Exotissimo Travel were recently involved in a project with Hotel de la Paix, Golden Banana Boutique Hotel and Heritage Suites Hotel in assisting the Green Gecko Project to help in packing food and water to three villages and 400 families on the outskirts of Siem Reap. Another 470 families in Kampong Thom received the same assistance.

This CSR initiative was noted in a recent article on Travelfish.org that discussed the vast amounts of money spent in Siem Reap each year yet the province remains the third poorest of Cambodia’s 23 provinces. The flood relief drive and initiative shown by businesses such as those marked above, with the lack of government intervention, was vital in supporting local communities.

Click here to read the article on Travelfish

Our latest niche tours to be unveiled allow guests to embark on a photography workshop with leading international photographer Gunther Deichman. It’s a rare opportunity to explore the unique cultural practices of a country while gaining insight into the architecture and heritage of a destination that few tourists see. The opportunity for spectacular photographic opportunities is unrivalled in these tours while witnessing dramatic landscapes and meeting intriguing people that make remarkable subjects.

Vietnam through the lens: Tours for photographers, designed by photographers – 11 Days / 10 Nights

To view the full program click here

Myanmar through the lens: Tours for photographers, designed by photographers – 11 Days / 10 Nights

To view the full program click here

Cambodia through the lens: Tours for photographers, designed by photographers – 9 Days / 8 Nights

To view the full program click here

Laos through the lens: Tours for photographers, designed by photographers – 6 Days / 5 Nights

To view the full program click here

Experience the early morning chanting ritual of monks at Wat Po, tour the grand palace, take a longtail boat ride through the klongs of Bangkok and explore the colorful streets of Chinatown after walking through the vibrant flower market. We can now offer great savings on this tour that includes 3 nights staying at the exclusive Banyan Tree hotel in central Bangkok. Guests are treated to a Club Room with unlimited access to the Club Lounge where complimentary snacks are served, buffet breakfast at the Romsai restaurant or Club Lounge. A complimentary 10-minute neck and shoulder massage and 1 x FREE afternoon tea set for two.

To view the full program click here

For booking or more information, please contact thailand@exotissimo.com

Dear Partners,

Please note the below changes in working hours for our offices in Asia over the New Year period.

Thailand

Closed Saturday 31st December – Monday January 2nd inclusive

Cambodia

Closed Saturday 31st December – Monday January 2nd inclusive

Japan

Closed Friday 30th December – Tuesday January 3rd inclusive

Laos

Closed Saturday 31st December – Monday January 2nd inclusive

Vietnam

Closed Saturday 31st December.  Operating with a skeleton staff on Monday January 2nd.

Indonesia

Closed Saturday 31st December – Monday January 2nd inclusive

Myanmar

Usual business hours

During this period all client services and our emergency numbers will be operational as usual.

Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

Around 2.00 AM local time this morning, a fire broke out at a warehouse in Yangon. It appears that the fire then hit a gas line as a large explosion soon followed causing reverberations throughout the city. Unfortunately several local residents were killed and many more injured- exact numbers are still unknown. It is a terrible tragedy and our sympathy goes out to the victims and their families.

We do wish to make clear, however, that this was an accident and not the result of a bomb. All Exotissimo clients and employees are safe and no hotels were affected beyond minor shaking.

If you have additional questions please feel free to contact us.

Head to Rusutu Resort in Hokkaido, a renowned and beloved ski resort amongst the Japanese. Less developed than neighboring Niseko it makes an excellent escape from the bustle of the city. A choice of 37 courses cater to all levels of ability in snowboarding and skiing. The terrain also features kickers, waves, rails and boxes, and the finest powder snow ever is abundant everywhere. The resort also features an aroma treatment area where you can undergo relaxing facial and body treatments. Also try out the onsen (hot springs) to relieve your body from the aches and pains of skiing all day. After a dinner in one of the restaurants, visit the resort’s bars for some après-ski entertainment, or try your hand at Karaoke, a fun way to finish you evening Japanese style.

To view the full program click here

Please contact japan@exotissimo.com for more information.

Designed to combine the tranquil nature of the seaside town of Kep with the new Spa at Knai Bang Chatt resort, ‘Spa Weekend in Kep’ creates the perfect mix for a relaxing 4 day 3 night stay. Combining the highlights of the two extremely scenic provinces of Kampot and Kep, ‘Blend of the South’ delivers the perfect getaway to explore the countryside, local life and Khmer culture. Highlights of the tour are the sunset boat trip towards the sea in Kampot, a trek in Bokor National Park, a visit to a pepper farm and exploring one of the caves around Kampot. Both tours can be booked as modules and in combination with other tours along the coast or with Vietnam’s Mekong Delta or Phu Quoc.
To view the full ‘Spa Weekend in Kep’ program click here.

To view the full ‘Blend of the South’ program click here.

The influx of visitors to Myanmar this year has put investors on alert to potential opportunities in what many see as the opening up of one of the last virtually-undeveloped real estate markets in Southeast Asia. Investors are already looking closely at Myanmar in the hopes that economic sanctions could be eased after a series of reforms by the country’s new government.

Although there are a few cranes visible on the Yangon skyline and a small number of new projects in recent years, there’s been close to no new industrial or office space added since the 1990s mini-boom.  Other areas of opportunity include building serviced apartments, which cater to longer-stay businessmen. There are only 600 currently, and none built since the 1990s.

The government said 300,000 tourists visited in 2010, and more were expected to come this year. That number could increase dramatically. Next door, Thailand draws 15 million or more tourists a year, with similar attractions.

A wartime bunker has been discovered under a bar in the garden of the Landmark hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam. Nearly four decades have passed since the so-called Christmas Bombings rocked parts of Vietnam’s capital in December 1972, when the bunker would have been in use.

After the war ended three years later, the bunker was sealed and all but forgotten.

Not much has been found in the seven rooms: a wine bottle, a rusty paint can and a light bulb still in a socket. But a few tales remain, some involving famous guests such as American actress Jane Fonda who is believed to have spent time in the bunker while working for the government as a doctor assisting foreign guests.

Discovery of the roughly 500 square-foot (nearly 50 square-meter) bunker with its mildewed, mustard-colored walls raises questions about how it will be preserved and who will be allowed to visit, especially since half of the hotel is indirectly owned by the government.

Prominent Vietnamese historian Duong Trung Quoc says it should be opened to the public. While the bunker primarily protected foreign guests, he says it could play an important role in illuminating Vietnam War history. But Speth, the general manager, says he doesn’t want mobs of tourists turning his five-star hotel into a Southeast Asian “Grand Central Station.”

Vientiane, the quaint capital city of Laos has an inherent alluring charm that softens the hardest of hearts. Its French bakeries and coffee shops, laid back locals, outdoor dining and open air bars rub shoulders with the spiritual architecture of the temples. This insightful tour takes you on a spiritual journey through its streets, exploring hand made local crafts, exotic markets and local delicacies. Wake up early in the morning for an enlightening yoga session in the grounds of a nearby temple. This tour is a fantastic option for those in search of a meaningful and memorable travel experience.

To view the full program click here.

Please contact laos@exotissimo.com for more information.