Asia

EUROPE ASIA

Ancient meets modern in this vast continent of intricate architecture, lush forests, and complex cuisines

Conservation and community in Cambodia

Discover Cambodia’s environmental and community-based conservation efforts. This trip combines cycling to off-thebeaten-path temples, a stay in a remote tented camp, and various visits to tourism projects that give back to the area.

HIGHLIGHTS ● See the temples of Angkor Wat with an expert guide. ● Experience what it’s like to care for elephants with the Wildlife Alliance in Phnom Penh. ● Stay in a safari-style tent in the remote Cardamom Mountains. ● Visit the coastal town of Kep and explore the region’s crab markets.

S TA R T I N G P R I C E $4,545 per person, includes all accommodations, excursions, and transfers.

T H E A U D L E Y DIFFERENCE 1. When exploring Angkor Wat, you can choose to visit with a professional photographer to capture unique images. 2. We offer behind-thescenes access with some of our partners, including Wildlife Alliance, which works with rescued elephants.

The wet season nourishes lush and fertile soil, southern Cambodia

Angkor Wat

SPECIALIST TIPS

1Travel by tuk tuk to visit Siem Reap’s exciting night market. 2 Eat at Romdeng in Phnom Penh, a restaurant serving delicious Cambodian cuisine that reinvests

its profits in local students who train at the restaurant. 3 Our guides are flexible and can often rise early to start the day’s activities and beat the heat.

4 NIGHTS Phnom Penh

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Visit Cambodia’s charming riverside capital, which boasts the Royal Palace, countless pagodas, and the National Museum of Cambodia. The city has an emerging brewery scene, perfect for a nightcap after a day of sightseeing. Take an orientation tour of Phnom Penh with your guide to learn a few key phrases in Khmer, see one of the city’s most famous temples, and visit a restaurant that supports the local community. Visit a wildlife preserve, where you’ll try your hand at being an elephant keeper for a day.

The crab market in Kep

4 NIGHTS Siem Reap

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Travel to Siem Reap, best known as the gateway to Angkor Wat, with its well-deserved reputation for stunning archaeological sites. Visit a non-profit working to revive the silk industry. See Angkor’s best-known temples by bike, away from the main visitor trails, before seeing majestic Angkor Wat. Enjoy lunch at a traditional Khmer-style house. Visit a conservation community, taking time to explore the village and spot the area’s rare birdlife. Meet Siem Reap’s ‘hero rats’,

Meet elephants at the Wildlife Alliance in Phnom Penh

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who are trained to detect land mines and are helping make the Cambodian countryside safer. See an exciting acrobatic show run by a non-profit that benefits local youth.

3 NIGHTS Koh Kong

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Journey to Cambodia’s southwest and Koh Kong, home to the Cardamom Mountains, which boast some of the largest virgin rainforest in the region. Stay in a comfortable tented camp in the Cardamom Mountains. Trek through the area with your guide, or kayak down a tranquil river, keeping an eye out for wildlife.

4 NIGHTS Kep

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Drive to Kep, formerly a seaside getaway for the colonial authorities. Relax in the colonial town and visit the crab market to try the region’s signature dish. Take a day trip to Kampot and take a cooking class

using the ‘champagne of pepper’, a unique regional delicacy.

WHERE TO STAY

Jaya House River Park, Siem Reap Set in a tranquil location overlooking the Siem Reap River, this boutique hotel sits just outside the streets of the city. The hotel is committed to sustainability and has excellent service.

Cardamom Tented Camp, Botum Sakor National Park This is a unique riverside camp where guests stay in safari-style tents, each with en suite bathrooms. Freshly prepared meals are served at an open-air riverside restaurant.

E X P LO R E F U R T H E R

Spend more time with elephants with a visit to the Elephant Valley Project in remote Mondulkiri.

Responsible travel

How do you create a trip that changes the world for the better? Our experts reveal why sustainability is not just a watchword for Audley – it is our mission.

At Green Hill Valley in central Myanmar, the day starts early with a feast of papaya, pineapple, and tree bark, served in the quiet shade of the forest. The residents here gently reach for their breakfast, then munch slowly, eyes closed, as if savoring the flavors. And maybe they are, because for most of these elephants, Green Hill Valley is their first taste of freedom. After a life of captivity, they’ve finally found sanctuary.

Visiting this pioneering elephant ‘retirement home’ – and feeding these gentle giants – is just one of our conservation and community initiatives in Myanmar. We have heavily focused on authentic experiences that are endorsed by UNESCO or NGOs, such as genuine encounters with indigenous locals, a moonlit tour of Bagan’s temples, and visiting cooperatives that empower local women. While you explore, you’re supporting some of Myanmar’s worthiest projects and leaving a legacy that benefits local people and wildlife alike.

“Finding these options was a real labor of love,” says Lauren Coppola, senior product executive for Japan and Southeast Asia. “These aren’t experiences that you can just find without help. After spending months talking to our in-country partners and various

We are strict on animal welfare, including no elephant rides

Myanmar organizations, we sent out a team of six experts to test out every part of the trip and ensure that it has a lasting positive impact.”

Responsible travel is at the heart of everything we do, no matter what the itinerary. We have a strict policy on animal welfare, refusing to offer captive encounters, elephant rides, or any activity that doesn’t support conservation. “Throughout 2018, we worked closely with external authorities to draw up strong guidelines on animal encounters,” says Sophie Felton, senior specialist for Southeast Asia. “And this year we are shining a light on how we work with communities. Whether you are visiting a remote village or spending the night in a family-run homestay, we ensure that every experience benefits the local community financially – through payments, donations, or the opportunity to purchase locally made crafts.”

SHINING A LIGHT The impact of this approach is already creating positive change. “Many of our northern Thailand itineraries visit a small guest house called Langia Lodge, which is run by the local community,” says Lauren. “When I went there recently, they showed me the new paved road that goes through the village. All of the money to build it had come from tourism, from people who have visited with Audley. It was inspirational to see.”

We are constantly working to make our trips even more eco-friendly, from offering carbon offsets for every flight, to swapping car journeys for loweremission bike tours. Happily, it’s not just the environment that benefits; traveling mindfully provides plenty of opportunities to really connect with your destination, whether you are staying in an Amazon eco lodge, taking a walking safari in

a Tanzanian wildlife reserve, or dining at an organic cocoa plantation in Belize.

Our hotel partners are working hard to lessen their environmental impact, too. Jaya House in Cambodia, for example, offers refillable bottles of pre-filtered water and supports numerous local charities. In Thailand’s capital, our guests can stay in the Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok, which has the largest hotel solar power system in the country, or The Siam Hotel, which is free from single-use plastics and is certified by the Green Leaf Foundation, a national group of eco-friendly businesses.

We are championing eco-friendly practices closer to home, too, under the

Temples in Bagan, Myanmar

watchful eye of Heather Magnussen, our responsible travel and sustainability manager. Together, we’re cutting energy use in all of our offices, encouraging cycling-to-work programs, and recycling every possible item of waste.

Why is sustainability so important to Audley? It is simple: we cherish the places and people we visit. “Every little kid in America has a piggy bank saving up to go to Disneyland, but mine was to go to Southeast Asia,” says Lauren. “I’ve cared about these countries for so long and they have always welcomed me with open arms – so I’ll do everything I can to protect them.’’

T H E WA R ON PLASTIC Invest in a refillable water bottle for your trip, and you will be amazed at how many plastic bottles you save from landfills. Some destinations don’t have any infrastructure for recycling plastic, so make sure you remove any surplus packaging from new purchases when packing your suitcase, and bring home any empty toiletry bottles at the end of your trip.

Remember to bring a water bottle when you travel

Opulent Thailand

Enjoy the hospitality Thailand is known for on this classic tour through Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket.

HIGHLIGHTS ● Experience Bangkok’s high-end cuisine with an exclusive chef’s table dining extravaganza. ● Visit Ayutthaya, the ancient Thai capital. ● Explore the Grand Palace in Bangkok. ● See the bustling markets, gilded temples, and ancient sites of Chiang Mai. ● Relax on the white-gold beaches of Phuket. ● Get up close with the elephants of Kanta Elephant Sanctuary.

TRIP DESIGNED FOR This trip was designed for Misha and Anika. Both are retired and travel frequently, but they’ve never been to Southeast Asia. Anika was most interested in visiting a responsible elephant sanctuary, while Misha wanted to make sure each hotel had a pool and creative cocktails to sip after a day of exploring.

STARTING PRICE $7,000 per person, includes all accommodations, excursions and transfers.

11 -DAY SAMPLE IT INERARY

3 NIGHTS Bangkok

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Explore Bangkok’s highlights, including the Grand Palace, Michelinstarred street food, and floating markets, all with a local expert. Visit the ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya on a day trip. Enjoy an exclusive chef’s table dinner with a multicourse tasting menu.

3 NIGHTS Chiang Mai

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Visit Wat Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai’s shimmering hilltop temple. Take a cooking class and try your hand at making pad thai and papaya salad. Stop at a White Hmong village to enjoy some locally sourced coffee. Take a day trip to Kanta Elephant Sanctuary.

4 NIGHTS Phuket

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Relax by the warm ocean waters before enjoying a spa treatment. Spend the day island hopping and enjoy some of the nearby beaches farther from the crowds.

EXPLORE FURTHER

Travel in comfort from Bangkok to Singapore on the Eastern and Oriental Express train.

Thai culture and cuisine nourish the spirit and body

T H E A U D L E Y DIFFERENCE 1. We have connections. After more than 20 years working in Thailand, we’ve formed close relationships with some of the most exclusive hotels, ensuring you will be well looked after. 2. Audley was a pioneer of encouraging responsible elephant experiences in Thailand, and we only use elephant sanctuaries that meet our stringent, animalcentered requirements.

Japan for family fun

Fascinating, playful, and relaxing – this introduction to Japan includes highlights for the entire family.

HIGHLIGHTS ● Grab a kayak and circle the ‘floating’ torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima. ● Learn to write Japanese characters using brush and washi paper. ● Enjoy a private taiko drumming lesson in Kyoto and take a class to learn the skills of a ninja. ● See sacred deer on a day trip to Nara. ● Stay in your own townhouse in Kyoto with a visit to see geisha in Gion.

STARTING PRICE $6,300 per person, includes all accommodations, excursions and transfers.

Akihabara district, Tokyo

Himeji Castle and Mount Fuji

14 -DAY SAMPLE IT INERARY

4 NIGHTS Tokyo

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Visit ancient pagodas, eat at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, and navigate one of the world’s most modern train systems. Experience Tokyo’s cuisine with a food tour in the vibrant Meguro district. Tour the interactive Ghibli Museum, before learning to draw in Japan’s distinctive anime style.

2 NIGHTS Hiroshima

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Visit the Atomic Bomb Memorial and the Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima, where you can explore the effects of the bombing and witness the country’s incredible recovery. Take a day trip to Miyajima to see the ‘floating’ torii gate from a kayak.

5 NIGHTS Kyoto

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Take a privately guided city tour to learn about the city’s immaculately preserved buildings as

well as the pleasure of

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kaiseki cuisine. Learn about Japan’s famed ninja warriors and how to hurl shuriken (throwing stars). Try your hand at traditional taiko drumming while wearing a drummer’s outfit. Take a day trip to Nara to visit the sacred deer.

One of the hot springs at Yunessun Spa Resort

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Explore Kyoto’s geisha district, Gion, with a local expert. Visit Fushimi-Inari shrine, which appeared in the film Memoirs of a Geisha.

2 NIGHTS Hakone

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Visit Hakone, which is easily accessible from Tokyo and offers authentic ryokan stays and hot-spring baths. Explore the open-air museums of Hakone as you keep your eyes peeled for a view of Mount Fuji. Soak in a hot-spring bath at your hotel, or visit Yunessun Spa Resort, where you can visit a variety of quirky hot springs.

EXPLORE FURTHER

Spend time in the striking Japanese Alps, visit the snow monkeys of Yudanaka, and discover the mountainside town of Takayama.

Architecture in Northern India

Rajasthan is full of architectural gems – ancient forts, grand palaces, and traditional accommodation. Visit the Taj Majal, the Observatory of Jaipur, and the Amber Fort, alongside lesser-known sites.

HIGHLIGHTS ● See the Taj Mahal at dawn when crowds are thinner. ● Enjoy meeting, shopping, cooking, and dining with a local family in their haveli home.

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Compare the architecture of Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur with local guides in each city. Relax in the countryside, away from the crowds, in a Rajasthani fortress.

TRIP DESIGNED BY

“I love Rajasthan for all its history, its ancient buildings, and all the stories and tales that accompany both – every fort, palace, museum, and haveli has endless stories about

its past. Whether you visit a ruin that you can explore with a local guide, or an intricately preserved and beautifully maintained palace hotel, this part of India is incredibly romantic and perfect for a honeymoon or couple’s holiday.” Jason Toms

T H E A U D L E Y DIFFERENCE We know the royal descendants and owners of palaces, forts, and havelis, and have secured exclusive opportunities for Audley travelers.

STARTING PRICE $6,300 per person, includes all accommodations, excursions, and transfers.

The Man Singh Palace in Agra

2 NIGHTS Delhi

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Arrive in Delhi, where you will be staying in a grand colonial-era hotel. Explore the dynamic city of Delhi with a local guide who will introduce you to the new parts of the sprawling city as well as the bustling old quarter.

2 NIGHTS Agra

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Visit the iconic Taj Mahal – one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’ – at dawn with a local expert to escape the daytime crowds. Explore the impressive Red Fort, the tomb of I’timādud-Daulah, and relax in the Mughal gardens.

2 NIGHTS Jaipur

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Stop off at the abandoned ancient city of Fatehpur Sikri en route to Jaipur. Visit a street market before dining with a local family in their beautifully preserved haveli home. Explore the many chambers, courtyards, and corridors of the Amber Fort. Discover the observatory of Jaipur and the City Palace.

2 NIGHTS Jodhpur

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Visit the imposing Mehrangarh Fort, which overlooks a maze of blue-painted houses below. Explore the Umaid Bhawan Palace, which grandly

See the Taj Mahal by dawn’s early light

stands above a cenotaph and gardens dedicated to the local royal family.

2 NIGHTS Rajasthan’s countryside

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Journey to rural Rajasthan, where you will stay in an impressive fort that’s been converted into a small but luxurious and eco-friendly hotel. Enjoy the area’s abundance of farmland either by horse or on foot. Take part in a cooking class and learn to make regional curries and rotis.

3 NIGHTS Udaipur

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Visit the intricate, unique

Xxxxx Spices for sale at a Delhi street market

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Jain temples at Ranakpur. Take a boat ride on Lake Pichola. Get lost in the vast city palace complex before checking into your luxurious palace hotel, located in the middle of the lake.

W H E R E TO S TAY

Pal Haveli, Jodhpur Nestled in the heart of the Old Town near the central clock tower and bustling bazaars, this traditional 18th-century haveli feels like a living museum. A highlight is the rooftop restaurant, ideal for a drink or evening meal.

Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur The iconic Lake Palace can’t be accessed by non-residents, making it an exclusive and romantic place to end a trip.

EXPLORE FURTHER

To learn about Hinduism, fly to Varanasi, a pilgrimage city and one of the most sacred spots on the Ganges River.

Explorations in classic China

China combines the world’s oldest civilization and most advanced technological center. Try a hands-on introductory lesson to the ancient art of t’ai chi before traveling to Shanghai, one of the world’s 10 largest cities.

HIGHLIGHTS ● Walk the Great Wall. ● Visit local villages and markets in the countryside around Xi’an. ● Marvel at the vast Terracotta Army. ● Take a cruise down the Li River. ● Enjoy a bike tour through Shanghai’s French concession.

S TA R T I N G P R I C E $5,935 per person, includes all accommodations, excursions, and transfers.

THE AUDLEY DIFFERENCE We’ve not only sourced regional experts to work as guides, we also make sure that all guides know to avoid the typical shopping spots meant to deceive travelers.

14 -DAY SAMPLE IT INERARY

4 NIGHTS Beijing

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Enjoy a trip out of the city to the Great Wall at Jinshanling. Learn about Chinese culinary techniques in a private cooking class in one of Beijing’s local hutongs. Take a private t’ai chi lesson in the Temple of Heaven. Stroll through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

2 NIGHTS Xi’an

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Travel between Beijing and Xi’an on China’s modern high-speed train network, which can exceed speeds of 200mph. Visit the Terracotta Warriors. Take an evening food tour by tuk-tuk through the Muslim Quarter.

The Li River winds through Xingping

Delicacies include dumplings and noodles

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Have lunch with a local family in one of Xi’an’s modern tower-block communities. Take a private Jeep tour into the surrounding traditional villages.

1 NIGHT Guilin

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Arrive by plane into Guilin for your first glimpse of the karst scenery. Spend the evening visiting the lakes and pagodas.

2 NIGHTS Yangshuo

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Take a cruise down the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo and spend time exploring the countryside.

1 NIGHT Longji

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Drive up into the hills of Longji. Spend the evening walking to various viewpoints that overlook the village and the surrounding rice terraces.

3 NIGHTS Shanghai

Modern infrastructure in Beijing

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Shanghai, and experience its vast complexity and contradictions. Take a bike tour through the city’s old French concession. Venture out of the city to one of the surrounding water towns.

EXPLORE FURTHER

Visit the panda research base in Chengdu, easily accessible by high-speed train from Xi’an.

Audley Travel’s Stuart Howarth shares moments from his recent trip to China Photographic memories

While China’s panda reserves and Great Wall might be the focus of your first trip, this vast country has so much more to offer.

On my most recent trip to China, I visited Yunnan Province, which stretches from the lowland borders of Vietnam and Laos up to the mountainous border with Tibet. This is a region of shimmering rice terraces, tranquil hilltop temples, and valleys where snub-nosed monkeys bounce between the coniferous trees.

I was scoping out new hotels, tours, and experiences for our China itineraries – and I found some time for photography, too. How could I not? Everywhere I looked, there was an incredible mountain view or a glittering golden Buddha. Once again, China had me under its spell.

As we use only local guides throughout China, I was with a Tibetan Buddhist. He took me inside many different temples, where he would light candles, pray, and prostrate himself. ACT OF DEVOTION

Your guide will try to time your visits for morning or evening prayer, so you can see the monks chanting mantras. It was a very moving experience.

When you’re hiking in Yunnan, you’ll often see prayer flags, which are a very important aspect of Buddhism. Each flag has a mantra written on it. I saw the ones PRAYER FLAGS

pictured above fluttering outside Feilaisi Temple, overlooking the Meili Snow Mountains – another sacred location in Yunnan.

The mountains near Mingyong Glacier – in the northernmost tip of Yunnan – are sacred for Buddhists. You’ll find temples perched in the farthest-flung places. One day, we hiked a route through its spiritual peaks, and came across some monks eating dinner outside their monastery. Although none of them spoke English, they offered us some food and tea and were delighted to have foreign visitors. MONKS’ MEAL