Bollywood dance, hear the call of the tiger, retreat to desert camps and jungle lodges or chill with ayurvedic massages
The colours of India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet in Kuoni’s new brochure
September 2009 to December 2010 with prices from £679*
Leading travel specialist Kuoni has launched its first ever dedicated India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet brochure.
37 contrasting itineraries are outlined with easy to follow maps. Over 120 quality hotels, trains, tented camps, river boats, mountain lodges and local farm stays are featured, allowing travellers the widest choice of accommodation. All delivered with the reliability of an operator with 103 years of history.
The brochure showcases Kuoni Authentic Experiences, unparalleled travel experiences, allowing travellers to do as the locals do, learn from experts in their field, or witness unique events. For example:
- Learn to dance in the Bollywood dance studio with the experts
- Live atop a sand dune in a tented camp owned by the royal family of Rohet, overlooking Rajasthan’s wilderness
- Boat ride on the Ganges, see worshippers submerge themselves at bathing ghats and visit the pilgrim city of Varanasi
- Renew your vows in a palace in Jaipur
- Stay with a local family on a private coffee and vanilla plantation and be pampered with Ayurvedic massages
- Stay at Philip Kutty’s organic farm set on an island in Kerala’s backwaters
- Live on a Keralan houseboat
- Hike and white water raft through Nepal
- Spot Bengal tigers and rare Indian rhinos in Chitwan, Nepal
- Watch a dramatic dance-drama, the Kathakali Dance, in Cochin, Kerala
- Witness the spectacular sound and light show, Son et Lumière, at the Red Fort in Delhi
Aficionados can design their own perfect trip, relying on Kuoni’s experienced Personal Travel Experts to tailor-make inspired itineraries for the ultimate flexible adventure. Alternatively, there are private or escorted tours accompanied by local experts.
Demand for wildlife itineraries has increased and in order to cater for this Kuoni has a range of tailor-made tours to India’s epic National Parks, home to a magnificent array of wildlife and the inspiration for Kipling’s tales. For example stay at private Raja’s retreat and visit one of India’s finest wildlife sanctuaries, the Corbett Tiger Reserve. Alternatively ‘Wildlife in Style’ is a new luxury private tour staying in intimate lodges run in conjunction with Taj Hotels and safari experts, CC Africa.
The Call of the Tiger is a 13-night escorted tour visiting Mumbai, Pench National Park, Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, Khajuraho, Agra and Dehli. Travellers are likely to see the elusive tiger, deers, bears, wild dogs, panthers and leopards, and observe some man-made spectacles such as medieval Hindhu temples, the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Prices from £2099.
Train tours have become increasingly popular. Kuoni offers The Golden Chariot, the Palace on Wheels and the famous Deccan Odyssey which rolls through Western and Southern India offering classic rail travel through Maharashtra and Goa states. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included on this eight-night itinerary which takes in cultural shows, historic Old Goa, Tadoba National Park and Gandhi’s Ashram. Prices from £2349.
The West and South coast of India provide chilled-out escapism, whether as an extension at the end of a busy tour or simply as a rejuvenating holiday. Swim in the sparkling blue waters at the luxurious Leela Kempinski Goa or for something different stay in a houseboat along the unspoilt waterways and tranquil backwaters of Kerala.
Kuoni have also included Nepal and its trekking, rafting, ballooning and paragliding options, and a perfect destination to combine with India. Bhutan, or “The Land of the Thunder Dragon”, is included as an exciting wonderland of monasteries, carved wooden houses and ancient cultures. Tibet is perfect for nature lovers and botanists who wish to discover its virgin forests and flower gardens.
The Himalayan Dreams (Nepal and Tibet) is a wonderful small group 11-night tour, ideal for travellers wishing to explore the jaw-dropping landscapes of the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau. Visit the Temple of Kasthamandap (one of the oldest wooden buildings in the world) in Kathmandu and the Potala Palace in Lhasa, a sacred hilltop fortress from the seventh century, former residence of the Dalai Lama. Prices from £3199.
The Eastern Himalayas and Darjeeling is an area of beautiful scenery, offering unique tea tasting at Glenburn Tea Estate and a ride on the UNESCO Heritage Toy Train to Darjeeling can be experienced.
Festival and events take place throughout the year and offer an added reason to visit these destinations. Holi, India’s Festival of Colours is celebrated in March and welcomes spring and the end of winter; people spray each other with different coloured dyes. In Nepal the festival of Indra, the God of rain, is observed in the Kathmandu Valley in September. Others events include The Festival of Lights in India during November and the Tibetan New Year in February.
Included in the brochure is a selection of unique hotels such as the Chhatra Sagar, Rajasthan, luxury tented accommodation built on a dam and overlooks a reservoir near Nimaj. The Taj Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, embellished with lavish antiques where one of the bars is in a former steam engine and station. And the Visalam Chettinadu, built by Ramantathan Chettiar for his daughter which features heritage art and is more like a stay in a private home.
“This brochure is crammed with ideas for first time, returning guests and regular visitors seeking something different” says Catherine Morris, product manager for Kuoni. “We offer the whole picture from the dazzling colours of India through to the awe-inspiring landscapes and mountain of Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. And with the Commonwealth games being hosted in Delhi in October 2010, there is even more reason to visit this subcontinent .”
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Editors Notes: Highlights from India, Nepal and Bhutan 2010 brochure
*Lead-in price: Seven nights at Estuary Island, Kerala on bed and breakfast basis in an estuary garden room, including flights with Qatar Airways and transfers in resort. Prices from £679 per person based on two sharing.
North & North East India (pages 21-71)
· Renew wedding vows in a Palace in Jaipur with a jeep safari, henna painting, traditional music and fireworks
· Radiating the love of Shah Jehan for his beloved Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal in Agra is a must-see
· Dazzle the senses at the bazaars in Old Dehli and visit the Red Fort and its palaces in New Delhi
· See the “Pink City” of Jaipur, painted to welcome the Prince of Wales in 1853, home to Devigarh Fort and the Aravali Hills, the main pass to the Udaipur Valley
· Udaipur itself is the unmissable city of lakes, with forts, temples and palaces to gaze at in wonder
· Visit the pilgrim city of Varanasi, where you can take a boat ride along the Ganges and sail past traditional cremation sites and worshippers submerging themselves at bathing ghats
· Glimpse tigers and see Bhalu (the sloth bear) in the national parks
· Lovers generally wonder at the sensual carvings at Khajuraho also renowned for its Hindu and Jain temples
West & South India (pages 73-95)
- Admire the Hanging Gardens by the Intriguing Towers of Silence in the commercial city of Mumbai
- Follow horses at Mahalaxmi races, or see Hindhu gods sculpted in the caves at Elephanta Island
- Taste Local and Portuguese influences, enjoy vibrant nightlife, festivals, nature reserves and architecture in Goa
- Stay in a houseboat on the Best of Kerala tour amidst the unspoilt waterways, or completely unwind and rejuvenate at the Somatheeram Ayurvedic Retreat for five days
- Stay on a private coffee and vanilla plantation, a unique home-stay experience
Nepal, Bhutan & Tibet (pages 97-107)
- Trek and climb the Himalayan foothills, through rafting, ballooning and paragliding in Nepal
- The ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’ – Bhutan – preserves its ancient culture by only letting a few visitors witness its monasteries, carved wooden houses and intricate crafts
- Nature lovers can appreciate the virgin forests and flower gardens of Tibet, with a 1300-year history as the centre of Tibetan culture
ENDS
For bookings call 01306 747008 or visit www.kuoni.co.uk
For further press information please call:
Fiona Blaszkowski on 01306 744194/fiona.blaszkowski@kuoni.co.uk or Anne-Marie Hansen on 01306 744173/anne-marie.hansen@kuoni.co.uk or Jemma Purvis on 01306 744006/ jemma.purvis@kuoni.co.uk
Editor’s Notes:
History and track record
Kuoni was established in 1906 in Switzerland by Alfred Kuoni, a visionary adventurer and explorer of his time who opened some of Europe’s first travel agencies. Today it has branch operations in over 40 countries. For 103 years Kuoni has been creating holidays with a spirit of adventure and has been recognised consistently , winning coveted awards such as: ‘The World’s Leading Tour Operator’ for the past 11 years at the World Travel Awards; The Daily Telegraph’s Ultratravel, Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Daily Mail readers all voted Kuoni ‘Britain’s favourite’. Kuoni has been ‘Britain’s Best Longhaul Tour Operator’ for the past 26 years as voted by Travel Agents.
Ethical Performance
Kuoni is committed to being a good corporate citizen, empowering people to protect the natural environment and local populations. The broader aim of Kuoni’s Corporate Responsibility (CR) policy is to minimise the adverse impact of tourist travel. Kuoni has over 32 active global CR projects and four priority areas: protecting children from sexual abuse in tourism; promoting fair working conditions; finding solutions for water scarcity and mitigating the consequences of climate change.
Kuoni’s Unique Selling Points
1. Concierge service
The Kuoni Concierge service offers all the usual facilities of booking theatres, concerts, restaurants, festival or cultural occasions and overseas sporting events. It also manages private airport transfers, late check-outs, private tours and personal guides.
2. Kuoni Personal Travel Experts
Kuoni Personal Travel Experts are knowledgeable staff passionate about travel and ready to tailor-make the perfect holiday and offer a personal touch by building a relationship with customers so they can call on the same travel expert each time they book.
3. At Home with Kuoni
Launched this year, At Home with Kuoni offers complimentary champagne, canapés and a Kuoni personal travel expert for individuals able to host a small gathering of friends and family in their home to learn about exciting holiday options. Guests are offered exclusive discounts.
Customer Assurance
Kuoni is ABTA and ATOL protected, giving customers financial protection and ensuring they won’t be stranded abroad. And customers are safe in the knowledge while they are abroad that Kuoni have professional ground agents and English speaking guides to ensure they have any enjoyable stay.
ENDS
For further press information, please contact Kuoni PR: -
Fiona Blaszkowski on 01306 744 194/ fiona.blaszkowski@kuoni.co.uk
or Anne-Marie Hansen on 01306 744 173/ anne-marie.hansen@kuoni.co.uk
or Jemma Purvis on 01306 744 006/ jemma.purvis@kuoni.co.uk
For images please download from http://www.kuoni.co.uk/pr/images.html