thailand southern encounter basix 11 days ex bangkok departs every wed sat selected thu itinerary days 1-2 bangkok wander the chaotic streets and soak up the electric atmosphere explore markets cruise the khlongs on a longtail boat or take a breath of spiritual air plus local payment 8500 thb physical culture shock at the temples days 3-4 khao sok national park set amid thick jungle waterfalls limestone cliffs and topped off with an island-studded lake this is a nature lover s paradise tackle one of the walking trails and keep an eye out for wild elephants and leopards days 5-6 ko samui from rumble in the jungle to beachside bliss chill out on perfect beaches and wander through endless coconut groves days 7-10 ko tao dive into crystal clear waters and explore an underwater paradise bursting with fish and coral grab a kayak and explore hidden coves and fall asleep to the sound of gentle waves day 11 bangkok our southern encounter ends back in the city of angels accommodation simple fa
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malaysia flavours of thailand independent 5 days ex bangkok departs daily subject to availability itinerary day 1 bangkok this thriving metropolis offers a wealth of attractions to explore including the reclining buddha at wat pho day 2 thai house cooking class spend a fascinating day participating in cooking classes at the thai physical culture shock house lessons are held in an outdoor classroom surrounded by an orchard of mango banana papaya and coconut trees and a garden of herbs and spices pick up tips to impress friends at your next dinner party or just enjoy a delicious home-cooked thai meal days 3-4 kanchanaburi cooking class travel to the lively market at mahachai and the fishing village of don hoi lod you are welcomed into a local home in kanchanaburi where your hosts teach you how to cook a number of local dishes day 5 bangkok a final day to try some food from the street stalls and see more of bangkok s sights accommodation superior tourist class hotel 4 nts transport air-c
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malaysia malay family adventure family 14 days ex singapore itinerary day 1 singapore if you have extra time up your sleeve visit jurong bird park home to more than 600 species of our feathered friends days 2-3 kuala lumpur savour the plus local payment us$200 physical culture shock aromas and delicious local snacks at chinatown s night markets and head to the top of one of the world s tallest buildings for spectacular city views we also enjoy a day of thrills and spills at the city water park days 4-6 pangkor island head to idyllic pangkor island still inhabited by fisher-folk we take a day trip around the island stopping to swim snorkel and simply soak up the scenery days 7-9 kuala kangsar a real cultural experience awaits us as we stay with friends in their traditional malay home learn some of the secrets of local cooking and take a short trek through streams to a cascading waterfall before an afternoon relaxing day 10 kuala lumpur embark on a treasure hunt in the city s central ma
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malaysia malay basix southbound basix 15 days bangkok to singapore departs every thu sat selected tue itinerary days 1-2 bangkok there s no shortage of things to do in south-east asia s most exciting city sit down to a pad thai at a night market enjoy a thai massage at wat plus local payment 8500 thb physical culture shock pho or escape the city heat on a cruise down the chao phraya river days 3-4 khao sok an overnight train journey brings us to beautiful khao sok national park where we stay in the jungle in rustic bungalows enjoy a guided walk and maybe an elephant ride or trek further afield to a waterfall days 5-7 krabi head to krabi province famous for its unspoilt beaches snorkel swim or take a longtail boat to some of the nearby islands days 8-9 penang a charismatic blend of colonial heritage night markets and religious temples penang also offers a wide range of exotic cuisines day 10 cameron highlands we head for the cooler climes of the cameron highlands known for its tea pla
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borneo borneo unearthed original 19 days kota kinabalu to kuching itinerary day 1 kota kinabalu check out the monsopiad cultural village named after a legendary kadazan warrior and a living documentary of ancient traditions at night you might plus local payment us$200 physical culture shock like to indulge in the local specialty of fish-head curry at the market days 2-3 jungle camp/malay homestay our jungle trek takes us through the natural habitat of macaques proboscis monkeys and rare elephants to our campsite under a canopy of stars later our malay hosts introduce us to their customs and life in a traditional village day 4 sepilok rehabilitation centre learn about the rehabilitation of orphaned orangutans before their release back into the wild later spend some time exploring the forest surroundings on any of the nearby trails days 5-7 mount kinabalu it s hard work climbing south-east asia s highest peak but you ll be rewarded by the diverse collection of plants and flowers gorgeou
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borneo sabah land beneath the wind original 13 days ex kota kinabalu departs every sat itinerary day 1 kota kinabalu arrive early to check out nearby pulau gaya a lush island surrounded by abundant marine life and tropical corals day 2 kiau experience a village plus local payment us$200 physical culture shock homestay with the local dusun people learning all about their spiritual and social ties to the imposing mt kinabalu days 3-4 mount kinabalu fuelled by fresh mountain air and stunning views we ascend mt kinabalu there is plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and gaze at the region s incredible variety of flora days 5-6 poring hot springs soak in the invigorating waters of the poring hot springs later enjoy a whole new outlook from the canopy walkway above the lowland forest days 7-8 jungle camp/malay homestay discover how locals are contributing to forest conservation before camping out amid exotic birdcalls and jungle nightlife we then head into a traditional malay village for a
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borneo sabah discovery original 10 days ex kota kinabalu itinerary day 1 kota kinabalu flanked by sea and jungle sabah s capital is a great base for exploring the region s tropical beauty why not start your adventure with a visit to plus local payment us$100 physical culture shock the abdul rahman national park where untouched jungle white beaches and exotic marine life await days 2-3 jungle camp/malay homestay put on your hiking boots as we head into sabah s interior and join the locals in learning about forest restoration on the way to our jungle campsite keep an eye out for exotic wildlife and unique flora later mingling with our hosts in a traditional malay village offers a chance to learn more about the local culture day 4 sepilok get up close with our primate friends at sepilok where orphaned and injured orangutans are rehabilitated and returned to forest life there will be time to stretch your legs on any of a number of walking trails into the forest or head into busy sandakan
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borneo the heart of borneo active 14 days kota kinabalu to miri departs selected sat itinerary day 1 kota kinabalu kick off with a visit to the monsopiad cultural centre days 2-4 mount kinabalu experience unique flora and spectacular views from the plus local payment us$200 physical culture shock south pacific s highest mountain topping it off with a summit sunrise days 5-6 tenom cycle through the small towns of the crocker range to tenom home to the murut minority day 7 kinarut get your heart pumping with some whitewater rafting before catching your breath at beachside kinarut day 8 bario head to sarawak land of hornbills and headhunters and sleepy bario base for our highland trek days 9-12 the bario loop experience exotic birdcalls and pristine forests as we hike towards the kalimantan border we also take a longtail ride and sleep under the stars in hammocks days 13-14 miri mingle with the local dayak people at the fresh produce market accommodation guesthouses/hotels 9 nts nationa
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indonesia i recently travelled overland through java and was treated to some of the most magnificent landscapes i ve ever experienced the highlight had to be gunung bromo we drove through the moonlit tengger crater and up the other side for a sunrise that illuminated the surrounding volcanoes from the beach village of pangandaran you can explore coastal reserves learn to surf and feast on seafood from the night markets on the paradise island of bali green rice terraces surround small villages where the unique balinese culture still flourishes and if food is your passion there s something different to try every day donna haxby sales consultant islands of the gods original 15 days ubud to denpasar departs every sat jul to dec selected sat jan to jun itinerary days 1-2 ubud bali s cultural heart has a vast choice of galleries to explore trawl the gianyar night market for delicious food or take in a traditional dance performance plus local payment us$200 physical culture shock day 3 side
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indonesia lombok original 8 days ubud to denpasar departs every sat jul to dec selected sat jan to jun itinerary day 1 ubud bali s cultural heart overflows with artisans selling handicrafts wood carvings and silverware if you arrive early hire a bike and explore the surrounding plus local payment us$100 physical culture shock villages day 2 kuta lombok meet local passengers and grab a snack from one of the food hawkers on the ferry to lombok once there bask on the pristine beaches of kuta not to be confused with its touristy namesake in bali day 3 tetebatu from this peaceful hillside retreat take a sunrise walk for fantastic views of mt rinjani lombok s highest mountain horse-drawn carts take us to nearby handicraft villages where talented locals make their living carving timber sculpting pottery braiding baskets and weaving traditional fabrics day 4 sapit nestled along mt rinjani s eastern slope is the picturesque town of sapit trek through quaint villages to a nearby canyon and enj
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bali bali adventure original 9 days ex ubud departs every sat jul to dec selected sat jan to jun itinerary days 1-2 ubud bali s largest hindu town is also its cultural heart there is plenty of free time to browse the many craft shops meet monkeys at their forest sanctuary or plus local payment us$100 physical culture shock enjoy a traditional balinese dance day 3 sideman take to the backstreets of ubud and beyond by bike with children waving as you breeze by afterwards head to the hills and the peaceful village of sideman set against the backdrop of bali s highest peak the cooler air rural atmosphere and beautiful surrounds make this a very special place day 4 mount batur after visiting a local songket weaving workshop and sampling a traditional `bungkus lunch climb even higher into the mountains for great views of lake batur stay overnight in the lakeside village of kedisan in preparation for our early morning volcano ascent days 5-7 lovina rising in the darkness climb to the summi
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east timor despite being asia s newest nation east timor has a fascinating history chinese javanese and dutch traders visited hundreds of years ago in search of sandalwood and in the 16th century it was eventually settled by the portuguese today east timor is pretty much untouched by tourism and is the perfect destination for an adventurous traveller we have made many friends who happily welcome us into their homes as their guests for a night or for a chat over a steaming cup of locally-grown coffee come and explore this new country and ancient land the intrepid way jo edgley destination manager asia east timor original 15 days ex dili itinerary days 1-2 dili though retaining the feel of a portuguese outpost dili is beginning to forge its own identity take in the sights of the city outskirts wander the local weavplus local payment us$200 physical culture shock ing markets and enjoy an evening stroll along the waterfront days 3-4 maubisse head out of the city by 4wd winding through hi
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japan land of the rising sun original 14 days tokyo to kyoto departs every sat itinerary days 1-2 tokyo beneath the neon lights hightech gadgetry and crowded suburbs is a city steeped in ancient traditions visit ueno park with its cherry blossom backdrop plus local payment ¥22000 physical culture shock and museums or head to upmarket ginza for a dose of retail opulence day 3 nikko arguably japan s leading shrine centre nikko houses several sacred sites including the resting places of the tokugawa shoguns if ornate architecture and multicoloured carvings are not your thing the cedar tree-populated mt nakimushi offers a pleasant alternative days 4-5 hakone relax on a boat cruise across lake ashino-ko before enjoying picturesque views of the region on our cable car ride over the surrounding mountains do not miss the chance to soak in an outdoor `onsen while food-lovers might want to try a sulphurboiled egg days 6-7 takayama with its sake breweries traditional inns and art galleries taka
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japan lost japan original 14 days tokyo to kyoto itinerary days 1-2 tokyo head down to shibuya an entertainment mecca for young japanese day 3 kamakura contemplate the past at the zen temple of kenchoji or join the plus local payment ¥22000 physical culture shock photography competition 2006 colourful snacks lars udd accommodation traditional inns 12 nts hotel 1 nt transport bus bullet train express train local train sea ferry walking group size max 12 meals 4 breakfasts 1 lunch 5 dinners budget allow us$350 for meals not included departs selected sat from mar to oct notes 1 all travellers must arrive with a 14-day japan rail jr pass please arrange this through your travel agent 2 some accommodation has shared bathroom facilities traveller rating 4.90 out of 5 2007 start 10 mar 07 apr 14 apr 12 may 19 may 16 jun 23 jun 14 jul finish 23 mar 20 apr 27 apr 25 may 01 jun 29 jun 06 jul 27 jul 28 jul 11 aug 18 aug 25 aug 08 sep 22 sep 06 oct 20 oct 10 aug 24 aug 31 aug 07 sep 21 sep 05 oc
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