Experience autumn's spectacular beauty with over 3,400 tours across Asia in January 2001. Perfect temperatures, stunning fall colors, and harvest celebrations await, rated by 17,900 autumn adventurers.
Yes, but first I forgot to mention about the first boat trip!! One of the guys suggested people could swim, and there were only two of us that really could swim, and there were people that had to be dragged back to the boat in their life, vest!!! Not really sure why someone didn’t stop them and give them a clear picture of what the swim would be like!!! So maybe next time on that first one it could be a kayak or a swim for strong swimmers!? Joseph was great, and the snorkeling and cave experiences are one of a kind!! Palawan is worth the adventure!!! Thank you for providing us the opportunity to explore new cultures & waters!!
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
This tour was a wonderful combination of culture, nature, and calming moments on the water. The regional cuisine was excellent. Our trip advisor was attentive and conversational, entertaining all questions with knowledge and patience. It was my first solo tour as an elder tourist and the value and length was a good experience to get my feet wet. The region and people were great and the facilities and transportation were excellent.
The tour guide was great. I enjoyed the rural aspects of the tour. There wasn't enough of it, though. Shiretoku NP is a gem. There wasn't enough of it, though. Six nights in cities was five nights too many. I'm done. You get my drift.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
12-100 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Tokyo, Sapporo, Shiretoko Nation
Tokyo, Sapporo, Shiretoko National Park, Shiretoko Peninsula, Akanko Onsen, Asahikawa
From the autumn 2016 season the Mera Peak trek/climb by this tour operator changed from a camping based itinerary of previous years to lodge or tea house based accommodation. I/we departed in October 2016. Before commencing the trek Id convinced myself that the trek in to Mera would be broadly similar to the Everest Base Camp trek, I was very wrong. There is no gentle start and long days requiring sustained effort are the theme pretty much throughout. The route taken for the first few days is very quiet and had a feel of "going around the houses" for me. That quieter route also makes for much more basic lodges than those found on EBC for example but they were all adequate. The longer approach route does however allow for excellent acclimatisation, a major key to success. All the approach routes converge in Kote and it is then a straight shot up the now rocky Hinku valley. I didnt find the approach trek in to be very scenic and that wasnt helped by day after day of cloud cover. I wonder if a November departure would be worthwhile for clearer skies. Khare, which I thought of as base camp village, was a surprsingly busy place with climbers from all over the world either preparing for or returning from Mera. Stories of six groups having been beaten back by high winds the previous day brought about a realisation that nature could quite easily scupper our plans. Having left Khare and reached the snow line, those of us that brought our own mountain boots and crampons were reunited with them by virtue of some porters that had gone ahead of us. I was now using mountain boots and crampons on snow for the first time, I found I tired far quicker than I cared to admit at the time. After a short but steep climb things level out and then it was a relatively short walk to Mera La camp for the night. The sunset and night time stars were very nice. We were now in tents for the first time. I wish I hadn't binned off my Thermarest mattress as a weight saving effort for the Lukla flight. Foam mattresses were provided but I could still feel the cold coming up from the ground. The next day was a short one from Mera La to High Camp. It however is one of those sections where the destination never seems to get any closer despite feeling you're working like a steam train at full speed. The amusement of high camp's precarious position soon passes as you try to concentrate on getting some sleep for the upcoming 0030 wake up call. I got no real sleep. We then started our torch lit climb through the night in deeply sub zero temperatures. It was hard going, really hard going, there was little talking amongst us. It was just heads down and endure it. The group were imposing more rest stops on the guides than they wanted but I don't think there were any negative consequences when all said and done. My fingers were numb with cold. The sun slowly rose and Mera central summit could now be seen ahead. We left our rucksacks at the foot of the summit and using our Jumars went up the surprisingly short roped section fixed by our guides, it was easy and I was on the summit in a minute. It had taken around 7 hours from leaving High Camp with no sleep (for me) since Mera La the previous day. It was bitterly cold on the summit and very windy, there wasn't any open celebration. There now followed an extremely long walk all the way back down to Khare village with only a short pitstop at High Camp along the way. It was exhausting. Availability of water was a problem too since much if not all of our water was still frozen despite the now blazing morning sun. I was gasping for a drink. Ngima our leader had some warm water in a flask and I will definitely take a small flask when I find myself back on a high mountain again. What now remained was the trek "home" to Lukla. The third day of decent involved far more steep climbing than we were in the mood for but we gt where we were going. Conditions on the Zatrwa pass werent as bad as they could be. During our trek trail crampons or shoe grips weren't necessary. There were only a couple sections of ice a few paces long. The decent from the pass is long and steep, thankfully the national park authority have been building a stone staircase which makes things a little easier but you still have to watch your step. There is the potential for an overnight stay a few hours short of Lukla but depending on progress it can be skipped and we pressed on for Lukla and some comfort... relatively speaking
ClimbingTrekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Camping, Lodge, Tent
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kathmandu, Tangnag, Mera Peak Ba
Kathmandu, Tangnag, Mera Peak Base Camp, Mera La, Mera Peak High Camp, Mera Peak, Zatrwa La Pass, Lukla, Piuyan, Pangkongma, Nashing Dingma, Chholem, Sukye La, Kothe
What an amazing experience!! We worked with the tour agent for over a year to plan our vacation and it couldn’t have turned out more perfect! Tracey listened to all over our hopes and interests, and delivered an itinerary that ended up being a dream vacation! We spent 2 weeks exploring Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand with our family of 5 and the guides we had in each city were
wonderful, knowledgeable, and felt like our friends just showing us around their country. We will absolutely go through them again when we find time to explore more of Asia!
Local cultureBeachCruise
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Step into a world where tradition and technology harmoniously intertwine on the "Premium Japan" tour package. Crafted for experienced travelers and seniors, this 12-day, easy-paced journey begins in Tokyo, where futuristic skyscrapers rise beside centuries-old shrines. With an expert local leader guiding the way, you’ll discover the tranquility of Hakone’s hot springs, the Edo-era charm of Takayama, and the rural beauty of Shirakawa-go’s thatched villages.
In Kyoto, immerse yourself in the city’s intricate tapestry of temples, gardens, and geisha culture. Along the way, find peace in Hiroshima’s memorial parks and deepen your appreciation of Japanese cuisine with a sushi-making class led by a local expert. Soak in the rejuvenating waters of an onsen, and let each day reveal new facets of Japanese life—from bustling urban centers to serene mountain retreats.
This guided small group tour includes thoughtfully selected accommodations, delicious meals, and seamless transportation, allowing you to relax and soak in every moment. The unique selling point of this trip is its balanced immersion in both Japan’s ancient customs and its dynamic modernity. Whether you’re captivated by castles, holy mountains, or culinary artistry, this tour offers a comprehensive and comfortable introduction to Japan’s diverse wonders—perfect for those who appreciate both depth and ease in their travels.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers