Asia

IN A NUTSHELL 

This prize includes:

• 20-day trip for 2 
• Return flights from a UK airport 
• Internal flights 
• 3/4* double/twin bed accommodation in the cutest boutique hotels, including Fusion Suites Saigon, Dhevi Bangkok Hotel and BYD Lofts Boutique Hotel & Serviced Apartments, Wired Hotel Asakusa 
• Activities included: Hoi An food tour, Bangkok street food tour, Thai cooking class in Phuket, Laksa cooking course in Kuala Lumpur, Siem Reap food tour, sushi roll & mochi workshop in Tokyo, Seoul Myeongdong NANTA Show, Marble Mountains tour, Saigon War Museum, George Town, bike tour in Balik Pulau, elephant sanctuary park, Angkor Wat, real-life Mario Kart in Tokyo, vespa tour through Hoi An 

FLIGHTS 

We’ve included return flights from a London airport for you and your plus 1. 

ACCOMMODATION 

The food isn’t the only amazing thing on this trip, you’ll also get the chance to stay in double or twin rooms in some of the cutest boutique hotels out there – all with breakfast! In Vietnam we’ve got the 4.5-star Fusion Suites Saigon located in the heart of the vibrant Ho Chi Minh City. On top of a world class location 900 yards away from both Reunification Palace AND War Remnants Museum, this contemporary hotel offers a fitness center, on-site restaurant serving delectable Vietnamese dishes, and a spa and wellness center to relax after a long day of adventure.  

Over in Bangkok is the 5-star Dhevi Bangkok Hotel, centrally located just minutes from the SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World. Here you can spend your time sipping Thai tipples in the cocktail bar, enjoying mouthwatering dishes from the rooftop restaurant or soaking up the sun on the private sun terrace. A welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of Thailand’s amazing capital.  

In Phuket you’ll be treated to true luxury in the 4.5-star BYD Lofts Boutique Hotel and Serviced Apartments situated 200 meters from the famous Patong Beach. Set in the thick of it all with Patong Beach's incredible shopping, dining and nightlife options all minutes away, this stunning hotel offers stylish apartments complete with a home theater system, Blu-ray DVD player and internet TV, along with a private rooftop pool, on-site restaurant and bar, and even a deli serving the finest selection of wines, cheeses, and cold cuts meats. There are also a series of massage and spa treatments available for a little (always necessary) pampering. 

The luxurious digs continue in Japan at the 4.5-star Wired Hotel located in the bustling heart of Tokyo. Minutes from popular attractions like Nitenmon Gate, Asakusa Fujiasama Shrine and Kappabashi-dori Shopping Street, this funky hotel offers an incredible café where you can unwind with a coffee or enjoy an appetising breakfast, lunch or dinner, along with bicycle rental, a 24-hour reception and a guest lounge. It’s also a stone’s throw from Asakusa Station, making it easy for you to discover Tokyo and its surrounding areas 

ACTIVITIES 

Foodies unites! We’ve (strawberry) jam packed this trip full of delicious delights. We’ll kick things with a series of food tours staring in Vietnam with a Hoi An street food tour...on motorbike! Ride behind a driver-guide and find food spots and dishes that most tourists miss, as you explore less-visited streets and delve into the countryside. Taste pancakes (banh khot), brave an unusual egg delicacy, and enjoy dinner and a beer as your guide provides insight into local culinary culture.  

Up next is the home of street food itself, Bangkok. Here you’ll be hitting the after-dark highlights in true local style, aboard a tuk-tuk 3-wheeler with a foodie guide who knows the scene backwards. Feast on dishes from pad thai to Isan specialties, then soak up the atmosphere at a temple, a flower market, and various Old Town landmarks before being dropped back to your hotel.  

Your final stop on the food tour bus takes place in none other than the second largest city in Cambodia, Siem Reap, where the renowned street food includes everything from succulent barbecued meats and flavorsome noodles to delicacies like fried crickets and boiled duck eggs. On this tour, you’ll travel like a local aboard a remork-moto, leaving the navigation to someone else as you visit restaurants, night markets, and street food stalls. Your guide will point you toward can’t-miss dishes, and a small-group means plenty of personalized attention. 

Let’s be real, there's absolutely no way you’ll be able to go back to fish n’ chips and cheese sarnies after this trip, so we’ve included a few classes for you to cook up a satay storm at home. Learn the ins and outs of Thai cooking in Phuket with a Cooking Class introducing you to the easiest way how to cook real and authentic Thai food. Start by walking through the Fresh Local Market, sampling and familiarizing yourself with the fresh ingredients, then head back to the kitchen to get stuck into 3 incredible Thai dishes.  

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, you’ll learn to make authentic Nyonya Laksa from scratch with an experienced cook and assistant of Malaysia's celebrity chef. Get the 411 on how the prawn broth and sambal belacan are made from scratch, as well as how to cook and assemble an appetizing bowl of Nyonya Laksa. Our mouths are watering! 

Finally, get yo sushi on in Tokyo on an incredible sushi roll and mochi workshop. Working with an impossibly skilled instructor, you’ll learn all how the use the ingredients, such as cucumbers and seaweed, and tools, such as a bamboo rolling mat, mochi dough, mortar and pestle, necessary to up your sushi game.  

So you’ve eaten the food and you’ve made the food, now it’s time to WATCH the food. Get ready to experience one of the absolutely incredible Myeongdong NANTA performances in Seoul. Sold out since they made their premier at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, these performances which are based on the rhythm of the samulnori (traditional Korean percussion quartet) and are comic non-verbal plays set in a kitchen. You’re not likely to forget it any time soon! 

As much as we would love to make this trip 20 days of nothing but eating, we had to include some other bits and bobs to let you see some more of the incredible culture and experiences Asia has to offer! In Vietnam you’ll get the chance to take in breathtaking views of the landscape, to explore caves, Buddhist and Hindu grottoes, pagodas, and shrines on a tour of the Marble Mountains and journey through the dark history of the Vietnam War on a tour of the War Remnants Museum.  

In Malaysia you’ll get to experience the breathtaking George Town as you ride past the town's historical attractions on a traditional three-wheeled taxi, visit old Buddhist temples, museums and more. Then saddle up in Balik Pulau and explore the countryside by bicycle on a half-day cycling tour that takes you on less-traveled roads. Follow your guide through rural villages on a tour that allows you to view local life up close. 

In Cambodia you’ll get the chance to get up close and personal with 9 gorgeous elephants at The Elephant Valley Project. Trek into the elephant’s natural jungle habitat & observe these amazing animals being themselves, walking with them and learning about their trials, tribulations & amazing stories. We’ve also included a visit to one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia, Angkor. This UNESCO World Heritage Site contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century including the famous Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations. Then return to modern day civilization and channel your inner Peach (or Donkey Kong, Luigi, or Yoshi) with an exhilarating round of real-life Mario Kart in Tokyo!  

EXTRAS 

We’ll cover all your internal transfers too!