Jetsettersblog

 It was once the world’s fourth largest inland sea, straddling the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, until destructive irrigation practices transformed the Aral Sea largely into desert. Thanks to a rescue plan implemented by the World Bank and Kazakh government, life is slowly returning to parts of the shrivelled Aral Sea, and waters may once again lap the rusting hulks of fishing vessels marooned in a sea of dunes. Dragoman visits the Aral Sea as part of its epic 11-week overland journey from Helsinki to Beijing, departing Helsinki 19th April 2009.

Those looking for an epic holiday and lucky enough to get 11 weeks off work, should sign up now for this great adventure! Commencing in the historic city of Helsinki, Dragoman travels across the giant landmass of Asia, through Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China.

This is a journey with an of necessity flexible itinerary, as variable as the range of temperatures experienced – from chilly European Russia and Siberia, to the hot deserts of Central Asia. In Russia, head south, bound for the steppes of Kazakhstan and the shrinking Aral Sea before entering the wild Tian Shan range - the ‘Mountains of Heaven’.

Camp in Siberia’s Altai then cross into Mongolia to stay in a traditional ger with nomadic reindeer herders, and explore Ghenghis Khan country. From here it’s a stunning overland trip across the forbidding Gobi Desert to the People’s Republic of China where the Great Wall and Feng Shui inspired Ming Tombs are just some of the cultural highlights.

The tour costs £3,250 p/p plus kitty $2,390 (~£1,472) including camping and hotel accommodation, all camp meals, transport aboard Dragoman’s customised Mercedes Benz expedition truck and guidance from an experienced three-person crew.
Flights are not included.

Dragoman
01728 861 133
info@dragoman.co.uk
www.dragoman.com

Travel Indochina produced a new Small Group Journeys brochure for 2009-2010 with a new look brochure that features not only Japan for the first time, but also a range of exciting new itineraries across our established destinations that are bound to inspire. Itineraries have been upgraded to include some of the region’s latest changes.

New design features have been added to make the brochure easier to use than before. Several new itineraries are offered, including a new Family Journey: the 12-day River Journey and the Lost City; the new Highlights of Indochina, an excellent way of exploring the very best of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos for 14 days; the 15-day Cycling Vietnam and Cambodia, a more adventurous experience that will take you from Angkor to southern Vietnam; the 18-day Yangtze and Yunnan, a great combination of China’s key cities and landmarks (including a four-day Yangtze cruise) and Yunnan province; the 21-day Land of the Rising Sun, an in-depth exploration of Japan; and in India, our 11-day Kolkata and Himalayan Kingdom traverses mountain views, the Buddhist traditions of the eastern Himalayas and Kolkata’s vibrant history.

Travel Indochina’s story began 15 years ago in Indochina. This new brochure showcases the company’s on-the-ground knowledge and innovation. New for 2009, the 13-day Indochina Footprints offers travelers the chance to put something back into the destinations they travel through. Recognition for these efforts has recently come in the form of a nomination by the prestigious responsibletravel.com.

 For more information, call 866-459-6152 or visit www.travelindochina.com

 Win a trip to discover the culture and beauty of Asia

Intrepid Travel is offering travelers the chance to enjoy an early Christmas present with their Real Life Experiences competition. This competition allows travelers to win one trip every day for 30 days during. Participants choose the adventure tour they want to be a part of.

Intrepid begins this giveaway with some incredible trips to Asia. Travelers can imagine themselves spending the night in a Ger (a traditional Mongolian dwelling) in Russia, waking up on the mighty Ganges River in India, giving alms to monks in Laos, or even walking along the Great Wall of China. Asia’s diverse culture, food, history, and sights, are fertile ground for finding a unique real life experience.

One of these incredible tours explores the beauty of Thailand. Northern Thailand is a treasure trove filled with glittering temples, ancient ruins, exotic markets and sumptuous foods. Travelers will explore the capital of Siam’s golden age at Sukhothai, ride an elephant through the rainforest of Lampang, and browse the bustling markets of Chiang Mai. On this Thailand adventure tour they will stay at a special homestay with local friends and enjoy a traditional khan toke dinner in Thailand’s northern kingdom. For more information on this Thailand adventure tour, visit: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/TSK/USPR

Travelers also have an opportunity to win a travel experience in China on Intrepid Travel’s Iconic China tour. Travelers will take in China’s iconic sights and highlights on this in-depth adventure.

 From Hong Kong to Beijing, passengers will discover ancient relics, natural wonders, vibrant cities and a culture and history dating back thousands of years. Whether they’re standing atop the Great Wall, checking out the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, cycling past paddy fields or roaming the markets of Shanghai, they’ll be creating memories of China to last a lifetime. For more information on China travel, visit: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/CSA/USPR

Ten winners have already been selected, however, there is still time for twenty more to get their Asia trip on the road. Which experience will travelers choose? For more information visit the competition page at www.RealLifeExperiences.com/USPR

About Intrepid Travel

With over 19 years of experience, Intrepid Travel is one of the world’s leading small group adventure tour operators. Intrepid offers over 450 itineraries in more than 90 destinations worldwide. Intrepid trips are designed to go off the beaten track, meet the locals and travel in an unconventional way, joining locals on their transport, in their markets and even in their homes.

 The inaugural edition of The Miele Guide, Asia’s first truly independent and authoritative restaurant guide will launch on 31 October 2008 at a star-studded dinner held in Singapore. The 2008/2009 edition of this new annual guide will then be available at major bookstores throughout Asia on 1 November 2008.

Written by expert food lovers who know and love Asia, this 2008/2009 edition will be the first restaurant guide to measure the best restaurants in the region by Asian standards. At the same time, as it sets new benchmarks in the Asian culinary sphere, the very best restaurants in Asia will fittingly be given the credence due to them with the launch of the Guide.

Starting with this first edition, The Miele Guide will annually publish a list of Asia’s 20 best restaurants. These restaurants will be numerically ranked and profiled in-depth. In addition, the Guide will list the other 300 best restaurants from across the region, categorised by country, city and cuisine. This first edition evaluates restaurants in 16 Asian countries—Brunei, Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The 2008/2009 edition and this year’s list of Top 20 Restaurants will be unveiled at The Miele Guide Dinner, a chic gala event hosted at the Grand Hyatt Singapore on 31 October 2008. The Dinner will be attended by approximately 350 guests, comprising of a veritable who’s who of Asia’s F&B scene. All chefs and restaurateurs whose establishments have been methodically selected to be in the 2008/2009 edition have been invited.

 “The overarching goal of The Miele Guide is to help the restaurant industry in Asia grow. We hope that by recognising Asia’s best, the industry will continue to flourish and develop. It is also our hope to create awareness internationally that we have amazing dining here in Asia,” says Tan Su-Lyn, Director of Ate Media, the Singapore-based media firm publishing the guide, and one of Southeast Asia’s most established food writers.

“We are proud to be part of this landmark move to recognise the Asian dining scene,” Mario Miranda, Managing Director of Miele Pte Ltd says. “Miele’s sponsorship of The Miele Guide reflects our dedication to helping to encourage and support the food and wine industry in this region. We are equally committed to promoting the enjoyment and understanding of good food among the people of this diverse region.”

Pauline Ooi, The Miele Guide’s Associate Publisher, says, “We are very much looking forward to the launch of The Miele Guide. The dinner will be an exciting night of honouring Asia’s brightest culinary stars. We’re thrilled that many of the region’s culinary luminaries have already responded that they will be in attendance. This, we hope, will become the must-attend event for the region’s best chefs and restaurateurs year after year.”

The Miele Guide is published by Ate Media Pte Ltd and sponsored by Miele, a German manufacturer of premium and innovative cooking appliances for the home. While a naming sponsor of the Guide,
Miele did not exert any influence over the selection and judging process that determined which restaurants appear in The Miele Guide.

Further underlining its independence, neither the Guide nor its contributors accepted any advertising, sponsorship or free meals from any of the restaurants reviewed.

The slim, elegant and affordable Guide, which will retail at US$15, will be for every traveller, foodie and business person looking to dine in Asia.

In conjunction with Children’s Day, Singapore Airlines has begun serving children’s meals with specially designed lunch boxes adorned with highly popular characters from Cartoon Network shows such as PowerPuff Girls and Ben 10. Junior travelers will also be able to take their lunch boxes home with them at the end of their flight.

Available on all flights lasting seven hours or more, the special lunch box contains burgers, chicken nuggets and spaghetti with meatballs, which are available on Singapore Airlines children’s Book-The-Cook program, Yummy. In addition, drinks will be served in an attractive, children-friendly paper cup, also dressed in Cartoon Network livery.

The lunch box is already available on flights leaving Singapore and will be available on flights departing from all other destinations from Nov. 1.

Children will also continue to enjoy the much-loved Cartoon Network giveaways available on all Singapore Airlines flights (with the exception of the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur services). The giveaways, which include activity kits and plush toys, are catered to various age groups. Further enhancing their in-flight experience is the wide range of entertainment options available on the new KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines’ in-flight entertainment system.

This includes the especially dedicated Young Ones section, featuring Cartoon Network shows such as Ben 10, Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends, Hi Hi Puffy Amiyumi and many others. Junior flyers can also tune in to the children’s audio channel and listen to audio stories as well as the latest selection of children’s music, which include albums such as Camp Rock and The Jonas Brothers.

They can also watch the most current children’s movies such as Speed Racer and Kung Fu Panda. In addition, they can enjoy one of the largest games selections in the sky, which include popular games such as Bookworm Deluxe! and Mojo Muncho.

For more information, visit www.singaporeair.com

Jet Airways is happy to announce a Jet Value Pass - a scheme wherein you can purchase the pass and travel in Club Premiere or in Economy class. This scheme is valid until further notice.

Jet Value Pass in Club Premiere:

No of Coupons Passenger Type Booking Class Base Fare
04 Coupons Adult I USD 1,100
06 Coupons Adult I USD 1,550
08 Coupons Adult I USD 1,950

Jet Value Pass in Economy:

No of Coupons Passenger Type Booking Class Base Fare
04 Coupons Adult U USD 500
06 Coupons Adult U USD 700
08 Coupons Adult U USD 850

Website: www.jetairways.com

Arabic Release• The second signed agreement after Bahrain Air

• The agreement introduce more choices for travel between Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and rest of Sama destinations

Riyadh 25 Aug 2008: Sama Airlines, the newest low-fares airline in Saudi Arabia, announced a commercial agreement has been signed between Sama and Safi Airways, to provide more choices for travel to the customers of both airlines.

 Safi Airways provide daily flights between Dubai and Kabul, enabling onward travel on Sama’s Saudi domestic and international network via Sharjah.

This agreement follows the signing of a similar agreement with Bahrain Air, facilitating for Sama’s guests more choices to Manama, Kabul, Mashad, and Kochi.

Mr. Andrew Cowen, Chief Executive Officer of Sama said: “Sama is continuing its work to expand access to international destinations not directly served by Sama such as Manama, Kuchi, Kabul, and Mashad to its guests.

The cooperation with Safi Airways and Bahrain Air is allowing Sama to direct sell to those destinations with these partner airlines.

This latest agreement supports Sama’s continuing efforts to meet growing demand for travel market in the Middle East, as part of our objective of becoming the preferred low-cost carrier for travelers in the region.”

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.