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Past ExpeditionsApril 5-19, 2010
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Meet fellow travelers and the expedition staff at a welcome dinner at our hotel in Bangkok. Please note that travelers from the U.S. will need to depart on April 3 in order to arrive in time for the expedition (This flight crosses the International Date Line and therefore travelers would lose a day en route).
The Peninsula Bangkok
Fly by private jet to Java and visit Borobudur—a 1,200 year-old temple. Made of lava rock, the temple is dramatically situated on a hill in the form of a stepped pyramid, six levels high, topped by three circular terraces ringed with Buddha statues, and a central stupa. Greet the next day with a sunrise visit to Prambanan, an enormous Hindu temple whose main shrine soars 154-feet high above the scattered ruins of 244 temples. Then in the evening, savor Indonesian cuisine at a festive “Night Market.”
Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta (Accommodation upgrade available at Amanjiwo)
Option - In addition to an activity or excursion in the main itinerary, choose the following:
We arrive in Siem Reap, our base for explorations into the heart of the Khmer Empire. Angkor was built between the ninth and 13th centuries, and remains one of the world’s greatest architectural triumphs. Abandoned in 1434 and gradually hidden by the thick undergrowth of the surrounding jungle, the city was slowly forgotten—until four centuries later when it was uncovered by European explorers. Survey Angkor Wat’s massive towers, carved murals, colonnades, and courtyards. Visit the royal quarters of Angkor Thom, featuring the extraordinary Bayon Temple, considered to be the model of the Buddhist universe. Venture into the ancient site of Ta Prohm, left largely as it was found a century ago, engulfed by thick banyan trees.
Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Siem Reap
Our expedition will finance the purchase of an ox-cart taxi for one of Rohal Village’s citizens, offering a unique entrepreneurial opportunity that can provide for an entire Cambodian family.
Fly by private jet to Hanoi and explore this beautiful 1,000-year-old city filled with lakes and parks. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s wooden house on stilts and the curiously shaped One Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049. Enjoy a cyclo ride through the old town and visit Ngoc Son Temple at the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake.
Then travel to the spectacular seascape of Ha Long Bay, one of the natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ha Long means “descending dragon,” named for the mythical mother beast who defended her offspring from an enemy by spewing shards of jade at their oncoming ships. The jade immediately turned into wondrous islands and karst formations, thereby thwarting the enemy ships. Enjoy a cruise among the massive limestone islands that tower above the waters, a breathtaking sight of ethereal beauty. Observe up close their dramatic forms, their hidden caves, and the many grotto altars where local fishermen whisper their prayers for a good catch.
InterContinental Westlake Hanoi
Our expedition will donate maps and craft supplies to Duc Son Pagoda Orphanage, which provides food, shelter, education, and job training for abandoned children in Hué.
Continue by private jet to Kunming and transfer by local air to Lijiang, an incredibly well preserved 1,000-year-old town that was an important stop on the Silk Road connecting Thailand, Myanmar, Yunnan, and Tibet. Take a walk in the Old Quarter, an enchanting network of ancient wooden homes and small spring-fed canals that wend their way along the narrow streets. Observe the local sorcerers presiding over Dongba religious ceremonies in ancestral halls. Meet with a Naxi family in their home. Stop by a teahouse for a sampling of the fine local varieties. And venture beyond town to enjoy a truly unforgettable Naxi dance performance in the open air, with the spectacular Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as its backdrop.
Banyan Tree Hotel, Lijiang
Our expedition will support Lijiang Orphanage by purchasing their floral crafts—delightful reminders of the verdant Yunnan Province.
Depart Lijiang by local air to Kunming, where we board our private jet. Fly to South Korea, where we land in Pusan and transfer to Gyeongju. Explore the enormous tombs of the Shilla kings, which dominate Gyeongju’s townscape as a series of grass-covered hills. The tombs originally held countless treasures now housed in the Gyeongju National Museum, which we will also visit. View paintings, metalwork, earthenware, carved jade, weapons, and sculptures made from gold, granite, and bronze, including an exquisite golden crown with jade tiger claws. Also on display is one of the world’s largest and oldest bells, The Divine Bell for the Great King Song, whose sonorous tones are said to be heard 40 miles away.
We will also visit the Bulguk-sa Buddhist Temple, the most famous temple in the country, and a splendid example of classic Shilla architecture. We will also visit the Sokkuram Grotto, a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists where you will find a breathtakingly beautiful statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha. See one of South Korea’s oldest surviving structures, Cheomseongdae, the curious seventh-century astronomical observatory. Here, Shilla geomancers attempted to divine the futures of local noblemen. In Pusan, stop by the famous Jagalchi Fish Market, a lively gathering place where local fishermen bring in the morning’s catch.
Hyundai Hotel Gyeongju
Option - In addition to an activity or excursion in the main itinerary, choose the following:
Our expedition will support the work of a renowned Korean pictorial calligrapher who teaches children this colorful and rare folk art.
Explore historic Kyoto and stroll the treelined streets by the Kamo River where traditional shops, theaters, and teahouses abound. See colorfully-kimonoed residents, including geisha, and observe their gorgeous robes upclose at a demonstration of the art of dressing in a kimono. See the resplendent Kinkakuji golden pavilion; pay homage to Kannon, the goddess of mercy, at Sanjusangendo, a centuries-old wooden temple that houses 1,001 statues in her honor; and admire the palaces and gardens of Nijo Castle, former residence of the famed shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Later, savor a gala banquet of traditional Japanese cuisine, and enjoy a rare opportunity to meet with a true Kyoto geisha.
The next day, explore the treasures of ancient Nara, Japan’s first imperial capital. See the glorious Todai-ji Temple—the world’s largest wooden building, guarded by two exquisite Nio figures and featuring the enormous bronze Daibutsu Buddha, weighing 437 tons. Pass by more than 1,000 stone lanterns along the enchanting path to Kasuga Shrine. Enter the headquarters of the Hosso School of Japanese Buddhism at the Yakushi-ji Temple and gaze up at the statue of ‘The Medicine Buddha,’ one of the first Buddhist deities to arrive from China in 680 A.D.
Kyoto Hotel Okura
Our expedition will support the Women’s Association of Kyoto, an award-winning organization devoted to sharing with the public, hands-on traditional Japanese arts.
Connect with individual commercial flights to your home city from Osaka, Japan. Or, extend your journey to other lands.
Limited to 78 Travelers
Main Itinerary
Cost Per Person:
$29,950 (double occupancy)
$3,990 (single supplement)
Thailand Pre-Tour
Cost Per Person:
$5,900 (double occupancy)
$2,100 (single supplement)
China Post-Tour
Cost Per Person:
$5,900 (double occupancy)
$900 (single supplement)
For your protection and peace of mind, all payments are secured in a bank escrow account that is fully insured by the U.S. Federal Government.
Featured Accommodations
Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, Cambodia
The Peninsula Bangkok
The Peninsula Bangkok
