Visa on arrival is now available when entering Laos from Cambodia. Up until now people wanting to travel into Laos from Cambodia overland needed to apply for a Laos Visa in advance from a Laos Embassy outside of the country, send their passport and wait up to 3 weeks to receive their Visa. Now it is possible to travel from Stung Treng province in Cambodia overland into Champasak province in Laos and visit the beautiful 4000 Islands without any need to pre arrange your Visa. It can be purchased and processed in minutes at the Nong Nokkian border entry into Laos

Now to enter Myanmar all travelers must once again have a pre-arranged Visa. As of September 1, 2010, visas on a arrival will no longer be issued. For more information on requirements of entering Myanmar please check out our Myanmar Travel FAQ page by,
clicking here

Cambodian Costal Town of Kep launches first five-star villa option

Situated on the beachfront, Villa Romana sits on a 5 acre estate that features a swimming-pool, 6-hole driving range, tennis court and saltwater infinity pool. The first of its kind in the Cambodian coastal town of, Kep, the contemporary structure can accommodate up to 12 guests in 6 rooms to be rented individually or as an entire entity. Enjoying stunning views of the adjoining Bokor Mountain this property is the first of its kind within the area, offering unparalleled luxury amid equally as exquisite scenery.

For information or bookings on any of the above products please contact cambodia@exotissimo.com.

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

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.

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

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

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

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