AYUTTHAYA, THAILAND — Thailand visitors will be able to celebrate one of the world’s most renowned combat disciplines at the upcoming World Thai Martial Arts Festival and Wai Khru Muay Thai Ceremony.

To be held at the Nai Khanom Tom Monument at the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Stadium from March 15th to 17th, the event will see more than 300 boxers from 30 nations participating.

It features a martial arts tournament, in which fighters from the UK, Canada, Russia, Korea and other parts of the world compete in various weight categories for cash prizes, while exhibitions and educational sessions will also be held.

Of particular significance is the Wai Khru ritual, an integral element of Muay Thai training that involves the assembled fighters paying respect to their masters and taking part in initiation rites in order to prove themselves as true Muay Thai fighters.

The event is held in honour of Nai Khanom Tom, a legendary Thai warrior from the 1700s, who Muay Thai practitioners venerate to this day.

Combined with opportunities to purchase traditional handicrafts and sample Thai cuisine, the festival is set to offer a fascinating cultural experience for all.

Find out more about the event at http://www.tatnews.org

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.

Each tub is positioned so guests can have complete privacy, yet can enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding jungle, the Ruak River, and of Burma and Laos beyond. Each of the three tents will feature a hot tub and guests may select one of the following for their romantic retreat — The Botanist’s Tent affords views of the jungle and the Ruak River, the river that forms the border between Thailand and Burma; The Burmese Tent is decorated with Burmese scrolls and accented with Burmese textiles, and has expansive, wide-open views into Burma, taking in the Ruak River and the dramatic plains; and The Elephant Tent offers views over the Elephant Camp and elephants bathing.

The partnership will see the works of Thanapon Junkasain open on Feb. 16 — a collection of contemporary Buddhist paintings that explore the concepts of right and wrong in society by drawing on traditional mythology — which he brings to life in his first solo exhibition.

The show — titled Mara — will be exhibited at the Banyan Tree Bangkok until March 31 and is open daily. Key to Wai Art’s philosophy and the partnership with the Banyan Tree Bangkok is to not only provide this opportunity but to ensure that sales profits are given to the artists rather than the galleries. A small amount of the proceeds will also be donated to Banyan Tree Bangkok’s Corporate Social Responsibility Fund, which supports various community projects in Thailand.

Kenya Lodge Safari
‘It’s the Eco-lodges and atmospheric tented camps that make this safari special for couples, alongside sharing a once-in-a lifetime experience out in some of the best game reserves in the world.’
Link: http://www.peregrineadventures.com/africa/kenya/kenya-lodge-safari-2010
Provider: Peregrine Adventures
Duration: 8 days
Cost: GB £1700 pp twin share
Departure: 12th Feb 2012

The Eastern and Orient Express – Bangkok to Singapore
‘Travel in style between these two great cities, taking in snapshots of the lush tropical countryside along the way.’
Link: http://www.peregrineadventures.com/south-east-asia/thailand/eastern-orient-express-bangkok-singapore-2012
Provider: Peregrine Adventures
Duration: 6 days
Cost: GB £2895 pp twin share
Departure: 11th Feb 2012

Thailand Master Cooking Tour
‘They say food is the key to a man’s heart but he’s not the only one who should benefit from something tasty. Shop in Thai markets and learn to cook traditional, delicious meals that you’ll keep in your memories, and your cupboards, for the rest of your lives.’
Link: http://www.peregrineadventures.com/south-east-asia/thailand/thailand-master-cooking-tour-2012
Provider: Peregrine Adventures
Duration: 10 days
Cost: GB £895 pp twin share
Departure: 20th Feb 2012

Leading independent tour operator Premier Holidays specialises in bespoke tailor-made holidays to some of the most romantic destinations in the world and can create the perfect trip for a loved-up couple.

Whether it’s a romantic break, honeymoon or wedding anniversary, Premier Holidays’ expert travel consultants can create the ideal tailor-made trip to both long and short-haul destinations.

Two nights in Jersey from £229 per person
Spend two nights at the five-star Grand in Jersey from just £229 per person with Premier Holidays. Jersey is the perfect short-haul romantic destination, boasting beautiful country lanes, deserted beaches and a wide choice of fine dining options. Situated in St Helier, the hotel has fantastic views over St Aubin’s Bay and Elizabeth Castle. The hotel offers a choice of restaurants and a Champagne bar. This package includes return flights from London Gatwick, bed and breakfast accommodation and transfers. Valid for travel until 31 March 2012.

Guests can also take a day trip to Sark and experience a two hour horse and carriage ride, from £11 per person. Alternatively a trip to the scenic neighbouring island of Herm is only £10.50 per person, with Premier Holidays. Flights are also available from a choice of regional airports throughout the UK.

For couples seeking a romantic break in the sun, follow in the footsteps of newly engaged John Legend and Chrissy Teigen and head to Thailand.

14 nights in Thailand from £999 per person
Premier Holidays is offering 14 nights in Thailand from just £999 per person, saving £595 per person. This package is based on three nights in Bangkok, three nights in Chiang Mai and eight nights in Cha Am and includes accommodation throughout, return flights to Bangkok with Thai Airways from London Heathrow, and onwards to Chiang Mai and return private transfers. This offer is valid for travel from 1 May – 30 June 2012, based on two adults sharing. Guests can also enjoy a free city tour of Bangkok, a free upgrade to a deluxe room including breakfast at the Rembrandt Hotel in Bangkok when staying between 1 Apr – 30 Jun 2012 and a free upgrade to a deluxe room at the Royal Princess, Chiang Mai when staying between 1 Apr – 30 Jun 2012.

For more information or to book any of these packages please visit www.premierholidays.co.uk  or call 08444 937 542.

“This year we’re introducing Russia to our Asian line up, featuring a Moscow-to-St. Petersburg cruise, along with some new Korea World Expo tours; eco jungle lodges in Northern Thailand; three newly selected Stays of Distinction in Shanghai, Ubud and Taipei; and more group touring options than ever before,” said Diane Molzan, general manager, Asia.

The selection includes a two-day Pushkar Extension in India from $149 per person, a Cebu and Chocolate Hills program in the Philippines from $239 per person, an 11-day Boutique River Cruise in Myanmar for $3,185 per person, and two new Nepal treks in the Annapurna and Everest regions. The company is continuing popular programs in South East Asia, India, Nepal, Thailand and China. For more information, call 888-469-2988.

Last year’s tournament featured 12 teams encompassing over 40 players, including German royals Prince Carl-Eugen Oettingen-Wallerstein, his wife Princess Anna and daughter Princess Joanna, along with members of the New Zealand All-Blacks rugby team. A celebrity auction was also held with international celebrities including Olympic 100 meter Gold Medalist Linford Christie, Grammy Award winners Lady Antebellum, U.K. fashion designer Anja Hindmarsh and Korean pop star Park Jung Min.

Fundraising from last year’s event has been donated to three projects in Thailand. The first is to continue to support research and clinics using elephants in therapy sessions for children in Thailand living with autism. In addition, the money raised has also been used to launch the first and only elephant hospital in southern Thailand, as well as a human-elephant conflict project between the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) and the Elephant Conservation Network (ECN) charity who works in a wildlife reserve in Kanchanaburi.

Hanuman Bay, a crescent cove with a 500-meter sand beach flanked by granite outcrops at each end, is located between the bays of Cheong Mon to its north, and the bright lights of Chaweng to its south. It is a seven-minute drive from Samui International Airport. “We are the first resort to be built at Hanuman Bay,” said Kijkanakorn. “That’s why in creating Akaryn Samui, it was vital to design every detail to complement the bay’s natural beauty and integrate it into the guest experience in many subtle ways, like our signature ‘Outside Living – In’ philosophy.”

Akaryn Samui’s pool suites offer a blend of privacy, romance and style while allowing guests to embrace nature to the extent they desire via the resort’s “Outside Living — In” philosophy.

Akaryn Samui is the fourth property in Kijkanakorn’s Akaryn Hospitality Management Services (AHMS) portfolio, following the recent launch of the 62-room, four-star Akyra Chura Samui resort at Chaweng Beach.

The new resort features 34 stand-alone pool suites, each 80 square meters, as well as 18 100-square-meter villas with eight-meter private pools. Akaryn Samui’s design features Asian-influenced décor and a selection of genuine antiques. Standard features include LCD large-screen TV, iPod and iDock with a large movie and music library, naturally sourced amenities from AHMS’s exclusive Spa IV, and 430-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets.

The pool suites will be priced from THB 7,600 ($245), the ocean view pool suites from THB 8,785 ($285), and the pool villa from THB 9,735 ($300). For more information, call 011-66 (0) 2514 8112; email paul@ahmshotels.com

Dedicated personal wedding planners are on hand at the Aleenta Phuket-Phang Nga and Aleenta Hua Hin-Pranburi resorts to offer couples the opportunity to release rare turtles, breakfast onboard a long-tail boat, stroll along the beach with a baby elephant or simply say “I do” over a quiet glass of champagne.

The book caters to anything from two people up to a hundred as couples can choose from venues such as Grand Villa Air, a picturesque beachfront house, or Grand Villa Satis, where 80 guests can roam the stunning gardens that spill onto a 12-mile stretch of pristine beach — offering intimacy, style and privacy. The Aleenta Weddings guide further demonstrates that there’s more to a wedding than the day itself. For more information, email pa@ahmshotels.com