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Asia INDIA - VIETNAM - LAOS - CAMBODIA - indochina - TAIWAN - THAILAND - BHUTAN - NEPAL - SRI LANKA - china - MYANMAR - CENTRAL ASIA - RIVER CRUISING - TRAIN JOURNEYS - PHILIPPINES - MALAYSIA / BORNEO - U.A.E - south korea - Jordan & Syria - expedition cruises

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  • Asia

    INDIA - VIETNAM - LAOS - CAMBODIA - indochina - TAIWAN - THAILAND - BHUTAN -NEPAL -SRI LANKA - china -MYANMAR - CENTRAL ASIA - RIVER CRUISING - TRAIN JOURNEYS - PHILIPPINES -

    MALAYSIA / BORNEO - U.A.E - southkorea - Jordan& Syria - expeditioncruises

  • PHOTO GALLERYOUR PHILOSOPHY CONTACT US TERMS & CONDITIONS

    Asia

    "If you can't spell it,can't pronounce it...aren't quite sure where it isand they eat rice,... thenDiscover Asia goes there!"

    Whilst we hope that this brochurewill prove helpful in your choice oftour to Asia, we would point out thatDiscover Asia is one of the first tourcompanies in Australia to fullyharness the power of the web. Assuch, no brochure can ever matchthe vast store of information andimages that our website offers(2,500 pages and growing!). Thisbrochure is merely meant as atempter. To fully appreciate whyDiscover Asia claims to beAustralias most complete travelcompany to Asia, you need toeither visit our website or talk to oneof our expert consultants.

    Discover Asia is Australia's first tourcompany who, from day one, hasbeen exclusively designed to beweb-based. The benefits of this toyou the traveller are immense.Obviously, it is impossible tosqueeze all the information that youneed to plan your holiday into the

    confines of a brochure - it wouldhave to be the size of anencyclopedia. But, on a website,you have no such restrictions, andour website is just that the size ofan encyclopedia, and just asinformative.

    ITINERARIESBecause we are not restricted forspace, our itineraries are full ofinteresting detail and beautifulimages, with most of them being atleast 3 pages long, many have up toFIVE pages of in-depth informationand images.

    PLUS, we can put as many tours onour website as we like - so we areable to offer more tours to adestination than you will find in ourcompetitor's brochures.

    GLOSSARY of CITIESFor each of our destinations (andthere are 20 of them throughoutAsia) we have written acomprehensive guide to the maintourist cities of the destination andtheir sights. Many of thesedescriptions have images of thesights too. You can print thesepages off and read them at yourleisure.

    THINGS YOU NEEDTO KNOWYou know all that hard to find outstuff about a destination - climate,currency, electrical current, tipping,what to pack, information about foodand drink? Well, it is all detailed fullyin our 'Things You Need To Know'section for each destination. And,being web-based, we can update itdaily if we like how out of date isthe brochure you were reading?

    Simply click the TRAVELLERSINFORMATION button for anydestination in this brochure.

    PRICESThe prices in a print brochure arebased on the exchange rate at thetime of printing. In a typical year thatcould have been anywhere between62 & 95 cents to the US dollar! Somebrochure prices were 40% out withinmonths of being printed!!! Howaccurate is the brochure you pick upfrom your travel agent? Well, thisbrochure is 100% accurate AT ALLTIMES. Why waste hours pouringover a brochure, choosing the touryou like only to find, the price youthought you were going to pay is nolonger valid, and you can no longerafford it? Only an i-brochure like the

    one you are currently reading cangive you the CURRENT tour cost.

    EXPERIENCEThe management and staff ofDiscover Asia have specialised inAsia for many, many years. Ourreservation and costing team haveall worked previously for other Asiantour companies at a managerial levelfor a minimum of ten years. No othertour company comes even close tomatching that level of expertise!

    You can be confident in the fact thatyour reservation is being overseenby an expert consultant who hasactually been to the destination youare booking. That is not always thecase with other tour companies.

    Frequently you could have travelledmore than the person handling yourbooking - not a very reassuring feeling!

    It is the amazing diversity of Asia thathas attracted the staff of Discover Asiato visit so many times and it is theirpersonalised expertise in the regionthat will ensure that you miss none ofthe delights of your chosendestination. When you talk to ourconsultants, a phrase you will hearthem use often is When I was there,what I did was . This is what we call

    The Knowledge, it is a talent ofwhich all of us at Discover Asia areimmensely proud and are constantlyimproving. We guarantee that you willbe awestruck by the knowledge of ourconsultants and their willingness tospend time in helping you tounderstand this complex destinationand design your perfect holiday in it.

    So, there you have it MORE tours,MORE information, LOWER prices.What more could you ask for?Oh yes our website address!www.discoverasia.com.au

    HOW TO BOOKDISCOVER ASIAObviously, with so much expertiseat our fingertips and such acompetitive product,we can beselective with whom we work. Aftermuch analysis of the travel industry -based on company policies, agencydistribution, retail image andmarketing policies - Discover Asiahas chosen to work exclusively withSELECT AGENTS around Australia.To find our select agent in yourarea contact DISCOVER ASIA 1300 736 584.

    NB: For full terms and conditions ofbooking and travel please check outour website.

    Please Note: Whilst this brochure has been designed to always keep up to date, there arecircumstances whereby it may be necessary to replace it if we introduce new destinations, or, newtours to a destination. This brochure is Version 1, to ensure that you have the latest version of thisbrochure - CLICK HERE

    Produced by The Aqua Agency

  • Asia

    Amessage from thefounder ofDISCOVER ASIA,Trevor Lake;

    "There are dozens of travelcompanies selling tours to Asia. Thevast majority of them sell simple,short duration "flights, transfers &accommodation" packages to themost commercialised areas.

    Commercial pressures have led to apolicy of... "If it's not in thebrochure, then we can't sell it".Whilst this may make goodcommercial sense and meet theneeds of 95% of the population, itmeans that the needs of thetraveller' (the other 5%) have (untilnow) been ignored.

    My personal travels have taken meto some of the most remote andexciting parts of the globe.Whenever I recount the tales of mytravels, the most common responsefrom my audience has been "You'reso lucky, I would love to be able togo there". With the creation ofDiscover Asia I am now able toensure that you can!

    The policy of Discover Asia is - weare here to create the holiday thatyou want, not convince you to buythe holiday that we have. Our toursare TOTALLY flexible, can bebooked in any standard ofaccommodation (from Budget toDeluxe), can be as inclusive orexclusive as you desire, we canadd totally free days for rambling orcan ensure that you are waited onhand and foot for the duration ofyour tour.

    To achieve this goal, we encourageyou to speak direct with any of theexpert consultants at Discover Asiabefore you book. Unlike many tourcompanies, we have staff who haveactually been to the destinationsthat we sell! Their in-depthknowledge has been gained frompersonal experience... not a trainingmanual.

    Similarly, our local ground handlersare long-time business associatesand personal friends. This meansthat, the unparalleled servicestandards of Discover Asia don'tstop once you board the aircraft inAustralia. Our local operators havebeen chosen because they meet the

    same high standards that weimpose upon ourselves."

    Trevor Lake

    In 1996, the well respected "Australian FinancialReview" wrote a series of articles about "Pioneers

    of the Australian Travel Industry".One of only SIX people featured in these articleswas TREVOR LAKE, about whom they said"Trevor makes people's dreams come true".In just six words they have summed up what

    DISCOVER ASIA is all about!THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW

    india

    VIETNAM

    LAOS

    CAMBODIA

    indochina

    TAIWAN

    THAILAND

    BHUTAN

    NEPAL & TIBET

    SRI LANKA

    china

    MYANMAR

    CENTRAL ASIA

    RIVER CRUISING

    TRAIN JOURNEYS

    PHILIPPINES

    MALAYSIA - BORNEO

    UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

    south korea

    Jordan & Syria

    expedition cruises

    India HERITAGE HOTELS

    To link through to a destinationplease select from the list below.

    Produced by The Aqua Agency

  • TRAVELLERS INFOGLOSSARY OF CITIES WEATHER FORECASTCURRENT WEATHER/TIME CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE CURRENT TRAVEL ADVISORY

    india

    INDIAThough less than half the sizeof Australia, India crams in anamazing array of differentcultures, architecture, climatesand scenic delights. Fromsnow-capped mountains andcool hill-stations in the north...to tropical beaches and lushjungles in the south. From vastdeserts populated by colourfultribes in Rajasthan... to canalsand lagoons which you cruise

    in converted rice barges inKerala.

    Special travel experiencesinclude, touring by luxury trainin Rajasthan, Karnataka orMaharashtra; overnight stayson romantic houseboats intropical Kerala;accommodation in smallpalace hotels throughout thecountry; visits to former Britishhill-stations to recapture theDays of the Raj.

    India is far too big to attemptto see everything in one visit.Most people choose to visit theiconic cities of Rajasthan(Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur) ontheir first trip. Your second &third visits could include themore ancient Northern towns(Varanasi, Gwalior, Khajuraho)or the very different towns ofthe south (a tour from Cochinto Chennai). There are enoughtowns left over to fill another 3 4 tours!!!

    India is one of my greatest passions,and there are few partsof this fabulous country that I have not visited numerous

    times since my first visit in 1971. This intimate knowledgeof the country and its people, plus my close personalfriendship with our local ground handlers ensure that

    Discover Asia can offer you an Indian experience that isunequalled by any other Australian tour company.

    TREVOR LAKE, FOUNDER - DISCOVER ASIA

    * for Trains in India,see under Train Journeys

    * for Cruises in India,see under River Cruising

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    india3 Days / 2 Nights

    Tiger Safari - SunderbansGuaranteed Daily DeparturePrivate Tour (min 2 people)

    POO0:M )AN

    $AHG>

    CLICK MAP FOR DETAILED ITINERARY & TOUR COST

    7 Days / 6 NightsA Laos Adventure

    Small group tour Guaranteed departure(min 2 pax)

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    ):D (N)E:BG H? #:KL

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    CLICK MAP FOR DETAILED ITINERARY & TOUR COST

    10 Days / 9 NightsHeart Of Laos

    Private Tour Guaranteed daily departure(min 2 pax)

    %N:G@ )K:;:G@/:G@OB>G@/"'-"'

    CLICK MAP FOR DETAILED ITINERARY & TOUR COST

    15 Days / 14 NightsLaos Grand Tour

    Private Tour Guaranteed daily departure(min 2 pax)

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    15 Days / 14 NightsBackroads & Backwaters Of LaosPrivate Tour Guaranteed Wednesday departure

    (min 2 pax)

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  • TRAVELLERS INFOGLOSSARY OF CITIES WEATHER FORECASTCURRENT WEATHER/TIME CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE CURRENT TRAVEL ADVISORY

    cambodia

    cambodiaA quarter the size of NSW,Cambodia makes a perfectadd-on to any trip to Thailand,Vietnam, Laos and / or Burma.International airlines fly directinto both Phnom Penh andSiem Reap (Angkor Wat), plusyou can enter from Vietnam bydeluxe boat a long theMekong, or by road fromBangkok. Cambodia is muchmore than simply Angkor Wat,the capital, Phnom Penh, is

    rich in history, culture and greatnightlife.

    At one time, the Cambodians(Khmers) ruled a vast empirethat stretched across much ofSE Asia. Hence their historicremains, such as Angkor Wat,are monumental, glorious andbuilt on a vast scale. Theempire collapsed suddenly andirreversibly (probably due tolack of water for riceproduction), and Cambodiabecame a forgottenbackwater it was this thatpreserved the historic buildingsas they were abandoned andleft to the jungle. Theuniqueness of this historicevent means that Cambodiatoday offers on the one hand some of the greatestarchitectural achievements ofmankind, on the other, asimple rural lifestyle that hasnot changed for centuries.

    "The suffering of Cambodia under the genocidalgovernment of Pol Pot less than 30 years ago is a long

    distant memory. Cambodia of today is a land of laughingchildren, lush rice-fields, stunning ancient temples and

    intriguing culture. Don't fall for the trap of merely visitingthe world famous temples of the north. The Capital of

    Phnom Penh is one of the more charming cities of Asia anddemands at least one night, probably two."

    TREVOR LAKE, FOUNDER - DISCOVER ASIA

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    cambodia2 Days / 1 NightAngkor I

    Private Tour Guaranteed daily departure (min 2 pax)

    ,B>F +>:I

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    3 Days / 2 NightsAngkor Ii

    Private Tour Guaranteed daily departure(min 2 pax)

    ,B>F +>:I

    CLICK MAP FOR DETAILED ITINERARY & TOUR COST

    4 Days / 3 NightsAngkor Iii

    Private Tour Guaranteed daily departure(min 2 pax)

    ,B>F +>:I

    CLICK MAP FOR DETAILED ITINERARY & TOUR COST

    4 Days / 3 NightsClassic Cambodia

    Private Tour Guaranteed daily departure(min 2 pax)

    )!'(& )'!

    ,B>F +>:I

    CLICK MAP FOR DETAILED ITINERARY & TOUR COST

    4 Days / 3 NightsTrails Of The Khmer

    Small group tour Guaranteed departure(min 2 pax)

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    CLICK MAP FOR DETAILED ITINERARY & TOUR COST

    5 Days / 4 NightsHeart Of Cambodia

    Small group tour Guaranteed departure(min 2 pax)

    )!'(& )'!

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    CLICK MAP FOR DETAILED ITINERARY & TOUR COST

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    cambodia10 Days / 9 Nights

    Cambodian Explorer IPrivate Tour Guaranteed daily departure

    (min 2 pax)

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    ,B>F +>:I

    $HFIHG@ -AHF$HFIHG@A:F ,DNHG

    CLICK MAP FOR DETAILED ITINERARY & TOUR COST

    12 Days / 11 NightsCambodian Hidden Treasures

    Private Tour Guaranteed daily departure(min 2 pax)

    )!'(& )'!

    +>:F $>I$HFIHG@ ,HF

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    13 Days / 12 NightsCambodian Explorer Ii

    Private Tour Guaranteed daily departure(min 2 pax)

    )!'(& )'!

    $>I

    ,B>F +>:I

    $HFIHG@ -AHF

    $HFIHG@ A:F,DNHG

    CLICK MAP FOR DETAILED ITINERARY & TOUR COST

  • INDOCHINA

    INDOCHINAGeography has bound thesenations together for thousandsof years. Different cultures andreligions have kept themdistinctly different and in aconstant struggle fordomination over each other.The expert guides of DiscoverAsia will help you tounderstand the sometimessubtle differences betweenthese neighbouring lands.

    A tour combining these landsis the perfect way to witnesshow the ebb and flow ofhistory has affected this region.Those things that are commonto each country are theirstunning scenery, architecturalmasterpieces and colourfulminority tribes. One day youwill be standing in awe beforea gigantic historic monumentthe next day you will bewalking a path between thefrail wooden homes of aremote local village. It is thesestark contrasts that keep yoursenses in a state of tinglingexcitement on any visit toIndochina.

    Travel between these landscan be by road, plane or boat,and the journey itself can be anintegral part of the enjoymentof any Indochina tour. Relivethe grandeur of the Victorianera as you travel on a colonialsteamer down the Mekong

    pass though border crossingswhere you might feel that youare the first white person theyhave seen in weeks travellingby road in Indochina is alwaysfun and the view from your carwindow can be as fascinatingas the historic marvel you areheading to see..

    I am not alone when I say that, my first visit toIndochina changed my life forever. After years ofbeing a tour guide in Europe, one would havethought that my love for travel might have been

    waning. But, there was something about the people,their beautiful lands and their noble cultures thatrekindled my interest in travel and made me want

    to know more. This learning process has been goingon for over thirty years and I know that it will neverstop. No matter how demanding my itinerary might

    be, I always seem to return home revitalised,re-energised and bubbling with excitement.

    TREVOR LAKE, FOUNDER - DISCOVER ASIA

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    INDOCHINA15 Days / 14 Nights

    Backroads & Backwaters Of LaosPrivate Tour Guaranteed Wednesday departure

    (min 2 pax)

    ):DL>

    /"'-"'

    )"&*&

    0=JI

    CD

  • TRAVELLERS INFOGLOSSARY OF CITIES WEATHER FORECASTCURRENT WEATHER/TIME CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE CURRENT TRAVEL ADVISORY

    TAIWAN

    TAIWANRoughly half the size ofTasmania, few Australianswander far from the Capital,and thus they miss theopportunity to discover anenchanting island. The solidmarble Taroko Gorge, restfulSun Moon Lake with its luxuryresorts, mist shrouded YuShan (the highest mountain inAsia outside of the Himalaya!),the fairy tale coastline of Yehliu,and the awesome East Coast

    Highway are just some of thescenic wonders of the island.Taipeis Palace Museum israted as one of the top fourmuseums in the world today. Itis claimed that when theNationalist army left themainland they brought withthem the top 20% of thenations treasures. The exhibitsof the Palace Museum are sovast that it would take over 20years for anyone to view all ofthem!

    Taiwan is much under-rated as a tourist destination. Itsformer name, Ilha Formosa, means the beautiful island,and for very good reasons. A complete tour of the islandwould take 7-10 days and offers a varied and interestingvisit. If you are visiting Taiwan on business, why not

    extend your stay and see more of the beautiful island?TREVOR LAKE, FOUNDER - DISCOVER ASIA

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    TAIWAN4 Days / 3 Nights

    TAIWAN HIGHLIGHTSSmall group tour Guaranteed departure

    (min 2 people)

    &

  • TRAVELLERS INFOGLOSSARY OF CITIES WEATHER FORECASTCURRENT WEATHER/TIME CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE CURRENT TRAVEL ADVISORY

    THAILAND

    THAILANDTwo thirds the size of NSW allof Thailands beaches are inthe south whilst its ancientcities, colourful hill-tribes andglorious temples are in thenorth, which leads to thebeach holiday-maker beingunaware of the historic delightsof the country. The formercapitals of Ayutthaya,Sukhothai and Lop Buri plusthe historic cities of Lamphunand Phitsanulok can all be

    included on an easy roadjourney between Bangkok andthe northern centres of ChiangMai and Chiang Rai (which arethe starting point for sidetripsinto the hill-tribe country).

    Even those with limited time inThailand should be sure toinclude a side trip fromBangkok to the River Kwairegion (you will need from 1 2nights minimum). Just onehour from the Capital and youwill enter one of the mostinteresting parts of Thailand Tiger Temple, the Thai BurmaRailway of WW2, dugoutcanoe cruising down the RiverKwai, stays in raft lodges andvisits to traditional tribes.

    Thailand to many people (and most travelcompanies) is just a beach! The reality is that

    culturally, historically and scenically it is one of therichest countries in Asia. Those who visit this

    beautiful land and see no more than a beach haveseen only a fraction of what the country has tooffer. I have dedicated my time to exploring the

    more remote parts of the country and have found itincredibly rewarding. If you just want to sit on thesand, talk to someone else! If you are curious todiscover the true Thailand, Discover Asia is your

    company.TREVOR LAKE, FOUNDER - DISCOVER ASIA

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    THAILAND2 Days / 1 Nights

    MEKHALA CRUISEDaily Departures(min 2 people)

    )"&*&TPOOC

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    THAILAND3 Days / 2 Nights & 4 Days / 3 Nights

    RIVER KWAI, AYUTTHAYA & CRUISEGuaranteed daily departure

    (min 2 people)

    )"&*&

    TPOOC

  • TRAVELLERS INFOGLOSSARY OF CITIES WEATHER FORECASTCURRENT WEATHER/TIME CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE CURRENT TRAVEL ADVISORY

    BHUTAN

    BHUTANAround two thirds the size ofTasmania, Bhutan is truly asmall country. But, what itlacks in size it makes up for inuniqueness. The main sights inBhutan are the immensefortified monasteries (calledDzongs) which guard everyvalley and town. On arotational basis, these are openfor just 6 months of every year,to ensure that tourists do notoverly distract the resident

    monks. Thus, one can neverbe sure which ones will beopen during your visit. Sincethey are all very much thesame inside, it doesnt reallymatter. A visit to Bhutan iscosted on a per day basis, nomatter what you do during thatday. Everything (three mealsper day, transport, entrancefees, guide cost) is included inthat charge. All guides speakexceptionally good English.

    As the traveller behind me said as we waited to fly out ofBhutan... Well, weve seen Bhutan, what is there left in

    the world to do? Try as I do, I have never been able to findthe words to adequately

    describe Bhutan. Words or pictures will neverdo it justice. A visit to Bhutan is an emotionaland spiritual event beyond anything else you

    will ever experience.TREVOR LAKE, FOUNDER - DISCOVER ASIA

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    BHUTAN4 Days / 3 Nights

    GLIMPSE OF BHUTANPrivate Tour Guaranteed daily departure

    (min 2 people)

    /#$(+#0+

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    NEPAL & tibet

    NEPALJust two thirds the size ofVictoria, Nepal is home tomany of the highest mountainsin the world. Yet, as stunningas the Himalayan peaks are,one should never forget themedieval architectural gloriesof such towns as Kathmanduand Bhaktapur.Accommodation is goodthroughout the land, guides arewell-trained and vehicles highquality. With over 260 staff and

    180 vehicles, Discover Asiasground handler in Nepal hasbeen voted No.1 Nepal groundoperator more times than anyother ground handler in Nepal.Kathmandu and thesurrounding towns of Patanand Bhaktapur will easily fill aweek of sightseeing andtouring. Outside of theKhatmandu Valley, there is a lotless history in the form ofancient architecture, but,wildlife parks and the stunningmountain views will totallypreoccupy you. Experience theKer & Downey eco-lodges ofthe Annapurna Valley - twinbedded rooms, with privatebathrooms (hot showers &western toilet!), kitchen cookedmeals and Happy Hour in theshadow of the Annapurnas.

    Nepal is a lot more than just trekking. My intentions withour Nepal programme is to show people the historic andcultural wonders of this landlocked Himalayan kingdom.

    When people want to travel into the mountains we arrangeprivate guides and porters which allows the individual to

    walk at their own pace. We prefer to think of our walkingtours more as bush-walking than trekking.

    TREVOR LAKE, FOUNDER - DISCOVER ASIA

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    NEPAL & tibet6 Days / 5 Nights

    KATHMANDU + BUSHWALKINGPrivate Tour Guaranteed daily departure

    (min 2 people)

    &/#()0+

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    NEPAL & tibet6 Days / 5 Nights

    Tibet ExplorerPrivate Tour Guaranteed daily departure

    'C

  • TRAVELLERS INFOGLOSSARY OF CITIES WEATHER FORECASTCURRENT WEATHER/TIME CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE CURRENT TRAVEL ADVISORY

    SRI LANKA

    SRI LANKASmaller than Tasmania, SriLanka is an incredibly diversecountry. In the north you willstand in awe at 2500-year-oldabandoned cities lost forcenturies in the jungle. Thecentre of the island offersrolling hills, year-round coolclimate and former Britishcolonial hill-stations completewith Tudor hotels, rosegardens and the oldest golfcourse in Asia. Scattered

    around the country areNational Parks filled with gamesuch as tigers, elephants,panthers and crocodiles (theworlds first game reserveswere founded in Sri Lanka over2000 years ago!). The entirecoastline bristles with some ofthe most spectacular beachesin the world.

    The ancient capitals of theNorth can be visited either as aseries of one night stays or assidetrips from either Dambullaor Polonnuruwa, where thereare excellent resorts. Asimportant and intriguing asthese capitals are, you can seeeach of them comprehensivelyin just a half day tour; givingyou plenty of relaxation time atyour resort hotel.

    Sri Lanka, or as it was called by early European seafarers - Serendip, was thought to be the original setting forthe Garden of Eden. I cannot argue with them. For many

    years, whenever people asked me what my favouritecountry was, I would always say that I loved them all

    equally. That all changed on the day that I discovered SriLanka! So great is my love for the country that I haveseriously considered buying land there to retire to.

    TREVOR LAKE, FOUNDER - DISCOVER ASIA

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    SRI LANKA5 Days / 4 NightsHILL RESORTS

    Private Tour Guaranteed daily departure(min 2 people)

    *'*(*&

  • TRAVELLERS INFOGLOSSARY OF CITIES WEATHER FORECASTCURRENT WEATHER/TIME CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE CURRENT TRAVEL ADVISORY

    CHINA

    ChinaChina, though everyoneconsiders it to be a vastcountry, is in fact just 25%bigger than Australia. However,it has 65 times the populationof Australia! And, do not befooled into thinking that allChinese look the same. The34 provinces and regions areall so distinct from each otherthat many could almost beviewed as separate countries.Their languages, customs and

    geographic features couldhardly be more disparate.Chinas largest city, Chongkinghas a bigger population thanAustralia! Hence, it isimpossible to see all of Chinaon one visit. A highlight tourwould include Beijing - Xian -Guilin - Shanghai (about 10-12days). One of the most popularand worthwhile attractions ofany visit to China is a Yangtzecruise (3-6 nights).

    "I am very flattered that, in both Australia and China I amknown as Mr. China. As a former director of the first

    company to be invited to send Australian tourists to China,I have been uniquely placed to follow, and participate in, thegrowth of tourism in this amazing land. In over 66 visits I

    have visited just about every region of this vast land. On theoccasion of my wedding in 1994, I was honoured with thegift of an Imperial wedding ceremony in recognition of myservices to tourism to China. I am proud that many of myoldest and closest friendships are with travel professionals inChina. I can state without fear of contradiction that NO-ONE in Australia knows more about travel to China thanmyself. This wealth of knowledge and years of experience isyour guarantee of the very best China tour when you book

    Discover Asia to China."

    TREVOR LAKE, FOUNDER - DISCOVER ASIA

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    china6 Days / 5 Nights

    BEIJING SPECIALPrivate Tour Guaranteed Daily Departure

    (min 2 people)

    $%$)"

    CLICK MAP FOR DETAILED ITINERARY & TOUR COST

    7 Days / 6 NightsBEIJING & SHANGHAI

    Private Tour Guaranteed Daily Departure(min 2 people)

    .CC

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    CHINAINDEPENDENT TOURING

    Private Tour Guaranteed daily departure(min 2 people)

    5CPED

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    CHINA4 Days / 3 Nights

    BEIJINGPrivate Tour Guaranteed daily departure

    (min 2 people)

    $%$)"

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    4 Days / 3 NightsYANGTZE

    Private Tour Guaranteed daily departure(min 2 people)

    4D>C

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    MYANMAR

    MYANMARFour fifths the size of NSW,Burma is one of the largestnations in Asia and by far thelargest in south east Asia. Mostroads are poor and unsealed,so travel around the country

    should only really beconsidered by air, though thereare a couple of SUPERB luxurycruise vessels offering cruisingalong the Irrawaddy Riverbetween Pagan and Mandalay(1-2 nights). There is excellentaccommodation throughoutthe country and the guidesspeak superb English (ahangover from the Britishcolonial period). Burma is apoor country but you will neversee a beggar; the people havea hard life but they smile andlaugh all the time; sights suchas Yangons jewel-encrustedSchwedagon Pagoda, Baganspyramid temples and the leg-rowers of Inle Lake are not justtotally unique in the world, butmust be ranked amongstsome of the most amazingsights you will ever witness

    If you ignore the politics, the truth is that tourismcreates an essential source of revenue for the working

    classes of Burma and the money you spend onsouvenirs and tips goes directly to them.

    Burma is one of the most amazing countries you willever visit. I have no doubt that the pyramid-temples ofBagan should be listed as the 8th wonder of the world.If you do not visit Burma you will have missed out onone of the great travel experiences of this world - and

    the people of Burma will be that much poorer"TREVOR LAKE, FOUNDER - DISCOVER ASIA

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    MYANMAR6 Days / 5 Nights

    The THREE JEWELSPrivate Tour Guaranteed daily departure

    (min 2 people)

    4)"*)

  • PREVIOUS HOME

    MYANMAR10 Days / 9 Nights

    HIDDEN SECRETS of MYANMARSmall group tour Guaranteed departure

    (min 2 people)

    4)"*)

    &

  • TRAVELLERS INFOGLOSSARY OF CITIES WEATHER FORECASTCURRENT WEATHER/TIME CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE CURRENT TRAVEL ADVISORY

    CENTRAL ASIA

    CENTRAL ASIACentral Asia, historically sat atthe halfway point of the fabledSilk Road. The fabuloustreasures that were sold in itsbazaars made fortunes for thelocal kings and sultans which

    they lavished on themselves inthe form of palaces. They alsoglorified Allah with theconstruction of ornate andrichly decorated Mosques andMadrassahs (places oflearning). These incrediblebuildings have survived todayand bear witness to thepinnacle of Islamic architectureand art.

    The various countries that make up Central Asia areoften called the -stans Uzbekistan, Tajikistan,

    Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan & Turkmenistan. Because oftheir geographic proximity and ease of travel we have

    added Iran to this region. This area has always been at thecrossroads of the movement of goods, people and ideasbetween the Far East and Europe. High passes, snow-capped mountain peaks, vast deserts and treeless, grassy

    steppes this is the topography of this exciting region. Addto Natures wonders some of the highest architecturalachievements of mankind and you have an idyllic

    destination for travellers. I am pleased to admit that ourground handlers in the -stan states have become close

    personal friends over the years and thus can confidently telltravellers that they will be looked after by expert friends.

    TREVOR LAKE, FOUNDER - DISCOVER ASIA

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    CENTRAL ASIA8 Days / 7 NightsUZBEKISTAN

    Small group tour Guaranteed departure(min 2 people)

    /.#& )/.

  • RIVER CRUISING

    RIVER CRUISINGRiver Cruising has been adelight to man since the firstcaveman sat astride a log andpushed off into the unknown!Majestic wooden ships withgreat canvas sails took men toexotic lands, where they sawwondrous sights, atedelectable foods andwitnessed strange cultures...

    and modern day cruising stilldoes. Modern cruise vesselshappily are a lot morecomfortable than that first log,but the joy of sitting still whilstthe world passes you by stillremains. Unlike most forms oftravel, on a cruise you do notlive out of a suitcase, you canunpack, put your clothes into awardrobe and not worry aboutthem until you disembark. On acruise you not only get to knowyour fellow travellers better, butyour crew become closeconfidants too, aware of yourevery whim.

    Discover Asia has searched forthose vessels and journeysthat offer a little bit more thanjust being a cruise ship.Vessels restored from oldpaddle steamers, rice bargesconverted into luxury cruisersand journeys into areas thathave no roads or airports.

    River cruising is so much more intimate and fulfilling thanocean cruising. Smaller vessels, fewer passengers and a farmore one on one relationship between crew and passengermake river cruising a VERY special form of travel. On anocean cruise you may go for days without sighting land, ona river cruise, the happenings on either side of the vessel arean integral part of your day. Frequent stops at ports whichmay be inaccessible by land (and the modern day) make

    river cruising one of the best ways to see AsiaTREVOR LAKE, FOUNDER - DISCOVER ASIA

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    RIVER CRUISING2 Days / 1 Nights

    MEKHALA CRUISE - BANGKOKGuaranteed daily departure

    (min 2 people)

    TPOOCN:

    CLICK MAP FOR DETAILED ITINERARY & TOUR COST

    4 Days / 3 NightsROAD to MANDALAY - MANDALAY

    to BAGANDepartures weekly Wednesdays

    4)"*)

    :G ,:IA:B

    CLICK MAP FOR DETAILED ITINERARY & TOUR COST

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    RIVER CRUISING7 Days / 6 Nights

    YANGTZE CRUISE - CHONGKINGto SHANGHAIScheduled departures

    CJIB &DIB

    .C

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    RIVER CRUISING15 Days / 14 Nights

    PANDAW - CALCUTTA toVARANASI

    Departures fortnightly

    POO