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

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

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.

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

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.

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.