Secret Journeys for the Post Covid-19 Bucket List
Secret Retreats’ Exclusive Journeys Around Asia
The world may currently be on pause, but that doesn’t mean that your travel dreams have to stop. We think this stuck-at-home time is the perfect occasion for working on our bucket lists. Never has our wanderlust been stronger than during these unusual times, so why not start planning your post lockdown travels bucket list?
It doesn’t hurt to daydream and plan for what may come. There are so many amazing journeys in Asia just waiting for you to discover the incredible stories and experiences that lie on these roads less travelled.
Secret Retreats is pleased to share with you our concierges’ choice of Exclusive Journeys selected from our unique Asian travel itineraries. Just take your pick from the following fascinating journeys included in this newsletter where we hope to inspire and feed your wanderlust.
Mekong Delta: The Rice Bowl of Vietnam
This one-week trip in Southern Vietnam will reveal to you the secrets of Saigon, one Asia’s most dynamic and exciting cities, then share with you the natural beauty and slow life of the Mekong Delta. Take in one of the exhilarating nightlife experiences in Saigon from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter, THE quintessential Saigon experience. Tour to the famed Cu Chi tunnels, dug by the Viet Cong during the ‘American War’ as it is known locally, and learn about more about this dramatic episode of Vietnam’s history.
Spend two nights on Unicorn Island in the middle of the mighty Mekong river at the charming Island Lodge. Far from the crowds and the noises of the city this island is known for its fruit farming and as the gateway to the Mekong Delta. Then explore the delta from a traditional wooden riverboat that has been converted into a delightful cabin cruiser. Is there a better way to explore the delta than cruising through the channels of this vibrant waterworld to discover ancient pagodas, colourful markets, gorgeous landscapes and to meet the people who call the delta home? We don’t think so, and we feel sure you will agree too after taking this incredible journey with Secret Retreats.
The Journey of Tea
West Bengal is located in the north east of India. It is dominated in the north by the Himalayas, and to the south by the gigantic delta of the Brahmaputra and the Ganges, where these great and holy rivers of India flow into the Bay of Bengal. With its capital Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta, capital of the British Raj) West Bengal is still considered the cultural heart of India. Many intellectuals and artists were born here, the writer Amit Chaudhuri, the poet Rabindranath Tagore and the filmmaker Satyajit Ray to name a few.
The state is the main producer of jute, home to India’s national animal the magnificent Bengal tiger, and also Darjeeling with its family owned tea plantations set in the foothills of the Himalayas. We invite you take the Journey of Tea with Secret Retreats where you will start by discovering the rich history of Kolkata before heading to the hills of Darjeeling to enjoy the old-world charm of the tea plantations.
Thai Northern Triangle
What separates Secret Retreats from other travel providers? We are passionate about our homes in Asia, passionate about travel in Asia. We want to share with you what we think makes our Asian homes so special, our secret spots, our restaurateur friends and their favourite family recipes and dishes, the many stories that make the histories of our communities and destinations what they are today. Simply, we want to share our homes with you. Secret Retreats will design and create the perfect journey to match both your time and budget.
And this journey through Northern Thailand will offer you the chance to discover the secret beauty of this well-travelled region. Our concierges are sharing their favourite spots beyond Chiang Mai: Samoeng and its elephants, the Pai Valley, the hill tribes around Chiang Rai, the nature and forest of the Lanna Kingdom to create a 7 day journey that will take you off the beaten path across northern Thailand.
Vignettes of Nepal
An introduction to Nepal’s Himalayan foothills and the rich jungles of the lowland Terai plains. Nepal resonates with both serious explorers and many holiday travellers as a must visit country. A land rich in culture with ancient monuments that has been a centre for Hindu and Buddhist teaching over many thousands of years. As a backdrop for the cultural diversity, this Himalayan slice of territory wedged between India and Tibet benefits from amazing topographic and biological riches from the breathtaking mountain scenery to the rich bird and wildlife that live within the variety of environments here from the valley floor, to the mountains, temperate to arctic.
Based around some excellent properties – Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge (a member of Secret Retreats), Dwarika’s iconic hotel in Kathmandu, and Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge on the edge of the famous Chitwan National Park and overlooking the idyllic Terai landscapes. This itinerary ensures your comfort at every stage of the journey and provides a never-ending treasure trove of memorable experiences.
The Heart of Sarawak
Experience the richness and diversity of life in Borneo. This journey will take you on Borneo’s waterways and forest pathways to witness ‘the old man of the woods’, the enigmatic orangutan, in their natural environment and to see the work of the foundation working to protect and conserve the orangutans and their forest home. You will enjoy the beauty of Borneo’s wildlife and unspoilt natural environments and meet with the local peoples who live within Borneo’s forests.
A visit to a longhouse to meet the forest people is a must for any Borneo journey and this journey will take you to two, one the home of the Dayak people and the other the home of the Iban. The regions and rainforest you will be visiting are renowned locally for their breath-taking natural environment, stunning scenery, clean rivers and jungle streams, and refreshing waterfalls. Adventure in luxury in your private cabin aboard one of our traditional riverboats, equipped to provide the level of service and comfort that one would expect from a Secret Retreats experience while visiting and supporting the conservation of this pristine natural environment.
Au Fil Du Mekong
The Mekong is one of the longest trans-boundary rivers in Southeast Asia, crossing the continent from the Tibetan Plateau to the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam where it flows into the South China Sea. The Mekong river is the 10th longest river in the world and passes 6 countries – China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam – on its journey to the sea, supporting such a variety of life along the way. The Mekong basin is one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world, only second to the Amazon with 20,000 plant species, 430 mammals, 1,200 birds, 800 reptiles and amphibians, and an estimated 850 freshwater fish species.
The river plays a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of local people, providing a richly productive environment for agriculture and aquaculture, which along with the history, villages, ancient sites, pagodas, and markets along the river’s banks make the Mekong a marvelously scenic river for cruises. We offer you here the opportunity to discover life along the Mighty Mekong, its people, their history and beliefs, and their traditions. This is a journey through the heart and soul of Indochina.
Contact the Secret Retreats Concierges now on dream@secret-retreats.com and start planning your post-covid travel bucket list. Unveil the Essence of Asia with Secret Retreats…
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