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.
Intrepid Travel marketing manager Gillian Pearsall said: “Asia is our most popular destination for small group adventures, mostly because of the language barrier. When I attempted to do some independent travel in Japan, the sight of the Tokyo tube map in Japanese Kanji made me panic.”
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.
Premier Holidays head of faraway product David Carlaw said: “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.”
On The Go has launched two new brochures of Asian tour products. The Russia and Trans Siberian itineraries include four-day tours of Moscow, 11-day Volga River Cruises, and snowmobiling in Mongolia. The China brochure includes eclipse itineraries for this July.
What’s new
Vietnam
High customer enquiry levels mean Hayes and Jarvis is moving back in to Vietnam after a three-year gap. 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.
At the royal city of Hue, they can tour the Imperial Citadel and take a boat on the Perfume River, then explore the trading town of Hoi An and finish at Ho Chi Minh city, where they can visit the Vietcong tunnels at Cu Chi. Tour prices start from £1,495 per person in November, including Thai Airways flights.
Borneo
Jetsave is expanding its programme of escorted tours outside of North America for 2010. Its eight-day Borneo Adventure 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.
The trip leads in at £1,229, per person, departing in September, and includes Malaysian Airlines flights from London, accommodation and itinerary excursions.
China
Collette Worldwide Holidays is introducing 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.
You can also dine with a local Hutong family in their home. Prices start at £1,229 per person, twinshare, including accommodation, 15 meals, return flights and transfers (within 100 miles of the departure airport).
Japan
Gold Medal Holidays’ 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.
Specialist operator InsideJapan has 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
Those who book Exodus’s 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.
