Great guides and well thought out itineraries
Tourist class hotels. Fine with us. This was travel. Not a vacation lol. Tino was super I. Getting is set up at last minute. And all hands were I. Deck when we had a little medical scare. Would definitely book with them again
Hop, skip, and jump your way along the road less travelled on this eight-day, hostel-based adventure through Vietnam and Cambodia. Explore the secrets of the Mekong Delta on the back of a motorbike, mingle with locals by boat at Chau Doc's floating markets and kick back on the beach on the secluded island of Koh Rong. And don't forget the food! Visit a crab market in Kep for lunch pulled straight from the sea, chow down on a traditional Khmer meal in the Chambok community, and sample everything at street stalls and markets along the way. “Yum!” you say? Oh yeah.
Combine the incredible sites of India's Golden Triangle with Sri Lanka's ancient ruins, verdant jungles, cool mountains and amazing wildlife. Explore the legendary Taj Mahal and pink city of Jaipur, Dambulla's rock temple, sip pure Ceylon tea and discover the bustling city of Colombo.
This 8-day adventure through Bhutan is a captivating journey through a land where ancient traditions meet modern aspirations. From the moment you arrive at Paro International Airport, often hailed as the world's most beautiful, you'll be immersed in a realm of breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture.
Explore historic fortresses like Paro Dzong and Ta Dzong, now a museum housing exquisite artifacts. Discover the art of incense making, hike to the iconic Tiger's Nest monastery perched on a cliff, and witness the unique Takin, Bhutan's national animal. Journey over high mountain passes, visit sacred temples, and wander through bustling markets in the capital city of Thimphu.
But this tour offers more than just sightseeing. You'll experience authentic Bhutanese life with a homestay in the Phobjikha Valley, sharing meals and stories with a local family. You'll witness the resilience of Bhutanese architecture at the ruined Wangdue Phodrang Dzong and perhaps even catch the excitement of an archery tournament.
This is a journey that will awaken your senses, challenge your body, and nourish your soul. It's an opportunity to connect with a culture that values happiness and harmony, leaving you with memories that will last a lifetime.
We've carefully selected some of our departure dates to coincide with Bhutan's vibrant tsechus – religious festivals that bring the dzongs (fortresses) to life with colorful masked dances, lively processions, and unique cultural performances. These festivals offer a rare glimpse into Bhutan's spiritual heart and are a truly unforgettable experience.
To ensure you fully immerse yourself in these captivating celebrations, we may adjust the itinerary slightly on these special departure dates. This allows us to maximize your time at the festivals and also takes into account the limited accommodation availability during these popular events.
Flights to Bhutan are available with Druk Air, the national airline, with convenient connections from Singapore, Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, and Kathmandu.
Want to extend your adventure beyond Bhutan? We offer a range of options to combine this tour with time in Nepal and/or India:
- Temples, Dzongs and Taj - This tour combines our Bhutan Encounters tour with an exploration of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal and time visiting Delhi and Agra (including the Taj Mahal) in India.
- Himalayan Kingdoms - This tour add times in Nepal before and after our Bhutan Encounters Tour
Capture the spirit of China on this 12-day trip from Shanghai to Beijing. From fast-paced modern cities to the well-preserved remnants of a long and storied history, this adventure reveals the many sides of one of the world’s great cradles of civilisation. It’s important to contrast the big and the bold with quiet moments and real connections. That’s why the tour of the Terracotta Warriors finishes with lunch at a local family home and why time at Shaolin temple, the birthplace of kung fu, is contrasted with boisterous Beijing. Whether you’re scaling the Great Wall or sharing crispy Peking duck with your fellow travellers, this trip is packed with unforgettable moments.
This tour felt like a crash course in Southeast Asia, but in a good way. I wasn’t sure how much ground we could realistically cover in just over a week but this trip proved you don’t need a month to experience something meaningful. Everything was well-organized. What stood out most to me was how different Vietnam and Cambodia felt, even though they’re neighbors.
Hanoi was buzzing with life..scooters zipping by, food stalls everywhere, and this mix of modern and old that was fascinating to watch. Our guide helped us navigate the chaos in a way that made it feel approachable rather than overwhelming. Then, just when things felt fast-paced we got a breather on the Ha Long Bay cruise. Being out on the water was peaceful, the views were unreal.
In Cambodia, Angkor Wat was the big draw, and yes, it was absolutely worth it. But what I didn’t expect was how much I enjoyed the in-between moments.
And while there’s always a lot of walking on these kinds of trips, the pace felt doable, even for those of us who aren’t exactly as young as me (53 :p)
Would I do it again? Definitely. The trip left me feeling like I got a true taste of two cultures.
One of Japan’s greatest attractions is its blend of the modern and the traditional. On this 12-day trip, you’ll veer off the main island of Honshu and travel to the less-touristed southwest. Discover revived art on the island of Naoshima, wander the castle in Matsuyama and spend a night in a tranquil homestay in the village of Usuki. Steam away your worries in the onsens in Beppu and be treated to a night in the volcanic Mt Aso, staying right in the middle of a caldera in a traditional Japanese inn surrounded by rice terraces. Remind yourself of the sobering history of Nagasaki and end it all back where it began – in thriving Osaka. This adventure is the ultimate combination of modern art, bullet trains, countryside villages, traditional inns, delicious feasts and onsens, surrounded by impressive views of rice terraces, volcano craters and grasslands. If you’re looking for a new side of Japan – head to the south!
Combine the history of the Khmer Empire with the modern energy of Phnom Penh for a week-long introduction to Cambodia. Witness the grandeur of ancient Angkor Wat – the famed UNESCO World Heritage site, see the enigmatic faces of Bayon temple, confront the tragedy of the recent past with sobering visits to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek and be blessed by a local monk. Visit local farms, homes and the floating village of Kampong Phluck to rub shoulders with the locals and tuck into some delicious local cuisine – this is the perfect snapshot of the many wonders inside Cambodia!
