Jetsettersblog

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ new ship, River Saigon, is now operating on the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia. Uniworld offers the 14-night “Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River” cruise and tour, which begins with two nights at the InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The River Saigon offers 30 river-view staterooms for a maximum of 60 guests per sailing.

The itinerary includes Hanoi, Vietnam, and Cambodia’s Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, gateway to the legendary UNESCO Angkor Wat temples. The 13 included excursions are led by local experts, who guide groups of no more than 20 people. Excursions include viewing stone carvers at work and visits to local schools to learn about ancient customs such as Apsara dancing.

“The success of this program has been overwhelming, and we are so proud to be able to bring people to these amazing countries,” said Uniworld President Guy Young. “Because of the demand for travelers to want to experience these regions, we are going to launch another new ship, the River Orchid, in 2013.”

The 14-night cruise-tour operates includes a seven-night cruise between Kampong Cham in Cambodia and My Tho in Vietnam. For the land portion, guests spend seven nights in five-star hotels, including buffet breakfast, service charges, and porterage. Uniworld’s guests also receive private check-in with welcome drinks and in-room flowers and fruit platter. At the Victoria Angkor Hotel & Spa, each guest receives a monogrammed bathrobe to keep.

Experiential tour operator Myths and Mountains is proud to announce a host of new tours for 2012, which will give travelers a chance to experience remote cultures across the globe in a way rarely available through commercial tours.

Rooted in the ethics of adventure and exploration, Myths and Mountains staff work closely with the communities and cultures of the countries they operate within. This local connection allows them to create tours that veer far off the beaten path, leaving clients with memories of places few tourists ever get to experience.

Openings are available on each of these tours for writers or editors interested in a story featuring Myths and Mountains

Eat your heart out on a culinary tour of India

Throughout this 20-day whirlwind tour, travelers will visit bustling cities like Calcutta, Chennai, and will tour cultural and historical sites like the towering Sri Meenakshi Temple, which is one of the most impressive in Asia. They will tour the spice plantations of Thekkady, and explore the region’s transportation waterways by houseboat. In Cochin, they will experience the foods and traditions of India’s Jewish and Christian minorities.

Each night’s meals are prepared by some of the best chefs in India, many of whom are the descendants of the very chefs that first discovered the country’s best flavors generations ago.

Experience the beauty of Patagonia

This 13-day tour gives travelers a chance to experience one of the world’s last great wild places in every way imaginable. Over the course of the tour, clients will soak in the scenery of the Southern Andes from canoes, four wheel drive vehicles, motor boats, and on foot. The tour explores some of the best sights in Argentina and Chile, and will spend full days exploring Torres Del Paine National Park, Tierra Del Fuego, Perito Moreno Glacier, and the many fjords that dot the Austral coasts.

Travelers will stay each night in the very best accommodations available and, while in Buenos Aires, will even be treated to a “tango dinner,” where they can watch and even learn the region’s most famous dance.

Learn the crafts of Lao culture

On this nine-day tour of Southeast Asia, travelers will have the opportunity to learn the arts and crafts locals have spent centuries perfecting. Clients will be taught skills like papermaking, dying, weaving, and cooking local dishes from local experts in their villages.
Travelers will hunt of orchids and learn the medicinal value of local plants in Pha Xay, explore the museums and temples of Bangkok, and practice traditional Lao meditation in Wat Nakhoun.

On the Go Tours launches Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos offering a selection of exciting group tours from 8-days to 22 days, suggested itineraries for Private tours and Tailor-made holidays to suit all style of travel. All group tours run with a minimum of 2 passengers travelling, single supplements are waivered on set tours and accommodation is of 4-star standard.

Group Tours:

Very Vietnam – 10 days – from £969
Discover the fading colonial architecture and national monuments of Hanoi, to the spellbinding scenery of Halong Bay and the steamy city of Saigon on the Mekong Delta.

Journey to Angkor Wat – 15 days – from £1,329
Discover the rich history of Vietnam and Cambodia on an unforgettable journey from Hanoi and the limestone peaks of Halong Bay to Siem Reap and the magnificent temples of Angkor.

Vientiane to Vietnam – 17 days – from £1,599
Explore the delights of Luang Prabang and Hoi An, visiting Buddhist temples and ornate palaces, explore mystical caves and colourful markets, cruise Halong and the Mekong.

Legends of Laos – 8 days – from £699
From Vientiane – the remarkably relaxed capital, to enchanting Luang Prabang – the beautifully preserved, former royal capital, discover the magic of Laos.

Inside Indochina – 22 days – from £1,899
Take an exciting journey through Indochina starting in Laos, continuing through the north and south of Vietnam then on to the captivating kingdom of Cambodia.

Private Tours:

For those preferring not to travel as part of a larger group, our private tours allow them to get off the beaten track and travel at their own pace on a holiday tailored exclusively to their needs. Private tours work well for couples and small groups of family or friends.
Accommodation can vary between simple, standard, superior, deluxe and lavish!

Tailor-Made Holidays:

With the assistance of our specialised team of holiday planners clients can now discover Southeast Asia on a holiday designed especially for them!
Browse our interactive map of Southeast Asia and contact one of our specialist team to discuss your holiday requirements.

The Laotian government’s preparations for Visit Laos Year 2012 are continuing despite recent changes to the leadership and organization of its tourism arm. Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism Buangeun Xaphouvong confirmed that the preparations will continue as planned even though the former Lao National Tourism Administration has now merged with the Ministry of Information and Culture.

Activities for Visit Laos Year will be added to the country’s main cultural events, including the Hmong New Year, the Elephant Festival in Sayabouly (February), Lao New Year in Luang Prabang (April), the Rocket Festival in Xieng Khouang (May), and the That Luang Festival in Vientiane (November). Tourism officials say Visit Laos Year 2012 will reflect the special culture of Laos and the multi-ethnic lifestyle of its people through grand stage performances, traditional dances, and music and fashion shows.

From colourful festivals to unique local celebrations, World Expeditions and their European division UTracks choose their favourite events around the world for 2012…

JANUARY: VIETNAM
TET NGUYEN DAN – VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR 23 January 2012
WHY: Festive atmosphere, street gambling and dragon dances: Tet Nguyen Dan (literally meaning “the first morning of the first day”) is the biggest and the most sacred festival in Vietnam and is celebrated nationwide. An occasion for family reunions, it marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and the arrival of spring, with the Vietnamese taking extreme care to start the new year out right: they buy new clothes, paint and clean their homes, pay off all debts and make amends to rid themselves of all bad feelings!
BOOK IT: Treat your family to the Vietnamese New Year celebrations with World Expeditions’ luxury 13-day Vietnam Family Explorer. Departs on 22 January, from £1,250 per adult (£790 per child).

FEBRUARY: LAOS
LAO ELEPHANT FESTIVAL 17-19 February 2012
WHY: Saddle up – who could pretend to have visited Laos, the ‘Land of a Million Elephants’, without meeting one of these superb animals? The Elephant Festival is organised to raise awareness of the need for action to protect the Asian elephant as part of Laos’ vital cultural and natural heritage. Expect to see colourful elephant processions, elephant bathing, mahout demonstrations, ancient Baci ceremonies, traditional Monk blessings, night markets and of course the prestigious ‘Elephant of the Year’ contest.

BOOK IT: Make sure you are in Laos on time for the Elephant Festival with World Expeditions’ Best of Laos and Cambodia (15 days) that departs on 16 February. From £1,550 per person.

MARCH: INDIA

HOLI – FESTIVAL OF COLOURS 8 March 2012

WHY: Let the spirit of revelry overtake you… Although it is the least religious of Hindu holidays, Holi (“the Festival of Colours”) is probably one of the most exhilarating ones in existence. Celebrated all over India since ancient times, it welcomes the arrival of spring, commemorates various events in Hindu mythology and is a time of disregarding social norms and indulging in general merrymaking: participants hold a public bonfire, spray friends and family with coloured powders and water and go absolutely crazy!

BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ compact Delhi to Kathmandu trip (7 days) will make sure you are in Jaipur, the capital of the desert lands of Rajasthan, for Holi. Departs on 7 March, from £590 per person.

APRIL: HOLLAND
QUEEN’S DAY 30 April 2012

WHY: Europe’s biggest street party! Every year on 30 April the Dutch celebrate their Queen’s Day. It is by far the most widely celebrated holiday in the country (Amsterdam alone welcomes two million party-going visitors) and the entire nation dresses in orange, the royal colour. Grab a bargain at one of the many garage or car boot sales (street trading laws are relaxed for 24 hours), there are street performers on every corner and cafés see their outside terraces in full swing, with live music pulling in the customers.
BOOK IT: Celebrate Queen’s Day in Holland with UTracks’ compact 4-day Tulip Tour. Departs on 28 April, from £430 per person.

MAY: UK
GLOUCESTERSHIRE CHEESE ROLLING 28 May 2012

WHY: For hundreds of years the Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling has been taking place on this steep hillside. Although traditionally by and for the residents of the local village of Brockworth, the event now sees people from all over the world taking part. A guest roller starts the race by releasing a 7-8lb round of cheese down a treacherous slope and competitors then hurl themselves down the slope after it. The first person to arrive at the foot of the hill (usually after numerous tumbles) is the winner and gets the cheese!
BOOK IT: Book UTracks’ self-guided A Week in the Cotswolds (8 days, NEW FOR 2012) which departs daily and plan it around the Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling. From £556 per person.

JUNE: PERU
INTI RAYMI – FESTIVAL OF THE SUN 24 June 2012

WHY: Daytime expositions, street fairs, dancing in the streets and live music from the best of Peruvian musical groups: Inti Raymi (“the Festival of the Sun”) is a weeklong celebration marking the beginning of a new year. Originally celebrated by the Incas, today it is the second largest festival in South America, after the carnival of Rio de Janeiro, with hundreds of actors chosen to represent historical figures. The greatest honour? Being selected to portray the Sapa Inca, the Emperor of the Inca Empire, or his wife Mama Occla.

BOOK IT: Book World Expeditions’ Peru – Raft, bike and hike (14 days) that departs on 24 June and get to Peru on time for the Inti Raymi celebrations. From £1,590 per person.

JULY: MONGOLIA
NAADAM – THE THREE GAMES OF MEN 11-13 July 2012

WHY: Inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Naadam is a true test of manhood in such traditional games as horse racing, archery and wrestling. The most widely watched festival among Mongols, it enjoys special popularity comparable to that of football in Europe, baseball in the US or sumo wrestling in Japan. It is believed to have existed for centuries, although today it formally commemorates the 1921 revolution, when Mongolia declared itself a free country.

BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ special Trans Siberian Adventure Naadam Festival (23 days) departure on 2 July costs £3,690 per person.

AUGUST: FRANCE
CORSO DE LA LAVANDE – LAVENDER FESTIVAL 3-7 August 2012
WHY: Corso de la Lavande (“the lavender festival”) is a significant colourful local affair – and a wonderful excuse to visit Digne-les-Bains, the self-styled “capitale de la lavande” and one of the most visually striking regions of Provence! Here, the local lavender harvest is celebrated during the first week of August in a half-a-century old festival. The town comes alive as parades with elaborate floats and presentations of folklore culminate in a grand ball, all devoted to this abundant crop.

BOOK IT: Celebrate Corso de la Lavande with UTracks’ self-guided Best of Provence (8 days). Departs daily from April to October, from £790 per person.

SEPTEMBER: ETHIOPIA
MESKEL – FINDING OF THE TRUE CROSS 27 September 2012

WHY: Meskel is Ethiopia’s most colourful Christian festival – but even for non-believers, it offers a dazzling excuse to celebrate with bonfires and parties! Thousands of locals and visitors get together to watch priests, nuns and parishioners sing, clap, beat drums and dance as they put on a unique show for the crowd. Meskel commemorates the recovery, 17 centuries ago, of the cross on which Jesus was crucified and the Ethiopian Church still claims to have its own piece, hidden from public view at the remote monastery of Gishan Mariam.

BOOK IT: Make sure you are in Ethiopia to celebrate Meskel with World Expeditions’ special departure of the Ethiopia Explorer (16 days) on 21 September. From £2,220 per person.

OCTOBER: BHUTAN
JAMBAY LHAKHANG FESTIVAL 29 October – 2 November 2012

WHY: A hugely popular religious festival, Jambay Lhakhang takes place every autumn at one of the oldest and most sacred Buddhist temples in Bhutan. Jambay Lhakhang is known for its two special events: ‘Mewang’ (the “fire blessing ceremony”), where locals run underneath a huge flaming gate made out of dry grasses with ambers and piles of burning grasses falling on their head; and ‘Tercham’ (the “dance of treasure”), where dancers with their face covered by a mask perform a dance completely naked.

BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ dedicated departure for Land of the Thunder Dragon – Jambay Lakhang Festival (13 days) is on 25 October 2012. From £1,890 per person.

NOVEMBER: ARGENTINA
FIESTA DE LA TRADICIÓN – TRADITION DAY 10 November 2012

WHY: This is the best opportunity you will have to see the ‘gaucho’ culture and get a feel for country life in Argentina. There are competitions, dances, horse and bronco riding, folk music and asados (“barbecues”), as well as exhibitions of local craftwork including silverware, spurs, stirrups and saddles. The finale involves hundreds of gauchos in their traditional dress – typical bombachas (“baggy jodhpurs”), wide-leather belts, boots and leather hats – parading through the centre of town.

BOOK IT: Book World Expeditions’ 11-day Patagonia Adventure which culminates just in time for Fiesta de la Tradición. Departs on 27 October, from £1,890 per person.

DECEMBER: CHILE
NEW YEAR’S FESTIVAL 29-31 December 2012

WHY: Attracting one million tourists from around the world, this three-day festival culminates with a huge (30,000 explosions!) firework display. Live bands play until the early hours of the morning on Plaza Sotomayor, while local traditions include: eating lentil dishes with 12 grapes to symbolise each month of the year; writing down everything that was bad about the old year and then symbolically burning the paper; going out walking with luggage so that you travel during the year; and wearing ‘lucky’ items, such as yellow underwear.

BOOK IT: Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Chile with World Expeditions: Book Chile End to End (18 days) that departs on 31 December 2012, from £3,290 per person.

For more information and bookings please visit www.worldexpeditions.co.uk and www.utracks.com  The all-inclusive policy of World Expeditions and UTracks ensures there are no local payments. Prices do not include international flights, however these can be arranged on request.

SpiceRoads Cycle Tours has launched a one-day and a two-day bicycle tour that discovers the Laos countryside of Luang Prabang.

Bangkok, Thailand – SpiceRoads Cycle Tours, the leading bicycle tour operator in Asia, launched two new cultural tours that depart from Luang Prabang, Laos. The tours are a journey of discovery through the splendid scenery of the Laos countryside and takes cyclists from village to village to explore the daily life of Laotians and their unique culture.

The one-day Luang Prabang Explorer tour takes cyclists on a leisurely ride to the rural landscape left untouched by the modern world that lies just outside the city of Luang Prabang. The tour starts with a short bicycle ride to the banks of the Mekong River where a local ferry is used to reach the dirt roads that wind through green rice fields and orchards. Along the way cyclists will pass through small villages with friendly people who are happy to have a chat. A stop for a taste of the local delicacy, Kholam, a sweet sticky rice mixed with palm sugar slowly baked in a length of a bamboo, will give cyclists an energy boost. The tour also stops to visit Ban Jannu, an old community where skilled potters craft intricate pots and jars. The total riding distance is 37 km. The Luang Prabang Explorer tour starts at 7:30 am and ends at 5 pm and includes a pick up and drop off from Luang Prabang hotels for the price of US$65 (25% discount for children age 12-17 years old). This tour has guaranteed daily departures with a minimum of 2 passengers. Refreshments, lunch, a mountain bike and helmet are included.

On the new two-day Luang Prabang Countryside tour cyclists will experience local life in northern Laos. The riding is at a slow pace on dirt roads shared with oxen, pigs, chickens and the occasional motorbike. The route takes riders to a Khmu village with their traditional culture and stops for a rest and swim break at the beautiful Tad Hoykoua waterfall. The night is spent at the village of Ban Nongphou at a homestay to offer the opportunity to meet with Laotians. The second day of riding will be on small trails that lead from village to village. After a local lunch the riders continue on to a village where the art of traditional pottery can be observed. A ferry ride across the Mekong River brings the cyclists back to Luang Prabang. The Luang Prabang Countryside tour departs every Saturday and Tuesday with a minimum of two adults. The cost is US$250 per person (25% discount for children age 12-17 years old). Vehicle support, refreshments, meals, night at homestay and a mountain bike and helmet are included.

SpiceRoads Cycle Tours is Asia’s leading bicycle tour operator offering a range of bicycle tours in 16 destinations. SpiceRoads tours cater for every level of cyclist and range from day-trips to complete country explorations. Participants are invited to join tours with fixed date departures scheduled throughout the year, while private or tailor-made tours can be arranged for groups or individuals on request. More information about SpiceRoads can be viewed at www.spiceroads.com

SpiceRoads Cycle Tours launched two new cultural tours of the Laotian countryside that depart from Luang Prabang, Laos. The itineraries travel from village to village to observe the daily life of Laotians. The one-day Luang Prabang Explorer tour takes cyclists on a leisurely ride to the rural landscape practically untouched by the modern world. It starts with a short bicycle ride to the banks of the Mekong River where a local ferry is used to reach the dirt roads that wind through green rice fields and orchards. Along the way, cyclists will pass through small villages and have an opportunity to meet the locals.

The new two-day Luang Prabang Countryside tour gives clients an opportunity to experience local life in northern Laos. The tour moves at slow pace on dirt roads shared with oxen, pigs, chickens and some motorbikes. The tour visits a Khmu village and stops for a rest and swim break at the Tad Hoykoua waterfall. The night is spent at the village of Ban Nongphou at the home of a villager. The cost is $250 per person (25 percent discount for children ages 12 to 17 years old). Vehicle support, refreshments, meals, homestay and a mountain bike and helmet are included. SpiceRoads Cycle Tours offers bicycle tours in 16 destinations.

Leading Asia specialist, Travel Indochina, has launched its brand new Small Group Journeys brochure for 2012/2013, featuring 70 unique itineraries and 1,000 departures to destinations across Asia including the latest addition of Burma and various new Specialist Collection Journeys to Sri Lanka, Mongolia and Bhutan.

Created by an award-winning designer, Travel Indochina’s new-look brochure is the company’s best and most user-friendly yet. It offers a simple way of digesting Travel Indochina’s great range of quality escorted small group tours, including the largest diversity of holidays to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos of any UK tour operator, together with a large variety of journeys to Thailand, China and Tibet, India, and Japan – for groups of up to 16 people.

The new catalogue perfectly enables the specialist tour operator to share its experience of the “real” Asia with interested customers. Every journey page now features top “Insider Experiences” detailing unique encounters that are exclusively available to guests of Travel Indochina, such as the opportunity to avoid the crowds at Angkor Wat by entering the temple through a lesser-used entrance.

In addition, most journey pages highlight Travel Indochina’s fantastic array of online travel videos to give customers a real taste of Asia. Each online video enables the expert operator to share information on their destinations, top Insider Experiences and unique style of travel whilst providing a great opportunity for interested travellers to hear from – and be inspired by – expert Western tour leaders and professional local guides, as well as past clients.

New for 2012, travellers can enjoy some very special experiences on Travel Indochina’s new 9-day and 13-day tours to Burma, which will operate every month from January 2012 onwards. Whilst covering the highlights of this unspoilt destination, guests of Travel Indochina can take a horse and carriage ride through the Bagan plains at sunset, share lunch with the resident nuns at a local nunnery in Mandalay, and meet the locals at a little-visited village on the banks of the Irrawaddy river.

Further good news is that journeys to Indochina and beyond can be booked in conjunction with Vietnam Airlines, which is launching the UK’s first ever non-stop flights to Vietnam from 9th December 2011. This new service will shave up to seven hours off the flight time and offer convenient onward connections to Cambodia, Laos and Burma.

Lesley Wright at Travel Indochina comments: “We are delighted to announce the launch of our new Small Group Journeys brochure, which we believe is our best ever design. The content really highlights the breadth and depth of our company’s offering, whilst also developing our philosophy of sharing the experience through our “Insider Experiences”, which delve deeper into the destinations and provide our customers with insights and experiences that many travellers miss. We very much hope our new revamped brochure will inspire them to share the real Asia with us in 2012 and beyond.”

Abercrombie & Kent celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a collection of specialist group journeys. Founded in 1962 by Geoffrey Kent with the vision of offering the most inspirational travel experiences, A&K introduces its new Specialist Journey Brochure, a collection of expert-led trips which push the boundaries of travel to excite, challenge and inspire.

Mark Carwardine – expert wildlife photographer, outspoken conservationist, award-winning writer and presenter of the BBC’s Last Chance to See with Stephen Fry will accompany two trips:

The Galapagos (24th May – 3rd June 2012) – explore the wildlife of these unique islands with the benefit of Mark’s wisdom and photographic eye.
Spirit Bears in British Columbia (8th – 14th September 2012) – search for the revered Kermode bears of British Columbia with Mark and a local native guide.

Jon Nicholson, acclaimed UNICEF photo-journalist and official photographer for London 2012 Olympic Games, will lead a number of journeys, discovering the true spirit of the destination while instilling technical photographic expertise, an understanding of composition and the confidence to capture the real story.

Burma Photographic (1st – 13th March 2012) – capture the former Royal City of Mrauk U, seeing the Ayeyarwady River on the RV Paukan and exploring rural Burmese life.
Bhutan Photographic (26th March – 8th April 2012) – explore the mountain kingdom, its ancient dzongs, mountains strewn with prayer flags, the vibrant Paro Festival and the farming communities at work in the paddy fields

Jodhpur Photographic (8th – 14th April 2012) – capture life in the ‘blue city’ of Jodhpur and explore Osian on the edge of the Thar Desert, known for its ancient temples.
Varanasi Photographic (29th September – 3rd October 2012) – discover Varanasi’s secrets and the traditions that surround the ghats of the sacred RiverGanges.

Ian Redmond OBE – an expert in gorilla conservation who has been involved in over fifty documentaries about these captivating primates:

Gorillas of the Central African Republic and Congo (September 2012) – Search for western lowland gorillas in Dzanga-Sangha Reserve with Ian Redmond, exploring the forests of the Ba’aka pygmy tribe and the Dzanga Bai, famous for its forest elephants.

Rob Caskie – the principal lecturer at Fugitives’ Drift Lodge under David Rattray, who has achieved eminence through his compelling storytelling to audiences worldwide, Rob has a unique talent of bringing history to life:

• Zulu Battlefields (April 2012) – recreating the drama of the Zulu War, Rob will shine light on the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift from Fugitive’s Drift Lodge.

• The Kingdom of the Black Pharaohs (13th – 21st October 2012) – experience the dramatic events and battles of the late 19th century, including the Mahdi, Gordon of Khartoum and Kitchener.

Dr Christoph Schwitzer – an expert in conservation of lemurs and Head of Research at BCSF:

Lemurs of Madagascar (7th – 17th October) – Discover the diversity of Madagascar’s unique flora and fauna, seeking out its many species of lemur, exploring sacred forests, sand dunes, mangroves and beaches.

Michael Jay – the only Westerner to hold a samurai rank since William Adams in 1600, Japanese speaking and fluent in Geisha and Samurai history:

In the Footsteps of the Geisha and Samurai (25th September – 8th October 2012) – explore the enigmatic Geisha culture in Kyoto’s Gion district and understand the honour, traditions and weapons of the Samurai.

Denise Heywood – Asian Art specialist Denise is a lecturer, expert guide, author, journalist and photographer, specialising in Laos and Cambodia:

Artistic Heritage of Laos and Cambodia (6th – 18th January 2013) – explore local markets, Buddhist and Hindu temples and the French Indochinese architecture of Luang Prabang.

Trails of Indochina celebrated the launch of the Jahan, a new luxury river cruise boat for the Mekong River.

The boat officially made its debut on Oct. 29 as the newest member of Heritage Line’s collection, and sister to the Jayavarman. The new cruise offers a three-, four- or eight-day journey between My Tho and Cambodia’s Siem Reap.

The Jahan features four categories of accommodation in 26 cabins on two decks, ranging from the Superior Staterooms to the Jacuzzi-equipped suites. Each suite is individually designed with a British-Indian style and all offer private balconies. The boat is designed ideally for couples and small groups, and includes private shore excursions on an FIT basis.

Located on top is the terrace deck with the Viceroy Dining Hall, the Apsara Spa, the Observatory Lounge and covered outside funnel bar.

The boat also has a three-meter-wide and seven-meter-long pool.

There is a complimentary butler service available to all Signature Stateroom and Suite guests, allowing guests the option of privacy with in-room dining.

“Our partners are really the ones that have sought after this additional luxury cruise options on the Mekong River,” said Trails of Indochina CEO and founder John Tue Nguyen. “The Jayavarman was such a magnificent creation and caused such interest within the industry that many of our partners asked for a similar cruising experience. The Jahan offers this and much, much more.”

For more information, email info@trailsofindochina.com  or visit www.trailsofindochina.com  or www.heritage-line.com