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Asia a-la-carte – Custom tours

Bangladesh * Bhutan * Burma (Myanmar) * Cambodia * Central Asia * China * India*
Indonesia * Hong Kong * Iran * Japan * Korea * Laos * Malaysia (Borneo) * Mongolia * Nepal *
Papua New Guinea * Pakistan * Russia (Siberia) * Singapore * Sri Lanka * Tibet * Thailand * Vietnam *

These custom tours can be reserved separately, combined or booked as extensions to group tours.

In the 80s we transitioned from arranging primarily group tours to exotic custom adventures, to include exciting, remote and rugged trips as well as deluxe classical journeys. Our eclectic mix of Asia-a-la-carte itineraries has been skillfully created to showcase the best of Asia. They can be booked separately, combined, or as extensions to group tours. Here are some of the most popular, time-tested itineraries for your selection.

We can also arrange trips to Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and the Phillippines.

Our vast knowledge and experience with highly personalized services has won the trust of many well-seasoned travelers. Country specialists, curators and princes accompany and invite you to special local festivals, rites and rituals, diplomatic dinners, museum openings and private home stays. We continue to focus on Tribes, Festivals, Photo and groundbreaking trips. These are just a few samples, the possibilities are endless.

CUSTOM ADVENTURES: If an Asia-a-la-carte tour does not suit you, we can create or modify any of our group or Asia-a-la-carte tours into a custom adventure or design your dream trip. You get to choose the date, the places, the price and the focus. These tours are fully escorted, as are our group and Asia-a-la-carte tours.

PRICES: Asia-a-la-carte tour prices are per person, based on a minimum of 2. Single supplements and solo traveler prices are available. Surcharges will apply during the high / holiday season. Please call us for current prices. To reserve an Asia-a-la-carte tour complete a reservation form and mail it with the non-refundable deposit.

FESTIVALS: We specialize in festival and tribal adventures that go to seldom – visited areas to experience these hidden cultures and participate in their local festivals that offer great photo opportunities. Local festivals can be included if they are available during your visit. For in-depth cultural explorations, join our specialized group tours.

BANGLADESH

5-Day SUNDARBANS SAFARI Departs everyday except Fri
Dhaka * Mongla * Sundarbans Mangrove Forest * Khulna * Dhaka

In Dhaka view Louis Kahn's architecture, see some of the oldest terra cotta buildings and a small village. Board a paddleboat through the serene natural beauty of the Sudarbans, ideal for nature lovers and botanists. Cruise along meandering streams to see crocodiles, monkeys and an exotic variety of birds. You may be lucky enough to spot a Royal Bengal Tiger!

7-Day HILLTRIBES OF BANGLADESH Departs everyday except Mon and Sat
Chittagong * Bandarbans * Remote Villages * Dhaka

Journey deep into Mru country – up until very recently closed to outsiders! This tribal rich area is home to over half a million indigenous people from 16 different ethnic groups. Enjoy a river cruise and easy jungle hikes into Mru villages, where the people still wear loincloths and do not cut their hair and wear them in a topknot. Observe Jhoom (slash and burn) cultivation, waist-loom weaving and music played with bagpipe-like bamboo and gourd flutes.

BHUTAN
Buddhist monastery festivals celebrated year round

6-Day TASTE OF BHUTAN
Paro * Punakha * Wangdu * Thimpu * Paro

Experience one of Asia's last remaining pristine countries NOW, before it changes. Visit a thangka painting school where tudents are committed to preserve this ancient art form. View impressive monasteries and dzongs (religious and administrative centers). Drive through the golden green Punakha Valley to Thimpu with its quaint streets and colorful bazaars. See stunning mountain scenery, painted farmhouses and exquisitely hand woven museum quality textiles. Plan your trip around a festival to participate in religious mask dances and Buddhist rituals.

13-Day HAA VALLEY TREK Mar – Jun, Sep – Nov
Trek through dense forest and breathtaking mountain passes, over rolling hills and meandering streams, past golden wheat fields and painted farmhouses in the recently opened Haa Valley. Hike to Tiger Nest Monastery that clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff. Sit with Yak herders around a campfire and sip chai in village homes. Observe a game of archery ‒ Bhutan's popular national sport.

5-Day HIGH COUNTRY TREK Mar – Jun, Sep – Nov
Embark on a moderately strenuous high altitude trek from Paro to Thimpu. Hike along snow-capped peaks, alpine forests and remote villages. Visit Buddhist monasteries, a thangka painting school and a local weekend market known for handmade paper and textiles.

BURMA (MYANMAR)
Religious & tribal festivals celebrated year round

7-Day TASTE OF BURMA
Yangon * Bagan * Inle Lake * Yangon

Burma is perhaps the most visually stunning country in Asia with its shimmering golden pagodas, serene lake, colonial-era buildings and vibrant tribes and markets. View the 11th-13th century pagodas of Bagan's Golden Age. Travel past flower fields and red hills to Inle Lake and its tribal and weaving villages and floating gardens. Shop for antiques, lacquer ware, rubies and textiles and sample delicious French / Burmese cuisine.

4-Day INLE LAKE
Meet diverse tribes with leg rings, bracelets and colorful turbans bartering in local markets. Admire the mountain scenery and farmers with water buffalo and ox carts plowing their rice fields. Travel by long-tail boat to Intha villages built on stilts. View the floating flower and vegetable gardens and silk and cotton weaving villages at Inle Lake.

4-Day TRIBAL KENGTUNG
The adventurous can experience the remote scenery and ethnic diversity of the Mon-Khmer and Tibet-Burmese people living in the Shan Mountain illages. Photograph the Akhas with elaborate headdresses and beaded necklaces, chat with the striking black-turbaned Wa women and the silver and gold belted Palaungs. Enjoy easy hikes to primitive Aeng villages, or meet these tribes busy bartering in their lively markets each with their colorful costumes and ethnic jewelry.

7-Day LUXURY BALLOON SAFARI
Float over hundreds of ancient pagodas and calm waters of Inle Lake in a hot air balloon! Safari in style, reminiscent of the good old days of luxury travel, to experience the immense natural beauty and meet the gentle Burmese people on an intimate journey with 8 or less, in the land of golden pagodas!

3-Day ANCIENT ANGKOR
Enjoy hot air balloon and elephant rides to view the 12th century Angkor temples, ranked amongst the world's greatest architectural achievements! See exquisite bas-relief and sculpture being overtaken by the jungle at the cultural and spiritual heart of the Khmer civilization.

4-Day REMOTE TEMPLES OF CAMBODIA
Angkor * Remote Temples * Angkor

Discover the forgotten temples of Cambodia that few tourists ever see. In the jungles of the north explore these hidden temples that are almost undisturbed. Camp just outside the temple in luxury safari tents to experience up close this deeply spiritual place.

7-Day CYCLING AROUND CAMBODIA
Angkor to Phnom Penh There is no better way to see these exquisite temples up close than by bike! Also cycle the back roads from Angkor to Phnom Penh past quaint fishing villages and Tonle Sap Lake to experience rural life.

5-Day ANGKOR & HISTORIC PHNOM PENH
View the amazing Angkor temple complex 𔃉 the crowning jewel of Khmer architecture. Travel to historic Phnom Penh, a vibrant upbeat city and explore the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Genocide Museum, the infamous “Killing Fields” and a handicraft market. Spend time at a local orphanage to lend a helping hand.

CENTRAL ASIA & PAKISTAN
Buzkashi Games & New Year festival celebrated

11-Day SPLENDORS OF CENTRAL ASIA departs on Tues
Tashkent * Fergana * Samarkand * Shakhrisabz * Bukara * Khiva * Tashkent

Recapture the magic while exploring the cities along the old Silk Road that once transported goods from China to the west. View medieval fortresses, beautiful gardens and stunning architecture – home to over 100 minorities. Admire the cobalt domes at Samarkand and celebrate New ear at springtime amidst equestrian events. Walk along Bukhara's ancient streets and view its small squares. Visit the living museum at Khiva with its palaces, mosques and intricate tile work. Browse through the bazaars and shop for carpets, silk embroidery and ceramics – all the time learning about its colorful past.

15-Day TRIBES OF KALASH & HUNZA (Pakistan)
Lahore * Peshawar * Kalash * Hunza Valleys * Karimabad * Gilgit * Lahore

Pakistan has a rich history that dates back to 2500 BC. Explore Peshawar's storyteller's bazaar and historic Khyber Pass. View Buddhist ruins of Gandhara and idyllic Swat Valley with its crafts, orchards, forests, rivers and snow-mountains. Meet the intriguing Kafir Kalash tribe in the Hindukush Valley and enjoy Karimabad's stunning scenery and apricots – the elixir of youth! Visit Gilgit - a thriving frontier town on the silkroad and historic Lahore with its museums, palaces and fortresses.

CHINA
Tribal & monastery festivals celebrated year round

7-Day SCENIC CHINA
Shanghai * Suzhou * Nanjing * Hangzhou

Explore Shanghai's teahouses and cruise along the Bund with its neoclassical architecture. View Suzhou's classical gardens and double-sided silk embroidery. Visit historic Nanjing's tombs, pagodas and temples and relax at Hangzhou's stunning lakeside.

9-Day KUNMING TO SHANGRILA mid Apr – mid Nov
Kunming * Gyelthang * Deqin * Tiger Leaping Gorge * Lijiang * Kunming

Explore Tibetan monasteries, Naxi culture and witness the stunning mountain scenery and the 12,000 ft deep Tiger Leaping Gorge. Meet people from China’s many ethnic minorities and learn about the intriguing Dongba religion.

8-Day KUNMING, STONE FOREST, DALI, LIJIANG & LUGU LAKE
Enjoy Kunming's eternal spring weather and visit temples, museum, bird and flower market and the Stone Forest with its limestone pinnacles. Visit Dali's old town market with Bai minorities, fishing villages and scenic Lake Erhai. En route view an ancient cliff top grotto and enjoy Lijiang's stunning scenery and old Naxi wooden houses. At Lugu Lake learn about the Mosuo matrilineal society, where women are in charge!

4-Day TRIBAL LIJIANG
As a recent APA traveler commented; "if Walt Disney had to create ancient China it would be Lijiang! It was magical and every corner you turned had great surprises." Explore the old town, pretty lantern lit canals, spectacular Jade Snow Mountain and stunning moonbeam bridge. Stroll through the park and view rare pictographic writings at the Dongba center. Meet an eccentric herbalist and amble around a sleepy little village with courtyards filled with chilies and corn.

12-Day CHINA SILK ROAD Fri Apr – Oct
Beijing * Xi'an * Jiayuguan * Dunhuang * Turfan * Kashgar * Shanghai

Traverse the fabled Silk Road to view resplendent palaces, life-size terra cotta warriors and exquisite Buddhist cave art. View the ingenious irrigation system in the oasis town of Turfan, and explore Jiaohe, the oldest and best preserved earthen city in the world! Visit Kashgar's famous Sunday Bazaar and meet the desert nomads and other ethnic minorities. Visit the westernmost part of the Great Wall and Shanghai, a high energy city of contrasts.

6-Day MT. EMEI & THE PANDAS
Chengdu * Leshan * Mt. Emei * Chengdu

Towering over the sleepy village of Leshan is the massive Grand Buddha! Hike or take the cable car up to Mt. Emei with its intense physical and spiritual beauty. You can help at the panda reserve and see these giant lovable animals in their natural surroundings. Learn about panda breeding and bamboo ecology. Enjoy Chengdu's opera and spicy cuisine.

5-Day BEIJING, DATONG & XI’AN
Explore Beijing's Forbidden City, Great Wall, hutongs (alleyways) and its burgeoning art scene and pearl market. In Datong visit the Hanging Monastery - a rare combination of mechanics, aesthetics and Buddhism! Also view one of China's largest grottos at Yuangang and the life-size army of Terra-cotta warriors in Xi'an.

4-Day TROPICAL XISHUANGBANNA Mon
Jinghong * Menghai * Xiding * Ganlanba * Menglung * Jinghong

Travel to laid back tribal villages in tropical Xishuangbanna near the Burma border. Meet the Dai minorities and learn about their culture and traditions. Visit markets, villages and botanical gardens filled with exotic plants and wildlife.

5-Day DAZU & YANGTSE CRUISE Mar – Nov
View the amphitheatre of Buddhist sculptures at Dazu and cruise along winding rivers, past breathtaking canyons and remote villages on the Yangtse River. Stop at ancient cities, temples, the Three Gorges and the world's largest and controversial dam project!

17-day DRAGONS, DRUMS & ART: Guizhou Festivals
Shanghai * Guiyang * Kaili * Chong'An Jiang * Shibing * Zhenyuan * Taijiang * Sandu * Ronjiang * Congjiang * Zhaoxing * Sanjiang * Guilin * Li River Cruise * Yangshuo * Hong Kong

Do Lusheng (bamboo pipe) music and tribal pageantry excite you? Have us arrange a private journey to Guizhou to celebrate their colorful local festivals. We have been taking groups and individuals to this area since the 80s to study these remote tribal cultures and see their exquisite embroidery. Escape to Guizhou's melting pot of over 14 ethnic groups and celebrate the surrealistic Miao festivals. Visit minority villages where the native Miao and other cultures remain relatively unchanged. The mysterious drum towers and graceful covered bridges of the Dong people have fascinated anthropologists for ages. Drive past the dragon spine rice terraces to Guilin and a cruise down the Li River through the eerie Karst formations to rural Yangshuo and on to Hong Kong.

INDIA
Tribal festivals & camel fairs celebrated year round

15-Day CULTURAL INDIA
Mumbai * Aurangabad * Udaipur * Jaipur * Agra * Khajuraho * Varanasi * Delhi

Experience the essence of India replete with art, architecture, legends and lore. The cosmopolitan cities of Mumbai and Delhi offer fabulous hotels, fine dining, silver streets, jewelry bazaars and evocative ruins. In Aurangabad see some of the finest Buddhist cave paintings. Reminisce at fairytale palaces, erotic temples and Jaipur's old walled city. Meet artists, buy colorful textiles, view fortress museums, and pilgrims along the Ganges River. Enjoy a magical sunset over the delicately ethereal Taj Mahal, a symbol of love and outrageous opulence.

9-Day BEST OF NORTHERN INDIA
Varanasi * Khajuraho * Agra * Fathepur Sikri * Jaipur * Delhi

Explore the great cities of Northern India replete with art, architecture, legends and lore. Experience the essence of India from the holy Ganges to the erotic temples of Khajuraho, to legendary Taj Mahal and the Ghost capital of Fatehpur Sikri. Travel to the pink city of Jaipur with its palaces and textiles. End your journey in cosmopolitan Delhi with its fine dining, upscale shopping, evocative monuments and silver-street in the old city.

11-Day PALACES OF RAJASTHAN
Delhi * Jaipur * Bikaner * Jaisalmer * Jodhpur * Ranakpur * Udaipur * Mumbai

Travel along the great Indian desert and be pampered at former maharaja's palaces and hunting lodges. Visit resplendent palaces museums, and the only living fortress city with filigreed havelis (mansions). Enjoy a sunset camel safari and shop for old silver, arts & crafts and textiles. Visit villages, lake palaces, ancient bazaars, and temples.

15-Day BEST OF INDIA’S WILDLIFE Nov – Mar
Delhi * Jaipur * Agra * 3 Wildlife Parks * Khajuraho * Varanasi * Delhi

Enjoy wildlife safaris in three of India's top wildlife reserves with the best animal sightings including tigers, blue cow, spotted deer and exotic birdlife. View the bamboo forests and grassland ungles. Learn about Project Tiger and be enriched by the artistic legacy, colorful history and fascinating cultures of India.

8-Day SOUTH INDIA INTERLUDE
Chennai * Mahabalipuram * Cochin * Periyar * Alleppey * Goa

Travel from bustling Chennai to the beautiful seashore temples with their intricate rock carvings. Visit an ancient silk weaving town and spice plantations. Relax on a deluxe rice barge cruise along the “backwaters” of Kerala. View the Chinese fishing nets, active Jewish quarter and classical dance performance in Cochin and arrive in Goa, once a quaint Portuguese fishing village, now a vacation hot spot with revolutionary standards of luxury.

8-Day BEST OF LEH mid Jun – mid Sep
Journey to Ladakh, known as Little Tibet, and explore its capital city, Leh. Under rugged snow-capped mountains, explore this scenic town with spectacular Buddhist monasteries and gompas (stupas) and breath-taking scenery. See the intricate turquoise headdresses worn by local women, visit the Tibetan medicine hospital and, perhaps, discuss with an oracle life’s unanswered questions.

8-Day TREK AROUND LEH mid Jun – mid Sep
Hike past snow-capped mountains, fluttering prayer flags and remote monasteries on this high altitude trek. Admire the frescoed halls and splendid religious art and join a peaceful prayer ceremony. Zigzag through mountain villages, over clear streams and barley fields in Ladakh known as "Little Tibet".

10-Day TRIBAL ARUNACHAL PRADESH Oct – May
Calcutta * Dilbrugarh * Khonsa * Longding * Calcutta

Explore Arunachal Pradesh’s recently opened tribal villages set amidst roaring rivers and deep gorges in the lofty Himalaya. 25 different tribes live here in near isolation retaining their traditions, animistic beliefs, language and to a large extent their dress. (Restricted area permits are subject to government approval.)
Optional Kaziranga Wildlife extension available.

13-Day INDIA’S LAST FRONTIERS Oct – May
Calcutta * Pasighat * Along * Ziro * Tezpur * Guwahati * Calcutta

Once known as the ‘Hidden Land’, Arunachal Pradesh was completely closed to all outsiders. A limited number of travelers are now being permitted to visit this beautiful region covered by natural forests, turbulent streams, roaring rivers, deep gorges and the lofty Himalaya. A sentinel of the country in the northeast, this ancient land has been mentioned in the Hindu epics.

About 25 different tribes inhabit Arunachal Pradesh. Due to its closure and remote location, these tribes have retained their intrinsic heritage and remain untouched. It has a patriarchal society where most locals practice polygamy. Head hunting has long since ceased and these are peace-loving people. In January you can participate in the Reh Festivalat Pasighat, celebrated by t he Idu Mismi tribe to thank for a bountiful harvest. Celebrate the unity among men with the Hill Miris at the Boori Boot Festival in Daporijo. In March see Mopin Festival of Adi (Hillman) tribes proficient in weaving, the Tagin with their unique slant thatch-roofs, the Nishi and the enterprising Apa Tani tribes of Ziro. End in Calcutta, the grand old city of the British Raj.

15-Day ORISSA: A Cultural Tapestry
Bhubaneshwar * Pipli * Taptapani * Jeypore * Gopalpur on-sea * Puri * Calcutta

Journey to vibrant Orissa with its ‘living’ temples, untouched tribal villages, rich diverse art forms and pristine shoreline! Marvel at the ancient rock-cut, ornate sandstone temples in Bhubaneshwar. Visit Jaganath Temple at Puri and the Sun Temple at Konarak, with its exquisitely preserved sculpture and astonishing erotica. 25 percent of Orissa's population is adivasi (tribal); they are thought to have descended from pre-Aryan aboriginal inhabitants and still practice their unique traditions and languages. Visit the nomadic Langia Soura tribes and drive to Taptapani, a spa village nestled in the Ghats. Go to Jeypore to meet the Kutia and Dongria Kondh, Koya and Bonda (naked) tribes who dress in colorful beads, heavy silver jewelry and little else. Amble in the weekly market and join the village festivities amongst these tribes dressed in all their finery. Relax at Gopalpur-on-sea's long pristine beach and end in colonial yet traditional Calcutta.

16-Day HIMALAYAN FOOTHILLS: KULLU & KANGRA
Delhi * Rishikesh * Shimla * Manali * Dharamshala * Dalhousie * Amritsar

I you wish to get away from it all, have us arrange a spiritually rejuvenating journey to the intensely beautiful valleys of Kullu and Kangra in Himachal Pradesh located between Punjab and Tibet. Walk amongst the surrounding hills and alpine meadows in undisturbed bliss. Visit nomadic Gaddis and quaint villages.

This region offers magnificent scenery with snow-covered mountain ranges stretching majestically for hundreds of miles. The Kangra Valley with its varied cultures, fragile ecosystems, thick pine forests and snow-fed, crystal-clear streams is flanked in the north by the perpetually snow-capped Dhauladhar mountain range. This region abounds in ancient temples and monasteries and is where the famous Kangra School of miniature painting was born.

Journey to Rishikesh with its peaceful ashrams and go up the mountains to Shimla, the lovely summer capital of the British. In September celebrate the famous weeklong Dussehra Festival where about 200 statues of devtas (Hindu Gods) are brought from the surrounding villages in carved wooden chariots clad in bright silks under lavishly embroidered parasols. Rejoice in the festivities and mingle with snake charmers, astrologers, sadhus (holy men), and gaily dressed Himachali dancers. Drive past lush tea gardens to Mcleodganj, a small sleepy Tibetan town in the Kangra valley where the Dalai Lama now lives in exile. Visit the pine-covered slopes of Dalhousie reminiscent of the Raj. Admire the glittering dome of the golden temple that rises above the teeming streets of Amritsar, the holy city of the Sikhs.

19-Day BEST OF NORTH AND SOUTH INDIA
Delhi * Samode * Jaipur * Agra * Khajuraho * Varanasi * Chennai * Madurai * Lake Periyar * Kumarakom * Cochin * Goa

Revel in the timeless beauty and cultures of both north and south India. Sample exotic cuisine, visit palaces, schools, and a home kitchen to learn authentic cooking. View the amazing accurate stone observatory and the often photographed palace of winds in Jaipur. Ride elephants, view the magnificent Taj Mahal, and the temples at Khajuraho, built in a burst of creativity in just 100 years! Enjoy a boat ride on the sacred Ganges River and a luxury rice barge cruise in Kerala. Relax and enjoy south India's lush gardens, palm fringed white sandy beaches, exquisite temple art, spice plantations, lakes and wildlife. Cruise along Kerala's backwaters on your luxury houseboat. Visit Cochin's active Jewish Quarter and enjoy classical dance and music performances.

INDONESIA
Religious festivals celebrated according to the lunar calendar

3-Day YOGYAKARTA & BOROBUDUR
The beautiful 9th century Prambanam contains over 200 temples and represents the Hindu cosmos. Borobudur, built between 750 and850 AD is the largest multi-level Buddhist complex comparable to Angkor and Bagan. Hike in teh countryside and view an active crater and a scenic lake. Learn about the art of leather puppet making, batik and silver works and walk along Maliaboro's night market.

23-Day ULTIMATE BORNEO (Malaysia, Indonesia)
Central Kalimantan * Kuching * Batang Ai * Mulu * Sukau * Sellingan * Kota Kinabalu

This nature lovers tour offers an eclectic mix of European history, river journeys, rainforests hikes, orangutans being reintroduced into the wild and national parks that cover over a million acres and host the world's most diverse flora and fauna. In the riverside city of Kuching visit museums housed in buildings dating back to the White Rajahs, Chinese temples and shopping arcades filled with tribal art and antiques. In rural Sarawak enjoy nature walks to view pepper gardens, cocoa and rubber plantations and meet the tattooed Iban clan in their longhouse. Hike to the mangrove forest for bird watching and explore the world's largest cave complex at Mulu. View Sukau's jungles, orangutans, bird life and see the turtles laying eggs.

15-Day DAYAK TRIBES & HOUSEBOAT ADVENTURE IN KALIMANTAN
Journey down the Mahakam River in a houseboat to meet the Benuaq & Kenyah Dayak Tribes of East Kalimantan. Experience untainted tribal culture few other westerners have seen. Travel side by side with the locals in boats and canoes and visit floating markets and remote tribal villages. Pass through a diversity of terrain, cross a huge lake and cruise through lush green everglade-type wetlands.View a plethora of wildlife such as hornbills, proboscis monkeys and maybe even the elusive freshwater pink dolphins.

Stay in a traditional longhouse in the Dayak villages where the local people still practice traditional healing method, hold elaborate funeral processions and conduct ritualistic ceremonies. Enjoy a ceremonial dance staged by the entire village and meet some of the "long eared" tribal people.

Traveling these remote areas gives you a true sense of the history and understanding of its indigenous people. Even though a lot has changed with the advent of technology and modern commerce, you can still observe a very proud culture that still practices a lifestyle little changed for centuries.

6-Day IRIAN JAYA (PAPUA) Except Mon, Tue
Jayapura * Wamena * Baliem Valley * Jayapura

Travel through thick jungles and meet indigenous tribes. Visit the lush Baliem Valley. Hike to Dani villages & caves and markets of Jayapura.

4-Day ORANGUTAN & PROBOSCIS MONKEYS
Bali * Semarang * Sekonyer River * Bali

Travel by riverboat and hike through tropical rainforest to observe orangutans being reintroduced into the wild. Stay in a forest lodge and enjoy the antics of a group of long tail macaques and photograph the golden proboscis monkeys.

7-Day FLORES & SUMBA Thu
Bale * Maumere * Waikabubak * Waingapu * Bali

Explore Kelimutu Volcano with its mountain lakes that continuously change their colors. Visit remote villages to see exquisite ikat weavings, animistic religion and megalithic cultures. View old stone graves in the shape of buffalo horns that symbolize the social status or wealth.

6-Day ACTIVE BALI
Swim, snorkel, practice yoga and hike on the pristine beaches of northern Bali. Visit weaving villages, museums and a frescoed courthouse. Take an invigorating temple hike, and enjoy great dining and shopping in Ubud.

22-Day IRIAN JAYA: A JOURNEY INTO THE STONE AGE
Highland villages * Southern & Central Baliem Valley

Irian Jaya (West Papua) is a last frontier for travel amongst Stone Age cultures, many of who have experienced little contact with the outside world. Special charters will take you into the land of the Yali tribes, a highland civilization. In these mountains you traverse along reasonably good but steep trails to remote villages. Meet men who still wear rattan hoops and penis gourds and women in grass/tuber skirts. Visit the isolated Kombai clan in the lowlands - little has changed and they remain people on the edge of the Stone Age.

IRAN

23-Day ULTIMATE IRAN
Ancient Cities, National Park & Desert Culture

From the mountains, rainforests, lush steppes and rich flora and fauna of the national park to the shimmering desert sands, from picturesque towns to excellent museums and trendy galleries of Tehran, Iran has it all. Pass by camel herds and stay close to the Great Salt Desert. Explore villages that date back thousands of years, visit Shiraz's splendid monuments, lofty minarets, and the turquoise cupolas in Isfahan to the Tomb of Daniel - a pilgrimage site. Buy Persian carpets and tribal rugs, inlaid silver and antiques and sip tea under a 4000-year old Cypress tree!

9-Day GLIMPSE OF PERSIA (Iran)
Tehran * Shiraz * Isfahan * Kashan * Tehran

Visit the most popular cities of Iran to experience first hand the vivid contrasts of an ancient culture along with modern influences. Explore incredible bazaars and regal squares that sit side by side with modern art galleries, trendy boutiques and fine restaurants. Visit world class museums and evocative ruins of this fascinating country.

14-Day PERSIA (Iran): THE LAND OF ANTIQUITY
Tehran * Kerman * Yazd * Shiraz * Persepolis * Isfahan * Kashan * Tehran

Be transported to a land of mosques and minarets, art, antiquity, history and poetry to experience the culture, cuisine and intense beauty of Iran. Visit the carpet and calligraphy museums in Tehran. View mirrored shrines, bazaars, ancient monuments, stunning artwork, beautiful gardens and old cities as you travel through Iran. Admire Isfahan's architectural masterpieces and stop at oasis towns to savor the beauty and learn about its ancient civilization.

JAPAN
A variety of festivals celebrated – Gion (Jul), Takayama (Oct & Apr), Snow Festival (Feb)

5-Day COUNTRY HOME STAY NEAR KYOTO
Few westerners are privy to staying in an elegant traditional country home to experience the essence of Japanese hospitality. Your host will take you around Kyoto, one of the few cities that survived the bombings. Enjoy a private home concert and a Shiatsu massage. Learn to wear a kimono, cook Japanese food and particpate in a tea ceremony.

5-Day EXCLUSIVE HOT SPRING GET-AWAY
Leave the hustle and bustle of Tokyo to enjoy one of Japan's exclusive hot spring resorts. Relax in a gorgeous ryokan (Japanese inn) amidst scenic mountains. Have a delicious Kaiseki dinner and rejuvenate in a therapeutic bath in the privacy of your own room. Enjoy a boat ride, hike and view Mt. Fuji up close.

5-Day FISHERMAN'S VILLAGE & WORLD HERITAGE SITES
Relax and enjoy the beauty of Japan's seaside at a local fisherman's house in a small seaside village. You are amongst the lucky few to stay in a real home, learn healthy Japanese cooking and share dinner with the local people to experience authentic Japan! Luxuriate in an outdoor bath overlooking the sea. Observe children practicing the 8th century Kagura Dance. It is performed to give thanks for a good harvest and as a purification ritual. A special treat is a visit the quilt museum to see quilts made from antique kimonos. See gorgeous pottery at an authentic pottery workshop - known among artists the world over.

14-Day AUTHENTIC JAPAN: Festivals & Country Home Stay
Osaka * Kyoto * Kameoka * Kanazawa * Takayama * Himeji * Osaka

Stay in an ancestral country home and experience Japanese living first hand! Your host will take you along the back streets of Kyoto to buy wood-block prints and antique kimonos where the locals shop! Explore Kyoto's temples, palaces, shrine markets and the geisha district. Have lunch at a Zen garden, visit a cloisonne museum. Relax in a local hot spring, meet artists and take the bullet train to charming Takayama, tucked in the Japanese Alps where you can hike or bike to craft markets. View Himeji Castle - perhaps Japan's most beautiful surviving feudal castle.

KOREA

10-Day TASTE OF KOREA
Seoul * Gyeongju * Mt. Sorak * Seoul

Admire superb gardens & palaces in Seoul. Visit the ancient temples & fortresses at Kyongju. Venture into lush green valleys and granite peaks of Mt. Sorak National Park. Tour the DMZ – a legacy of the conflict between North and South.

13-Day SOUTH & NORTH KOREA Seoul * Gyeongju * Andong * Mt. Sorak * North Korea * Seoul

Tour Seoul, South Korea's center for business, education, and modern culture. Visit the open air museum at Gyeongju with its Ginseng Chicken and rejuvenating body scrub. Andong Village has preserved its 16th century architecture and people live in the original houses. Visit the mask museum and depending on when you visit, celebrate a local festival. Explore Mt. Sorak's craggy mountains, and numerous trails. Cross the border in to North Korea and view stunning Diamond Mountain. With 12,000 mountain peaks, valleys, waterfalls, and ponds, it is truly a phenomenal vision of nature.

LAOS
Boat races (Oct), That Luang Pagoda festival (Nov)

6-Day CLASSIC LAOS & PREHISTORIC PLAIN OF JARS Thu
View the classical highlights of Vientiane and Luang Prabang and fly to one of the most intriguing sights in Laos - The mysterious Plain of Jars with fields of prehistoric stone urns of unknown origins.

5-Day TRANQUIL LAOS BY SLOW BOAT Mon, Thu, Fri, Sun Oct – May
Huay Xai * Pakbeng * Luang Prabang

Cruise along the Mekong from the Golden Triangle to the Pak Ou Caves! View the temples, museum and Mt. Phousi in Luang Prabang and enjoy countryside walks and a swim beneath a multi-tiered waterfall that tumbles over limestone formations into a series of turquoise pools.

5-Day RAFTING & KAYAKING IN LAOS Sun Sep - May
Luang Prabang * local villages * Luang Prabang

Since 2005, Laos has promoted cultural and environmental protection. This fairly challenging trip explores a unique biodiversity conservation area. Paddle to traditional Khammu and Lanten villages to experience rural life, view wildlife and jungle flora. Enjoy thrilling rapids and kayaking, at the same time contributing to wildlife and forest preservation and helping to boost the local economy.

12-Day BEST OF LAOS Sun, Wed, Fri Sep – May
Pak Beng * Luang Prabang * Pakse * Champasak * Vientiane

Feel like an explorer on a cruise down the Mekong past small villages to the ancient meditation caves at Pak Ou. Walk along the shop houses, buy exquisite hand woven silks and photograph monks in the misty morning in this lovely mountain town. View the beautiful temples with sweeping roofs and delicate tile work. Travel south and cruise Lao style to view stunning 4000 island area and evocative 11th century Khmer ruins at Champasak. Explore Vientiane's ancient temples, revolutionary museum and the famous morning market.

MALAYSIA (BORNEO)
Boat races, lantern, art & tribal festivals celebrated year round

4-Day TAMAN NEGARA JUNGLE SAFARI
Kuala Lumpur * Taman Negara * Kuala Lumpur

Enjoy nighttime hikes in the 130 million year old tropical rainforest. Look out for nocturnal insects such as the fireflies amidst the chorus of the rainforest. Walk along the canopy walk built 130 feet above the ground that brings you closer to the treetops! Learn about these fragile eco-systems, shoot rapids, explore caves, and swim in refreshing pools. .

4-Day MULU CAVES & HIKING
Kuching • Mulu • Kuching

Explore the largest cave system in the world at Mulu. Hike through primary forest and view exotic flora & fauna including pitcher plants, wild orchids and Raffalesia - the largest flower in the world!

7-Day SARAWAK ADVENTURE
Kuching • tribal longhouse • Batang Ai • Kuching

Explore the riverine town of Kuching. Drive past pepper gardens, cocoa and rubber plantations. Enjoy nature walks and canoe along jungle rivers. Visit an Iban clan and view exotic wildlife at Bako National Park.

23-Day ULTIMATE BORNEO (Malaysia, Indonesia)
Central Kalimantan * Kuching * Batang Ai * Mulu * Sukau * Sellingan * Kota Kinabalu This nature lovers tour offers an eclectic mix of European history, river journeys, rainforests hikes, orangutans being reintroduced into the wild and national parks that cover over a million acres and host the world's most diverse flora and fauna. In the riverside city of Kuching visit museums housed in buildings dating back to the White Rajahs, Chinese temples and shopping arcades filled with tribal art and antiques. In rural Sarawak enjoy nature walks to view pepper gardens, cocoa and rubber plantations and meet the tattooed Iban clan in their longhouse. Hike to the mangrove forest for bird watching and explore the world's largest cave complex at Mulu. View Sukau's jungles, orangutans, bird life and see the turtles laying eggs.

MONGOLIA & RUSSIA
New Year (Mar), Eagle (Oct) & Naadam Horse Festival (Jul)

8-Day CLASSIC MONGOLIA mid May – mid Sep
Ulaan Baatar * Terelj National Park * Bayangobi * Ulaan Baatar

Visit Ulaan Baatar's excellent museums, active temples and Buddhist monasteries, meet the pastoral nomads and stay in a comfortable ger (tent) camp to experience the diverse wilderness, mountain and desert regions of remote Mongolia.

5-Day LAKE KHOVSGOL Sun, Tue mid May – mid Sep
Enjoy the small town feel of Ulaan Baatar. Then fly to spectacular Lake Khovsgol, home to abundant wildlife. Mongols of the Khalkh, Buryat, and Darkhat ethnic groups live here during certain seasons; the Tsaatan reindeer herders live in the mountainous taiga and forest steppe to the northwest.

10-Day MONGOLIA TO SIBERIA Wed, Sat mid May – mid Sep
Ulaan Baatar * Ulan Ude * Irkutsk * Lake Baikal * Ulaan Baatar

Explore Ulaan Baatar before crossing into Siberia. Visit homes in a traditional Buryat village and enjoy boat rides on Lake Baikal, the world’s oldest and deepest lake. Stay in a traditional Siberian lodge. Tour the museums and churches in Irkutsk. Optional extension on the deluxe Trans-Siberian Train to Moscow and St. Petersburg can be arranged.

18-Day BEST OF MONGOLIA WITH NAADAM HORSE FESTIVAL
Ulaan Baatar * Olgi * Gobi Desert * Karakoram * Ulaan Baatar

Celebrate the Naadam Festival in July where thousands gather for archery, wrestling, horse racing competitions and people watching - a photographer's dream trip! Meet the nomads and eagle hunters in the seldom visited West Altai Mountains. View towering sand dunes, dinosaur fossils and the flaming cliffs in the Gobi Desert. See the famous Przewalski horses and stay in a ger (tent) camp. Enjoy remote scenery and Mongolian hospitality in this spectacular, untamed wilderness area. View exquisite art and antiquity, meet the tribes, and listen to their unique singing.

NEPAL
Buddhist & Hindu religious festivals celebrated year round

13-Day ACTIVE NEPAL & TIBET Tue, Sat Mar – May, Oct – Nov
Lhasa * Kathmandu * Pokhara * Chitwan National Park * Kathmandu

Explore Lhasa's 1000-room Potala Palace with its sophisticated design, the holiest temple surrounded by a pilgrim's path and stupendous monasteries. Take a breathtaking flight over the Himalaya to medieval Kathmandu sprinkled with ancient temples, exquisite wood carvings, cobbled streets and colorful bazaars. Enjoy village hikes in scenic Pokhara, elephant rides and a jungle safari to view abundant wildlife including the tiger!

5-Day KATHMANDU, BHAKTAPUR & NAGARKOT
Tour the highlights of ever-popular Kathmandu. Enjoy a walking tour of the old town, photograph ancient cities, temples and a royal bath. Visit an open-air museum and drive past rice terraces and pretty mustard fields to see a stunning sunrise over the Himalaya. Enjoy village walks and a Nepali home visit.

7-Day KATHMANDU, WILDLIFE SAFARI & EVEREST FLIGHT mid Sep – mid Jun
Revel in the art, architecture, temples and old towns in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. Stay in a jungle lodge and enjoy a wildlife safari by elephant, jeeps and dugout canoes. Get close to the "top of the world" on an extraordinary flight around Mt. Everest.

10-Day NEPAL FAMILY ADVENTURE Mar - May, Oct - Nov
Kathmandu * Pokhara villages * Chitwan National Park * Kathmandu

Explore Bhaktapur and medieval Kathmandu’s temple art & architecture, bazaars and old town. Learn about Nepali culture in a private home. Hike around Pokhara’s colorful ethnic villages, visit local schools and view the magnificent Himalaya. Raft to Chitwan for elephant safaris, jungle hikes, canoe rides and bird watching.

15-Day FACE TO FACE WITH EVEREST call to arrange your private journey!
Kathmandu * Lukla * Namche * Tengboche * Kathmandu

The Everest region surrounded by the tallest mountains in the world offers some of the world's best trekking! Experience the Sherpa culture and stunning views of the high Himalaya on this challenging high altitude trek. Begin with a gradual ascent then in earnest till you arrive at the base camp full of traders and trekkers. Visit a tranquil monastery and hike to a typical village. Culminate at Tengboche (13,700 ft) with awe-inspiring views of eight 20,000 plus foot peaks, including Everest!

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
A variety of harvest & tribal festivals celebrated – Goroko (Sep), Mt. Hagen Sing Sing (Aug)

10-Day PAPUA NEW GUINEA ADVENTURE Bi-monthly Apr – Jun & Sep - Oct
Port Moresby * Mt. Hagen * Sepik region * Tari * Port Moresby

Explore the mystical Sepik Region - one of the world's largest waterways! Visit villages and observe the almost intact tribal culture, customs, animistic beliefs, art, magic and sorcery of these flamboyant tribes who are skilled carvers and weavers. See exotic bird life, high valleys and towering limestone peaks. Tour the great Tari Basin and the surrounding mountains, home to the Huli wigmen and Mudman.

SRI LANKA
Spectacular elephant festival celebrated

5-Day ANCIENT CAPITALS OF SRI LANKA
Colombo * Kandy * Polonnaruwa * Sigiriya * Anuradhapura * Colombo

The ancient capitals of Sri Lanka have a history that goes back 2500 years. Before Colombo became the capital, Kandy was the last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings. Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka?s first capital had a flourishing civilization and its evocative ruins were discovered in the early 19th century. Polonnaruwa, rose to fame after the decline of Anuradhapura whose period of greatness lasted from the 10th-12th centuries AD. The monuments of this medieval city are relatively well preserved and give clear evidence of the glory of Sri Lanka's past.

12-Day SRI LANKA EXPLORER
Colombo * Sigiriya * Kandy * Pinnawela * Nuwara Eliya * Yala * Galle * Colombo

Sri Lanka is ranked amongst the world's most beautiful countries, with its exquisite monuments, stunning coastline, quaint fishing villages, 5th century rock fortresses, green scrub jungle, idyllic tea estates with English charm and cooler climate, Dutch style port cities, and eclectic boutique hotels! This in-depth tour has it all. Visit the ancient capitals, an elephant orphanage, Kandy's plethora of historical buildings and monuments and Colombo's gem market. Walk in the lush tropical rainforest, meet craftsmen making coir and jute products; view the 150 Buddha images and murals at Dumbulla Caves and the 2000 year old Bodi Tree!

7-Day WONDERS OF SRI LANKA
Colombo * Galle * Kandy * Polonnaruwa * Colombo

For those with limited time enjoy this shorter version that includes the must see sights of Sri Lanka.

THAILAND
Elephant, boat, flower, religious & art festivals celebrated year round

8-Day THAILAND EPIC
Bangkok * Phimai * Ban Chiang * Sukothai * Chiang Mai * Chiang Rai

Travel from lively Bangkok with its grand art and architecture and world class cuisine to the exquisite pre-Angkor Khmer temples, silk weaving villages and prehistoric pottery village. View amazing Buddhist art in Sukothai and continue to the mysterious Golden Triangle where Burma, Laos and Thailand meet. View spectacular mountain top temples, hike in hill tribe villages; enjoy an elephant safari, the rainforest ecology and a long tail boat ride along the Kok River.

5-Day LONG NECK TRIBES IN MAE HONG SON
Chiang Mai * Mae Hong Son * Chiang Mai Meet the interesting long neck tribes who wear numerous brass rings around their elongated necks and on their legs and live near the Burma border. Ride an elephant in the scenic jungles and a bamboo boat ride. Visit a nearby village to see some weaving and enjoy the scenery and slow pace of this area only a flight away from bustling Chiang Mai where you will tour the classic highlights.

6-Day ULTIMATE NORTHERN ADVENTURE
Chiang Mai * Lamphun * National Park * Chiang Rai

Visit the living wats (temples) and the local hill-tribes of Chiang Mai and enchanting Lamphun with its ancient sites and relics, forests and mountains and delightful lakes. Spend an active day hiking or biking in a scenic national park with its mountains and waterfalls and end in the famed Golden Triagle where you can enjoy elephant safaris and walks in teh scenic countryside.

4-Day THAI COOKING IN CHIANG MAI
Learn Thai cooking the right way in a chef's tropical villa with helpers to assist you. Visit the market to select the fresh ingredients then prepare a gourmet lunch that you will taste and critique later. You will also have time to explore the highlights of Chiang Mai with its temples, moat, night market, 2 hour long healing massages and celadon, silk, paper and bronze artifacts.

5-Day KHAO SOK RAIN FOREST Nov - Aug
Wake up to the sound of nature and birds calling in the jungle around you. View lush tropical vegetation and wildlife as you canoe through mangrove forests and pristine eco-systems. Drift along a river passing limestone mountains and cliffs covered with exotic flora. Get a fantastic bird's eye view of the park on an elephant trek. Extend your stay to luxuriate at a fabulous beach resort.

4-Day BANGKOK TO AYUTHAYA BY RICE BARGE Sat
Cruise on a deluxe teak rice barge to the ancient capital of Ayuthaya, known for its stunning ruins. See life on the river and explore local villages. Bike or walk in the countryside. Visit pottery and handicraft villages, homes, orphanages and schools.

5-Day TROPICAL ISLAND CRUISE & KO PHI PHI Tue and Sat
Cruise aboard a luxury schooner through the blue waters and karst limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay to remote Ko Phi Phi. Sun yourself on stunning beaches and snorkel amidst coral reefs.

TIBET
A variety of festivals celebrated – Losar (Mar/Feb), Saga Dawa (May/Jun), Litang (Aug)

6-Day LEGENDARY LHASA
Visit timeless Lhasa, its stupendous monasteries and the 1,000-room Potala Palace. View the impressive roof terraces housing the Dalai Lama's residences and the prolific religious art. The summer palace of the Dalai Lama is a large complex of small palaces and chapels within a walled garden. Visit the Tibetan Herbal Medicine Hospital and the holiest temple and surrounding bazaar with prostrating pilgrims, prayer wheels, turquoise and corals.

8-Day CLASSIC TIBET
Lhasa * Tsedang * Gyantse * Shigatse * Lhasa

Arrive in Lhasa on a trans-Himalayan flight from Kathmandu, or from Chengdu via a a scenic train ride. Follow the turquoise blue Yamdrok Lake to Gyantse with its stunning chorten and distinct Tibetan character. View living monasteries, yak herders and teh dramatic mountain scenery of the Tibetan plateau. Tour the highlights of Lhasa - on every adventurer's wish list!

8-Day REMOTE LHASA, DRIGUNG & NAMSTO LAKE
Your journey begins in Lhasa where you will explore the sacred Jokhang Temple with its astounding display of chanting and prostrating pilgrims circumambulating the temple from morning to night. Drive through a remote, seldom visited part of Tibet with its beautiful scenery and ancient monasteries. Visit Drigung Monastery, founded in 1179, with a tradition emphasizing tantric meditation and Phowa practices. View the stunning Namtso Lake (15,000ft.) set in a harsh but starkly beautiful landscape. During the summer months this area is filled with nomadic herders and their yaks and tents. Visit one of the earliest and largest Buddhist monastery in Tibet before returning to Lhasa.

11-Day TIBET & EVEREST BASE CAMP Apr – Jun, Oct – Nov
Lhasa * Gyantse * Shigatse * Tingri * Everest Base Camp * Zhangmu * Kathmandu

Begin in the ancient Tibetan capital of Lhasa and explore the great monasteries, temples and palaces along this route to Everst Base Camp. View the world's highest mountain and continue to medieval Kathmandu over high-mountain passes. Visit temples, bazaars, artisan towns and a Nepali home.

13-Day ACTIVE NEPAL & TIBET Wed, Sat Mar – May, Oct – Nov
Lhasa • Kathmandu • Pokhara villages • Chitwan National Park • Kathmandu

Explore Lhasa's 1000-room Potala Palace with its sophisticated design, the holiest temple surrounded by a pilgrim's path and stupendous monasteries. Take a breathtaking flight over the Himalaya to medieval Kathmandu sprinkled with ancient temples, exquisite wood carvings and cobbled streets and colorful bazaars. Enjoy village hikes in scenic Pokhara, elephant rides and jungle safari to view abundant wildlife including the tiger!

MT. KAILASH YATRA with Saga Dawa Festival – call for details.

VIETNAM

9-Day VIETNAM HIGHLIGHTS
Saigon * Danang * Hoi An * Hue * Hanoi * Ha Long Bay * Hanoi

Visit Saigon's Chinatown, the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temple. Travel to Danang's Marble Mountain and the artisan town of Hoi An. Enjoy a Perfume River cruise, imperial Hue and Hanoi's craft quarter, water puppets, and cruise Ha Long Bay. This tour combines well with Laos and Angkor packages.

8-Day WAR HISTORY SITES
Hanoi * Hue * DMZ * Danang * Saigon

Begin your adventure in Hanoi, a cultural center that still retains its French colonial ambiance, despite its war torn history. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and DMZ outside of Danang and journey to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Visit the War Remnants Museum, take in the cultural highlights and learn about the Vietnamese’ perspective of the war.

6-Day SAIGON, MEKONG DELTA & PHNOM PENH Daily
Enjoy Saigon's exotic colonial ambiance, trendy café's, great food, excellent shopping, temples, and markets before heading out to the watery world of the Mekong Delta. Experience Vietnamese rural life as you pass emerald rice paddies and colorful floating markets. Take a lovely boat along the river to experience daily living on this magnificent waterway. Photograph the rows of stand-up boats, quaint villages, canals and coconut groves and arrive in Historic Phnom Penh to explore the Palace, museum, market and the Genocide Museum and Killing Fields.

4-Day TRIBES & MARKETS BY TRAIN Fri
Travel by train from Hanoi to remote mountain villages and hidden markets. Hike to picturesque villages and meet tribes wearing their varied costumes and ethnic jewelry. See tribal art, religious paintings and textiles.

2-Day HA LONG BAY WITH COOKING
Set sail on a lovely wooden boat through breathtaking Ha Long Bay and its countless limestone islands and caves. Go swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathe on deck. Learn innovative French / Vietnamese cooking and enjoy delicious meals on board. Kayak, go fishing or take a bamboo rowboat to explore the bay at night. Get energized with Tai Chi on deck as the sun rises over the bay.

3-Day MEKONG DELTA
Saigon * Can Tho * remote markets * Saigon

Experience rural Vietnamese life in the Mekong delta. Travel by car and by boat to the best floating markets in the delta with rows of stand-up boats, floating villages, canals and coconut groves.