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.

Exo’s popular join-in tour extended until April 2011

Our popular 9-day Join In Tour of Vietnam (‘Seat in Coach’) has been extended until 16 April 2011. Starting in Hanoi and traveling south to Ho Chi Minh City, the itinerary showcases the highlights of Vietnam including a city tour of Hanoi and an overnight boat trip on Halong Bay in the north, touring of Hoi An and Hue’s main sites in the central region and a full day tour of Ho Chi Minh City as well as an excursion to the Mekong Delta.

The trip departs every 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month (see dates below). For departures from now to 16 April 2010, the price is 599 USD per person in First Class hotels and 834 USD per person in Superior Class hotels. Departures from October 2010 to April 2011 are 650 USD per person in First Class or 840 USD in Superior Class. These rates include all domestic flights, entrance fees and accommodation in a shared twin or double room.

Departure Dates 2010: 20 Feb, 06 and 20 Mar, 03 and 17 April, 01 and 15 May, 05 and 19 June. 02 and16 Oct, 06 and 20 Nov and 04 and 18 Dec

Departure Dates 2011: 03 and 15 Jan, 12 and 26 Feb, 05 and 19 Mar & 02 and16 Apr

For full details, itinerary and pricing, click here. To make a booking, please email vietnam@exotissimo.com.

Set for August and September this year, our popular Agent Familiarization trips are the perfect way for you to learn more about our destinations and our best products. Each program is mixes innovative touring with hotel inspections to give you a thorough introduction to Exotissimo’s Asia.

This year we are offering a mix of classic itineraries as well as some off the beaten track destinations that are quickly emerging as traveler favorites. Each itinerary is uniquely Exo with our signature excursions and Exo Touches filling the programs. The trips are listed as below and on our Travel Trade website:

For more information and full program details, click here: http://traveltrade.exotissimo.com/famtrip

To book, please send a request via our Travel Trade website or email marketing@exotissimo.com.

Located in the town of Hpa An in Kayin State, the 24-room Zwekabin Hotel offers the area’s best accommodation. The hotel is situated near its namesake, Mt Zwekabin, and offers a convenient base for exploring the natural and cultural sites of the Kayin State. The twin and double rooms are housed in villa-like buildings with expansive balconies from which to enjoy the views and feature televisions, en-suite bathrooms and ample space. The staff are helpful and welcoming and an on-site restaurant serves local specialties and some international dishes. Click here to download the hotel fact sheet. The hotel details can be viewed here. Zwekabin Hotel also makes a great base for our Hidden Treasure of Myanmar: Mawlamein and Hpa An tour. To view program details, click here.

In Siem Reap, Hotel de la Paix has created a new dining option in the Cambodian countryside. Guests will enjoy a romantic dinner of Khmer barbequed specialities in a traditional gazebo while a team of chefs and waiters is at-hand to provide personalized service. Priced at USD 300 for two, the package includes a tuk tuk transfer (return by private car), a Khmer barbeque dinner, champagne on arrival and a bottle of wine from the hotel’s wine list. This unique dinner experience can be included as an option in Exotissimo’s Angkor Romantic Escape, a 3 Days / 2 Nights program specially designed for couples in mind. Click here to view the program details.

Combining outdoor activities and cultural excursions, our four-day Luang Prabang Family Adventure is highly recommended as a getaway package for the entire family. We have selected family-friendly accommodation and restaurants, kept travel times to a minimum and incorporated a variety of excursions so that parents can enjoy a hassle-free vacation and spend quality time with their children.

The first day starts with an electric bike tour of Luang Prabang, followed by a game of petanque, a Lao dance performance and a visit to the colorful night market. The second day highlights an alms-giving ritual, a hike around Kuang Si waterfalls and a traditional baci ceremony. On the third morning, a cruise along the Mekong River to Kamu Lodge includes a stop at the Pak Ou caves. Spending the night at Kamu Lodge, guests are free to partake in the wide array of activities available, from rice planting to gold panning, fishing to village trekking. By boat, guests return to Luang Prabang the following morning and they will have the rest of the day at leisure. For more program details, click here.

The 4 Days / 3 Nights Hidden Treasure of Myanmar: Mawlamein and Hpa An tour takes travelers off the beaten path into the heart of the Burmese countryside. The tour starts with a scenic drive south through rural villages and a stop in Bago to visit the massive reclining Buddha statue. At Mawlamein, the capital of the Mon State, guests can stroll along the riverside lined with old colonial buildings. The second day is spent sightseeing in Mawlamein, visiting colorful local markets, hillside stupas and a boat trip to the famous Shampoo Island. The third day consists of a scenic drive leads to Hpa Apa, the capital of Kayin State, and visits to Buddha-filled caves. On the final morning, a boat trip along the Than Lwin River includes shore excursions to local pagodas and caves. Finally, return by road to Yangon. Click here to view program details.

The 10-day Tribes of Tonkin: Trekking Ba Be and the Northeast is our latest adventuring offering in Northern Vietnam. Providing a refreshing alternative from Sapa and other trek routes, the program goes deep into Vietnam’s northeastern Tonkin region of Ba Be and Cao Bang.

The first day in Hanoi is free for guests to spend at their leisure. Heading into the Tonkin region on the second day, the program goes to Ba Be National Park with hikes and boat trips to the immense Phuong Cave and picturesque Ba Be Lake. Continuing to the Cao Bang and Lang Son areas, the program spotlights scenic treks through highland forests and limestone mountains. Along the way, village homestays offer unique opportunities for guests to meet and interact with local ethnic groups such as the Dzao and Tay. This adventure program is finally capped with a relaxing cruise on Halong Bay. For more program details, click here.

The 2 Days / 1 Night Khao Sok National Park Jungle Escape introduces travelers to Khao Sok National Park in Southern Thailand. An area of outstanding natural beauty, Khao Sok is home to ancient rainforests, limestone cliffs, lakes and waterfalls. This tour explores the unspoiled environs with activities such as rainforest trekking, river canoeing, a longtail boat journey across a tranquil lake and an optional elephant ride. Located just a short 2-3 hour drive from Phuket or Krabi, this escape is an ideal break from the popular beaches of Southern Thailand and suitable for nature-loving families. Click here to view more program details.

Using Siem Reap as a base, the new Cambodia Bird Watching and Nature tour combines history, culture and nature in a six-day itinerary. Angkor temple visits are interspersed with specialist-guided birdwatching excursions in the wetlands and exploration of the countryside, making this a great program for birding and nature lovers.

The first two days will be spent exploring the ancient Angkor temples, such as such as Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon and Ta Phrom, and include a tethered helium balloon ride and a private Buddhist blessing ceremony. Taking a break from temple touring on the third day, guests will visit the Sam Veasna Center to learn about Cambodian wildlife conservation efforts and to Ang Trapaeng Thmor wetlands to observe birds in their natural habitats. The fourth day goes into the countryside to visit remote temples with a hike up Phnom Kulen Mountains, as well as to the Angkor Center for Conservation of Biodiversity and the Landmine Museum. On the fifth day, a boat trip across Tonle Sap Lake to Prek Toal Biosphere provides a unique opportunity to spot migratory water birds. The final day is free for guests’ disposal. For the detailed itinerary, click here.