthan Revealed 19 days l 94 7

10 responsible Travel At Travel Indochina, we believe travel should be an exchange of knowledge and perspectives, of cultures and of wealth. our CommITmenT To responsible TrAVeL At Travel Indochina, we believe travel should be an exchange of knowledge and perspectives, of cultures and of wealth. Our genuine appreciation of Asia s culture, cuisine, her beautiful natural environments and, of course, her people is at the heart of our approach to responsible travel. Our small group approach means you will meet local people and experience their culture first hand. We mostly eat in smallscale local establishments, and include homestay and ecolodge experiences when we can, opening the way for cross-cultural exchanges. With six offices across Asia, we are well-positioned to influence local suppliers to behave responsibly. Our Asian offices are staffed predominantly by locals, and we use both local guides and western tour leaders, as we believe this combination allows for more informed perspectives and insights into local culture. We recognise that we largely work in a developing part of the world. As such political and social factors sometimes impede our responsible travel aspirations - so we aspire to realistic, short or medium term incremental change, where practicable. IndoChInA FooTprInTs 13-dAYs a new journey with a responsible travel focus. Our new 13-day Indochina Footprints offers travellers the chance to put something back into the destinations they travel through. Increase your awareness of some of the issues facing the region, and have the chance to help, at places like the Sunshine Shelter in Saigon and the fantastic Big Brother Mouse children s publishing project in Laos. You will of course witness some fascinating historical and cultural sights such as Saigon s Reunification Palace, the beautiful Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, the incredible Temples of Angkor and the ornate monasteries of Luang Prabang. In addition, for each person who travels on our Indochina Footprints, Travel Indochina will make a donation of $US100 to be distributed among the worthwhile causes featured on the journey. We will also carbon offset the cost of operating each departure. Big Brother Mouse 8

11 Big Brother Mouse s Book Party how To be A responsible TrAVeLLer learn the language. You will shop smarter and gain a better insight into the culture. Ask your tour leader or local guide for some handy phrases. bargain, but banter. Bargaining is a cultural norm in much of Asia - it s a fair deal if you are happy with the price you paid, and the seller is happy with the price received! go green. Take short showers, limit your use of plastic bags, and don t be tempted to dine on endangered species. If you wouldn t do it at home... care for culture. In Asia you will need patience - you will never get anywhere by losing your cool. Try to understand the concept of face. snap with sensitivity. A camera can be a fun ice breaker, but try to be discreet. Ask permission before taking a photo, and respect the wishes of people who do not want their photo taken. offer only alms. Giving money, presents or candy to children can create inequality within communities and encourage begging. Gifts like text books and pencils can be given to schools or clinics instead. Look for this symbol throughout our brochure to see the efforts we are going to, the contributions we are making, and our advice about how you can travel responsibly. CAuses We support responsible travel You too can make a valuable difference! If you would like to make a contribution to one of the causes or community projects below, before or after your journey to Asia, we suggest you visit one of these websites: the loreto vietnam - australia program This inspirational organisation assists disadvantaged youngsters through the medium of education. creativity for humanity Creativity for Humanity s mission is to link designers and businesses with artisans from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our reusable shopping bags are made by CFH! Koto (Know one teach one) A Hanoi-based initiative that equips underprivileged young people with professional hospitality skills. Dine at the KOTO restaurant while in Hanoi! angkor hospital for children This Siem Reap hospital provides healthcare to needy children, with a focus on primary intervention and on the training of local healthcare workers. childsafe network A child protection network actively protecting urban children and youth from all forms of abuse. Join us by visiting the Childafe Centres in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, or big brother mouse This grass roots publisher is dedicated to improving literacy levels in Laos. Visit a BBM shop while in Luang Prabang! himmapaan reforestation project This visionary reforestation project in northern Thailand aims to purchase and reforest land. the purkal Youth development society PYDS assists children, young adults and women in India, providing education in nutrition, health and other activities. responsible TrAVeL our CArbon offset policy The principle of carbon offsetting is a somewhat controversial one. Our commitment to reducing carbon emissions is practical and multistaged. As part of Travel Indochina s Phase 1 plans, in 2009, working with experts from Cleaner Climate we will offset office related emissions from our Australian, United Kingdom and USA operations. You might choose to make on-line payments to carbon offset aircraft emissions. Before you do, we suggest you research organisations that claim to support alternative electricity production, carbon reduction or oxygen generation projects. 9

12 Cross-border journeys never in my whole life shall I ever again see rivers as beautiful and big and wild as these, the Mekong and its tributaries going down to the sea Marguerite Duras On a cross-border journey you will delight in the subtle nuances and sensory delights the food, the aromas, the noises on the street of each culture, and discover the shared history that binds them. Our cross-border journeys connect the three countries of Indochina Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and Thailand. Indochina is where our story began. Beginning in Vietnam, we ventured into Cambodia, Laos and then Thailand. Even as we continue to expand into other parts of Asia, this region remains at the heart of what we do. Everything that we love about Asia, you can find here. We fuel our passion by seeking out new places, new activities, new experiences to share with our travellers, who are as fond of this evocative region as we are and, like us, return time and time again. the mekong Indochina was, in essence, a French invention and the French influence is still evident in the colonial shopfronts of Phnom Penh and Vientiane, in Vietnam s roadside baguette stalls and in the wide boulevards of Hanoi. Thailand stands proudly independent never colonised, always uniquely Thai. But these four countries have always been bound together by nature in particular the Mekong River and its tributaries. Even today, millions throughout Indochina and Thailand depend on the Mekong for food, water, transport and many other aspects of their daily lives. The Mekong is at the heart of many of our cross-border journeys and there is no better way to experience this almighty river than by boat. our cross-border journeys In the upper reaches of Laos, where the Mekong snakes along the border with Thailand, a boat journey takes you from the Thai border to fabled Luang Prabang. Lose yourself in the surrounding scenery the pristine forest, the mountains and the twists and turns of the river and visit remote hilltribe villages only accessible by water. This inspiring boat journey is featured on our 14-day Laos & Cambodia Experience, our 14-day Thailand & Laos Experience or our 8-day Laos Experience journeys. Imagine actually crossing a border by boat as we do our everpopular 21-day Inside Vietnam & Cambodia, travelling up the Mekong from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh on On our new 12-day River Journey & the Lost City, designed with families in mind, you will also experience this exhilarating cross-border boat ride but in reverse, travelling from Cambodia to Vietnam. 10

13 Look for this symbol throughout our brochure to find our Cross-border Journeys CROSS-BORDER JOURNEYS Cross-BORDER Indochina Footprints 13 days l 22 Highlights of Indochina 13 days l 24 Vietnam & Laos Explorer 14 day l 28 Cambodia & Vietnam Explorer 14 days l 30 Inside Vietnam & Cambodia 21 days l 38 Cycling Cambodia & Vietnam 15 days l 52 Indochina Explorer 18 days l 54 Laos Experience 8 days l 60 Laos & Cambodia Experience 14 days l 62 Thailand & Laos Experience 14 days l 64 River Journey & the Lost City 12 days l 132 CROSS-BORDER JOURNEYS Our bases in the region enable us to keep our finger on the pulse when it comes to new border crossings. In our new 15-day Cycling Cambodia & Vietnam we use a newly-opened border crossing at Prek Chak in the far south of Cambodia. We cycle to the border from the lovely seaside town of Kep, then continue on to Ha Tien in Vietnam. This part of the Mekong Delta is still well off the main tourist trail, and the flat roads are perfect for cycling. Even if your time is limited, you can still experience the joys of cross-border travel by joining one of our journeys that flies between major centres. In our new 13-day Highlights of Indochina you will experience the very best of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Stay overnight on Halong Bay aboard our private boat, chat with local monks in a Luang Prabang monastery and witness the incredible Temples of Angkor. The 18-day Indochina Explorer, which combines comfort with a more in-depth exploration of the region, is a perennial favourite. If you ve been to Vietnam before, our 14-day Laos & Cambodia Experience is ideal. WHAT OUR EXPERTS SAY Travelling by boat up the Mekong to Phnom Penh, is truly unforgettable. I love crossing the border by the river, passing through untouched countryside and docking at Phnom Penh s colonial riverfront. Katrina Cameron Tour Leader 11