Most visitors to South East Asia want to include a number of destinations to create a touring holiday. To maximise the variety of holiday experiences the itinerary often involves multiple flights throughout the holiday. This will remain the norm but we’ve noticed since the Coronavirus pandemic an increase in the number of enquiries to keep flying to a minimum. There’s no getting away from the need to fly 12 hours out and back but below are 4 examples of holidays that pack in plenty of variety combining World famous sights with the chance to get slightly off the beaten track on a private overland tour or small luxury river cruise.
Cambodia Overland Highlights with Overnight Mekong Cruise & Saigon Stay
A new overnight cruise through the Mekong Delta will be one of the holiday highlights as you combine modern and ancient Cambodia with a few days in vibrant Saigon.
You'll follow the Mekong River throughout the holiday, starting with the Tonle Sap Lake and Angkor Temples, then riverside living in the Capital, Phnom Penh, onto a speedboat that crosses the Vietnam border where you explore a less visited part of the Mekong Delta, before finally boarding the luxury overnight cruise through the delta to Saigon where you spend a couple of days exploring the sights of this vibrant city.
If you’d like to add a beach stay then Phan Thiet / Mui Ne is 4 hours by car from Saigon and is one of Vietnam’s driest regions.
Best Time to Travel - October to April
North & Central Vietnam Overland Tour
The perfect trip for those looking for a varied holiday with minimum travelling, squeezing in a fantastic mixture of history, culture, nature and beach as you travel overland through the North & along the Central coast of Vietnam.
Start in Hanoi, the atmospheric and authentic Capital, before heading out for an overnight cruise amongst the majestic islands of Halong Bay. Back on dry land head with your private guide to Ninh Binh, a rural region full of dramatic limestone & jungle landscapes. The holiday ends with an overnight train journey in a private soft sleeper cabin to Hue, the last Royal Capital and the beaches of Hoi An. Pedestrianised and lantern lit at night with galleries, shops, restaurants and cafes, it’s a firm favourite for those looking for somewhere that’s more than a purely a beach.
Best Time to Travel - March to August
Classic Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is the easiest place to keep flying to the minimum as you can
fly there direct from the UK and then join you private guide on a range of tours that explore this beautiful island. The most popular holiday we feature is our Classic Sri Lanka tour that meanders through the island’s most famous and beautiful regions.
Ancient culture, elephants galore, beautiful vistas and manicured tea estates plus the chance to ride a train through the hill country. Variety is the key as no two days will be the same until you reach the beach and reflect of the wonderful touring experiences you’ve enjoyed.
Best Time to Travel - December to April
Cruise The Laos Mekong
There is no better way of experiencing life on the Mekong than by joining a river cruise, particularly when this allows you to experience parts of the country that are relatively inaccessible and less developed, plus no inconvenience of packing and unpacking each day.
With just 14 cabins the Pandaw is a luxurious replica of the colonial-era river boats that once cruised the inland waterways of Southeast Asia and provides a superb base from which to enjoy panoramic views of the river and explore villages, countryside and temples along the way. All tours and meals are included.
You'll visit the Capital, Vientiane and UNESCO Luang Prabang, but the joy of this cruise is the easy access to the rural river heartland set deep amongst mountains and protected by rapids and gorges. A real river boat adventure and a beach stay can be added
Best Time to Travel - September to March
