Our latest Bangkok excursion, The Silk Route of Jim Thomspon, offers travelers a great opportunity to learn about Southeast Asian art. This half day trip starts at Jim Thompson House, a beautiful teak mansion which once belonged to the legendary American businessman Jim Thompson. A tour around this museum allows visitors to learn about his fascinating life story and his pivotal role in reviving Thailand’s silk industry. Then cross the canal to Baan Krua, a Cham Muslim village whose inhabitants used to weave for Jim Thompson. Visitors are welcome to observe the artisans at work and interact with the local families. For more information, click here.

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.

One of our most popular multi-country programs, the 12 Days / 11 Nights Essential Cambodia and Vietnam Tour, is currently featuring discounts of more than 20% on first class hotel stays. This promotion now makes a great way for travelers to learn about these two neighboring countries at an incredible price!

A day is first spent in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, before flying to Siem Reap to spend the next two days exploring the Angkor temples and Tonle Sap Lake. On the fourth day, a short flight takes guests across borders into Vietnam. A couple of days will be spent discovering the colonial architecture and bustling markets of Ho Chi Minh City, and includes a cruise in the fertile Mekong Delta. Next heading to the central provinces, guests will visit the heritage port town of Hoi An, the Cham museums of Danang and the imperial history and architecture of Hue. The program’s final leg heads to Hanoi where guests can enjoy cultural excursions to lakefront pagodas and the Old Quarter in the Vietnamese capital before ending with a cruise on Halong Bay. For more program details, click here.

We have teamed up with a renowned professor of Vietnamese history, Mr Douglas Jardin, to create several half day excursions in Hanoi. Each tour is focused on a certain aspect of local culture or a particular period of Hanoi’s history, including the French Colonial era, the communist uprising or the ancient Chinese-influenced architecture. Travelers can choose to be led by Mr Jardin himself or opt for a local university student who has received special guide training for these tours.

For a more immersive tour, we have combined these excursions into a four-day Celebrate 1000 Years of Hanoi package. The tour covers the past millennium, from the mighty Ly dynasty of 1010 to present-day events, and how this diverse era is reflected in the city’s architecture and culture. The first day is free for guests to spend at their leisure. The second day is spent on a walking tour of the city’s French colonial architecture, such as the Long Bien Bridge, the Opera House, the Chinese-influenced Van Mieu and Ngoc Son Temple. On the third day, the tour focuses on recent Vietnamese history with visits to iconic sites affiliated with the August Revolution, including the hideouts of the Communist leaders and Hoa Lu Prison, followed by a tour of the ‘new’ Hanoi to explore recent architectural styles. The last day is free at guests’ disposal. Click here to view the detailed itinerary or contact us at vietnam@exotissimo.com. The tours will be offered throughout 2010.

A festival package is one of the best ways to experience Southeast Asia’s vibrant traditions firsthand. To immerse guests in the merry atmosphere of the upcoming traditional New Years this April, Exotissimo has created two unique festival packages:

Celebrate Khmer New Year is a four-day tour in Siem Reap that explores the colorful traditions of Chaul Chnam Thmey, the Khmer New Year. Guests will receive a special monks’ blessing, join locals in festive games and partake in a traditional ritual to pour water over sacred Buddha statues. The program includes excursions to explore the ancient Angkor temples, a cruise on the Tonle Sap Lake and a visit to a Khmer silk weaving workshop. We recommend starting this tour on 14 April to coincide with the 2010 celebrations. Click here to view the program details.

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.

Opened last December, Medallion Hanoi Hotel is recommended for mid-budget FITs. Centrally located in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, the Medallion boasts easy accessibility to other attractions in the city. The 64 rooms and suites feature an intimate, cozy atmosphere with darkwood furnishings, parquet flooring and white linens. All guestrooms are equipped with multi-channel satellite LCD televisions, DVDs, shower/bathtub combinations and free Wi-Fi internet access. Click here to view the hotel details.