Through October, tour operator Scenic World is offering a
seven-night group or FIT package that visits World Heritage sites
in four Asian countries: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.
The World Heritage Sites Discovery package, sold by the San
Francisco-based operator in conjunction with Bangkok Airways,
showcases Asian sites designated by the United Nations Education,
Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Committee as
being of “outstanding universal value” and worthy of
preservation.
Though Scenic World has been in business for 20 years, this is
the first time it has sold these World Heritage sites on a single
set itinerary, said Pannir Murugesu, the company’s general
manager.
Murugesu noted that Bangkok Airways recently launched its Mekong
World Heritage Network of air service, which connects the cities on
the tour and which Scenic World uses for all intra-Asia air in the
package.
The airline also helped create this itinerary in response to the
Tourism Authority of Thailand’s efforts to boost tourism to the
Mekong Delta region as a whole.
The World Heritage Sites Discovery package departs Mondays
through the end of October and costs $999 per person, double.
The trip begins with a flight from Bangkok to Sukhothai, a town
considered to be the cradle of Thai civilization; today, the entire
town is a World Heritage site. Travelers visit Sukhothai’s restored
ancient sites, as well as its ruins, then move on the next day to
Luang Prabang, Laos, a World Heritage site not frequently included
in tour packages to the region.
Travelers spend two nights In Luang Prabang, a city perched on
the Mekong River that was once the capital of the Laos’ Lan Xang
kingdom. They visit temples, royal buildings and caves filled with
thousands of Buddhas. Also featured is a visit to nearby hill
tribes.
From Luang Prabang, travelers go to Da Nang, Vietnam, and are
driven to the nearby town of Hoi An, once the capital of the
ancient Cham Empire, for a bicycle tour of the city.
The following day, travelers ride through the Marble Mountains,
via the famous Hai Van Pass, to Hue, a World Heritage city on the
banks of the Perfume River. Attractions in Hue, at one time the
capital of Vietnam, include its complex of monuments from the
Nguyen Dynasty.
Following Hue, travelers fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia, once home
to the Khmer Empire and still home to one of the Seven Wonders of
the World, the Angkor Wat temple complex. From Cambodia, travelers
fly back to Bangkok before heading home.
Scenic World’s package includes accommodations in three-star
hotels, all meals, flights within Asia, and entrance fees, taxes
and service charges. International air is not included, nor are
airport taxes and visa fees.
Scenic World does not include air from North America in the
package price, Murugesu said, because many travelers choose to
redeem frequent-flier miles for the trans-Pacific portion of the
trip. But Scenic World can arrange trans-Pacific air for clients
through a consolidator if they want it.
Call 800-952-0226. Web site: www.scenicworldtour.com.
For more details on Bangkok Airways’ Mekong World Heritage
Network and a detailed description of the itinerary, visit www.mekongworldheritage.com.
