Once Christmas and New Year are over, the spring and light evenings seem a million miles away which makes it a great time to head to Asia, which will be enjoying some of the best weather of the year.
Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Southern Vietnam and Myanmar, are all excellent locations to visit in January and February, and the increasing number of excellent flights in the region – including a new one from Bangkok to Phú Quốc in Vietnam (commences 29 October) – means that Bamboo Travel can easily put together an itinerary that combines two or more countries to create an extra special Asia experience (and escape from the UK winter).
The two-week Thailand and Angkor itinerary is a leisurely tour that includes many of the highlights of these two colourful countries, including bustling Bangkok, the River Kwai – and the infamous bridge featured in the famous 1957 film – a day trip to the ancient capital of Ayutthaya (with a cruise along the mystical Chao Phraya River), the temples of Angkor and Lake Tonle Sap, and some R&R on an idyllic Thai beach. The holiday costs from £2995 pp (two sharing), which includes flights, 14 nights’ B&B (and one lunch), private tours, entrance fees and a guide.
The Highlights of Indochina private tour provides a chance to discover Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam inside two weeks. The itinerary includes the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, the temples of Angkor, Luang Prabang, Hanoi in northern Vietnam (with an overnight cruise), before travelling the length of the country to Saigon, stopping off en route at Imperial city of Hue and the old port of Hoi An. The holiday costs from £3495 pp (two sharing) which includes international and domestic flights, all transportation, 13 nights’ B&B (plus two lunches and one dinner), private transfers and tours throughout, and a guide.
One of the best ways to discover Asia is on the network of rivers and the 17-night Slow Road from Thailand to Burma includes a variety of cruises. Journey from frenetic Bangkok to the former Thai capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai on an overnight boat trip, before continuing on to the Thai border at Mae Sot, to cross into Burma and head for the former colonial town of Moulmein. Passing along rivers, and through karst landscapes (just as Rudyard Kipling would have done), arrive in Yangon to explore this rapidly changing city. The itinerary ends with a few days on the golden sands of Ngwe Saung Beach. The holiday costs from £4195 pp (two sharing) which includes international flights, 17 nights’ B&B (plus four lunches and one dinner), private transfers and tours, river cruises and a private guide.
