DESTINATIONS EPIC ASIA MATURE TRAVEL RIGHT: Bukchon, South Korea
FAR RIGHT: Angkor Wat, Cambodia
BELOW:
Mehrangarh Fort, India
ASK THE EXPERT
Angela Waite, head of sales and commercial, APT “Our guests tell us they love Asia because it offers the contrasts of buzzing big cities and
ancient history and culture. It’s a really popular choice for British travellers, especially those who are approaching or enjoying retirement – mainly because to explore Asia in depth requires a little more time due to its distance from the UK and the number of highlights each destination packs in. Vietnam and Cambodia bookings made in 2017 for the 2018 season trebled for both our Luxury and Premium river cruising programmes in this region, and we’re already seeing growth in forward bookings for 2019.”
escorted touring, recommends retirees combine the operator’s Highlights of China, Highlights of South Korea and Highlights of Japan itineraries into one epic, 29-day voyage that takes in the best of these three Asian stars. Sights featured include the historic city of Gyeongju in South Korea and the Kiso Valley in Japan, with the tours placing an emphasis on the culinary side of things and offering plenty of opportunities to delve into local culture. For those wanting to spend more time in each place, Travel 2 offers a 28-day Highlights of China and Japan tour, taking in the likes of Beijing, the Great Wall, rural China, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Osaka and beyond, with optional extras for clients wanting to tailor it to their interests. “This is a mini bucket list in itself,” says Mark Henderson, senior product and commercial manager for touring.
w INDIA Elsewhere on the list for culture- curious retirees is India. Cox & Kings
has a 17-day Colours of Rajasthan (easy pace) itinerary, introduced as part of the operator’s new collection of slower-paced private tours. It gives mature clients the chance to linger longer at each stop, with three nights in Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaipur, as well as stays in the lesser-known Pali, home to 300-year-old palace Chanoud Garh, and Deograh, set on the peaceful shores of Lake Ragho. Nothing quite beats a heritage train
journey through these landscapes, of course, and for that, there’s the iconic Palace on Wheels, which Great Rail Journeys says is one of its biggest sellers among the mature market. The operator offers a seven-day trip on board the train, plus a journey on the classic Toy Train, as part of a wider 15-day itinerary exploring Delhi, Shimla, Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park and beyond. The trip packs in cultural experiences with flashes of dramatic, sweeping scenery, as passengers live like a maharaja for a few fleeting days.
w SOUTHEAST ASIA Just as rich on the culture front is southeast Asia, and it’s not only twentysomething backpackers flocking there in their droves. Travelsphere’s 22-day A Journey Through South East Asia ticks all the boxes, with Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand strung into one mammoth itinerary. Alongside the must-sees, guests will visit community projects, from a handicraft centre in Vietnam to a kindergarten under construction near Siem Reap, and it’s all designed to suit more mature travellers, with half of the operator’s customers aged over 65. InsideAsia Tours, meanwhile, has a 14-night Soulful Pursuits trip through Laos and Cambodia that’s ideal for older clients looking to get spiritual thanks to a similarly steady pace, higher-end accommodation and several traditional spa and holistic treatments. Experiences include a guided meditation session with a Buddhist monk and a Barci Ceremony with a local family, plus a visit to
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travelweekly.co.uk 15 March 2018
PICTURE: POWER OF FOREVER
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