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Tours
By Region |
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Cultural
Tours and Travels to East Asia
In
East Asia, we have cultural tours to Borneo, Brunei, China, Indonesia, Irian
Jaya, Malaysia, Mongolia, North
Korea, Papua
New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, East
Timor & Tibet.
|
Welcome
to Borneo Travel and Tourism page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Borneo
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates, please
select from one of the following cultural tours
we offer to Borneo... |
| Tour
Name |
Days
|
Borneo
Tours and Travels - Countries Visited |
 Brunei & Borneo
Escapade |
11
|
A
cultural tour of Brunei & Borneo |
 Borneo
is third largest island in the world and is
divided between Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.
You can explore sections of pristine rainforest
like Ulu Temburong National Park in eastern
Brunei; the Malaysian states of Sarawak and
Sabah. For most travellers, their first taste
of Sarawak is Kuching, the old colonial capital,
and then the Iban longhouses of the Batang
Ai and Batang Lupar river systems, or the Bidayuh
communities closer to the Kalimantan border.
The best time to visit is in late May-early
June when the Iban and the Bidayuh celebrate
their harvest festivals with ribald parties
to which everyone is invited. Sibu, much further
to the north, is another starting point for
more visits to other Iban longhouses and the
idyllic Pelagus Rapids region. In the north
of the state, Gunung Mulu National Park is
the principal destination, its extraordinary
razor-sharp limestone needles providing demanding
climbing and its deep, cathedral-shaped caves
awe-inspiring.
Another great highlight of a visit to Borneo is the observation of wildlife:
Elephants and rhinoceroses live in the northern portion of the island,
as do the orangutan, gibbon, proboscis monkey, and wild ox. Among the
smaller quadrupeds are several species of macaque monkey, tiger cat,
tapir, honey bear, porcupine, flying squirrel, flying fox, and various
species of deer. Reptiles include the crocodile, many varieties of lizard,
and the python and numerous other species of snakes. Eagles, falcons,
vultures, parrots, peacocks, flamingos, and hornbills are among the birds
found here. |
 |
Welcome
to Brunei Travel and Tourism page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Brunei
Journeys
to Brunei are being offered on a customised
basis. Please contact us for details. bestway@bestway.com or
call us at 604.264.7378. Residents
of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844. |
| Tour
Name |
Days
|
Brunei
Tours and Travels - Countries Visited |
| Brunei & Borneo
Escapade |
11
|
A
cultural tour of Brunei & Borneo |
 The
sultanate's full name is Negara Brunei Darussalam,
the "Country of Brunei, the Abode of Peace",
and peaceful is a fair description of the state.The
tiny but thriving Sultanate of Brunei perches
on the northwestern coast of Borneo, completely
encircled by the East Malaysian state of Sarawak.
It has a population of 323,000, which enjoy
a quality of life that is quite unparalleled
in Asia. Education and healthcare are free;
houses, cars, and even pilgrimages to Mecca
are subsidized; due to the huge income the
country makes from the oil industry.
You can visit sections of pristine rainforest like Ulu Temburong National
Park in eastern Brunei. Travellers overnight in Malay and Murut kampungs
(villages) and Iban longhouses. This opportunity to share in rural life
is gaining popularity. Add to this the fact that the capital Bandar Seri
Begawan is an attractive city, with two exquisite mosques and the fascinating
Kampung Ayer stilt village, and a stop-off in Brunei is a more appealing
proposition than ever before. |
|
Welcome
to China Travel and Tourism page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to China
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates, please
select from one of the following cultural tours
we offer to China... |
| Tour
Name |
Days |
China
Tours and Travels - Countries Visited |
| Silk
Road: Khiva to Kashgar |
18 |
A
cultural tour of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China |
Total
Solar Eclipse in Wuhan, China (2009)
|
12 |
A
cultural tour of China |
Reduced Price
Silk
Road: From Samarkand & Kashgar to Hunza |
24 |
A
cultural tour of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China & Pakistan |
| Yangtze
Spectacular |
16
|
A
cultural tour of China
|
| Silk
Road to Bukhara |
22 |
A
cultural tour of China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan |
| Gems
of the Orient |
16 |
A
cultural tour of South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia & Hong
Kong |
| North
Korea - A World of its Own |
11 |
A
cultural tour of North Korea & China |
The
Silk Road by Train
(Beijing to Moscow) - Westbound |
21 |
A
cultural tour of China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Turkmenistan & Russia |
The
Silk Road by Train
(Moscow to Beijing) - Eastbound |
21 |
A
cultural tour of Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan,
Kazakhstan & China |
 China
is not so much another country as it is another
world. The only foreigners it saw were visiting
merchants from far-flung shores or uncivilized
nomads from the wild steppe: peripheral, unimportant
and unreal. Apart from a few ruling elites
of Mongol and Manchu origin, who quickly became
assimilated, China did not experience a significant
influx of foreigners until the late nineteenth
century, something which still colours the
experience of today's visitors to China.
It's a land of towering mountains and epic landscapes - background scenery
to the fall of dynasties, the rise of emperors and the turning of the
revolutionary wheel.
From the exquisite palaces of Beijing to mysterious Tibet; from Xi'an's
magnificent army of terracotta warriors to the epic landscapes along
the legendary Silk Road; from the mighty Yangtse River to the modern
cities on the East Coast, China is simply put irresistible.
The swiftness of transformation is visible in every part of Chinese life;
travellers who visited China as little as ten years ago are amazed to
hear how much the country has opened up and how many more liberal trends
have emerged as a result of a free market economy. For whatever reasons
you are attracted to China - its history, art, culture, politics or simply
its vastness - the speed at which things are changing will ensure that
your trip is a unique one. |
|
Welcome
to Malaysia Travel and Tourism page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Malaysia
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates, please
select from one of the following cultural tours
we offer to Malaysia... |
| Tour
Name |
Days |
Malaysia
Tours and Travels - Countries Visited |
| Gems
of the Orient |
16 |
A
cultural tour of South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia & Hong
Kong |
| Mostly
Malaysia |
13 |
A
cultural tour of Singapore & Malaysia |
| Borneo's
Green Sarawak and Sabah |
12 |
A
cultural tour of Borneo |
| Overland
Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand |
13 |
A
cultural tour of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand |
 Malaysia
is one of the most pleasant, hassle-free countries
to visit in South-East Asia. Malaysia's rich
cultural heritage is apparent, both in its
traditional kampung (village) areas and in
its commitment to religious plurality. The
dominant cultural force has undoubtedly been
Islam, but the country's diverse population
of indigenous Malays, Chinese and Indians has
spawned a fabulous juxtaposition of mosques,
temples and churches, a panoply of festivals
and a wonderful mixture of cuisines. In addition,
Malaysia boasts fine beaches, as well as some
of the world's oldest tropical rainforest and
most spectacular cave systems. |
|
Welcome
to North Korea Travel and Tourism
page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to North Korea
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates, please
select from one of the following cultural tours
we offer to North Korea... |
| Tour
Name |
Days |
North
Korea Tours and Travels - Countries Visited |
| North
Korea - A World of its Own |
11 |
A
cultural tour of North Korea & China |
 Koryo,
as the empire of undivided Korea was known,
is now a land of two countries - each distinctly
different from the other. These two countries
came to be established in 1953 at the end of
the Korean War when the DMZ (Demilitarized
Zone) now the border between them, was defined.
While Koryo was an ancient land, North Korea is more known for exhibiting
current history. Officially known as Democratic People's Republic of
Korea, North Korea follows the Juche philosophy developed by the 'great
leader' Kim Il Sung. "Juche means that the masters of the revolution
and construction are the masses of the people and they are also the motive
force of the revolution and construction. In other words, one is responsible
for one's own destiny."
This is the philosophy by which this land is governed. It is probably
the only country left that is so cut off from the rest of the world,
specifically the western world. North Korea offers many attractions and
the system, as well as the people and their approach to life are definitely
the most interesting of them. This is definitely the time to visit this
fascinating country, as it will not be long before the affects of the
global village begin to take root. |
|
Welcome
to Philippines Travel and Tourism
page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Philippines
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates, please
select from one of the following cultural tours
we offer to Phillippines... |
| Tour
Name |
Days |
Philippines
Tours and Travels - Countries Visited |
| Philippines:
Islands of Paradise |
14 |
A
cultural tour of Philippines |
 The
Philippines consist of three major island groups:
Luzon is the major northern island with the
capital Manila and huge rice terraces; the
Visayas feature tropical beaches and exotic
wildlife and Mindanao has a diverse ethnic
population. We explore them all.
|
|
Welcome
to Russia Travel and Tourism page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Russia - Trans Siberian
Rail Journeys
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates, please
select from one of the following cultural tours
we offer to Russia... |
| Tour
Name |
Days |
Russia
Tours and Travels - Countries Visited |
The
Silk Road by Train
(Beijing to Moscow) - Westbound |
21 |
A
cultural tour of China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Turkmenistan & Russia |
The
Silk Road by Train
(Moscow to Beijing) - Eastbound |
21 |
A
cultural tour of Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan,
Kazakhstan & China |
| The
Naadam Festival & the Trans- Siberian
Train (EASTBOUND) |
13 |
A
cultural tour of Russia and Mongolia |
| The
Naadam Festival & the Trans- Siberian
Train (WESTBOUND) |
13 |
A
cultural tour of Russia and Mongolia |
| Trans
Siberian Train Express Classic Route (EASTBOUND/WESTBOUND) |
15 |
A
cultural tour of Russia and Mongolia |
| 19
Days Journey to Russia, the Baltic States & Eastern
Europe |
19 |
A
cultural tour of Russia, Estonia, Lithuania,
Latvia, Poland, Czech Republic & Austria |
| Arctic
Circle by Steam Train |
14 |
A
cultural tour of Russia |
 For
many years, Russia was one of the hardest countries
to visit. Today Russia is far more accessible;
Moscow and St Petersburg are mutually complementary.
Moscow, the capital, is hugely enthralling.
Moscow's central core reflects Russia's long
and fascinating history at the heart of a vast
empire, whether in the relics of the Communist
years, the Kremlin with its palaces and churches
of the tsars or wooden buildings still tucked
away in backstreets.
St Petersburg has been dubbed the Venice of the North; it is Europe at
its most gracious, an attempt by the eighteenth-century tsar Peter the
Great to re-create the best of Western European elegance in what was
then a far-flung outpost. Sculpted by islands and the sinuous Neva River,
the city is a geometric vista of orderly elegance, with astounding architecture.
This beautiful creation managed to escape the architectural incursions
of Stalinism and its grandiose relics of tsarist days are virtually intact
for you to enjoy.
A journey on the Trans Siberian Railway is one of the best ways to see
this massive country. The route passes through endless forests of birch
and pine, log-cabin settlements and vast steppes until you reach multicultural
Irkutsk, the most appealing city you'll pass along the line, with its
quaint wooden houses. You'll discover Siberia's UNESCO World Heritage
site of Lake Baikal - a body of water as big as Belgium and home to the
world's only freshwater seal. Those who get into the rhythm of the stops
and starts, and the passing parade of trees and far-flung towns, will
find it an experience never to be forgotten.
|
|
Welcome
to Singapore Travel and Tourism page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Singapore
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates, please
select from one of the following cultural tours
we offer to Singapore... |
| Tour
Name |
Days |
Singapore
Tours and Travels - Countries Visited |
| Gems
of the Orient |
16 |
A
cultural tour of South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia
& Hong Kong |
| Mostly
Malaysia |
13 |
A
cultural tour of Singapore & Malaysia |
| Overland
Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand |
13 |
A
cultural tour of Singapore, Malaysia & Thailand |
 Singapore
provides Western standards of comfort and hygiene
alongside traditional Chinese, Malay and Indian
enclaves. Its downtown areas are dense with
towering skyscrapers and gleaming shopping
malls, yet the island retains an abundance
of nature reserves and lush, tropical greenery.
The entire state is compact enough to be explored exhaustively in just
a few days. Forming the core of downtown Singapore is the Colonial District,
around whose public buildings and lofty cathedral the island's British
residents used to promenade. You can still recapture the colonial era
with a gin sling under the languorous ceiling fans at Raffles Hotel.
Each surrounding enclave has its own distinct flavour, from the aromatic
spice stores of Little India to the tumbledown backstreets of Chinatown,
where it's still possible to find calligraphers and fortune tellers,
or the Arab Quarter, whose cluttered stores sell fine cloths and silks.
It is this carefully stage-managed combination of Western modernity and
treasured Eastern and colonial past that makes Singapore such an accessible
slice of Asia. |
|
Welcome
to Thailand Travel and Tourism page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Thailand
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates, please
select from one of the following cultural tours
we offer to Thailand... |
| Tour
Name |
Days |
Thailand
Tours and Travels - Countries Visited |
| Overland
Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand |
13 |
A
cultural tour of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand |
 Thailand
has become Asia's primary holiday destination
and is a useful and popular first stop on any
overland journey through Southeast Asia. The
influx of tourist cash has played a significant
part in the country's recent development, yet
Thailand's cultural integrity remains largely
undamaged. Tiered temple rooftops and saffron-robed
monks dominate every vista, and, though some
cities and beach resorts are characterized
by high-rises and neon lights, the typical
Thai community is the traditional farming village.
Most journeys start in Bangkok. Thailand's huge, noisy, polluted capital
has fascinating temples to visit. Popular side-trips from the city take
in the raft houses of Kanchanaburi, the infamous site of the Bridge over
the River Kwai and the ancient capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai,
You can visit interesting hilltribes in the vicinity of Chiang Mai, in
the northern highlands around Mae Hong Son and along the Mekong River
in Thailand's northeast. There you also will find two fine ancient Khmer
ruins at Phimai and Phanom Rung, and the country's most popular national
park, Khao Yai.
Thailand's eastern and southern coasts are lined with gorgeous white-sand
shores, aquamarine seas and kaleidoscopic reefs. The most popular of
these resorts are the Gulf Coast islands of Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan & Ko
Tao, and the Andaman coast idylls of Laem Phra Nang, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta & Ko
Tarutao and the southern island of Phuket. |
|
Welcome
to Tibet Travel & Tourism page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Tibet
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates,
please select from one of the following
cultural tours we offer to Tibet... |
| Tour
Name |
Days |
Tibet
Tours and Travels - Countries Visited |
| Tibet
Encounter |
9 |
A
cultural tour of Tibet |
 The "Roof
of the World", has exerted a pull of almost
supernatural proportions over travellers
for many centuries. Tibet offers some of
the most awe-inspiring scenery in the world,
and the sheer scale of the high-altitude
valleys, mountains and lakes in which human
habitation is but a speck on the landscape
is humbling. Lhasa, Shigatse and Gyantse
are tourist-friendly cities with the biggest
range of facilities in the region and offer
the most amazing monasteries and temples.
The Potala Palace in Lhasa remains an enduring
image of Tibet in the Western mind and
should on no account be missed. The Tibetan
people are welcoming and wonderful and
while tourism provides legitimacy as well
as foreign currency to the Chinese government,
many people, the Dalai Lama among them,
believe that travellers should visit Tibet
to learn all they can of the country and
its people.
|
|
|
|
| © Copyright 1999-2009 Bestway
Tours & Safaris |
Site last updated Apr 03,
2009 |
| Photographs by Peter
Langer & Mahmood
Poonja |
Site by antoinette |
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|
Discover
one of the last great adventure destinations
in Asia. The name Mongolia has always stirred
up visions of the untamed and exotic - Genghis
Khan, camels wandering in the Gobi Desert and
wild horses galloping across the steppes. Even
today, Mongolia seems like the end of the earth
- outside Ulaan Baatar you begin to wonder
if you haven't stepped into another century,
rather than another country.