Southeast Asia brochure - Audley Travel

Southeast Asia
Mini guide to Southeast Asia 23

Introduction & memories
AUDLEY’S NEW
SOUTHEAST ASIA BROCHURE
is hot off the press and putting
it together has made us
realise that despite the cliché,
Southeast Asia really does
offer something for everyone.
There are UNESCO World
Heritage Sites such as Hoi An
in Vietnam and Penang in
Malaysia, chances to see
unique wildlife such as the
orang-utan in Borneo and the
Komodo Dragons in Indonesia,
stunning beaches in Thailand
and the Philippines, amazing
temples in Cambodia and
Burma, volcanic landscapes in
Indonesia and the Philippines,
and delicious food everywhere!
Southeast Asia was Audley’s
first destination and it is a
region that we are immensely
passionate about. We relish
seeking out new areas and
new ways to experience old
favourites. In the new brochure
we have highlighted a few
areas that we are particularly
excited about, namely Northern
Vietnam, the temples of Angkor,
Thailand’s National Parks and
the Wildlife of Borneo.
Despite being a well-established
destination there is still plenty
to discover in Southeast Asia.
Here is a small selection of
stories from our clients to
give you an insight into what
a wonderful part of the
world this is.
From our clients
Ati-Atihan festival taken by Keith Bryant
Festivals in the Philippines
Every February, some of the major islands in
the Philippines stage spectacular festivals to
thank Jesus and the indigenous tribes for...well,
being alive. It’s a great excuse to celebrate and
the friendly Filipinos certainly know how to
party. We chose to go to Panay Island to see
the Ati-Atihan Festival and, a week later, the
Dinagyang Festival. Although the two had
very similar roots, the festivals are run very
differently. Ati-Atihan is a week-long street
carnival, with loud music, lots of beer and
tribal dance groups in colourful costumes.
Best of all we could join in, which we loved.
Dinagyang is more like a mini Rio Carnival,
with amazing sets and props and wellchoreographed
and brightly-costumed dance
troupes competing for prizes. It’s visually
stunning and the after party was great fun.
Keith Bryant
Tarsier taken by Peter Banks
On the trail of the tarsier in Borneo
The word was out, our guide Vivian Rudolph
had located the elusive Tarsier and we
panicked with excitement. We rushed from the
dining room at the lodge to change into full
rainforest night gear, leach socks included, and
then tripped off to the edge of the rainforest.
Rush, rush, hurry, hurry then keep quiet and
still! Along with others we blundered silently
through the undergrowth, collecting leaches
on the way, until there in front of us was this
tiny creature whose eyes and timidity just
melted your heart. It was a moment I’ll never
forget as I truly never expected to be so close
to such a shy and elusive animal. After many
completely useless pictures and some ok video
I managed to get five really acceptable ones.
Another wonderful experience in a
honeymoon full of them. Thanks Audley, we’ll
be seeing you again!
Peter Banks
S OUTHEAST A SIA
VIETNAM
CAMBODIA
LAOS
THAILAND
BURMA
MALAYSIA
BORNEO
BRUNEI
SINGAPORE
INDONESIA
PHILIPPINES
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
TA ILO R - M A D E J O U R N E Y S F O R T H E D ISC E R N ING T R A V E L L E R
24
Flower H’mong girls taken by Peter Marshall
Mini guide to Southeast Asia
Orang-utan, Malaysian Borneo taken by Lynsey White

Mopeds in Saigon taken by Karen Garbutt Mahout Kathy taken by Gary Urquhart Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum taken by Roger Bell
Touring Vietnam
What can I say except that every single thing
we did, saw and experienced from Hanoi to
Saigon was fantastic? Hanoi’s mixture of quirky
narrow streets and cyclos; the simply stunning
scenery of Halong Bay and pure luxury of the
Indochina Sails boat; the calm, pretty city of
Hue; Hoi An’s gorgeous streets and fab
shopping; the amazing Mekong Delta and R/V
Bassac and of course Saigon’s wide tree-lined
boulevards, cosmopolitan mix of French and
Asian culture and the two million mopeds!
One of my favourite memories is lying on a
sunlounger on the top deck of the Bassac
boat watching the huge tugs and floating
market life go by. All in all a truly amazing,
fantastically organised, well looked after and
far too short a journey through a wonderful
country. I cannot wait to go back.
Karen Garbutt
Learning to be mahouts in
Thailand and Laos
Six months ago, if anyone had told us that we
would be learning to be elephant mahouts
on our next vacation we would have thought
they were crazy. First of all being near an
elephant had never even occurred to us and
secondly we had no idea what a mahout was!
Well, we found out on our amazing trip to
Thailand and Laos. We have travelled
extensively in the last 10 years but this was
one of the best trips from beginning to end…
Wonderful accommodations, knowledgeable,
professional guides and great reference
material on every place we visited… the
elephants were something we will remember
forever.
Kathy and Gary Urquhart
Sunrise in Hanoi
It was our first morning in Hanoi and we
were excited but a little unsure about what lay
ahead. It was only 5.30am when we ventured
out into the semi-darkened streets. Three
gentlemen with cyclos were waiting patiently
for us and once we clambered on we were off
to our first destination, Ba Din Square. Given
the country’s history, the flag raising ceremony
here took on deeply moving proportions.
Soon the city started to come to life all around
us, a pulsating cauldron of humanity where
people drink tea, exercise, play badminton and
dance in the local parks. All this and then an
authentic chicken noodle soup for breakfast –
I will never forget it.
Roger Bell
Rice terraces, Vietnam taken by Les Forrester
Nha Trang Harbour, Vietnam
Thank you from Audley
We would like to take this opportunity to thank
all of our clients who kindly allowed us to use
their fantastic photographs in the new
Southeast Asia brochure and in this mini guide.
Mini guide to Southeast Asia 25

Asian journeys
WE SPECIALISE in tailor-made
journeys, and every trip we
put together is started from
scratch. However, years of
experience have taught us
that certain routes work
particularly well. Here are a
few of our favourite journeys,
with further details to be found
in our new Southeast Asia
brochure and on our website.
Hanoi
Halong Bay
Luang Prabang
LAOS
THAILAND
Hoi An
Bangkok
Siem Reap
CAMBODIA
VIETNAM
Phnom Penh
Kuching
Miri
Batang Ai
Kota Kinabalu
Mulu
National
Park
Sandakan
Kinabatangan
River
Tabin
Wildlife
Reserve
Saigon
Discover Indochina
Borneo Uncovered
A monk at Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are all standalone
destinations in their own right, but collectively,
known as Indochina, they offer opportunities
for rewarding and iconic journeys. Vietnam
has everything from the colonial heritage of
Hanoi and charming Hoi An to the vibrancy of
Saigon and the placid waters and limestone
karsts of Halong Bay. In Cambodia you can learn
about modern history in its exotic capital
Phnom Penh and ancient culture at the
remarkable temples of Angkor near Siem Reap,
while sleepy Luang Prabang in Laos provides the
opportunity to discover tranquil temples and
an unhurried pace of life.
FACTfile
A 15 day trip taking in the ‘must see’ highlights of
the region costs from £2,640 per person (based on
two sharing) including international flights. For more
information please call our Indochina specialists on
01993 838 150.
www.audley.co.uk/vietnam
Borneo is renowned for its wild, rugged scenery,
rich wildlife and ancient tribes that still practise
traditional ways of life. A classic 18 day journey
to Borneo offers visitors a chance to experience
the best of this exotic island. Start in Kuching
where you visit colonial buildings that flank the
river and learn about the history of the White
Rajah, James Brooke. Head inland to spend the
night in a longhouse with an Iban tribe, then fly
to Sabah to see orang-utan close up at the
Sepilok Rehabilitation Sanctuary and the lush
rainforest of the Kinabatangan River. Continue
on to the depths of the jungle in Tabin Wildlife
Reserve where you will take 4WD safari drives
and treks through the forest with nature guides.
Finish in Kota Kinabalu with its traces of a British
past and a collection of comfortable hotels to
end your time away.
FACTfile
An 18 day trip to Borneo including Kuching, Bako
National Park, Batang Ai, Mulu, Sepilok, the
Kinabatangan River, Tabin and Kota Kinabalu costs
from £3,495 per person (based on two sharing)
including international flights. For more information
please call our Borneo specialists on 01993 838 120.
www.audley.co.uk/borneo
Iban longhouse, Sarawak, Borneo
26
My Son temple ruins near Hoi An, Vietnam
Mini guide to Southeast Asia
Baby orang-utan, Malaysian Borneo

THAILAND
Ayuthaya
Kanchanaburi
Amphawa
Bangkok
Pemuteran
Muduk
BALI
Medewi
Ubud
Denpasar
Sanur
Koh Samet
BURMA
Heart of Thailand
Bali Uncovered
A veteran of international tourism, the land of
smiles offers a plethora of holiday options.
Combined with the naturally warm welcome
and innate sense of hospitality of the Thai
people, it is a destination many travellers return
to again and again. One of our favourite
journeys through the country bases itself
around Bangkok and does not require any
flights. The itinerary starts by exploring the
capital of Bangkok using public transport then
taking a train to nearby Amphawa to see the
floating markets and remote temples before
heading to Kanchanaburi to visit the Bridge on
the River Kwai and then Ayuthaya for some
ancient temples. The final stop is the beautiful
beach resort of Koh Samet, just a short drive
and then a boat ride away from Bangkok.
FACTfile
This 12 day itinerary exploring central Thailand
including Bangkok, Amphawa, the Kanchanaburi
province, Ayuthaya and time on a quiet island at
the end of the trip costs from £2,310 per person
(based on two sharing) including international
flights. For more information please call our
Thailand specialists on 01993 838 115.
www.audley.co.uk/thailand
Bali is an island well known for its surfing
beaches and cultural scene, but this 15 day
itinerary takes you to explore some amazing
areas of Bali that are yet to be discovered by the
mainstream. From the popular southern beaches
you head to the west and north coasts which
are some of the most beautiful parts of the
island. The villages, temples and beaches you
will see en route are mercifully lacking in visitors.
Pemuteran offers spectacular off beach
snorkeling, and Munduk, once a Dutch hill
station, is now known for trekking and horse
riding. The journey ends with time in the cultural
heart of Ubud where you can visit art galleries
and watch evening dance performances.
FACTfile
A 15 day touring trip through Bali including a
selection of smaller Balinese style properties costs
from £2,695 per person (based on two sharing)
including international flights. For more information
please call our Indonesia specialists on
01993 838 110.
www.audley.co.uk/indonesia
Bang-Pa-In, Thailand
A typical floating market in Thailand
Local farmers, Munduk, Indonesia
Traditional dance performance, Bali
Mini guide to Southeast Asia 27

Our top tips for travel in Southeast Asia
The temples of Pagan, Burma
Top 5 reasons to visit
The People
Beaming smiles, bountiful waves and the
warmest of welcomes await you in
Southeast Asia. You will be spoilt by the
region’s unrivalled service and hospitality
and if you learn a little of the local language
you may well find you are invited into
someone’s home.
Iconic sights
Boasting 31 World Heritage Sites, Southeast
Asia isn’t short of impressive landmarks.
Stand in awe at the temples of Angkor,
Borobodur and Pagan, be charmed by the
riverside towns of Luang Prabang and Hoi
An, and marvel at the scale of Mt Kinabulu.
Wildlife
From birds of paradise in Papua New Guinea,
to the orang-utan in Borneo and Sumatra,
Komodo dragons east of Bali, and the Asian
elephant in Thailand, Southeast Asia has
countless possibilities for memorable
wildlife encounters.
Balinese woman near Tabanan
Bai Sao, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
Beaches
Apart from landlocked Laos, every country
in Southeast Asia has glorious coastline
providing some of the best beaches in the
world. You’ll find luxury resorts on Phuket
and Bali and exciting new island hideaways
in Cambodia and Vietnam. For divers, the
vast underwater playground won’t
disappoint either with World War II plane
wrecks in Northern Sulawesi and swimming
with whale sharks in Donsol in the
Philippines.
Value for money
Generally speaking your money goes a lot
further in Asia. You can get a three-star city
hotel that is comfortable, well-located and
staffed by friendly locals, whilst luxury resorts
are generally half the price of a European
equivalent. Dine at world-class restaurants
(without London prices), or for the savvy, hit
the street stalls and use your small change to
fill up on freshly-cooked rice and noodle
dishes washed down with a local beer.
Hanuman Alaya, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Top 5 value for
money hotels
Villa Hue, Hue, Vietnam
Staffed by students or graduates of the Hue
Tourism College, expect excellent service from
young adults who are friendly and eager to
please. Villa Hue itself is a simple but elegant
boutique hotel within walking distance of
the Perfume River and the best restaurants
in town.
Paradee, Koh Samet, Thailand
With special offers exclusively for Audley
clients who book early, the Paradee offers
affordable luxury just a short road and boat
journey from Bangkok. A lovely quiet beach,
rooms with private pools and faultless service
make this a tropical island paradise.
Spa Village Resort, Tembok, Bali
This tranquil property in the northeast of
the island is an Audley favourite and offers an
attractive all-inclusive rate. Guests are entitled
to three meals a day from an à la carte menu
and a superb daily spa treatment by some of
Bali’s most experienced therapists.
Spa Village Resort, Tembok, Bali
28
Mini guide to Southeast Asia

Women at crab market in Kep, Cambodia
Top 5 food experiences
Dine by Design at the Anantara
Golden Triangle, Thailand
Choose from a variety of unique locations
around the resort, and a private gourmet
dinner will be prepared especially for you.
A favourite setting is a raised platform in the
heart of the bamboo forest where you can
dine whilst elephants roam freely below.
Paradee Resort, Koh Samet, Thailand
Maison Souvannaphoum,
Luang Prabang, Laos
Formerly the residence of the Laotian prince,
this delightful property combines historical
character with fantastic service. It is one of the
few centrally located hotels in Luang Prabang
with a pool that doesn’t come with a hefty
price tag and with room renovations
underway this summer, it’s set to get
even better.
Hanuman Alaya, Siem Reap,
Cambodia
This traditional wooden Khmer building
has only 15 rooms, all of which are lovingly
decorated with Khmer handicrafts and
antiques. Not only is there a small courtyard
pool and a superb restaurant serving one
of the best fish amoks (curry) we’ve tasted, but
the hotel boasts some of the friendliest staff
around ensuring you’re looked after
at all times.
Go local at an insect market,
Vientiane, Laos
Not for the faint-hearted! Lak Saojet Market
boasts a range of local delicacies including
ant eggs and insects.
Eat the tribal way in Sarawak
Whilst exploring the Lemanak River with
your Iban guide, you will be treated to a
delicious lunch steamed the traditional way
within bamboo tubes on an open fire on
the banks of the river.
Iban women preparing lunch, Sarawak, Borneo
Pho (noodle soup), Vietnam
Savour seafood in Kep,
Cambodia
For fresh, cheap seafood you won’t find
better than at the crab market in Kep.
Watch as your crab is brought in from the
crab pots and cooked at one of the
ramshackle eateries on the seafront. Served
with pepper from nearby Kampot, tuck in
with your fingers and enjoy. We defy you to
find anything more delectable!
Tuck into street food in Vietnam
This is one of the best and cheapest ways
to experience authentic local cuisine and no
food is more iconic here than pho (noodle
soup). If in Hanoi, take our early bird tour by
cyclo which finishes up in a historical pho
eatery for breakfast. Hot, fragrant broth is
ladled over rice noodles and topped with
tasty beef or chicken and herbs. Delicious.
Mini guide to Southeast Asia 29

Our top tips for travel in Southeast Asia
Diving in El Nido, Philippines
Top 5 off the beaten
track destinations
Krakatau, Indonesia
Famous for the devastating
volcanic eruption that shook
the world on August 27th 1883,
what remains of tropical
Krakatau island is just one hour
off Java’s west coast. You can
climb the volcano and snorkel
in the coral reefs that have
formed in its shadows.
Highlands, Papua
New Guinea
First explored in the 1930s,
spectacular rituals live on in a
far-flung world of feathered
headdresses and spirit doctors.
El Nido, Philippines
A one-hour light aircraft flight
from Manila takes you to the
stunning sheer limestone cliffs
and islands of El Nido. Rising
out of the crystal clear, coralstrewn
waters, this is one of the
most picturesque areas in
Southeast Asia.
Krakatau, Indonesia
Vieng Xai Caves, Laos
Nestled in a picturesque valley
in the remote northeast of
Laos, the Vieng Xai caves make
for a fascinating and poignant
detour on the overland route
to Vietnam.
Ha Giang, Vietnam
In Vietnam’s far northeast,
perched on the border with
China lie the timeless villages
of Ha Giang Province and a
chance to experience a bygone
world. Expect terraced rice
paddies, primary forests and
winding mountain paths that
climb through vertiginous
passes to reach colourfullydressed
minority tribes.
Balloons over Pagan
Top 5 unique experiences
Balloon flight over
Pagan, Burma
There is no better way to view
the ancient site of Pagan than
from a hot air balloon at dawn.
It’s a wonderful photographic
opportunity and a truly
memorable experience to
watch as the temples turn a
warm, orangey hue in the early
morning sun.
Party at the Ati-Atihan
Festival, Philippines
This famous Filipino mardi gras
is held in the third week of
January in honour of Santo
Nino. Get caught up in a
spectacle of colourful parades,
tribal dance, traditional music
and indigenous costumes.
Dining in the trees, Koh Kood
Tribal longhouse stay,
Sarawak
Enjoy getting to know your
hosts when staying as a guest
of the village headman.
Language barriers are relaxed
as the rice wine flows and
common ground is found. It’s
worth the sore head for the
everlasting memories.
Meet the man of the
forest, Kalimantan
The adventure of getting here
has its moment of reward
when you see the leaves
shaking and an orang-utan
swinging down through the
trees just metres above you.
Dine in the tree tops,
Soneva Kiri, Koh Kood
Experience a restaurant with a
view like no other as you are
hoisted 16 feet into the air
above the shoreline in your
private dining pod whilst
served by a flying waiter
harnessed to a zip-line.
S OUTH EAST A SIA
VIETNAM
CAMBODIA
LAOS
THAILAND
BURMA
MALAYSIA
BORNEO
BRUNEI
SINGAPORE
INDONESIA
PHILIPPINES
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
TAILOR- MADE J OURNEYS FOR THE D ISCERNING T RAVELLER
NEW
Southeast Asia brochure
The new Southeast Asia brochure is out now.
Please call our Southeast Asia specialists on 01993 838 100
to order a copy, or visit our website:
www.audley.co.uk/brochures
30
www.audley.co.uk/southeast-asia