Please contact laos@exotissimo.com for more information.

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.

Exotissimo Cambodia now offers our own safari tents, providing a unique yet comfortable camping experience with a touch of adventure. Depending on clients’ preferences, the tents can be set up a deserted island, by the Mekong River, on a mountain top or within the grounds of an ancient temple. Meals are prepared by a private chef and served in comfortable dining set-ups. Contact cambodia@exotissimo.com for more information.

Our annual Professional’s Guide is now available. In this 2010 edition, you will find the inclusion of Indonesia as an Exo destination in addition to Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The guide continues to be a showcase of our expertise in tailor-making tours and include other interesting features such as a hand-picked selection of hotels and resorts, stunning photography and staff picks. To view the brochure, click here.

Also available is our newest Adventure Brochure, an all-encompassing guide to adventure travel in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Indonesia. It features an exciting line-up of experiential adventure travel options, ranging from biking and trekking to kayaking and snorkeling, as well as a highlight of our responsible travel initiatives and tour products. Click here to view the brochure.

For more information about our brochures, contact marketing@exotissimo.com.

Specially designed for running and travel enthusiasts, our 3-day Angkor Wat Half Marathon package combines a charity run with sightseeing to the Angkor temples. Taking place on 6 December, the Angkor Wat Half Marathon is an international charity event that raises funds for landmine victims in the country. This package also features a relaxing post-run massage and opportunities to sample Khmer cuisine and explore the ancient monuments on the non-marathon days. View the program details here.

This month we are pleased to announce the launch of our newest Exotissimo destination, Indonesia. Exotissimo Indonesia is soft opening this October and will be fully operational and ready to handle your business from 1 January 2010. Exotissimo Indonesia has a wealth of experience as the company was formed by taking over Maniara Tours, a well respected Balinese travel company established in 1987. Erik Meriot will head Exotissimo Indonesia and will work alongside Trisna Agustini, our Indonesian partner. Prior to his new appointment, Erik had been the General Manager of Exotissimo Myanmar for four years and the Director of our Paris sales office for the last six years. Erik can be contacted at merik@exotissimo.com.

Our new office details are as follows:

Exotissimo Indonesia
Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai, No. 157,
Sanur, Denpasar, Bali
Indonesia
Tel: (62 361) 288 821
Fax: (62 361) 287 073
E-mail: indonesia@exotissimo.com

At the moment the main affected area is Halong Bay as all boats are forbidden to leave port and all cruises were cancelled for yesterday (Tuesday), 13 October and today (Wednesday), 14 October and most probably also tomorrow.

Since yesterday, we have been talking to all our clients booked on cruises and we have informed them about the situation. We then proposed alternative programs and re-arranged all bookings. Options varied from day trips to Hoa Lu, additional sightseeing in Hanoi, cooking classes to overnight excursions to Mai Chau to the west of Hanoi.

If you have clients affected by these changes, you would have heard from our Travel Consultants about what has been done. The changes are done with minimal inconvenience for your clients and without them having to spend any extra money. In cases in which the changes result in a lower total pricing, we will inform you first to seek your opinion on how you want to handle things.

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW?

- The storm will be moving inland from Halong to Hanoi and will weaken considerably once it touches land this evening. As of 2pm (Vietnam time) today, it did not even rain in Hanoi.

- Visits in and around Hanoi for today and tomorrow will be affected by the wind and rain. We will plan all visits as well as possible.

- We do not see any reason to postpone or bypass a trip to Hanoi and do not expect any hotel closures unlike during the Ketsana storm.

Isaan Insight is a new 9-day cultural program that offers rewarding insights into Thailand%u2019s northeastern provinces, a region least known to foreigners. This program includes visits to Khmer-style temples, Mekong River, pre-historic sites and villages with Vietnamese and Lao influences. This itinerary also features stays at unique properties, including Phunacome Resort in Loei which is part of the Isan Boutique Collection. For clients desiring a lavish stay, Sedhapura makes a fabulous alternative in Ubon Ratchatani.

Click here to view the details of Isaan Insight tour.

Combining relaxed sightseeing and visits to charity projects, Exotissimo’s new 6-day Cambodia tour is suitable for travelers looking to make a positive difference while on holiday in Southeast Asia. This program features visits to the Angkor temples in Siem Reap, a special circus performance by a children’s charity and a bamboo train ride in Battambang. Opportunities to support charity causes are incorporated into the tour, such as dining at charity-run restaurants and shopping for handicrafts made by locals employed under fair terms.

An optional extension to the coastal town of Kep can be added to this program. For tour details and pricing information, read here or contact cambodia@exotissimo.com.