Asian Adventures

Asian Adventures

From the Great Wall of China to the Taj Mahal, Asia is packed with iconic sights. However, the wealth of different cultures and languages that make the continent so interesting can also render it a little daunting to some holidaymakers, making it suitable for the escorted tour market.

Operators suggest that this is a great time to book the Far East, with generous airline and hotel offers available in response to the economic problems affecting pricing for 2010.

Offers are incredible, especially for Thailand. We've never seen such good value for the Far East. Free nights are being offered in high season and these deals are following through in to 2010. The offers aren't only for the late bookers, but for those booking well in advance, too.

What's New?

Vietnam
Its programme includes a nine-night Highlights of Vietnam tour, and in Hanoi visitors can pass the silent sentries and enter the imposing Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, before moving on to the Halong Bay for a boat trip among the limestone islands.

Borneo
An eight-day Borneo Adventure tour includes a three-night stay at Kota Kinabalu and a tour around Sarawak, where visitors can take a longboat ride, trek in forests and learn to shoot a blowpipe.

China
A tour for 2010 based in Beijing. Despite staying in one hotel for the eight nights, there'll be plenty to do and see, including the Great Wall, Peking Opera, the pandas at Beijing Zoo and rickshaw tours.

Japan
Scenic Japan tour is a bite-sized six-day trip, visiting the bustling cities of Tokyo and Kyoto, Mount Fuji and cruising on Lake Ashi. It costs from £731 per person, excluding flights.

A 14-day Japan Unmasked tour encompassing traditional and hidden highlights. To keep costs down, the tour uses the bullet train and offers flexible dining options so visitors can pick up noodles, soups and bento boxes from as little as £3. The tour costs from £1,350, including accommodation, transport and guides, but excluding flights.

India
A trip to Dharamsala gain an audience with the Dalai Lama. Little Lhasa is home to the Tibetan government in exile and visitors can see a Tibetan opera, visit a school and explore the nearby mountains. The 16-day trip includes a visit to the Golden Temple at Amritsar and the Pragpur World Heritage Village, and costs £1,699, including flights

Alternatives to Thailand

When you are looking for a beach holiday in Southeast Asia, there's a lot more to it than suggesting the well-trodden sandy tracks and thatched bungalows of Thailand. Here are just a few of the many great options on offer in the region.

Bali, Indonesia
Why it's special: Bali is the only Hindu enclave in a large Muslim archipelago. The volcanic island brims with indigenous charm, from the hill town of Ubud and its stunning temples, to the palm-fringed beaches of Sanur. The destination has a long list of devotees, and it is not difficult to see why.

Bali is proving very popular this summer as it is the high season there and offers great value for money. It has shown huge growth in the past two years and is still going strong. Go to Bali this summer, as the resorts are increasing their rates massively next year.

Who should travel: Those willing to travel a long way from Heathrow - after all, it is south of the equator. So it works well for people who are into culture and surf lovers, while honeymooners will like Ubud. It is also excellent value for money.

Where to stay and why: For those who prefer a village atmosphere and a flavour of the 'old' Bali, choose Sanur, for more sophistication head for Nusa Dua. Visitors should visit the mountains with a side trip to Ubud and Candi Dasa for a taste of Balinese culture.

Sample package: The Griya Santrian hotel at Sanur. This friendly, unpretentious hotel is a collection of low-rise, Balinese-style cottages." A seven-night, room-only stay here in November costs £799 per person flights from Heathrow and transfers.

Langkawi, Malaysia
Why it's special: This destination - an island in the Andaman Sea - can compete with Thailand's Koh Samui in terms of exclusivity and sandy beaches. Some of the luxury hotels here are secluded hideaways with beautiful tropical gardens.

Who should travel: Sold as an exclusive destination, Langkawi works well with honeymooners and professional couples looking for an island that has a great seascape and top-notch hotels.

Where to stay and why: Many of Langkawi's properties have great beachfront locations and are close to thick mangrove forests. You can trek into these and see famous brown eagles soaring overhead or explore the vast caves and crashing waterfalls.

Sample package: Seven nights at the five-star Tanjung Rhu Resort from £1,749 per person. Price includes bed-and-breakfast accommodation, return flights from Heathrow and transfers.

Central Vietnam
Why is it special: An excellent mix of ancient culture in Hoi An and great beaches at Danang, combined with excellent properties offering cutting-edge luxury and spas, not to mention mouth-watering Vietnamese food.

The city of Hoi An has good weather during British summer months so it works well for late departures.

Who should travel: Visitors who love culture and who want to be pampered, as well as spa lovers. The Vietnamese culture is as exotic as Thailand's.

Where to stay and why: The Nam Hai for its beaches and proximity to Hoi An, or the Six Senses Ana Mandara for its secluded, rustic beauty.

Sabah, Malaysian Borneo
Why it's special: Tropical, abundant rainforest soaring up to the craggy heights of Mount Kinabulu - the scenery here is breathtaking, not to mention the wildlife with orangutan sanctuaries, turtles and tropical fish - the diving off the east coast is some of the best in the world. Borneo offers even more than Thailand in terms of wildlife.

Who should travel: Those who love wildlife and scenery but also want a bit of pampering. A three-hour flight east of Kuala Lumpur, Sabah has superb beaches, a few high-quality resorts and tremendous soft adventure appeal. Weather-wise, it's a lush mountainous island so rainfall can be short and heavy year round, although the months May to September will usually see mainly bright sunny days.

Where to stay and why: The Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort or the Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa. A serene beachside retreat just minutes from busy Kota Kinabalu, Tanjung Aru Resort offers a range of engaging activities.

Cebu, Philippines
Why it's special: The Philippines and especially Cebu provides a natural treasure chest of pristine beaches, turquoise waters, bustling towns, spectacular scenery and an exotic mix of Eastern, American and European cultures, with some of the friendliest people in the region.

Who should travel: The Philippines is great for diving and Manila for shopping. English is one of the official languages so it is easy to be understood wherever you go. In that respect it is suited to older couples who don't mind travelling the long distance and those with a family.

Where to stay and why: Shangri-La's Mactan Resort is the country's premier five-star beach resort set in vast tropical gardens, on its own sandy spot by the Visayan Sea. The entire Ocean Wing has been refurbished; there is also the Signature CHI spa. It is one of the largest appointed spas in Asia - each treatment takes place in a private villa.

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