More than a Dozen Overnight Journeys Explore Culture, Natural Wonders, UNESCO Sites
Crystal_ Serenity Facets Private Viewing Area
From February through April 2014, ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises (www,crystalcruises.com) is offering its largest collection of Overland Adventures in Asia. A total of 15 one- and two-night optional, mid-cruise journeys will take guests far from the ports of Yangon, Shanghai, Laem Chabang, Ho Chi Minh City, Xiamen and Chan May for in-depth, intimate exploration of treasured sites, history, culture, and nature, such as:
Myanmar/Burma (3 Adventures, from Yangon):
Former royal cities of Amarapura and Mandalay, a showcase for Myanmar’s 19th-century art and architecture
Bagan, home of 2,000+ pagodas, temples, and monasteries, including the city’s pilgrimage center, Shwezigon Pagoda
Mandalay Hill, the country’s most iconic, holy landmark
Lake Inle, for a tranquil boat ride through floating gardens
2,500 year-old Shwedagon Pagoda, covered by 6,500+ diamonds, rubies, and other stones
Varied monastic disciplines, from Mahagandayon Monastery, where 1000 monks eat dinner in silence, to Nga Phe Chaung Monastery, where monks train cats to jump through hoops
Vietnam (2 Adventures, from Ho Chi Minh City and Chan May):
A dragon boat ride down Perfume River
Regal homes such as the Royal Citadel, Presidential and Imperial Palaces, and Palace of Supreme Harmony
Heavenly Lady Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s holiest pagodas and 1960’s protest site
Cities such as former capital Hue; Hoi An, an UNESCO World Heritage Site; and colonial architecture-filled Ho Chi Minh City
Bangkok area (3 Adventures, from Laem Chabang):
Elephant ride through Ayuthaya, a 14th-century UNESCO World Heritage city
Boat past the stilt houses and rustic shops on the khlongs, or canals, that make Bangkok the “Venice of the East”
Temples such as that of the Emerald Buddha and Wat Trimit, each housing larger-than-life Buddhas made of jasper and gold, respectively.
China (6 Adventures, from Xiamen and Shanghai):
The Li River, where guests will take a traditional cormorant fishing excursion and sail past water buffalo and rafts to the town of Yangshuo
Guilin, home of China’s unique cone-shaped Karst hills
Hangzhou, considered the most beautiful and elegant city in the world by Marco Polo
Ancient marvels like the Great Wall, Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors, and Beijing’s Forbidden City
More recent historical landmarks such as Tiananmen Square and 2008’s Olympic Green
Cambodia (2 Adventures, from Ho Chi Minh City and Laem Chabang):
The country’s most legendary temples, including UNESCO World Heritage Site Angkor Wat, jungle-engulfed Temple of Ta Promh, Banteay Srei Temple, and Angkor Thom
A private Apsara/Hindu celestial dance
“It’s humbling to stand next to a thousand-year-old golden temple reaching toward the sky, or to walk where ancient emperors were crowned,” says John Stoll, vice president of land programs. “These carefully-crafted exotic excursions give our guests the opportunity to experience even more of incredible Asia beyond that which is accessible by sea.”
All Overland Adventures include air, shuttle, and/or boat transport to and from ports; meals, featuring traditional fare like Peking Duck or a Myanmar-style royal dinner and show; and luxury accommodations such as Bangkok’s Peninsula, Siem Reap’s Sokha Hotel, and Myanmar’s Aureum Palace Hotel.
Next winter, spring, and fall, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity sail through China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and India on 31 five- to 29-day itineraries, including abbreviated Crystal Getaways and extended combination cruises. Fares for the 2014 Asia cruises begin at $1,520/person if booked by January 3. Asian Overland Adventures fares begin at $869/person, double occupancy.
Filed under: Culture, Fine Living, Fine Wines & Liqueur, Food, Hotels and Hospitality, Lifestyle, Living/Travel Tagged: CRYSTAL CRUISES, Overland Adventures
