Cuc Phuong National Park is the first national park of Vietnam and is one of the few remaining tropical rain forest reserves in the world. Originally created by Ho Chi Minh in 1962, the park is one of the most popular nature tourist destinations in Vietnam. Hundreds of species of animals and thousands of species of plants can be found here, including several endangered species.

Even though many large animals like panthers and bears make Cuc Phuong their home, they are rarely seen. Instead, nature lovers are sure to see monkeys, gibbons, flying squirrels and pheasants in their natural habitats. The park is also home to endangered primate species like the Delacour’s Langur, Golden-headed Langur, Tonkin Snub-nosed Langur and Black Crested Gibbon. The Cuc Phuong Endangered Primate Rescue Center and the Cuc Phuong Turtle Conservation Center are two research centers vital for the breeding, rehabilitation and preservation of animals rescued from poachers. Both centers are open to visitors during the day.

There are dozens of nature trails available for the avid hiker. Birding fans are sure to enjoy looking for the 300 species of birds that inhabit the rain forest’s lush canopy. In addition to the wide variety of nature hikes available, tourists can relax at the park’s hot springs. These springs contain 20 chemical elements believed to have healing properties. Visitors who wish to stay overnight can stay in the stilt-house of a Muong family. A home stay offers travelers an intimate and unique perspective on the traditional Muong way of life.

The National Park is located in Annamite Mountains, full of gorgeous karst mountain peaks and lush green valleys. Numerous caves can be found here, many of which have been the site of significant archaeological discoveries. Ancient burial sites and tools have been discovered at the Cave of Early Man, or Nguoi Xua. Similar archaeological discoveries have ben made at Crescent Move, Thanh Minh and Con Mong caves.

The park is about three hours from Hanoi, and makes a great change from Hanoi’s bustling city life. Contact Exotissimo Travel to add a stroll through Cuc Phuong National Park to your itinerary.

Sofitel is wasting no time in Thailand this year, as 1st May 2007 will see the opening of the new Sofitel Riverside Chiang Mai resort along the banks of the Mae Ping River. This new boutique property will feature 75 opulent rooms decorated in a fusion of the best in Thai and Western design traditions. Though the resort is located within 10 acres of gorgeous tropical gardens, it is still only minutes away from the airport and Chiang Mai’s popular night bazaar.

The resort’s three restaurants and bar will provide guests with a wide selection of fine dining options. It will also have three meeting rooms, a swimming pool with Jacuzzi and a fitness center with a sauna. The Aspara Spa and beauty salon will have six twin bed treatment rooms, perfect for couples.

Why not stay in Chiang Mai in comfort? Contact Exotissimo Travel to reserve a room now!

Treat yourself to a royal dinner at the Ancient Hue. Opening in mid-July 2007, this new restaurant will provide you with a meal fit for a Vietnamese king. Your royal treatment begins as you step through the gigantic ceremonial gate into the Ancient House’s gorgeous courtyard. The courtyard’s traditional design incorporates a tranquil lotus pond and five heritage houses, dating from the 1800s and early 1900s. Within these houses, guests can find an art gallery, a VIP dining room, an open-air bar and a museum.

Vietnam’s emperors defined Hue cuisine with their craving for variety. To this day, Hue cuisine is characterized by small bite-sized morsels full of delicate flavors to charm the royal palate. At the Ancient Hue, their chef blends the both traditional cuisine with European and Asian flavors to bring this specifically royal cuisine into the 21st century. For future chefs, the restaurant also has cooking classes.

Capable of seating 250pax, the Ancient Hue is a great option for your next corporate banquet, incentive or MICE trip. Royal entertainment is available in the form of traditional dancing and classical court music. Contact Exotissimo Travel to make a reservation at the Ancient Hue.

Established in 1995 in Chiang Mai, the aim of the Elephant Nature Park is to provide a sanctuary and rescue centre for over 30 Asian pachyderms. In the scenic Mae Taeng Valley, the Park is one of the rare places in Thailand where elephants no longer work for humans. The park allows visitors to see elephants as they should be seen, roaming free in a picturesque and natural environment.

Throughout the day, visitors learn about the problems elephants face in Southeast Asia, as well as the changes advocated by the Park regarding their care, treatment, and training. By helping the park’s volunteers feed and bathe the elephants, guests will experience a true eco-tourisim adventure, unique for any visitor to Southeast Asia. As a non-profit organization, the cost of every visit directly supports the elephants.

If you would rather walk beside an elephant than ride on top of one, contact Exotissimo Travel for more details.

On the trendy Nimmanehim Road, AT Niman is a former private apartment that has been completely redesigned by the same architect that designed the Oriental Dhara Devi. This cozy property is centrally located and a unique blend of Asian design and international comfort. The eight rooms have been decorated in a “Himalayan” aesthetic, described as an eclectic mix of Indian, Bhutanese, Nepalese, and Thai influences.

Only five months old, Fern Paradise is a new alternative in Chiang Mai for nature lovers. 15 km North-East of the city, the Fern Paradise is a group of nine converted wooden rice barns on stilts. These nine rooms are set among a vast garden populated by many rare ferns. Both rice barns and ferns hold special significance for the Lanna people, and this property unifies both in one harmonious place.

Please contact Exotissimo Travel to stay at one of these unique properties during your next visit to Chiang Mai.

Angkor Wat, one of our most popular destinations, is competing to be one of the 7 New Wonders of the World. Home of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, it has been recognized as a World Heritage Site since 1992. We feel strongly that Angkor deserves to be recognized as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World and hope that you will vote for Angkor Wat at http://www.new7wonders.com.

To vote for Angkor Wat:

1. Visit this webpage.
2. Click vote on-line.
3. Select the 7 places you think that deserve to be “Wonders of the World.” (Hopefully, Angkor Wat is one of them.)
4. Submit your e-mail address.
5. Confirm your votes via e-mail.

Deep in the heart of Bangkok, the Dream Hotel is a chic new 5-star boutique hotel that is awaiting your next stay. This luxury hotel is located in the middle of Sukhumvit road – the heart of Bangkok’s fashion, entertainment, shopping and nightlife.

This stylish hotel’s look, feel and even taste are a funky twist on standard “East Meets West” fusion. The Dream’s 100 hotel rooms are decorated with a wide variety of convenient solutions for modern living, including a unique “Blue Therapy Light.” The outrageous “Flava” bar uses this same aesthetic with its daring cocktail theme.

For a hip, chic experience, Exotissimo Travel recommends that you spend a couple nights at The Dream. We are sure you’ll get a good night’s rest.

Stressed-out tourists have another luxury place to rest their heads. The Sofitel Phokeethra Krabi Resort & Spa has just officially opened. The Sofitel Phokeethra Krabi Resort & Spa is a luxurious 5-star 276 room resort with rooms looking out onto the Andaman Sea. Located on a stretch of immaculate white sand, the resort is home to three restaurants, five bars, a 7000 square metre swimming pool, fitness centre, Turkish bath, spa, children’s playground and conference facilities for up to 350 delegates.

The three restuarants provide the discerning gourmand with three distinctly different world-class dining options. There is the Ristorante Vinezia, a stylish Italian restarant featuring a wood-fired pizza oven. The White Lotus provides guests with Thai cuisine, and the Maya restaurant is a combination restaurant and coffee shop that servers international cuisine throughout the day. Guests can entertain and enjoy a drink at Cafe Vienna, the Hemmingway Club, the Maprao Beach Lounge or the Explorer Bar. Fans of the 7,000 square metre pool will probably spend some quality time at the pool-side Koh Poda bar.

The resort is also home to Le Spa. This gorgeous facility is comprised of eight double spa treatment rooms for couples and four single rooms, each with private soaking tubs. Guests are sure to enjoy the sumptuous ‘Le Spa Original” Relaxing Massage which combines seashells with a gentle sequence of lomi lomi and stretching techniques. There is also an on-site Lancôme beauty studio staffed by highly skilled therapists.

Exotissimo would love to arrange a stay for you at this new 5-star luxury resort. Nestled on the perfect white sand of the Andaman Beach and surrounded by virgin tropical rainforest, we are sure you will enjoy your stay there.

Travellers looking for something different should visit Ampawa, a small hamlet located in the in the heart of the Mae Klong delta, just south of Bangkok. This area is part of the “green ring” that surrounds Bangkok, where numerous pomelo, mango, grape, guava, jackfruit, coconut and banana orchards are found. An intricate maze of canals and waterways connects this fertile land with the capital. Ampawa is the home of Thailand’s legendary floating markets, as well as the highest concentration of temples in the kingdom.

In the heart of the village, the newly opened Chotika Riverfront is a very small resort comprised of rooms created from 80-year-old canal–front stores reminiscent of a bygone era, when rivers and canals were the heart of the community. Guests stay in mini-suites that open onto a private canal path. In the morning, monks from a local temple paddle onto the canal to collect alms, and guests can ‘make merit’ right in front of their rooms.

Exotissimo’s new Ampawa Escape Tour, takes guests on a two-day, one-night tour of this fascinating area that includes boat rides along the canals, visits to many interesting and unusual temples and a bicycle ride through the area’s lychee orchards. An early morning visit to famous Damneon Saduak floating market is included in this tour. Let Exotissimo arrange your retreat to lush Ampawa.

Golfers in Cambodia have reason to rejoice! Golfers can now combine a visit to the temples of Angkor with time spent on the greens of southeast Asia’s newest course. The Phokeethra Country Club opened on 1st April 2007, just 20 minutes away from Siem Reap airport. This 7,145-yard course combines a challenging championship layout with luxury leisure facilities. The Phokeethra is the first international-standard golf course in Cambodia, and has been selected as the site of the 2007 Cambodian Open.

After a round of golf, golfers can relax at the clubhouse, or shop a the pro shop, stocked with the latest gear. At the Phokeethra Country Club Angkor Wat Restaurant, golfers, their families and their friends can enjoy delicious Khmer, Asian and Western cuisine. Guests staying at Sofitel Royal Angkor receive extra benefits including priority bookings, guaranteed tee times and free round trip transfers.

Let Exotissimo Travel caddy for you on your next trip to Siem Reap.