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The delicate rustle of kimonos as Geisha’s dance the Miyaki Odori in a Kyoto teahouse.  An army of terracotta warriors standing in battle formation since the 3^rd century B.C. City lights as brilliant as stars shimmer beneath diners as they feast on fusion cuisine high atop Victoria Peak.  Evil spirits and sorrows ceremoniously set adrift in small boats by nomadic sea gypsies off the shores of the Andaman Sea.  Wherever you go and what ever you do in Pacific Asia, your journey will be etched in your memory forever.

View a selection of Excursions in China

Hong Kong

Travel Hong Kong and witness a city of contradictions.  Colorful Victoria Harbour reflects stoic skyscrapers while the perfume of temple incense mingles with the air.  This dazzling city is crowned by the imposing Victoria Peak, which soars above Hong Kong’s hustle and bustle, providing stunning views of the shopper’s seventh-heaven, Kowloon Peninsula, across the busy harbor. 

Head to the floating village of Aberdeen and dine on dim sum while your restaurant sways on gentle waves.  Overload your senses with a trip to Central Market where everything from fruit to flip-flops spill out onto the streets, or sit in the lap of luxury by staying at the Intercontinental Hong Kong and the Kowloon Shangri-La, both of which provide unforgettable harbor views.

Beijing

Emperors and entrepreneurs have both called China’s flashy capital, Beijing, home.  Although joint venture capitalists have replaced royalty and uniformed school children throng to shopping malls instead of the Chairman Mao Mausoleum, Beijing is still China’s cultural tour de force, boasting more than 50 museums and cultural centers.  Evidence of Beijing’s grandiose past is scattered throughout the city and includes the sprawling Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the incredible Great Wall of China. 

Stroll through the palaces, temples, and parks where emperors roamed, or sip tea at a trendy teahouse and hobnob with Beijing’s nouve riche.  For a late-night snack, visit the lantern-lined Ghost Street, and for a memorable lunch, picnic in the shadows of the eerie Ming Tombs.  For a souvenir free of the statement, “I climbed the Great Wall,” make sure you visit the heady Beijing Curio City.  Visit Beijing and witness the fusion of old and new China – a perfect combination for compelling vacation.

Shanghai

Rivaling glamorous high-rise Hong Kong, Shanghai is an architect’s playground.  Colonial and Art-Deco architecture found in the historic Peace Hotel grace one side of the Huangpu River – Shanghai’s very own Mississippi – while the world’s tallest hotel, the Grand Hyatt, casts a late afternoon shadow over the opposite bank in Pudong.  Pudong, nicknamed “East Shanghai,” is a steel city of monuments to materialism, and is home to China’s largest financial district and would-be Wall Street.  The future is knocking on China’s door and Shanghai is welcoming it with open arms.

Evoke the spirits of China’s old Shanghai, once known as the “Paris of the East,” by popping into the Jazz Bar at the Peace Hotel or stroll the elegant streets of the French Concession.  Wind your way through a maze of Ming Dynasty pavilions, arched bridges and goldfish ponds in the Yu Yuan Garden, and discover why it is called the “Garden of Contentment.”   For those who find contentment in retail rather than rockeries, head to the Bund, Shanghai’s scenic waterfront, or treat your eyes to a treasure trove of ancient Chinese ceramics and stone sculptures at the impressive Shanghai Museum.

Xian

In 1974 a farmer from the dusty town of Lintong was digging a well when he unearthed a chamber that housed one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20^th century.  Inside the chamber stood an ancient army of more than 7,000 life-sized terra-cotta soldiers guarding the entombed Emperor Qin Shihuang.  Millions of tourists visit Xian’s sea of soldiers each year, making this “eighth wonder of the world” one of China’s most alluring historical sites.  Long before the underground city was discovered, Xian had made its mark on the map as a city of ancient imperial treasures.  Xian was the capital of China’s first two great dynasties and boasts artifacts from both, including the 6,000-year-old Banpo Beolithic Village, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the 40 foot high city wall marking the birthplace of China’s first Buddhist temple. 

Guilin

When you first see Guilin’s serene landscape, you may experience a sense of deja’vu.  Its bamboo forests and mist-covered hills look so familiar, and they may well be.  Painters and poets have been inspired by patchwork paddy fields and the meandering Li River for centuries, and its image can be found on everything from traditional silk scrolls to tea towels.  Drift down the Li River and spot oxen grazing at the rivers edge, or marvel at the sight of limestone hills as they dramatically rise above your head.  For subterranean splendor, look no further than the Reed Flute caves.  Walk through the vast network of chambers dripping with stalactites and elaborate rock formations and learn of their role in local Chinese folklore.

The Yangtze River

Winding its way for over 4000 miles, the serpentine Yangtze River is China’s longest river and the third longest in the world.  Unchanged for centuries, the scenery bordering the Yangtze’s banks ranges from an icy kingdom in the Tibetan Highlands, to sweeping grasslands, and finally to coastal bluffs before slipping into the China Sea.  Like China itself, the Yangtze River is in constant fluctuation.  The river hurtles through China’s heartland before slowing down as it passes through a 15-mile long, narrow channel where the ethereal Three Gorges wait to be admired. Described by a Song Dynasty poet as similar to “a thousand seas poured into one cup,” this phenomenon unfolds while you cruise in comfort on your well-appointed Victoria Cruises liner, drinking cocktails on your private balcony.

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Lhasa

Lhasa, which means “ground of the gods,” is the capital of Tibet and a spiritual focal point for devout Buddhists.  Dominated by the Potala, a vast, white fortress and the resting place of previous Dalai Lamas, the Lhasa skyline is surprisingly robust for a holy city.  Multistory offices, upmarket hotels, and glitzy nightclubs mingle with colorful prayer flags and quiet temples.  Join murmuring pilgrims as they shuffle from shrine to shrine in Jokhang, the spiritual heart of Tibet.  Be swept away by a crowd of street performers and merchants selling everything from pictures of the current Dalai Lama to jewel-encrusted yak skulls in bustling Barkhor, or ponder life in the hallowed halls of the enormous Drepung Monastery.
 

View a selection of Excursions in Japan

Tokyo

From its bright billboards and crowded sidewalks, one could confuse Tokyo for New York City, but hiding in the shadows of the skyscrapers, neatly-clipped bonsai trees frame ancient wooden houses and kimono-clad women shuffle down narrow streets.  Sit under a pink cloud of fragrant cherry blossoms in Ueno Park, or wake up early and witness the madness of a tuna auction at Tsukiji Fish Market.  Sail down the Sumida River and make a grand entrance by arriving at Sensoji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, or feast your eyes on the world’s largest collection of Japanese art at the Tokyo National Museum.

Kyoto

With its Zen rock gardens and air of tradition, Kyoto is a city for lovers.  Young couples drift down the Oi River in wooden boats glowing with red lanterns while older sweethearts stroll along the narrow streets of historic Eastern Kyoto.  Home to 20% of Japan’s national treasures, Kyoto is also a massive museum.  The city boasts an impressive catalog of 1,700 well-preserved Buddhist temples and 300 Shinto shrines.  Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, is one of Kyoto’s most famous and elaborate attractions.  Featuring a three-story pavilion covered in gold-leaf and crowned by a bronzed phoenix, one has to shade their eyes from its brilliance.  Rivaling Kinkakuji’s luster is Nara’s Great Buddha.  One of the largest bronze statues in the world, Daibutsu reaches 50 feet into the air and contains 286 pounds of pure magnificent gold

Osaka

A merchant’s mecca, Osaka is Japan’s third largest city and its history is steeped in commercial pursuits.  In the 16^th century, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, a powerful lord, built Japan’s largest castle and convinced merchants from all over Japan to travel to his port city and help it flourish.  And flourish it did.  Nowadays, Osaka’s waterfront is buzzing with ships and shopping centers, aquariums and adventure parks.  Osaka is also rich in exciting cuisine and boasts an impressive arts community famous for its Kabuki and Bunraku Puppet Theater.   

Hakone

Hakone is a favorite weekend getaway for Tokyoites, offering everything from hot-spring resorts to magnificent views of Mt. Fuji.  Getting to Hakone is an experience in itself.  Depart Tokyo on a high-speed train, switch to a small mountain tram, and zigzag through forests and over streams.  Enjoy unbelievable views as you ride a cable car and skim across Lake Ashi by boat before entering an alpine wonderland.  Along the way, stop in at the magnificent Hakone Open-Air Museum where over 700 sculptures are displayed in formal gardens, ponds, and meadows.  Once in Hakone, soak up the stunning views while sitting in a small bath mixed with sake, or hike to your heart’s content on the Owakudani nature trail.

View a selection of Excursions in Singapore

A fresh and fashionable metropolis, Singapore is a city, an island, and a country all rolled into one.  A melting pot of Arab merchants, Malaysian settlers, Indian businessmen, and Chinese traders, this exciting blend of cultures is Singapore’s signature.  Textile warehouses and crowded food markets blend seamlessly with striking glass towers and high-class hotels.  Travel Singapore and relive its colonial past by sipping a delicious Singapore Sling under the whisper of ceiling fans at the legendary Raffles Hotel, or shop for colorful sarongs on Arab Street.  Have fun in the sun at Sentosa Island, Singapore’s premier attraction, live it up on luxurious Orchard Road, or visit Singapore Zoo and see why it gives San Diego Zoo a run for its money.

Seoul

Almost flattened during the Korean War, Seoul has risen from the ashes to become one of Asia’s great cities.  As the political, financial and cultural hub of Korea, Seoul’s busy streets are lined with boisterous nightclubs, trendy stores and budget-friendly restaurants.  Yet reminders of Korea’s patrician past still sing out beneath the high rises and 12-lane freeways.  Centuries-old royal palaces, imposing gateways, and ornate pagodas provide visitors with an inside peek into Seoul’s aristocratic society, while cultural performances, folk villages, and museums remind us of the city’s rural roots. 

View a selection of Excursions in Thailand

Bangkok

An exciting brew of traffic and temples, luxury hotels and labyrinth-like streets, the “City of Angels” is a hectic heaven.  This inexhaustible energy is part of Bangkok’s charm, and it has made Thailand’s feisty capital one of Asia’s favorite vacation destinations.  Cutting through the heart of the city, the magnificent Chao Phraya River (“the River of Kings”) provides easy access to Bangkok’s numerous Buddhist temples and the Grand Palace, as well as offering insight into Thai life.  Chatting women wash laundry at the waters edge while boisterous children bathe in the shallows nearby.  Treat your eyes to a parade of colorful canoes laden with everything from juicy mangoes to jolly-faced souvenirs at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, or paddle up to one of the floating markets and order a bowl of steaming Thai noodles.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the gateway city to Thailand’s lush north and its rustic hill tribe villages.  Dating back 700 years, the city’s focal point is “Old City,” the walled and moated remains of an imposing fortress.  Original gates have been lovingly restored and the chanting of monks drifts softly through the narrow streets from three of the area’s most revered temples.  Surrounding this historic site is a blossoming city containing all the characteristics of a modern town.  World class restaurants and hotels, including the Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevil, line Chiang Mai’s bustling streets where some of the best shopping in Thailand is found.  Travel by tuk-tuk (motorized three-wheeler) to the Night Bazaar where local tribes-people sell handicrafts alongside merchants hawking jade jewelry, hammered silver plates, and reams of silk.  Pet a pachyderm at one of Chiang Mai’s elephant camps and enjoy off-road driving like never before on the backs of these gentle giants. 

View a selection of Excursions in Phuket

Although Phuket’s name is derived from the Malaysian word “Bukit,” meaning “mountain,” it is the island’s sheltered coves and long stretches of pristine beach that draw most visitor’s to its shores.  The warm waters of the Andaman Sea beckon a plethora of water sports ranging from snorkeling to windsurfing, and yield the best seafood in Thailand.  If you can tear yourself away from that perfect spot on the beach, go on an adventurous safari and explore Phuket’s lush jungles. 

Ko Samui

Known as the “alternative Thai island” to its more famous sibling Phuket, Ko Samui is an idyllic vacation paradise.  Surrounded by palm-fringed beaches and blanketed with coconut plantations, this one-time backpackers’ nirvana is increasing in popularity with tourists resulting in thatched-roof bungalows being sandwiched between resort hotels.  Nevertheless, visitors will still find the tranquility they are seeking.  Sip tasty soups at the Oriental Gallery where gorgeous Thai antiques and art decorate every nook and cranny.  Snorkel off Ko Tao island and experience languid island life, or marvel at monkeys as they assist farmers by clambering up tall palm trees, shaking off ripe coconuts and collecting them for their trainers.

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When you travel to Bali, its beauty will embrace you as soon as you arrive.  The sweet scent of sandalwood and spice drifts along the breeze, and delicate hand-woven baskets holding devotional offerings of rice and flowers decorate the pavement.  The countryside is a dreamscape of rice terraces carved into lush hillsides and misty peaks dotted with ornate Buddhist temples.  The cities are thriving centers of tourists and traffic, markets and modern resorts, tamed only by the pounding of the surf at its backdoor.  Hire a guide and weave through mountain roads on the back of a motorbike to secluded villages or forests filled with inquisitive monkeys.  Barter with merchants for colorful sarongs or elaborately carved woodwork in alleyway bazaars, or marvel at the serenity of a colorfully clad Kecak dancer as she performs by torchlight.

Amanresorts

Amanresorts offers a lifestyle experience, without limitations. For those who lust for faraway cultures and a world that excites, shapes, and nourishes, be sure to discover Aman Resorts with their appetite for pampering and a deep appreciation of the creative and elegant. These resorts are figures of timeless luxury nurtured in environmental harmony. Each Aman resort is quite different in location, look and mood, providing for a unique experience. Each leaves an impression and a realization that there is an alternate path and it is possible to build environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing resorts. Click here for more information on AmanResorts

Hanoi

You’ll be hard pressed to hear the chorus of bicycle bells over the hum of construction in Hanoi, but tradition still reigns supreme in Vietnam’s capital city.  Colonial French houses cohabitate with striking skyscrapers in Old Quarter, and languid lakes dot city parks, providing respite for the lunch hour crowd.  Hanoi  welcomes travelers with open arms to its fine galleries, charismatic stores, and exciting dining.     

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, provides tourists with a glimpse of its 300-year-old history while simultaneously spearheading its five million residents through the millennium.  With incomes three times higher than the national average, Ho Chi Minh residents enjoy a lifestyle rarely found in other parts of Vietnam.  Enjoy Ho Chi Minh City with them by stopping for a breakfast of coffee and croissants at a café before tackling a myriad of museums.

Hoi An

A picturesque river port 19 miles from Danang, Hoi An turns its gaze inwards to its rich history rather than outwards to the West for inspiration.  Reminders of its role as an important port town are scattered throughout the town in its Vietnamese, Japanese, and Chinese architecture.  Boasting almost 850 historic structures and streetscapes, Hoi An is a walker’s wonderland with timeless treasures waiting to be discovered on every corner. 

Danang

Danang, with its regional airport, is the arrival point for the popular cities of Hue and Hoi An, and travelers who take the time to explore this pleasant town and its surrounding areas will be rewarded with breathtaking views and spectacular sightseeing.  Danang’s preeminent site, the Cham Museum, contains the world’s finest collection of Cham sculpture.  More than 1000 years ago, the Kingdom of Champa ruled this region and impressive open-air displays of sculptures and fragments of temples and towers removed from the neighboring My Son Cham ruins trace its rise and fall.  For a sight out of this world, visit Vietnam’s Marble Mountains, where five wondrous limestone peaks rise above a deserted beach. 

Hue

Once viewed as insensitive reminders of the feudal Nguyen Dynasty, the splendid tombs of Nguyen emperors in Hue are now considered to be national treasures.  In 1993, Hue’s monuments gained worldwide attention by being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Hire a sampan (a flat bottom boat,) and glide to and from the tombs on the Perfume River, or explore the war-ravaged Imperial City on foot and visit the inspiring Nine Holy Cannons.  For a more contemporary Nuen attraction, stare up at the neck-bending 37m-high Flag Tower, or enjoy a traditional Vietnamese dish at the enormous Central Market.

Vientiane

Laos is a country of ornate temples, colorfully clad monks and unforgettably friendly villagers.  Over 55% of the landscape is untouched rainforest that shelters elephants, leopards, gibbons, and black bears.  No city captures Lao’s rustic charm better than its capital, Vientiane.  Lovingly restored temples share the skyline with Internet cafes and international-standard hotels.  French colonial mansions house the World Bank and UN agencies, while the Parisian Patuxay victory monument proudly crowns one of the city’s rare paved roads.  Soak up Vientiane’s laid-back atmosphere at the Morning Market by mixing with the city’s most endearing attraction - its people.  Pose in the arms of a gigantic Buddha at Buddha Park, or meditate under a sacred bodhi tree in the impressive Phra That Luang temple.

Siem Reap

Protruding from Cambodia’s steamy jungle is the ancient city of Angkor Wat, which is the main attraction to visitors of Siem Reap.  Siem Reap’s proximity to the legendary sandstone complex makes the gateway city an ideal base camp for day trips or longer itineraries.  Relax and unwind in a local restaurant after a long day of exploring the world’s largest religious monument, or stock up on necessities before tackling the 60 square miles of passageways and palaces. 

Phnom Penh

Beneath Cambodia’s clatter of rickshaws and motorbikes lies the serenity of aging French Colonial mansions and temples that abate Phnom Penh’s chaotic landscape.  Housed within the showy walls of the Royal Palace sits the Silver Pagoda, a fascinating structure lined with 5,000 blocks of silver weighing over 6 tons.  This lavish nesting doll holds a 17^th-century Buddha cut from Baccarat crystal, and another made almost entirely of gold and dripping with approximately 10,000 diamonds.

Amanresorts

Amanresorts offers a lifestyle experience, without limitations. For those who lust for faraway cultures and a world that excites, shapes, and nourishes, be sure to discover Aman Resorts with their appetite for pampering and a deep appreciation of the creative and elegant. These resorts are figures of timeless luxury nurtured in environmental harmony. Each Aman resort is quite different in location, look and mood, providing for a unique experience. Each leaves an impression and a realization that there is an alternate path and it is possible to build environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing resorts. Click here for more information on AmanResorts

Yangon

Situated on the banks of the mighty Yangon River, Myanmar comes alive at night.  Boulevards become beehives of activity, where colorful stalls selling everything from tantalizing dishes to bloated cigars, appear to grow out of the thick air surrounding them.  When the sun comes up, trade is replaced with tradition.  There is no greater sight than that of the gold-plated Shwedagon Paya as it shines in the midday sun.  Prisms of color radiate from its gilded dome studded with rubies, sapphires, and topaz.  Legend has it that the original temple was built to enshrine eight of Buddah’s hairs, and builders honored this by crowning the shrine with a single diamond weighing 76 carats. 

Mandalay

After Yangon, Mandalay is Myanmar’s most visited city.  It owes much of its allure to the intriguing relics of its Royal Palace.  The stories behind this prophetic city are almost as interesting as its ruins.  In 1857, King Mindon decided to fulfill a sacred prophecy by building a city at the base of Mandalay Hill.  Keeping with tradition, the king had 52 people buried alive at each of the site’s corners, making them guardians of his great city.  King Mindon entered its twelve gates four years later and died in his royal apartment in 1878.  Mindon’s son, King Thibaw, routinely visited the apartment to meditate until he became convinced that his father’s spirit was haunting the building.  He promptly had the structure dismantled and removed from the Royal City.  It was later reconstructed as the Golden Palace Monastery on the city’s outskirts where it remains today, a tribute to King Mindon and a fine example of Burmese architecture. 

Bagan

Once you have set eyes on this luminous city, Bagan will remain etched in your mind forever.  Like a bejeweled blanket, thousands of pagodas and temples from Bagan’s heyday stretch for miles along the banks of the Ayeyarwady River.  Deserted since 1287, Bagan’s 5000 temples have stood in a permanent state of splendor as testimony to a faded city and its steadfast spirituality.