For travelers with adventure in their bloodstream, a cultural getaway to Asia can be the perfect way to escape the cold and dark days of North American winter.

Here are some of Asia Transpacific Journey’s recommendations of trips for travelers wanting to escape the winter blues while fully immersing themselves in compelling cultures:

Cambodia

Asia Transpacific Journeys recommends adventurous travelers venture to the Khmer ruins of Angkor Wat, which are best visited between mid-October and mid-March. The fascinating temples that were constructed during the height of the Khmer Empire represent one of humankind’s most astonishing and enduring architectural achievements. A real insider tip from Asia travel specialists is to visit Beng Mealea, a remote Angkor temple site, enveloped by jungle, which receives far fewer visitors than Angkor Wat and exudes a sense of mystery.

Laos

Laos is an explorer’s wonderland and one of the best-kept secrets in Asia. Its quiet ambiance, glittering temples, smiling locals and striking natural beauty, which includes lush hillsides and the mighty Mekong River are best experienced between November and February when daytime highs are in the mid-80s. 
Special to tours with Asia Transpacific Journeys, travelers can visit with Carol Cassidy for a private tour of her Lao silk textile studio, located in an airy French colonial mansion in Vientiane. Considered the foremost expert on traditional Lao textiles, Carol employs 40 local artisans while her own work is displayed in galleries and museums throughout the U.S.

Vietnam

Steeped in a history of powerful dynasties, diverse religious traditions and political transformations, Vietnam beckons the sophisticated traveler to experience its lush and exotic landscapes, seldom-visited hill tribes, French colonial architecture and outstanding cuisine. With Asia Transpacific Journeys, travelers can gain behind-the-scenes access to renowned art galleries in Hanoi, to enjoy an exclusive cocktail reception with Vietnam’s up-and-coming contemporary artists.

India

From mid-October through early April, India’s weather is at its loveliest and the country offers curious travelers a multitude of captivating experiences, from the Lake Palace in Udaipur to the famous pink city of Jaipur. Jaipur was named “an absolute must” on any trip to India by Asia Transpacific Journeys’ travel specialists as well as Agra for it’s two stunning UNESCO world heritage sites – the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort – which consists of marble palaces, ornate alcoves and terrace pavilions.

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For more ideas on how to escape the cold winter months and create a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Asia, speak to one of Asia Transpacific Journey’s Travel Specialists, 800-642-2742. Or download a catalog or itinerary on your desired destination.

Dear Colleagues, Clients and Friends,

As the Founder and President of Asia Transpacific Journeys, I wanted to personally announce that we have recently been named a Top 10 Tour Operator on the 2011 World’s Best list by the readers of Travel + Leisure. Asia Transpacific Journeys is the only company specializing in Asia to win that coveted award.

The honor is particularly gratifying for being democratic in nature—as you may or may not know, winners are not picked by an editor, but rather determined by people who have actually traveled with us. Our sincere gratitude goes out to our travelers and industry colleagues for their vote.

This acknowledgement is not just a feather in our cap. It is an inspiration to us, and a challenge to deliver on the promise of extraordinary travel to Asia on into the future.

We look forward to creating many more journeys with you.

Warm regards,

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At long last, Bhutan’s far east is taking visitors. For years the kingdom’s remote Merak and Sakten valleys have been largely off limits to outsiders, but the government is easing restrictions – somewhat. Starting next month, a handful of new operators will be permitted to lead small groups into Bhutan’s easternmost reaches.

If you ask us, Asia Transpacific Journeys is the way to go. The Colorado-based outfitter’s custom treks will take you deep into the stupa-specked land of the Brokpa people — one of the last remaining traditional Himalayan cultures — with a guide, cook, and horseman. For seven days, you’ll hike through pristine alpine valleys and forests, visiting with yak herders and farmers along the way.

“Virtually everything in their lives is handmade of their own indigenous materials,” says ATJ Founder Marilyn Downing Staff, who scouted the area in May and is pictured above with the Brokpa. “It’s very rare to find a culture like that in this day and age.” (From $395/day.)

By: Catharine Livingston, August 2010

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Click here to read the full article. To find out more about creating a custom trip to Bhutan, call Asia Transpacific Journeys to speak to a travel specialist at 800-642-2742.

Kayan Mentarang National Park, Indonesia
“Kayan Mentarang, on the verdant island of Borneo, is one of the last remaining homes to the rhinoceros hornbill and strange primates like proboscis and leaf monkeys. The big draws for tourists (and poachers) are the adorably petite Sumatran rhino and the Borneo pygmy elephant.

How to Go: Asia Transpacific Journeys suggests a six-day itinerary beginning at the village of Long Layu. Local Dayak tribes still live in communal dwellings and guests do, too, as there is no accommodation in the park.”

Daintree National Park, Australia
“At 160 million years old, this UNESCO World Heritage–listed spot in Oz’s far northeast region is one of the oldest undisturbed forest ecosystems on earth. It’s also a birder’s paradise—more than 430 avian species live in the forest, including 13 found nowhere else on Earth. And it’s home to the weird and wonderful peppermint stick insect: colored like candy, the creature creates a peppermint aroma to ward off predators. The Maardja Boardwalk (an easy stroll even for a lethargic walker) displays the transition from freshwater rainforest to saltwater mangroves.

How to Go: Asia Transpacific Journeys guests stay at Daintree Eco Lodge, a luxury treehouse set high in the canopy.”

In Once in a Lifetime Trips: The World’s 50 Most Extraordinary and Memorable Travel Experiences, Santella features fifty extraordinary vacations, each designed with a particular passionate pursuit in mind, from the most luxurious to incredible cultural trips.

Devising an off-the-beaten-path vacation can take tremendous research, since the most exciting trips are ones that few know about. Santella has done the detective work by canvassing experts (such as Town & Country‘s Pamela Fiore and Asia travel pioneer Marilyn Downing Staff of Asia Transpacific Journeys) to spark the reader’s imagination with some of their favorite trips—from visiting dinosaur excavation sites in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert to an elephant-back safari in Botswana to a wildlife tour of Borneo.

About the Author: CHRIS SANTELLA writes regularly for the New York Times, Forbes Traveler, and has contributed to numerous other publications including The New Yorker, Travel + Leisure, and Golf.