Friday, April 19, 2013

2013 - 2014 Trips


EXOTIC TOURS 2013-2014 Departures
*** Updated 25Apr
I will be out of town , leading Swiss Paris tour -
26Apr - 06May
22May - 01Jun

****


2013 - Confirmed Departures
2013 Trekking Trips

Contact Olevia Cheong
Organizer
(65) 8112 8393
Email  - olevia@gmail.com

2013
 
 
 
 
Date
Tour Code
Tour Name
Price
Remarks
17-23MAY
ETVS07
7D Vietnam & Sapa
$1,350
Min 4 to go
05-15JUN
ETIL11
11D Ladakh Overland
$2,350
Nett
05-17JUN
ETBP12
12D Brazil & Pantanal Photo Tour
$9,650
Nett (excl VISA)
07-16JUN
ETGE10
10D Greece
$3,050
+ Tax ($310)
12-26JUN
ETUT15
15D Uzbekistan & Tajikistan trekking
$3,650
Nett (incl
Visa)
30JUN-12JUL
ETMN13
13D Mongolia Trekking & Nadaam Festival
 
 
11-14JUL
ETBR04
Bali – Alila Villas Free & Easy
$2,150
Nett
JUL
 
Bali Sanur Kite Festival (4D3N)
 
(Dates TBA)
03-10AUG
ETSA08
8D Sri Lanka Discovery
 
 
03-10AUG
ETBA08
8D Botswana Adventure
 
 
04-18SEP
ETUT15
15D Uzbekistan & Tajikistan Trekking
$3,650
 
10-21SEP
ETSB12
12D Sikkim & Bhutan Photo Tour
$4,450
Nett (India visa)
10-21SEP
ETST12
12D Sikkim & Dzongri Trek
$2,600
Nett
07-15SEP
ETIR08
8D Rinjani Trekking, & Gili Lombok
$
 Group size - 12
20-29SEP
ETEP10
10D Egypt Photo Tour
$
Min – 4 to go
05-20OCT
ETMS16
16D Sikkim, Darjeeling & Kalimpong
 
Min – 4 ­to go
11-18OCT
ETNB08
8D Nepal & Bhutan
$3,250
Min – 4 to go
12-18OCT
ETMD07
7D Myanmar Discovery
 
Min- 4 to go
30OCT-
ETNE18
18D Everest Base Camp Trek
$3,100
Excl Visa
04-11NOV
ETSA08
8D Sri Lanka Discovery
$
 
 DEC
 
 India Rajasthan Glory
 
 
04-11DEC
ETNF08
8D Nepal
$1980
Excl Visa
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
 
 
 
Mar
 
Nepal, Sikkim & Bhutan Paro Festival
 
NEW itinerary
APR
 
INDIA Kashmir in Spring
 
 
MAY
 
PERU
 
 
JUN 06
 
SOUTH AFRICA - 2/3 weeks
 $5480
New itinerary
 

Monday, April 15, 2013

Trekking Trips 2013

Welcome , back.

All are welcome to join me and my other friends and contacts on the various trekking trips. You do not need any kind of experience, we only need your good spirit, and the love for nature, to join us for any of the treks below.

I love trekking, and had trekked to many different parts of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Nepal.


MALAYSIA
Mt Kinabalu - (4 times),
Gunung Tahan (toughest climb in Malaysia),
Mt Ophir,
Mt Belumut,

Indonesia
Sinabung
Mt Batur, Bali
 
                                         My son, Alex's first trek, up Mt Batur, 22Mar2013
 
                                  Beautiful sunrise rewards all our hard work, after the 2 hour trek.
                                                               You must do this trek!


Nepal
Annapurna Base Camp,
Langtang Trek
Annapurna Foothills Trek

12-26Jun Uzbekistan & Tajikistan (Easy / Trekking) (Easy/Moderate)
Itinerary
A cultural visit to bring you see the splendour, and grandeur of the cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, the Silk Route cities, which flourished long time ago. Samarkand was made the capital of Tamerlane's empire. Finish your trip with a trek to Tajikistan.

30Jun - 12Jul - Mongolia Trek & Nadaam Festival (Easy / Moderate)
Itinerary
Catch the famous Nadaam Festival with the various activities of wrestling, archery. Best time to go to Mongolia.

07-15Sep Mt Rinjani Trek (Easy / Moderate)
07-15Sep Rinjani Trek
Be rewarded with the views of Segara Anak, the crater lakes when you trekked to  the summit of the mountain. Only 4D3N required to take on this challenge, but you will definitely feel the immense sense of satisfaction, with Mother Nature and her power at work. Other time will be spend exploring Lombok, this little laid-back island, located right next to Bali. A side trip will be made to the famous Gili Islands for snorkeling, diving or just laze around.


10-21Sep Sikkim & Dzongri Trek (Easy /Moderate)
Itinerary
Sikkim, the state of India which is located just bordering Bhutan, makes it a wonderful destination, with its beautiful mountain vista of Mt Kachenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world.
Steeped in Buddhism, and adorned with a number of monasteries across the state, it is a lovely land, with snow-capped peaks, and deep valleys. See it to believe it.


30Oct - 16Nov Mt Everest Base Camp Trek (Tough)
Itinerary
Mt Everest, one of the toughest climb in Nepal, is worth everyone's efforts to make a trip up there once in your lifetime. It is like our little pilgrimage for so many of us, who would not be able to stand atop its mighty peak. This timing is perfect for us to enjoy the Mani Rimdu Festival, up in Namche Bazaar.



NOTE :
I will be away from the 26Apr - 06May for a tour leading assignment to Swiss & Paris.

Olevia Cheong
8112 8393

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Travel Buddies wanted for Central Asia 12-26Jun

TRAVEL PARTNERS WANTED.

10-21May 12D Nepal & Bhutan
- 4 ladies confirmed on this trip.
 
Please find the below itinerary for 12-26Jun
15D Central Asia
And if you have any friends, who would like a shorter trip, they could join us for the
12-19Jun Uzbekistan tour
18Jun - Free day, and Dep on 19Jun.
Do note that there is no daily flight.


-- CONFIRMED DEPARTURE ( Do join us for 12-19Jun 8D Uzbekistan Trip)
15D Central Asia ( 12Jun-26Jun)

(Uzbekistan – Tajikistan – Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan)

Uzbekistan is a premier cultural heritage destination sought out each year by more and more travellers wishing to immerse themselves in the magic of Central Asia’s Great Silk Road.

Samarkand
(http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/603)

The historic town of Samarkand is a crossroad and melting pot of the world's cultures. Founded in the 7th century B.C. as ancient Afrasiab, Samarkand had its most significant development in the Timurid period from the 14th to the 15th centuries. The major monuments include the Registan Mosque and madrasas, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, the Shakhi-Zinda compound and the Gur-Emir ensemble, as well as Ulugh-Beg's Observatory.

Bukhara
(http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/602)

Bukhara, which is situated on the Silk Route, is more than 2,000 years old. It is the most complete example of a medieval city in Central Asia, with an urban fabric that has remained largely intact. Monuments of particular interest include the famous tomb of Ismail Samani, a masterpiece of 10th-century Muslim architecture, and a large number of 17th-century madrasas.

Shahrisabz is a city in southern Uzbekistan, near Samarkand as well as the border with Tajikistan. Shahrisabz means ‘green city’ in Persian, probably owing to the vineyard and orchards in the area. Shahrisabz is noted for being the birthplace of the great ruler of Central Asia named Timur, made famous in Western lore as Tamerlane by authors such as Shakespeare. Shahrisabz is an ancient city in Central Asia, having just celebrated its 2700th anniversary. It is near Shahrisabz that Alexander the Great spent winters and met his wife Roxanna and that the general Ptolemy defeated the Achaemenid Empire. Like many cities in Uzbekistan and Central Asia in general, Shahrisabz was a city along the famed Silk Road. Shahrisabz came under the rule of the city of Bukhara until Russian occupation in the 1800s.

Shahrisabz boasts so many historic monuments that its old city has been made part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visitors to Shahrisabz tour these amazing monuments, which include Aq-Saray Palace, Kok Gumbaz Mosque, Hazrat-i Imam Complex, and the Tomb of Timur. Aq-Saray Palace was the ruler Timur’s summer palace in the 1300s, and is also known as the White Palace. It was to be the grandest of Timur’s buildings, and its archway is the widest in Central Asia, but today only parts of the palace remain. Travelers to Shahrisabz can stare in awe at the ruins of the 200-foot gate towers, which are covered with white, gold, and blue mosaic tiles and an inscription that reads “If you challenge our power, look at our buildings!” Kok Gumbaz Mosque was built in Shahrisabz in the 1400s and is named for its blue dome. Right behind the mosque is the so-called House of Meditation. The Hazrat-i Imam Complex is a series of buildings that includes a mosque and impressive geometric mausoleum, where Timur’s oldest son is buried. Nearby is a recently-discovered underground chamber that was meant to be the tomb of Timur himself. However, Timur was buried in Samarkand instead of Shahrisabz, so the identities of the bodies in the chamber remain a mystery.

Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a country located in Central Asia. Landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east.

Issyl-Kul Lake ( Kyrgyzstan)
Issyk-Kul is one of less than 20 ancient lakes on earth and is estimated to be approximately 25 million years old. Beginning in about 500 BC the Great Silk Road developed as a trade route through Central Asia and passed nearby the lake. Issyk-Kul is the world’s second-largest high-altitude lake and a major biological and economic resource of the country. Slightly salty, the lake never freezes, which contributes to its importance as a stopover for migratory birds. Over the past few decades, the level of the lake has dropped some 2.5 meters as the result of water diversions. In the face of several serious threats to the lake, the Government of Kyrgyzstan has created the Issyk-Kul Biosphere Reserve, run by a Directorate General.

ITINERARY

Day 1 (June 12)Singapore – Tashkent
Arrive in Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Tashkent Palace or similar (4 *)

Day 2 (June 13) Tashkent – Bukhara by flight
Enjoy a full day sightseeing tour in Tashkent. Evening transfer to the airport to take the flight to Bukhara. Asia Bukhara or similar (4 *)

Day 3 (June 14) Bukhara (B)
Full day sightseeing tour.

Day 4 (June 15) Bukhara – Samarkand.
Drive to Samarkand. Sightseeing tour. Asia Samarkand or similar (4*)


REGISTAN SQUARE, SAMARKAND


Day 5 (June 16) Samarkand (B)
Full day sightseeing .

Day 6 (June 17)Samarkand – Shahrisabz - Termez (B)
Drive to Shakhrisabz. Sightseeing tour, drive to Termez.
Meridian or similar (4 *)

Day 7 (Jun 18) Termez – Gissar – Dushanbe (B)
Transfer to Hissar. Visit the Hissar Fortress and museum. Transfer to Dushanbe. Visit the monument of Ismoili Somoni – the founder of the first Tajik Somonid dynasty in Central Asia. Walking in the Park named after Rudaki.
Taj Palace or similar (4*)

Day 8 (Jun 19)
Dushanbe – Penjikent (B)
Visit the museum of Antiquity in Tajikistan (where you can see the huge 14m Statue of Buddha in Nirvana) and the Museum of Ethnography. Transfer to Panjakent. Visiting ancient Panjakent, visiting the museum named after Rudaki.
Overnight at Hotel Durdob Homestay

Day 9 (Jun 20 )Penjikent – Khodjent – Tashkent
Transfer to Khodjent. Sightseeing tour in Khodjent. Transfer to Tajik – Uzbek border (130km). Crossing the border at check point Kanibadam. Meet guide and drive to Tashkent. (40km)
Tashkent Palace of similar (4*)

Day 10 (Jun 21)Tashkent – Almaty (B)
Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Almaty/ Sightseeing tour.
Otrar (4*)

Day 11 (Jun 22)Almaty – Bishkek (B)
Transfer to Bishkek (250km). Arrival in hotel.
Ak-Keme or similar (4 *)

Day 12 (Jun 23) Bishkek – Issyl Kul Lake (Cholpon Ata)( B )
Transfer to Issul Kul Lake (270km)/ En route visit Burana Tower on the site of the medieval city of Balasagun – the capital of Karakhanid State. Free time at leisure on the shore of the lake. Overnight in Cholpon Ata.
Karven or similar (4*)



Day 13 (Jun 24) Issyk – Kul Lake – Ala-Archa – Bishkek (B)
Transfer to Ala Archa Natural Park (40km off Bishkek). En route visit prehistoric petroglyphs near Cholpon Ata. Sightseeing tour in Ala Archa National Park. Transfer to Bishkek.

Day 14 (Jun 25) Bishkek – Tashkent.
Departure by flight from Tashkent.

Day 15 (Jun 26) Tashkent - Singapore
Departure by flight from Tashkent back to Singapore via Kuala Lumpur.

Sightseeing spots that will be visited during the excursions:
Tashkent: Kukeldash Madrassah, Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, Barak Khan Madrassah, Mosque on Khasty Imam Street, Visit to Chor-Su ,Museum of Applied Arts. Alisher Navoi square. Amir Temur Monument and Square, Independence Square, Halqlar Do’stligi Square.

Bukhara: Visit to Ismael Samani mausoleum -vault of Bukhara rulers' dynasty, Chor-Minor, Chashma-Ayub Mausoleums (14 c), Visit to Old Bukhara: Poli-Kalon ensemble including Minaret , Mosque ,functioning Madrassah Miri-Arab , Amir-Alim-Khan Madrassah , Taqi (trading domes), Kukeldash Madrassah ,Lyab-i-Hauz , Nadir Divanbegi , Magoki Attari ,Ulug Beg ,Abdul Aziz Madrassahs. Visit to Registan Ensemble, Ark Fortress and Bolo-Hauz complex

Samarkand: Shahi-Zinda necropolis , “Stars above Samarkand” - Ulugbek observatory , “Ruines of Afrosiab” - the excavation and museum of the ancient town (6 BC-13 AD), Visit to medieval architectural monuments: Gur-Emir Mausoleum , Registan Ensemble (including Ulugbek , Shir Dor , Tillya-Kari Madrassahs ,Bibi Khanum Mosque, Ismael-Bukhari Mosque- Mausoleum of Imam Bukhari.

Shakhrisabz: Visit Ak Saray Palace, Kuk Gumbaz, Gumbazi Saidon, Khazrati Imam mosque, Mausoleum of Jahangir (Temur’s son).

Estimated Cost - $4200 ( subject to change, due to airfare booking class)

International Flight ,
Domestic flight - Tashkent-Bukhara
International Flight Tashkent - Almaty
International Flight Bishkek - Tashkent
All hotels accommodation with breakfast
All sightseeing as per itinerary
All transfers
English speaking guide

Exclude:
Taxes for the flight
Visa Fees ( not included)
All other meals ( estimate usd15 per meal)

Please contact Olevia Cheong
Organiser
8112 8393