destination | southeast asia
ADVENTURE & ACTIVITIES… best for
Vietnam is attracting increasing numbers of adventure-seekers, according to Audley Travel. Charlie Read, sales development manager, says Halong Bay seaplanes are driving interest in northern Vietnam, while camping in the renowned Phong Nha Ke Bang caves has also spiked bookings. Marion Hager, owner of boutique luxury agency Hager’s Journeys, also
highlights Vietnam, thanks to its numerous opportunities to join walking tours of the bustling streets and markets of Hanoi, Saigon and Hoi An, float down rivers in a kayak or hop on a vintage Vespa for a tour to hill villages. Meanwhile, for travelers who want an activity-laden hotel, the Nam Hai,
situated on the picturesque white sand beach of Ha My, near Hoi An, has recently launched two new guest tours, including a helicopter ride above Da Nang and a dramatic excursion taking guests deep into Vietnam’s remote central highlands. Te hotel also has a spa, cookery school, yoga center and two 18-hole golf courses nearby.
best for HISTORY & CULTURE…
While Bangkok remains an ideal introduction to Asian culture, A&K recommend alternatives, such as the Four Seasons Tented Camp at the Golden Triangle in northern Tailand. With only 16 tents located on a ridge above the Mekong River, the ultra-luxury safari camp is home to its own elephant camp and includes local cultural sightseeing along with all meals. For repeat visitors to Asia, A&K’s Ong suggests Laos, particularly the
UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang, which packs culture, people and natural beauty into a small town on the banks of the Mekong. “In one place you have temples, monasteries, palaces, local markets, art
galleries and workshops, as well as great Lao fusion cuisine. And it even has great hotels — the Amantaka is just a short four-minute walk to the main street where everything is located, and the Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao overlooks the town from a nearby hill,” says Ong. Alternatively, he recommends a cruise on the Sanctuary Ananda in
Myanmar temples Above: Kayaking in Halong Bay
Myanmar with itineraries that include Bagan and remote villages. “I visited last October before the cruise launched and was part of the first Westerners one local girl had ever seen. In return for allowing Sanctuary Ananda guests exclusive access to this little village, we help sponsor the village school.” n
SAMPLES
n COX & KINGS has a 14-night tour of Cambodia and Vietnam, including Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, a cruise on the MV Aqua along Mekong, Ho Chi Minh, Hoi An, Ha Long Bay and Hanoi, priced from $9,995 per person, departing November/December. Highlights include a special Vietnamese cooking class in Hoi An and a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. T: 1 323 498 1409.
coxandkingsusa.com
n HAGER’S JOURNEY is offering a four-night package at Evason Ana Mandara, Nha Trang’s only beachfront resort with a Six Senses spa, from $1,750 for two in a garden view room. The package includes transfers, daily buffet breakfast, a Vietnamese dinner on the beach, early morning cyclo market tour with chef, cooking class, and a full day tour, including lunch. T: 480 998 7606.
hagersjourneys.com
n AUDLEY TRAVEL has a classic 13-night family adventure itinerary to Thailand incorporating Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Elephant Hills — a tented jungle camp in Khao Sok National Park offering contact and interaction with elephants — and a beach stay in Krabi, priced from $3,300 per person, depending on hotel choices, excursions and seasonality. T: 1 855 838 8300.
audleytravel.com
C M Y CM MY CY CMY K
94 | ASTAnetwork | fall 2015
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