Xplore Asia Launches New Escorted Tours and Tailormade Programs Brochure

Exciting News from Xplore-Asia.

New Escorted Tours and Tailor-made Programs brochure has just been launched and is now available! Please visit our website to download your own personal copy and find out about the New Tours and destinations on offer in 2010.




This year Xplore Asia will take you on Adventurous,Cultural and Historical tours to new parts of Asia. Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo and Indonesia are new Destinations for 2010-2011.

Discover the wonderful' Coastal Road' That runs the length and breath of Thailand, from Bangkok to Nakon Sri Thammarat, it's Thailand's Route 66! Passing through Banana and Rubber plantations,stunning beaches and everyday villages The Coastal road tour will give you a full insight into the lives of the people and the region of the South. This Tour is ideal for people who have discovered the North and are yet to Discover the South!

Classic Malaysia and Discover Borneo, mark our first entry into this culturally rich and diverse Nation. From the bright neon lights, Diverse shopping malls and Exotic markets of KL, to the Jungle Clad mountains of Borneo, colonially rich Penang, to tranquil and beautiful Langkawi, whilst discovering the Tea Plantations in the Cameron highlands, Malaysia as they say is 'Truly Asia' with its rich mix of culture and people, spices and natural beauty!

In Indochina we offer a you an array of touring options, from those with time for a short stopover passing through, choose from a variety of tours,treks and adventures in Laos and Cambodia. Visit our website for more information or contact our local offices.

For more in depth touring, consider one of our three escorted tours, for 2010.

Choose from 'The Journey through Indochina, 21 days touring the region, taking you from Bangkok through Laos, discovering Vietnam , the Mekong delta river and into Cambodia to visit the capital of today and the capital of yesterday 'Angkor Wat' at Si em Riep. This tour, truly gives you a full insight into the region as a whole.

Take 16 days exploring on the 'Trails of Indochina, this tour starts from Bangkok, heads north to cultural rich Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand and crosses the border into Laos, where you begin the trail, through Indochina heading for Vietnam and a full discovery of the country, from Hanoi to Halong Bay, Danang and Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh, now is the time to 'discover' these two developing nations.

Finally, 'The Gateway to Indochina' focuses on the southern part of the region, offering a round trip of adventure from Thailand, through mysterious Laos and South, alongside the Mekong River into the Kingdom of Cambodia, where you will visit the Capital city Phnom Penh, and the Ancient city of Angkor Wat, in Siem Riep, before returning to Bangkok.

This tour offers everything, history, culture, great sightseeing and the added bonus of nature, you get the chance to see the Niagara of the East , Khon Phapeng in Laos, and the Irrawaddy Dolpins near Kratie, part of the Mekong Discovery Trail.

This is only a selection of the 'New Touring options' from Xplore-Asia, for a more in-depth look, please download the new brochure and Xplore the website.

Xplore Asia looks forward to the opportunity of you, Xploring Asia with us.

www.xplore-asia.com

The Mekong Discovery Trail Laos Border - Stung Treng

Ou Svay is a little village about 11km from the Laos / Cambodian border and about 46km from Stung Treng. The village can be reached by taxi or motorbike and makes for an excellent starting point to see the Irrawaddy Dolphins.
From Oh Svay there are two routes you can explore along the river one is North and the other is South and they offer very different experiences
North to Preah RumkelTake a boat ride with the villagers to see the Anlung Cheuteal dolphin pool. One of the last pools of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong there are estimated to be only about 64 currently remaining. The boat driver will switch off his engine about 100m from the dolphins as so not to disturb them. After watching the dolphins stop of at the mainland which is the start of the trek up Vouen Nhang hill. The climb up the hill takes about an hour and is gentle, passing through forest which makes excellent shade.
At the top the views become clear, enjoy the views over the Si Pan Don area in Laos and see the lower Mekong. This area is right on the Laos / Cambodian border, many people would have heard of this waterfall from Don Khone but approaching from the Cambodian side is an awesome experience, and shows the other side of the waterfall created by the water eroding the softer rock basin downstream.
Take in the views, on one side of the hill you will have views of endless forests into Cambodia while on the other side you will have views over the Mekong making its way up north through fabulous rock formations in the Mekong that stopped the French from transporting their goods within the Indochina region.
After enjoying your picnic lunch start your return trip down the hill again. Going back is easy and you can continue to Preah Rumkel an Ecotourism Site which has been setup to promote sustainable tourism. Have dinner with the local community and spend the night in one of the homestays, the generators normally go out at 9pm so you can have a good nights sleep!
South to Stung TrengThe following day you can return to Stung Treng via Veun Kham the Laos / Cambodian border town or continue your adventure with a kayaking trip along the Mekong from Oh Svay.
Kayaking along this stretch of the river provides a unique experience unrivalled to any other trip, the experience is not difficult and they are no real rapids but the birdlife sustained by the Flooded forest is delightful.
Starting the trip at Oh Svay kayak down river and you will soon find yourself in the shaded flooded forests of the Ramsar wetlands, the trees are huge and there roots all appear out of the water, the water here supports a large variety of fish and is oxygentated by the waterfalls upstream which supports the whole ecosystem. Listen and watch the birdlife while you float downstream. A tranquil day not to be forgotten. After kayaking through the forest you will arrive at Koh Ky where you can then transfer to Stung Treng by vehicle ending the day with a shower at a nice hotel or for the more adventurous enjoy camping on a sandy island or stay at a nature lodge on the Mekong.

The Golden Triangle, The Emerald Triangle and ?

The region where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet is well know as the Golden Triangle; made famous for its history of Opium Production. The region where Laos, Thailand and Cambodia meet is called the Emerald Triangle. Several Thai towns in the area make a great visit including the town of Khong Chiam the most eastern point in Thailand with excellent sunsets.

The area close by has been in the news recently because of skirmishes between the Thai and Cambodian border police and a row over ownership of the land around Preah Vihear. The actual temple is located in Northern Cambodia but only easily accessible from Thailand. It is remarkable set on a cliff overlooking Cambodia several hundred meters below. It has been open since 1998 and we hope to develop our tours here in the future.

But what should the region be called around where Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam meet be called. On the Laos side have various ethnic villages including that of Phu Vong with the ethnic groups famous for their tattooed faces and earrings. The Cambodian side is dominated by the town of Ban Lung. This area is stunning with the Yeak Laom. A volcanic circular crater lake and the Siem Pang area and the border with Vietnam makes up part of the Virheay National Park.

Over the coming year Xplore-Asia will be developing adventure and wildlife tours to this region in association with the Mekong Discovery Trail. We will also be posting a featured article on each area on our blog.

Crime in Phnom Penh

Recently in Phnom Penh there has a been an increase in petty crime, it certainly feels that way. Having been in the country the last year or so and speaking to the locals and expats the same familiar story emerges from stories like these:

"I was in the market and two guys grabbed my purse and ran away no body even helped" or

"I was walking back home it was quite late but it was only 5 mins to my hotel, when I was robbed losing a small amount but also all my credit cards and passport".

Yes it seems that there has been a surge in theft in the Cambodian Capital. The reason for this could well be the economy. A lot of local people talk about the factories closing down and many jobs being lost. People do have to eat so they turn to easy pickings, tourists or even locals who have let there guard down. Or it could just be in Cambodia the police don't really enforce the law on the locals so some people see opportunistic theft as an easy way to make a quick buck!

Whatever the reason the city is much safer than it used to be, however one should be careful and think twice about walking home late at night or taking one of those motorbike taxis with a driver you don't know! They could take you anywhere.

This all being said Phnom Penh is a city and every major city has crime so the standard precautions apply to Phnom Penh as would do in any other city. Don't try to be too flash or walk about with your wallet in your back pocket or a fancy looking watch on your arm. If you must be walking around at night try to keep to the main roads but preferably take a tuk tuk from one place to another.

Xplore-Asia New Website & Videos

Well it has taken a while and much work and long days in front of the computer but we have finally managed to get our website out to the public. The new site offers package and shorter city tours to 6 Asian countries where we specialise, we have some excellent promotions and last minute deals to so pop us a line at

http://www.xplore-asia.com

We have also just finished some videos of the region which can be found on youtube check it out our Youtube Page at

http://www.youtube.com/user/xploreasia

Comments welcome happy viewing