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Orient Lines, the destination cruise specialists, has announced that its new flagship – Marco Polo II – will carry 650 guests in 325 staterooms, two thirds of which are outside. The cruise liner, which most recently sailed as Maxim Gorkiy, will make her maiden voyage for Orient Lines in April 2009.

Marco Polo II is rich in character and history with proven ocean-going capabilities, including an ice-strengthened hull, deep draft, Denny Brown fin stabilizers, bow thrusters and ample provisional stores, essential for cruising to all seven continents. The vessel has a classic interior décor and handsome exterior profile with a raked bow and traditional cruiser stern.

At nearly 25,000 tons Orient Lines’ new flagship is larger in size then Marco Polo yet carries nearly 200 fewer guests. The added space translates to a greater number of public areas and amenities including an indoor spa pool and four separate dining venues, six bars, a show lounge, cinema, casino, library, Internet center, card room, state-of-the-art fitness center and outdoor pool. Marco Polo II will maintain the line’s proven service formula with European officers, American and British social staff, and a friendly and gracious Filipino crew.

“We’re delighted to introduce Marco Polo II to Orient Lines’ large and loyal family of past guests,” said Wayne Heller, Orient Lines’ president and CEO. “In the very near future we will announce her maiden voyage and inaugural cruise schedule.”

Marco Polo II was originally built in 1969 for the German Atlantic Line. She underwent multi-million-dollar refurbishments in 1988 and 1995 and will receive additional enhancements to be fully compliant with Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 2010 requirements.

To receive additional ship and itinerary news electronically or by mail, please register at www.orientlines.com or call toll-free 800-333-7300.

Pacific Delight Tours grouped five of its most popular tour packages in one easy-to-read “2009/10 Quick Guide,” with offerings suitable for every level of traveler. To kick off this new brochure, Pacific Delight is giving early-booking savings of up to $500 per couple for bookings made by Dec. 31.

Program choices include major highlights of China: magnificent Yangtze River scenery on three- and four-night cruises; imperial Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City; the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs; Shanghai’s Shanghai Museum and Jade Buddha Temple; Xi’an’s famed legions of terra-cotta warriors; Lhasa, Tibet’s mountainous capital; and the vibrant city of Hong Kong.

Prices range from $1,588 to $7,588 per person, double, before the early-bird savings. One of Pacific Delight’s most sought-after trips is the 17-day Classic China & Yangtze River Gold Experience — an intimate, one-of-a-kind perspective into the country’s ancient history and culture, escorted by knowledgeable guides exclusive to the company.

This deluxe vacation, limited to just 16 guests, features accommodations in Asia’s best hotels; Junior Suites with balconies aboard Victoria Cruises’ newest and most luxurious ships; private shore excursions; superb meals; front section seats to many performances; and exclusive sightseeing. Cities include Beijing, Xi’an, Chongqing, Shanghai, Guilin and Hong Kong.

Land-only prices are $6,788 to $7,588 per person, double, with 12 departures between April and October 2009; early-bird savings are $500 per couple. With no more than 26 participants, the upscale, fully escorted 13-day Historic Cities & Yangtze River Imperial Experience, provides an in-depth view of each city visited: Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Great Wall and a pedicab ride through Beijing’s old Hutong area; Xi’an’s 2,200-year-old terra-cotta warriors and horses, the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, which includes a Pacific Delight exclusive – a white-glove handling of treasures in the private artifact room; and Shanghai’s Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Museum and renowned acrobatic show.

Special meals include a Beijing Duck welcome dinner, Defachang Restaurant dumpling lunch and Tang Dynasty dinner and show. March 2009 to March 2010 departures are $2,918 to $3,688 for land only; early-bird savings are $300 per couple.

Two of Pacific Delight’s Deluxe SuperValue Tours, offering value and variety, are highlighted in the Quick Guide. The 12-day Historic Cities & Yangtze River provides travelers with an affordable way in which to delve into China’s Imperial cities — Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing — and receive a strong understanding of the country’s history, art, archeology and architecture. The land portion of the tour is complemented by four nights of Yangtze River cruising aboard Victoria Cruises’ Premier Series five-star fleet, sailing the most spectacular portions of this legendary waterway. Land-only prices are $1,588 to $2,288 for departures between March 2009 and March 2010; early-bird savings is $100 per couple.

The 11-day Golden Route SuperValue is similar to the Historic Cities & Yangtze River but substitutes the Yangtze River cruise with a two-night stay in Guilin, a city set among some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. While there, guests visit the magnificent rock formations at Reed Flute Cave and Fu Bo Hill and take a cruise on the Li River, passing lush green landscapes and picturesque villages.

The land-only prices range from $1,648 to $2,188 on year-round departures; early-bird savings is $100 per couple. Pacific Delight’s China Escapade Series of vacations offer off-the-beaten-path itineraries to some of China’s most exotic regions. The 15-day Tibet & Yangtze River Escapade is an escorted journey that takes adventurous travelers to Tibet’s 1,300-year-old capital city of Lhasa, nearly 12,000 feet above sea level.

Guests explore the many monasteries and palaces, including Norbulingkha, Sera or Drepung Monastery, Jokhang Temple, and the greatest architectural structure in Tibet, the 1,000-room Potala Palace, once the living quarters of the Dalai Lama. A Tibetan dinner and show includes the traditional Yak Dance. Other special sites include the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, with its Imperial Vault of Heaven; the terra-cotta warriors and Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an; and the Giant Pandas at the Chongqing Zoo.

A three-night Yangtze River cruise and three nights exploring Shanghai conclude the adventure. Land-only prices for the April-October 2009 departures are $3,918 to $4,388; early-bird savings is $100 per couple. The programs include pre-confirmed hotels, intra-Asia air/land transportation, most meals, sightseeing, local guide or tour escort, transfers, hotel taxes, service charges and baggage handling. Transpacific air is available at attractive rates. Prices are subject to change. Pacific Delight Tours offers escorted and independent tours to China, the Orient and Southeast Asia.

For more information, call 800-221-7179 or visit www.PacificDelightTours.com

Passengers have ranked EVA Air’s Elite Class cabin to be the Best Premium Economy Class in Skytrax’s annual World Airline Survey 2008. UK based Skytrax invited 15,500,000 airline passengers from over 97 countries to participate in its annual airline ranking survey. This is the first time Skytrax has ranked premium economy classes.

Participating passengers were surveyed by telephone, email questionnaires and through Skytrax’s website during an 11-month period. Respondents rated airlines’ class categories on cabin comfort, including cleanliness and amenities, airport and cabin-staff service. The survey examined the smallest details of air travel, asking passengers about inflight safety procedures, catering and onboard shopping as well as specifics relating to seats and service. The overall survey listed more than 170 airlines.

EVA Air was one of the first in the industry to create a distinctive premium economy cabin in-between economy and business and to give its passengers an attractive, affordable and very comfortable travel option. The airline launched this innovative cabin on its first flight to North America in 1992 and further upgraded the cabin as Elite Class in 2005 with the launch of its first brand-new Boeing 777-300ER. EVA’s Elite Class is comparable to many domestic carriers’ business class in service, comfort and amenities, yet typically costs only about 25 per cent more than the price of economy.

As early as 1992, every one of EVA’s premium economy passengers had individual, adjustable, seatback-mounted entertainment systems. Today, the personal touch screen audio/video on demand (AVOD) entertainment systems in Elite Class have expanded 8.4-inch touch-screens offering movies, features, music, video games and shopping.

Fully adjustable ergonomic seats in Elite Class are 18.5 inches wide and have a roomy 38-inch pitch. The also have leg and footrests, moveable headrests, tray tables that fold into extra-wide armrests and added conveniences such as personal coat hooks.

For more information on Skytrax World Airline Awards visit www.worldairlineawards.com

Far East tailor-made specialists Bamboo Travel have recently moved offices to Clapham Common, and are planning to expand their portfolio of countries in the Far East over the next 6 months to cover even more adventurous and exotic destinations in the region including the Philippines, Mongolia, Indonesia and Taiwan.

Founder of Bamboo Travel, Tim Milner, says “many of our clients who fell in love with the region after visiting Thailand independently came to us for expert advice to plan more adventurous tours of the less developed countries of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Although Indochina remains one of our core markets, we are reaching the stage where we need to broaden our horizons within Southeast Asia to cater for the increasing numbers who have covered Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and are left wanting more. We are sending out members of our team to develop fresh and innovative travel ideas in both the Philippines and Indonesia, which will be added to our programme in the coming months.”

Catering for a surge in demand after such a damp and miserable British summer, Bamboo Travel are also launching their “Adventures in Style” programme, focussing on areas of Southeast Asia where the weather is at its best in the period between November and Easter, aimed at travellers wanting to beat the winter blues. These well balanced private tours travel at a leisurely pace in areas of natural beauty, focussing on the culture and lifestyles of the local people mixed with a splash of adventure, and feature several new luxurious properties that are opening up areas previously restricted to the budget travellers.

Cambodia: Angkor to the Beach – 18 Days from £2,695
This diverse private tour of the Khmer Kingdom combines Angkor’s history with glimpses of local lifestyles, a taste of Indochinese colonial charm and glistening beaches. Start with a well structured exploration of the Temples of Angkor, including an overnight temple safari to the remote Koh Ker staying in a luxurious African style safari tent.

From Siem Reap the tour continues by boat across Lake Tonle Sap to Battambang, one of the most beautiful stretches of water in the Kingdom, to stay at a lovingly restored French colonial villa. From Battambang take a ride on the rustic bamboo train to a nearby village through beautiful landscapes of rice paddies, before continuing overland to the capital Phnom Penh via the ancient Khmer city of Udong. After experiencing the lazy yet lively capital, head a few hours south to the exclusive Knai Bang Chatt in Kep sur Mer on Cambodia’s South Coast, a luxuriously renovated villa built by a Khmer protégé of Le Corbusier in the 1960s. From Kep explore the abandoned hill station of Bokor and the charming seaside town of Kampot before finishing with a relaxing stay at the Sokha Beach Resort located on Sihanoukville’s finest white sand beach.

Prices from £2,695 per person includes international flights with Malaysian Airlines, 16 nights’ accommodation in 4 star and boutique style hotels, an overnight temple safari, private guides and vehicles, and comprehensive sightseeing.

Laos & Samui in Style– 18 Days from £2,795

This is a classic “Adventure in Style” to beat the winter blues - enjoy lush mountainous and riverside landscapes whilst tuning into the local pace of life in Laos, before spending some quality time on Koh Samui.

Start with a short stay in buzzing Bangkok, before flying to Pakse in Southern Laos to stay at the stylish new La Folie lodge facing the ancient Khmer temple of Wat Phou, and explore the Four Thousand Islands region of the Mekong.

After a brief visit to the capital Vientiane fly to Muang La, a remote part of northern Laos previously off the radar until the recent opening of the exquisite Muang La Resort, an elegant lodge blending French style and Lao charm. After exploring the area’s hill tribes, and relaxing in the hot springs, travel on a magnificent boat trip down the Nam Ou River to the Laotian cultural heartland of Luang Prabang, and spend 3 days soaking up the atmosphere of the Mekong’s most historic and laid back towns. To complete this ultimate winter escape the next stop is a 5 night stay in a boutique style beach bungalow on a quieter part of the Thai Island of Koh Samui to enjoy the sunshine, seafood and Singha that abounds on this fun filled tropical island.

Prices from £2,795 per person includes international flights with Thai Airways, 16 nights’ accommodation in 4 star and boutique style hotels, private guides and vehicles, and comprehensive sightseeing.

Treasures of Vietnam – 20 Days from £2,995

The ‘Treasures of Vietnam’ tour takes you from the capital Hanoi, in the north of the country, through some of the most scenic landscapes in Southeast Asia as you head south ultimately ending up on the golden sands of Phu Quoc, one of the most idyllic and unspoilt islands in the Gulf of Thailand, to relax.

On arrival in Hanoi you will step into a bygone era of colonial elegance as you check into one the region’s most famous hotels – the Sofitel Metropole. This will be your base in Hanoi as you explore the city and from here you will take overnight excursions to the wondrous karst landscapes of Halong Bay, to cruise on a traditional junk, and also the breathtakingly beautiful hillside scenery of Mai Chau where a comfortable lodge set in stunning surroundings awaits. As you leave the north of Vietnam you venture into the centre of the country and the former Imperial city of Hue where the Emperors of Vietnam used to hold court.

Here you will learn the fine art of Imperial Vietnamese cuisine and take a boat ride along the Perfume River to visit ancient royal tombs. From Hue your journey continues south to the old town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most enchanting places in Vietnam.

The flat countryside around Hoi An makes this perfect cycling territory and you will witness some of the traditional scenes of Vietnam as you cycle through the neighbouring villages and paddy fields. Leaving central Vietnam you fly south to the bustling metropolis that Saigon is rapidly becoming. Here enjoy the fast pace of life and visit the Cu Chi Tunnels made famous by the Viet Cong during the ‘American War’.

From Saigon the pace of life changes as you head into the Mekong Delta to travel along the waterways of this amazingly fertile region. After seeing some of the spectacular floating markets that the Delta is famous for the formal sightseeing ends and it is time for some well earned relaxation on the island of Phu Quoc. Unwind by the sea for a few days and perhaps treat yourself to a massage at the hotel spa.

Prices from £2,995 per person includes international flights with Thai Airways, 17 nights’ accommodation in 4 and 5 star hotels, private guides and vehicles, and comprehensive sightseeing.

COX & KINGS ANNOUNCES 67% GROWTH IN MIDDLE EAST AS IT LAUNCHES ITS NEW BROCHURE TO THE REGION FOR 2009.

Cox & Kings has launched its new Far East brochure for 2009, featuring a comprehensive programme of escorted group tours, private journeys and tailor-made holidays throughout China, Japan, Mongolia, South East Asia and Indo-China.

China continues to be the company’s biggest seller in the region, and Far East Product Manager Yaow Butwisate predicts another strong year in 2009: “Now is a great time to visit China. The country’s tourism industry is booming, and there has been a definite increase in interest amongst British travellers following the wonderfully successful 2008 Olympics, the new Mummy film set in China and the recent display of the Terracotta Warriors at the British Museum.”

For 2009, Cox & Kings has launched a new 14-night private journey that explores traditional China. China’s Ancient Heartlands (Page 22) starts in Beijing, with stays in the ancient hutong (back street) district and unique Chinese guesthouses, and visits Chengde and the well-preserved city of Pingyao en route to Xian, home of the Terracotta Warriors.

The tour then travels to the summit of the sacred Huang Shan to take in the magnificent peaks that have inspired generations of Chinese painters. Take a cable car up the mountain and spend a full day walking through the scenic area. Continue to Hangzhou in the Yangtze River Delta and end the tour in vibrant Shanghai. From £2,845 per person including flights with British Airways, accommodation with breakfast and lunch, transfers and all excursions.

Yaow also expects to see an increase in Yangtze cruises in the run up to the final stage of the dam flooding in September 2009. “While the flooding is not expected to detract from the stunning natural beauty of the area, the water is set to rise by 100 metres in some places, submerging a greater proportion of the limestone peaks. 2009 will be a popular time to visit while the scenery is at its most dramatic”.

After China, Cambodia is Cox & Kings’ second-biggest selling Far East destination and the company has reported an increase in clients travelling on tailor-made itineraries that venture beyond the typical sites of Angkor Wat. “The country is jam packed full of culture, and has plenty to lure second and third time visitors back to see more once they have ticked off Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.”

In response to this trend, Cox & Kings has launched a new private journey for 2009 that travels away from Cambodia’s beaten track and includes stays in de luxe tented camps close to the little known temple sites of Kor Ker, Beng Melea and Preah Vihear, recently announced a World Heritage Site. Jewels of Cambodia (page 53) is a 13-night private journey that also includes a stay in Kep and the beaches of Sihanoukville. From £3,995 per person including flights with Thai Airways, accommodation with most meals, transfers and all excursions.

NEW: Hidden Treasures of Japan Cruise (page 36): This 11-night itinerary explores the Inland Sea, dotted with more than 3,000 islands. Visits are made to the islands of Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoko to discover castles, gardens and temples in some of Japan’s most historic towns and cities, including Kurashiki, Hiroshima and Hagi. Prices from £4,495 per person.

NEW: Grand Asia Cruise (Page 36): This epic 17-night voyage starts from Japan’s Inland Sea, and travels to South Korea’s tropical island of Jeju, across the Yellow Sea to Shanghai, past Suzhou and Xiamen to Hong Kong. From here, set sail for the South China Sea and Danang in central Vietnam, and visit Hoi An and Hue before ending in the spectacular scenery of Halong Bay. Prices from £5,695 per person including flights, accommodation with breakfast (full board on the cruise) transfers and all excursions.

Connections (0800 988 5860, www.cnww.co.uk)  the specialist independent travel division of Titan Travel, has launched its 2009/10 programme of holidays and tours to the Orient for the second year running with its new Far East brochure.

The 124-page brochure includes Sri Lanka for the first time, alongside Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Bali, Singapore, China, Japan and Hong Kong, to offer a comprehensive choice of Flexible Multi-Centres, tailor-made itineraries, river cruises and a wide range of excursions and experiences aimed at the discerning traveller. The brochure also contains a selection of fully escorted tours from its sister company, Titan HiTours.

The brochure’s excellent selection of Flexible Multi-Centres are ideally suited to both the first-time and repeat visitor and leads in at £1,295 per person for a new 11–day, privately-driven Sri Lanka Historic Cultural Triangle tour, which features some of the countries most incredible historical sites, cultural attractions and tropical landscapes.

The holiday includes scheduled flights, 9 nights accommodation, private transportation with an English-speaking guide, excursions, selected meals and the VIP Home Departure Service.

The range of Flexible Multi-Centres are unescorted, independent holidays which follow structured, themed itineraries and incorporate all travel arrangements including accommodation, transfers and various excursions, while the addition of Titan Travel’s VIP Home Departure Service ensures a comfortable and hassle-free experience from the moment clients are picked up from their home to when they’re returned to their front door.

All itineraries offer complete flexibility, allowing customers to create their perfect holiday by substituting hotels and day-trips, or adding optional extras such as extended stays or additional activities. 2008’s most popular Flexible Multi-Centre, the 14-day Classic Thailand itinerary is once again featured and includes stays in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket along with a selection of fascinating day-trips and private transfers, all from just £1,395 per person.

The holiday includes scheduled flights, 11 nights accommodation, private transfers, selected excursions and the VIP Home Departure Service.

For a more personalised holiday, clients can also choose to tailor-make their dream holiday from Connections’ excellent choice of hotels, excursions and airlines across nine selected countries in the Far East.

Options in China, for example, allow combining Beijing’s Forbidden City with Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors and a visit to the traditional dim sum restaurants and buzzing modern metropolis of Hong Kong. Over in Cambodia, they can blend the colonial splendour of Phnom Penh with a boat trip on Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake, Tonle Sap, and the wonders of Angkor Wat, whilst Malaysia offers them the bright lights of Kuala Lumpur alongside the exquisite beach resorts of Langkawi and Penang, the scenic Cameron Highlands, colonial Malacca and the must-see Sepilok Orang-Utan Sanctuary in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. With plenty of additional holiday options available on Connections’ easy-to-use website, Connections can put together the perfect holiday to suit all customer needs or budgets.

The brochure also contains a good range of river cruises, with set departure dates throughout the year. Prices lead in at £225 per person for a four-day Yangtze Highlights cruise, featuring the dramatic splendour of the famous Three Gorges including 3 nights accommodation on board, all meals and shore excursions.

A four-day cruise on Thailand’s River Kwai costs from £395 per person and takes in verdant scenery, ancient temples and the famous bridge built by prisoners of war during WWII, whilst a 13-day exploration of the mighty Mekong River on a luxurious colonial-style ‘pandaw’ costs from £2,595 per person and features some of Cambodia and Vietnam’s most famous sites. For an iconic overland journey, the splendour of the Eastern & Oriental Express offers complete luxury between the bustling cities of Bangkok and Singapore through some of Southeast Asia’s most breath-taking scenery and costs from £1,185 for 3 nights onboard with meals and excursions included.

Meanwhile, in Japan, the legendary Bullet Train provides an unforgettable experience and magnificent views as it flashes past Mount Fuji and the countryside between Tokyo and Osaka, costing from £112 for a second class ticket.

For those who prefer the convenience and peace of mind of travelling in a group, the brochure includes a small selection of fully escorted tours from Connections’ sister company Titan HiTours with English-speaking Tour Managers on hand throughout to ensure that the high levels of standards and service that are expected are met and exceeded.

These tours operate on set departure dates and lead in at £1,945 per person with the 15-day Thailand – The Lotus Trail tour, an introduction to this country’s scenic and culturally-rich interior.

Commenting on the launch of the new brochure, Hugh Clayson, Connections’ marketing director, said, “Following our successful launch last year we are confident that our 2009 Far East programme will continue to deliver the high quality and extreme flexibility demanded by today’s discerning independent traveller.

With our excellent range of hotels and activities backed by fantastic prices and added value offers, our exemplary standards of service and the opportunity of adding stopovers in Dubai; our Far East programme has become a worthy addition to Connections’ expanding product portfolio”.

For details or to book call Connections on 0800 988 5860 or visit www.cnww.co.uk

Asia specialist Travel Indochina unveiled 22 new tour packages of China, focusing on its history, culture and cuisine, and its diverse regions and people.

Packages include a variety of elements from the busy streets and atmospheric back alleys of the capital, Beijing, to the windswept desert oasis of Kashgar at the end of China’s historic Silk Road, and the high-end boutiques and market bargains of Hong Kong and Shanghai, Xian’s Army of Terra-cotta Warriors and the mountain beauty of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet.

Travel Indochina has more than 15 years experience in operating tours throughout India and Asia.

This exclusive collection of tours ranges from the Eight-Day Yunnan Explorer to the 25-Day China Encompassed, which covers Beijing, Xian, Hangzhou, Tunxi, Huang Shan, Shanghai, Guilin, Yangshuo, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Zhongdian.

For complete itineraries, maps and online video, visit www.travelindochina.com/china-tibet.

For more information on Travel Indochina’s new collection of India vacation packages, call 866-459-6158 or visit www.travelindochina.com

Explore Egypt with a tourist guide

Hailed as “the travel service innovation of 2008″ by the Irish Times

OurExplorer facilitates with ease the on-line booking of professional tourist guides from all over the world. Save time and money while you explore your next destination with the wisdom and guidance of a local.

Have you ever thought whilst visiting a new destination, “I wonder where the locals eat, drink, fish, ski, shop or party?” OurExplorer suggests its time for us all to stop simply sight-seeing but rather start exploring with the local wisdom and knowledge of a professional tourist guide.

OurExplorer has launched a new travel concept in BETA, a user-rated tourist guide booking tool created exclusively for your personal travel needs.

As the global financial crisis still looms, OurExplorer can save travellers hassle and money by getting the maximum out of their overseas adventure with a private tourist guide.

Enjoy the insight of the best shopping and value for money dining experiences in a city, directly from a native. Some tourist guides are currently offering special discounted rates and free tour hours on OurExplorer.

OurExplorer promote professional tourist guides only. Pre booking, the traveller can view their experience, license, past client testimonials or even chat with the tourist guide.

OurExplorer launched in July 2008 with now over 400 private tourist guides covering more than 80 countries worldwide — making it the biggest professional tourist guide directory in the world and growing all the time!

Make your trip overseas unique and full of adventure.
You book your flight and accommodation on-line, why not your tourist guide?
Get a tourist guide for land (city guide, mountain guide) or sea (diving guide).

Purpose of OurExplorer:

1. To help tourist guides increase their income thereby benefiting the local community - especially those in poor countries e.g. Kenya, Mexico and Cambodia.

2. Increase cross cultural awareness and acceptance via direct connection with locals e.g. people in USA get the chance to understand those in Pakistan and Israel

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry but it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends,” said Mahatma Gandhi.

“Less than 9.7% of overseas travelers interact in meaningful discussion with a local,” according to the Tourism 2020 Vision reported by WTO.

The IMF concluded in March 2007 that “direct support of independent local businesses when you travel has the most positive results on local economy”.

“Rather than just donating money, OurExplorer is a sustainable long term solution to help low income families globally,” said David Cunningham (Chief Exploring Officer).

To Where There’s No Track At All

From yak trekking with nomadic herdsmen in Mongolia to hill tribe trekking in Thailand, Gecko’s has introduced a range of Asian adventures that go beyond the beaten track to where there’s often no track at all in the 2008-10 South East Asia and China brochure.

The 14-day Mongolian Yak Safari is a wander across the un-tracked steppe, with yaks as ‘support vehicles’ and includes staying in the traditional felt ‘gers’ (tents) of the nomadic herdsmen. Eschewing the long driving days of typical Mongolian tours, the safari takes a more leisurely, low-impact approach.

The trip begins in Ulaanbaaatar with a one-day train trip along the Trans Mongolian route to the Ilk Nart Nature Reserve in the Gobi Desert, a protected community reserve rarely visited by tourists, where the group stays for several days in a low-impact ger camp as guests of the local Dalanjargal community.

Three quarters of the Mongolian population still lives in gers year-round and the trip is a chance to experience the traditional nomadic lifestyle, accompanied by local herdsmen.

From a second base, the group undertakes a four-day trek skirting the southern fringes of Khan Khentii, a wilderness area three