Selective Asia: What's Next?

Where next?

2 –

01273 670 001 | selectiveasia.com

– 3

Travel Worth Knowing

01273 670 001 selectiveasia.com

4 –

Letting Asia do the talking If you’ve already set foot in Asia, you’ll recognise that there’s something special about the place something which keeps on drawing you back for more. Perhaps it’s the people, or perhaps it’s less tangible - an element fundamentally baked into its nature and philosophy. We feel it too. While it’s crucial for us to know all about the latest hotels, the innovative new tours - the glossy travel mag stuff - we can’t help but gaze deeper. We follow the region’s fortunes and trends the way we do the UK’s. Our hearts sink when an Asia-related headline is bad, and we’re thrilled by every positive development. This deep connection with the region underpins our confidence that what we’re sharing with you is truly worth your attention.

01273 670 001 | selectiveasia.com

The insights in the following pages were personally put forward by our Destination Specialists, so you’re getting intel straight off the shop floor, so to speak. Just as each country has its own personality, its own quirks - perhaps another reason we feel the urge to keep exploring more of them! - all our specialists have their own particular interests. It might be film, food (especially food!), diving, conservation, photography; but with each individual, it always comes back to Asia. Any one of us could go on for hours if you let us, telling you about our discoveries... but for now we’ll exercise some self control, and leave you to enjoy a few select words in your own time.

Nick Pulley - MD & founder

Our destinations

South Korea – 15

Japan – 14

Tibet – 10 Nepal – 10

India – 25

Bhutan – 11 Taiwan – 15

Myanmar – 16 & 17 Laos – 9 Thailand – 19 Cambodia – 18 Vietnam – 8

Sri Lanka – 22 & 23

Philippines – 21

Malaysia – 20 Borneo – 12 & 13

Maldives – 24

Indonesia – 6 & 7

When to go – 26 & 27

Indonesia – 7

Awe inspiring nature Indonesia is becoming a client favourite for ‘big ticket’ holidays - those once-in-a-lifetime trips which let you experience something truly special, be it world-class diving in Raja Ampat, hiking up an active volcano, or sailing into the sunset on a stunning wooden phinisi.

Life isn’t always idyllic amongst these 6,000 or so islands - as you’ll have no doubt seen on the news, Lombok, the Gilis and Sulawesi have suffered natural destruction in recent months.

Thanks to monumental efforts by local people and international supporters, they’re already getting back on their feet; after conversations with friends and colleagues on the ground, we’re confident that each island will have plenty to offer in 2019.

As veteran travellers, we are strong advocates of supporting communities by visiting them, and supporting their businesses in person. While £2 a month to your preferred charity is no doubt welcome, there’s nothing like self-sufficiency.

See when to book & go, pages 26-27

Have your own mind blown by Raja Ampat on our new Insider’s Indonesia holiday - the result of our Indonesia Specialist Ed’s painstaking (but highly enjoyable!) research trips and product development during 2017 & 2018.

8 – Vietnam

Keep turning corners While Vietnam is easily keeping pace with the 21st century, there is still much of its heritage to see. In fact, we love the way you can dart through layers of time in this innovative country - turn a corner past one of Ho Chi Minh City’s dramatic glassy towers, and suddenly there you are, ambling down a narrow old back-alley lined with historic shop houses. This is where you’ll find the city’s secrets, before you catch the express elevator up for an all-embracing skyline view.

01273 670 001 | selectiveasia.com

Whether you’re in HCMC, Hanoi, or somewhere in between, our range of Vietnam Old & New tours will show you historical highlights in context, and give you a strong understanding of the country as it is today.

Laos – 9

At noon, she’s gone You might not feel like getting up to see Mrs Somchit open her coffee stall at 4am, but if you don’t get there before midday, you’ll miss the best cup of joe in Laos. We suggest you savour it with a steaming bowl of Khao Piak Sen, her fragrant noodle soup.

There’s nothing like local insight to make you feel comfortable on holiday. Discover your destination in the company of someone who lives there on our Go Local experience.

10 – Nepal & Tibet Visit Everest Base Camp on our 13 day Tibetan Discovery trip, or as part of a tailormade itinerary. Whereas on the Nepalese side a trek to base camp typically takes 12 days, in Tibet we can drive you there from Lhasa in 48 hours.

What’s 3.57 metres... ...when you’re climbing the world’s highest mountain? Until recently, it depended which side of Mount Everest you happened to be climbing. The peak has been measured by many countries with varying results, but Nepal and China resolved their own dispute by acknowledging two heights - one for rock, the other for snow. Not that it matters to us we’ll happily take you to Nepal or Tibet, but don’t expect us to take you higher than Base Camp, on either side!

01273 670 001 | selectiveasia.com

Bhutan – 11

Leading the way Not content with topping the charts for national happiness, Bhutan keeps discovering new ways to put the rest of us to shame. The entire country is ‘carbon negative’, removing more CO2 from the atmosphere than it creates.

The Bhutanese achieve this by preserving large (also, we might add, beautiful and trekkable) forests, and setting high standards in low energy use.

The long-anticipated Six Senses offering in Bhutan continues the company’s thoughtful ‘barefoot luxury’ approach. Three gorgeous lodges opened in late 2018, with two more on the way in early 2019.

selectiveasia.com | 01273 670 001

12 – Borneo

Hold tight Borneo’s orang-utans are (in)famously threatened. Their rainforest habitat is reduced to a patchwork of reserves, surrounded by plantations. Visiting a reserve brings vital support and funding to protect these intelligent primates, whose survival now depends on conservation areas such as Danum Valley, a 170 square mile patch of original rainforest.

130 million years old, with a staggering 8.8 million plant species, this remarkable place is home to diverse wildlife, including very rare creatures such as the orang-utan, Bornean pygmy elephant, Spectacled Flowerpecker, and the sun bear. The park has a busy tree nursery, and works hard to repopulate the forest, as well as protect the existing trees.

See when to book & go, pages 26-27

01273 670 001 | selectiveasia.com

– 13

Hidden in Danum’s leafy heart, the luxurious Borneo Rainforest Lodge is dedicated to wildlife spotting. It’s highly sought after, so book well in advance!

14 – Japan

Step a little further Japan is one of the world’s most exciting countries to visit right now, and in October 2019 it will raise the (cross!) bar even higher by hosting the Rugby World Cup. We expect unprecedented crowds at famous destinations such as Kyoto and Tokyo, which has pushed us even harder to unearth hidden gems away from the tourist trail. This is our preferred approach to tailor-made travel, and fanning out to explore the rest of the country is an excellent solution to overtourism. We’re only too happy to lead the way...

01273 670 001 | selectiveasia.com

Escape the crowds by stepping back in time to ancient Japan. The Kumano Kodō pilgrimage paths weave through the forest 60 miles south of Osaka, connecting hundreds of Shinto shrines, including four of Japan’s most sacred sites.

South Korea & Taiwan – 15

Worlds beyond bao Last year K-Pop was all the rage, and Selective Asia HQ swayed to the rhythm of South Korea. Now, the rather more palatable trend of Taiwanese bao has taken the world by storm - but Taiwanese cuisine goes far, far beyond buns. Before you witness it yourself, it’s hard to imagine just how important food is in Taiwan. Eating well here comes close to a religion, and the country’s night-markets offer a daily feast for all your senses.

Taiwan and South Korea are on the cusp of becoming major foodie destinations: dive into Taipei’s sprawling Shilin Night Market to sample delicious local treats, or in South Korea head to Nambu Market in Jeonju (a UNESCO City of Gastronomy) for exemplary Korean fare.

16 – Myanmar

Shine a light into the shadows Despite some hopeful moments in the last decade, the complex moral questions around travel to Myanmar have never really subsided. We’ve watched with shock and sadness as reports arrived of desperate Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution by the Burmese military. We’ve felt deep disappointment as Aung Sang Suu Kyi’s great power as an icon of democracy fizzled away, as she became embroiled in the reality of political work in a heavily controlled regime.

We understand that you’re confronted by as many arguments against travel to Myanmar as we can see reasons in favour. We certainly don’t consider it our place to say whether or not you should go there. But if you do decide to, we feel very passionately that your presence (and, bluntly speaking, your cash) can be used as a force for good, and that your focus should be on travelling the right way.

We’ve spent many years in Myanmar, and have frequent discussions with our friends and colleagues who live there. Politically, the situation is incredibly complex, and certainly not as black and white as many international news channels choose to portray. And - despite the recent headlines - it’s sadly nothing new. Suu Kyi’s release from house arrest triggered hope (and an unprecedented boom in tourism), and all eyes turned to Myanmar. Now that everyone’s

01273 670 001 | selectiveasia.com

watching, her influence has been defused, but her country’s bitter old ethnic conflict is now revealed for all to see.

We’re strong believers in travelling as an informed responsible tourist, and in supporting projects that have a genuinely positive impact on their communities and habitats. Myanmar’s recent tourist boom launched an incredible number of small local businesses, relieving poverty for hundreds of thousands of people. More recently, it’s spurred a handful of inspirational communityfocused projects, which are making a real difference at a grass-roots level. We are hugely excited about these, and if you do decide to visit Myanmar and want to make a difference, these are the places we’ll encourage you to visit.

We’ve heard calls for a renewed tourist boycott.

It’s important to note that a slump in visitors wouldn’t punish those responsible for the brutal treatment of the Rohingya, but would most certainly have a massive economic impact across the country, crushing thousands of small businesses that rely heavily on foreign visitors for income.

You could also argue that a retreat into isolation would play into the hands of the military regime, with future conflict and atrocities being hidden from the world’s attention.

Experience a United Nations backed community-focused tourism project in scenic Kayah State, home to the greatest concentration of ethnic groups in Myanmar; relax at the remarkable Arakan Nature Lodge, where you’ll support the entire local community while you enjoy a truly pristine, raw, untouched beach, miles from civilisation; and spend time at the award-winning Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project, which is working with fishing communities to bring this vulnerable river dolphin back from the brink.

18 – Cambodia

A perfect pair With the recent opening of two gorgeous island resorts, south-west Cambodia has become even more popular in Selective Asia HQ. It’s already a top spot for lighthearted adventure, with nature trails through the Cardamom Mountains and kayaking on the Tatai River. Now there’s beachside glamour to match - for us, it’s the ideal combination.

Inland, we love the eco-friendly Rainbow Lodge, nestled in a forest right by the riverbank, and lately our heads have been turned by the newly opened Shinta Mani Wild, a luxurious jungle camp.

01273 670 001 | selectiveasia.com

Thailand –– 19 The islands of southern Thailand combine brilliantly with Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains and Tatai River region.

If Cambodia’s islands don’t turn your head, undoubtedly the pick of the Thai bunch is Koh Kood’s super-deluxe Soneva Kiri.

Can you keep a secret?

We can tell you a little secret about a couple more beautiful islands, just over the border in Thailand. Not only have Koh Kood and Koh Mak thankfully retained the laid back Thai island vibe we fell for as backpackers, but they also hide a couple of luxurious resorts, each thoughtfully providing barefoot luxury (and proper beds!) for those of us who’ve hung up our Thai-dye. selectiveasia.com | 01273 670 001

20 – Malaysia

Road trip Banish those hair-raising notions of Asian city traffic - the scenic roads of Malaysia are generally chilled out. What’s more, Malaysians drive on the left. While Selective Asia’s local guides (and the private drivers who accompany them) are at the very heart of our holidays, we know that some of you love to take the wheel and explore. This is the ideal place to do it.

Once you’ve finished hitting the road, take to the skies for a spectacular view of Kuala Lumpur on our Cessna flight experience.

01273 670 001 | selectiveasia.com

Philippines – 21

On location 40 years old in 2019 and still every bit the iconic masterpiece, Apocalypse Now - Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam War epic - was in fact shot in the rich riverine forests of the Philippines, borrowing Philippine Air Force helicopters in between their real-life sorties.

We’re excited to have discovered our own extraordinary location in the Philippines - Banaue, in the far north, is ridiculously beautiful, with ancient rice terraces that go on for miles, cascading waterfalls hidden in the forests, and a hill-tribe community whose culture is so unique that elements of it are protected by UNESCO. The region is wonderful for trekking, and ideal for outdoor adventure enthusiasts.

22 –

Take your herd Lonely Planet’s destination of the year in 2018, Sri Lanka is enjoying its time in the sun - which shines almost all year round on this adaptable island. It’s one of our most popular destinations, particularly amongst families, who are tempted by the island’s superb wildlife parks, warm sandy beaches, and stylish-but-relaxing accommodation.

We’ve been excited to see new areas opening up in 2018, along with a seemingly endless stream of ever more stunning boutique properties, and fresh ways to get close to wildlife that doesn’t often appear on the typical jeep safaris.

See when to book & go, pages 26-27

01273 670 001 | selectiveasia.com

Sri Lanka –– 23

Yala National Park is renowned for its leopards, which make the park’s jeep safaris rather popular.

It’s also home to incredible birdlife and crocodiles - both are difficult to see from a jeep, but far more easily spotted on the recently launched Yala Boating Safari.

24 – Maldives

The Maldives aren’t exactly packed with the experiences - cultural, local, natural - that usually define a Selective Asia holiday, but we can’t help being closet fans of the place. Sand, sun, coral reefs, and those fabulous blue seas - this is what misty-eyed dreams are made of, whether you’re planning a honeymoon, the ultimate pamperbreak, or a relaxing family holiday. Lately, the island nation has also fascinated us with its cutting edge geoengineering; new islands are being raised from the sea, to rehome citizens who’ll be flooded as sea levels get higher.

For those of us with a little more wanderlust, we recommend combining the Maldives with Sri Lanka, which is not too far away and offers ancient temples and amazing wildlife to complement 01273 670 lazy 001 days | selectiveasia.com those on the beach.

India – 25

Get ready for India Launching a destination is always a labour of love; we only send you to places we have a strong bond with, and that we know will ignite the same passion in you. Our prelaunch trips are as much about meeting old friends and making new ones as they are about product research, and a happy buzz builds up in the office as the select team of Destination Specialists races off to unearth the most definitive experiences, and inspect dozens of hotels, resorts and riverboats. Of course we love it, but it’s work nonetheless, and for a place the size of India... it’s like launching a whole continent! It’s well underway, though, and we’ve already designed a number of knockout India holidays for regular clients.

selectiveasia.com | 01273 670 001

26 – Weather & When to go

When to go COUNTRY

MONTH

Bhutan

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Borneo

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Cambodia

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Indonesia

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Japan

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Laos

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Malaysia

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Myanmar

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Nepal

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Philippines

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

South Korea

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Sri Lanka

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Taiwan

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Thailand

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Tibet

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Vietnam

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Best

Good

Mixed

Poor

Although our Destination Specialists can almost always work their magic on a last minute holiday, you will certainly benefit from booking as early as possible to ensure you get first pick of our guides, your preferred hotels, and - without doubt - a better value holiday. This is especially true for particular destinations, such as Borneo (where there is a very limited number of premier wildlife lodges) or during seasonal highlights (such as cherry blossom in Japan, which must be booked at least a year in advance). Festivals and local events take place throughout the year in all our destinations, so to avoid missing out it’s always best to give us a call and simply ask, even if you’re not ready to book yet - our Destination Specialists will advise you on how popular your hotel options are, and when you need to book by.

If you’re a commitment-phobe, keep in mind that you always secure your Selective Asia holiday with just a 20% deposit; the full balance is usually not needed until 10 weeks before your departure.

01273 670 001 | selectiveasia.com

– 27

Family holidays – where to go and when to book February half-term Break the winter gloom with a family beach holiday in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka or Malaysia, amongst others. If the mountains are calling, then Bhutan and Nepal are close to their best as well.

F We can probably still squeeze you in for 2019 but you really do need to call now! Those planning for 2020 will want to be booking by late summer this year.

Easter break The longer Easter holidays are an ideal time to take the family to Japan, Borneo, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan or Nepal, amongst others.

F You’re late, but not too late (yet!); get in touch ASAP to book this year’s Easter holiday.

Summer holidays Make the most of the long summer holidays and take the kids on a wildlife & island adventure to Borneo, a ‘temples & beach’ break in Indonesia, or a surf, culture and wildlife journey through Sri Lanka. Insider tip: Consider travelling in the latter weeks of the holiday for better deals and quieter destinations.

F Space for flights and hotels start to fill up between January and March each year, so now’s the time to get organised!

October half-term October is one of the best months to grab some late sun in Indonesia, or explore Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, as their landscapes get transformed by the autumn foliage. It’s also close to high season weather again in parts of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. For those looking for fresh air and a spiritual experience, we suggest heading to the mountains of Bhutan or Nepal.

F You’re best off booking by April/May, although late bookings are less troublesome than the summer holidays.

Christmas and New Year You can almost take your pick! It’s the best time of year to take the family to the Philippines, and just as perfect in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. We’re quite taken by the idea of Christmas in Bhutan, though perhaps you’d rather discover Sri Lanka’s south-west coast, or eat your way through Taiwan!

F It may sound early, but flights become available in late January, and the best deals will always be had in the early part of the year.

01273 670 001 selectiveasia.com

Printed on FSC certified, 100% recycled paper