March 26th, 2010
Renowned Aureum chain building 66-room lakeside hotel
The Aureum hotel group is expanding with its 6th property in Myanmar. The new high-end resort will be located in Mine Thauk village on Inle Lake and will be a welcomed addition to the lake’s luxury accommodation offerings.
Each of the 66 units will offer exceptional space, lavish five-star amenities and private Jacuzzis in every bathroom. The resort is perched on the edge of lake with the main facilities and front–row villas spilling over onto the lake and with on-shore villas hugging the banks of the lake.
The Aureum group expects the property to be open in time for the high season in October. Exotissimo will keep you updated on the launch date and provide further information and tariffs as they become available.
For more information, please contact myanmar@exotissimo.com
March 23rd, 2010
Flights to far north rescheduled for Fridays and Sundays
Due to a planned extension to the Putao Airport, the weekly scheduled flights to Putao are now on Fridays and Sundays rather than Fridays and Tuesdays. This new schedule went into effect on 9 March and will continue until further notice. Air Bagan is the only airline flying to this remote destination but as an alternative, Exotissimo can arrange private planes for the journey.
Perched on the edge of the Himalayan Mountains, Putao is a favorite destination for nature lovers and adventurers. Exotissimo offers a range of luxury and adventure tours for travelers wishing to go to Putao.
March 23rd, 2010
Uniquely Balinese half-day excursion near Ubud
Working with the villagers of Mas, Exotissimo has created a new half-day excursion to offer travelers a unique, authentic experience. The ‘Mas Village Experience’ is fully guided and takes place in a small village 15 minutes from Ubud.
Upon arriving in the village, a local priest will bless the travelers at a traditional welcome followed by a meeting with a village astrologer who will use ancient methods to look into the future. Next, the excursion continues to a traditional Balinese compound where travelers have the option to join the locals in making temple offerings or learn Balinese woodcarving techniques. Then a hands-on cooking course introduces participants to the local flavors and methods of preparing Balinese cuisine. A lunch is served with the locals before returning to Ubud.
March 19th, 2010
Interactive Rattanakonsin Museum open until 8 pm
Opened on 9 March, the Rattanakonsin Museum is the latest- and most entertaining- museum in Bangkok. Located near the Golden Mount and Grand Palace in the historic Rattanakonsin neighborhood, the museum is an ideal stop for an introduction to Thailand’s rich history and with the late opening time, guests can visit before or after dinner.
The 7 exhibition rooms each represent a different aspect of the Rattanakosin area, covering history, culture and arts. Highlights include a 4-D multimedia presentation exploring the founding of Rattanakosin, an interactive animation tour of the area and a multimedia demonstration of various forms of traditional entertainment.
Exotissimo will add this visit to tours as an introduction to Thailand or for those with a keen interest in history. The museum is open Tuesday – Fridays from 11.00 – 20.00 and Saturdays and Sundays from 10.00-20.00.
Booking and inquiries can be sent to: thailand@exotissimo.com
March 19th, 2010
Large, airy Huean Luang Prabang can seat up to 600 guests
Located 10-minutes from town center, Huean Luang Prabang is a welcomed addition to the dining scene in Luang Prabang. The indoor seating area can accommodation up to 600 guests while the outdoor area has a 400-person capacity. Despite its large size, the design and layout of the property still allows for groups to feel like they are having a private meal and the service is excellent.
A unique feature in the outdoor section is the ‘sunken’ tables where guests dine at table height on cushions with a hole below for their feet. To complete the Lao-style experience, about 7-courses of traditional, fresh cuisine is served and an excellent dance and music performance accompanies the meal with dancers making use of the space to move throughout the diners and invite them to join.
For bookings or further information please contact laos@exotissimo.com
March 16th, 2010
Last chance to book this special festival tour
The Burmese New Year, Thingyan, will be celebrated 13-16 April this year. This is the most popular and colorful celebration of the year in Myanmar and Exotissimo has designed a tour for travelers wanting to join in the festivities.
Celebrate Myanmar New Year a six-day festival package that visits Yangon and Ngwe Saung. Spending three days in Yangon, guests have a chance to join locals in ‘water wars’ along the streets and witness the street performances and dancing. The program continues to Ngwe Saung Beach where they can experience the festivities in a different setting and enjoy a relaxed beach vacation at the same time. Returning to Yangon, guests will partake in a merit-making session at the Shwedagon Temple to conclude the Burmese New Year celebrations. It is best to start the tour between 13 to 16 April to capture the most of the Thingyan festivities.
For the detailed itinerary, click here.
Or contact myanmar@exotissimo.com
March 16th, 2010
Witness Tai Chi in the park, visit busy morning markets and slup pho with the locals
Designed to show travelers the ‘real’ Ho Chi Minh City, this morning tour makes the perfect introduction to Vietnamese life. Setting off at 7AM, the tour first goes to the park where the locals gather to exercise. Take a short stroll around to see Tai Chi, aerobics, badminton and other activities. Continue to a morning market to visit the vendors and stalls. This market is busiest in the early morning hours with fresh produce, seafood, flowers and a variety of other items arrive from the countryside to be sold and traded. Then continue to Pho 24 restaurant, a local institution, for a bowl of pho noodle soup- one of Vietnam’s best known dishes. Before returning to the hotel, a stop will be made at a streetside café for traditional Vietnamese coffee and people watching.
An added touch, the program uses a unique form of local transportation. Suitable for FITs or Groups, we recommend this as an introductory tour or for travelers with limited time in the city.
The full details can be found here: http://traveltrade.exotissimo.com/product/good-morning-saigon-ho-chi-minh-city-day-trip/
For booking or inquiries, please contact vietnam@exotissimo.com
March 11th, 2010
Update on River Cruising Options
New 5 day program; Toum Teav stops early due to low water
Two new developments in cruising options between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap:
New 5-day Itinerary aboard Mekong Pandaw
As an alternative routing, we are offering a new Treasures of the Mekong 5 day cruise from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Aboard the Mekong Pandaw (or similar) the cruise first heads up the Tonle River for 2 nights before doubling back toward Phnom Penh and turning up the Mekong River to Kampong Cham for 2 nights. From Kampong Cham, the last day involves a drive to Siem Reap. During the low water season (February to June) some sections of the cruise may need to be done by land but all efforts will be made to ensure maximum cruise time.
For more details and pricing information please click here.
Toum Teav cuts season short
The extremely low water levels during this ongoing dry season impact on boat travel on Tonlé Sap Lake and Mekong. Toum Tiou and Toum Tiou II have to cut their 2009-2010 season short in order to prevent unnecessary overland transfers. The last trip of Toum Teav I will run from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh from 5-7 April 2010, while Toum Teav II will run from Saigon to Siem Reap from 4-11 April 2010. The new season 2010-2011 will start in July 2010 for both the Toum Tiou and Toum Tiou II boats.
March 11th, 2010
New Chiang Mai Hotel adds to boutique offerings
18-room Butterfly Resort located 10 minutes north of town
Located on the Ping River 10 minutes from Chiang Mai’s old town, the Butterfly is an independent resort featuring 18 deluxe rooms and 1 villa suite. The quiet location and spacious garden setting creates a relaxing atmosphere suited for couples or FITs and is winning accolades as being an oasis-like, unpretentious resort. Amenities include a riverside bar and lounge, all-day dining, a lap pool, plunge pool, library and free shuttle service to town. The large rooms have dark wood floors and furniture accented by local textiles and wifi internet is available throughout the property.
For more details and pricing click here
Booking and inquiries can be sent to: thailand@exotissimo.com
