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Here’s a story about how we put a unique trip together for one of our clients. Hopefully it inspires you to take your own…
Marc, one of our regular clients, got in touch about planning a trip to Cuba, but as his free dates coincided with hurricane season we had to go back to the drawing board. Being well travelled and having organised most of his own travel in the past, Marc is used to making independent travel choices. However, as we all know, life gets busy and organising trips yourself is often impracticle. So, we stepped in to put together the kind of trip Marc would usually organise himself, but without any of the hassle.
change of plan
Cuba was off the list so we put forward some alternative suggestions based on the kind of experiences we knew appealed to Marc. As the Asia specialist here at BT (my name’s Ian, by the way), we spent time exchanging emails and together we tailored the trip exactly as he wanted it. He made decisions based on our suggestions and, importantly, he remained in control of his own time.
With a few day in Hong Kong to enjoy some fast paced city life, Marc and a friend Luciano, headed to Vietnam and Nha Trang’s dive sites.
halong bay
Their time in the country also allowed for visits to Hanoi, the capital in the north, and a couple of nights on a traditional junk boat (don’t let the name fool you – it’s kitted out with all mod cons) cruising around the staggering limestone karst islands of Halong Bay. We squeezed in quick trip to Saigon and the Mekong Delta before heading to the land of the Khmers.
When explorers rode elephants into the Cambodian jungle and discovered Angkor Wat, they forged a path that would be well worn over the years. But there are still ways of making the experience feel as intrepid as it did back in the 1900′s. It was these elements that I felt sure would really appeal to Marc and turn a great trip into an incredible one-off experience.
kingdom of old cambodia
Having arrived at Siem Reap, ours guides were waiting to meet Marc at the airport (no hand- holding was needed, however, being time efficient
angkor wat
and getting an in-depth insight into the culture was important). The Cambodian adventure starts.
An early start is always advised when visiting a world famous monument so the group were soaking up the architectural and spiritual wonder that is the Angkor Wat complex before the coach tours arrived. That evening was spent at the FCC, a great boutique hotel in the centre of the city, perfect for heading out in the evening to enjoy a little South East Asian hospitality (the piano bar has a great terrace overlooking the main street – perfect for people watching).
koh ker
jungle camping and a heli over angkor
The next day the guys headed out to Koh Ker, an ancient Khmer capital, just a day’s journey from Siem Reap. Set further out into the jungle than the usual tourist trail, this amazing temple area was inaccessible up until recently. Rather than simply wander around to take in the surroundings, we set up a private camp to enable them to spend the night under canvas. Whilst this isn’t 5* luxe living, it is beyond the ratings in terms of life experiences.
Heading back to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat after a night in the jungle, a private helicopter was waiting to take them on the next part of the adventure. Flying up over the temple ruins with Cambodia stretching out into the distance gave the guys a whole different perspective on this vast complex and it is the ultimate way to see the ruins in their entirety.
off the beaten beach track
Having shown the guys the best of Siem Reap, it was now time for a change of scene. The group headed out to Kep on the south-west coast to see a different side to this diverse country.
rabbit island, kep
We supplied Marc with motor bikes and a guide for a day to enable them to explore the beaches and villages of the area and really get off the beaten track. Rabbit Island, home to a small community of fishermen and farmers turned out to be the perfect place to enjoy a lunch of fresh seafood. After a few days enjoying the sunshine, Marc and Luciano headed home having satisfied their need for adventure.
Well, for the moment anyway.
If you would like us to create an adventure for you in Cambodia, here is some inspiration.
ta prohm
siem reap
koh ker
nice wheels
koh ker
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