SOUTHERN FROM THE PEAK: HONG KONG TO
BORA BORA BY PRIVATE JET
ITINERARY:
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Arrive Seattle, Washington
Arrive in Seattle and transfer by private car to your hotel.
Later, meet your fellow passengers and travel staff during a
cocktail reception and gala dinner. Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Sunday - Monday, December 28-29
Seattle - Narita, Japan
Cross the International Dateline.
(Flight time: 3 hours, 35 minutes)
(Fuel stop en route)
(Flight time: 7 hours, 30 minutes)
Board your private jet and travel to Narita, Japan, arriving on
Monday afternoon. Later, gather for cocktails and dinner. Narita
Hilton
Tuesday, December 30
Narita - Hong Kong, China
(Flight time: 3 hours, 30 minutes)
Fly to Hong Kong this morning and transfer to your hotel. Your
room overlooks Hong Kong Harbour. Stroll along the waterfront
before evening cocktails. Hotel InterContinental Hong Kong
Wednesday, December 31
Hong Kong - New Year's Eve Celebration
Take a tram ride to Victoria Peak for spectacular views of Hong
Kong and the New Territories. Then travel by motorized sampan to
Aberdeen, where brightly decorated trawlers double as floating
homes. Continue to Stanley Market for bargains on everything
from traditional Chinese dress to antiques and arts and crafts.
Break for lunch at the rooftop Top Deck restaurant. Later,
celebrate New Year's Eve in style with cocktails on your private
junk as you cruise around Victoria Harbour. A festive dinner at
the exclusive China Club follows. Hotel InterContinental Hong
Kong
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Hong Kong - Happy New Year
Ring in the New Year your way. Have a leisurely breakfast
while enjoying the harbor view in your room, or explore the busy
neighborhood on foot. This afternoon Design Your Day. Dine as
you please this evening. Hotel InterContinental Hong Kong
Design Your Day
Thursday, January 1
● A Shopping Paradise
Browse top-of-the-line designer boutiques and
Japanese-owned department stores. From allencompassing modern
malls to open-air street markets, Hong Kong is nirvana for
shoppers… and your shopping guide knows where to find it all,
including a tasty lunch at the Boat House in Stanley.
●
Macau
Travel across the mouth of the Pearl River to the charming
Portuguese-influenced city of Macau. Amble along the wide
boulevards of the old city, hunting for antiques amid old
temples and churches. After lunch at Club Militaire, stop
briefly at the Wynn Macau casino. Return to Hong Kong by
turbocat.
●
Architecture in the Central District
Stroll through Statue Square and the Central district, Hong
Kong's main commercial and financial region. Observe the modern
architecture and learn why the site of the Shanghai Bank
building is known in feng shui as "a dragon's den."
●
Food for Thought
Experience the culinary pleasures of Hong Kong, a cuisine that
is experimental, diverse and delicious. Put on your apron and
get your hands into the fray as a group of master chefs divulge
some of their time-honored secrets.
●
I-Spa
Take time off from sightseeing for a rejuvenating
afternoon at the hotel's feng shui-inspired I-Spa. Choose from
an array of pampering treatments such as massage, a facial or a
body wrap. You may use the outdoor heated swimming pool, three
temperature spa pools and fitness center before or after your
appointment.
Friday, January 2
Hong Kong - Hanoi, Vietnam
(Flight time: 2 hours)
Along a coastline of more than 2,000 miles lies a patchwork of
pristine beaches, stunning lagoons and brilliant green rice
paddies tended from dawn to dusk by peasant women wearing the
traditional nón lá (conical straw hat). Explore the Temple of
Literature and go on a cyclo ride in the Old Quarter for lunch
at a local restaurant. This evening watch a traditional
water-puppet show and dine à la carte at the hotel. Sofitel
Metropole
Saturday, January 3
Hanoi - Hue - Hanoi
Journey to the charming town of Hue, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, which for centuries symbolized the imperial majesty of
past dynasties. Visit the Imperial Citadel, Tu Duc Mausoleum and
Kai Dinh Mausoleum, then take a boat ride on the Perfume River.
Stop at Thien Mu Pagoda, where the goddess and protector of the
Champa Kingdom is worshipped. Later, dine at one of Hanoi's fine
restaurants or at your hotel. Sofitel Metropole
Sunday, January 4
Hanoi - Design Your Day
Engage your interests on an array of Design Your Day
excursions. Explore picturesque Ha Long Bay by helicopter, learn
the secrets of North Vietnamese cuisine with a cooking lesson or
spend the day relaxing and rejuvenating at the hotel's spa. This
evening, join Americanborn Art Director Suzanne Lecht, a leading
authority on contemporary art in Vietnam, for cocktails and
conversation at her Vietnam Art Gallery. Sofitel Metropole
Design Your Day
Sunday, January 4
● Helicopter to Ha Long Bay
A helicopter transports you to Ha Long Bay, one of
Vietnam's most picturesque areas and a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. You have ample time to enjoy the visual splendors of the
bay during your cruise aboard a traditional boat.
●
Cooking Lesson with Anh Tuyet
Join Chef Pham Thi Anh Tuyet on a trip to Hang Be market
to choose ingredients for the North Vietnamese dishes that you
watch her prepare in her home. Then sample the results: morning
glory salad, Hanoi spring roll and fish in banana leaf.
●
Metropole Spa
Spend your morning relaxing and rejuvenating at the
hotel's spa. Perhaps begin with a beauty treatment or a massage
to soothe tight muscles. After - or before - your spa treatment,
take a dip in the outdoor pool, relax in the sauna or work out
in the fitness center.
Monday, January 5
Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City -Siem Reap, Cambodia
(Flight time: 2 hours)
(Flight time : 30 minutes)
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City, known to the world as Saigon. It is a
bustling hub of activity in contrast to austere Hanoi. Visit
Reunification Hall, the Historical Museum, the Catholic
Cathedral and the huge Chinese district of Cho Lon. After lunch,
re-board your jet for the short flight to Siem Reap. Dine at
your leisure in the hotel. Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor
Tuesday, January 6
Siem Reap
The great ruined cities of Angkor stand in testimony to the
awesome power of the Khmer Empire. Built between the ninth and
15th centuries AD, this UNESCO protected complex of temples,
palaces and terraces is an architectural masterpiece. Explore
Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, the Bayon, the Royal Enclosure, the
Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King in the
company of an expert local guide. Glimpse everyday life when you
stop at a nearby village. A translator is on hand for questions
and answers. Later, travel to Ta Prohm, wildly overgrown with
strangler figs and silk-cotton trees and untouched since its
"discovery" in 1860. Continue to Preah Khan, where a
preservation specialist from the World Monuments Fund provides
fascinating commentary on the struggle to protect Angkor during
two decades of civil unrest. Your final stop is at a
rehabilitation center for the victims of land mines. Tonight,
dine at your hotel or at a restaurant in another nearby hotel.
Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor
Wednesday, January 7
Design Your Day in Siem Reap
Design Your Day today. Rejoin the group for cocktails this
evening and meet Nhean Samban for his personal account of
Cambodia's recent history. Later, pause for a lavish poolside
dinner and a graceful, classical Apsara dance performance.
Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor
Design Your Day
Wednesday, January 7
● Cambodian Countryside
Visit a local agricultural community to meet farmers in
their fields and learn about their work. This region is also
home to the Khmer temples of Banteay Srei and Sulous, renowned
for their pink sandstone carvings.
●
Helicopter to Beng Mealea
Fly over the lush Cambodian countryside to Beng Mealea
Temple, abandoned for more than 800 years. This is a priceless
photographic opportunity as you wander amid the wildflowers and
butterflies that are the only inhabitants of the complex, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
●
Phnom Penh
Board a scheduled-air flight to Cambodia's capital.
Explore Phnom Penh, a city with a rich but violent past. Tour
the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum and Tuol Sleng,
a Khmer Rouge detention center outside the city. Shop with the
locals at the colorful Russian Market and enjoy a pedicab ride
before lunch at Raffles Le Royal Hotel.
●
Spa at the Grand
Spend the morning at your hotel's Amrita Spa. Available
treatments include massage, body scrubs, aromatherapy and
thalasso therapy. You may also swim in the lap pool, play a game
of tennis or stroll through the hotel's gardens.
Thursday, January 8
Siem Reap - Singapore -Eastern & Oriental Express
(Flight time: 1 hour, 55 minutes)
Fly to Singapore to board the luxurious Eastern & Oriental
Express train in time for afternoon tea. Gaze out the window as
the train crosses to Malaysia via the causeway of the Straits of
Johor. After dinner in one of the opulent dining cars, spend a
relaxing evening in the Bar Car in the company of the resident
pianist. The E&O Express stops at Kuala Lumpur's magnificent
Moorish-style station where you may disembark for a stroll.
Eastern & Oriental Express
Friday, January 9
Eastern & Oriental Express
Explore Penang's colonial Georgetown, including Fort
Cornwallis. See some of the city's oldest residences, the
traditional Guide and guest at Wat Pho Temple, Bangkok View from
the Eastern & Oriental Express over-water stilt houses along
Weld Quay. Visit a Chinese clan house before riding a trishaw
through the colorful narrow streets, then take a short ferry
back to Butterworth. Lunch is on board the train as it crosses
into Thailand. Watch the changing scenery from the Observation
Car's open deck or relax in the Saloon Car. Dinner is served in
the opulent Dining Car. Eastern & Oriental Express
Saturday, January 10
Arrive Bangkok, Thailand
Stop to visit the site of the infamous bridge described in
Pierre Boulle's novel and subsequent film Bridge over the River
Kwai, then cruise along the Kwai Yoi and Kwai Noi Rivers on a
traditional floating barge. Disembark for a short visit to Chung
Kai cemetery, honoring World War II soldiers. Go by coach past
sugar cane fields and rejoin the train at Kanchanaburi main
station. Later this afternoon the E&O Express arrives in
Bangkok, a city whose temples are redolent with the serene
images of Buddha and Bodhisattva and whose streets are alive
with flower, fruit and vegetable stalls. Dinner is à la carte at
your hotel. The Oriental Bangkok
Sunday, January 11
Bangkok
Begin your day at the Grand Palace, a beautiful example of
an ancient Siamese court. Then visit the Emerald Buddha Temple (Wat
Phra Kaeo), Thailand's most important and sacred wat. The
country's most venerated image, the Emerald Buddha, is housed
inside. Interior walls are painted with frescoes and murals
depicting scenes from the life of Buddha. Continue to the Temple
of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho), the oldest and largest
Buddhist temple in Bangkok and home to the country's leading
school of Thai massage. Sit down to a Thai feast on the terrace
of Supatra River House restaurant, the former residence of
Khunying Supatra, a business woman and advocate of women's
rights.
Meet Supatra's daughter, who discusses her mother's humanitarian
contributions and the history of the house. Continue by
long-tailed boat along the Chao Phraya River and Bangkok's
famous klongs (canals) for a glimpse of the still-active
waterborne life of "the Venice of the East." Tonight, dine à la
carte at your hotel or at a fine local restaurant. The Oriental
Bangkok
Monday, January 12
Bangkok - Design Your Day
Explore another facet of Thailand's culture when you choose
your day's activity. Rejoin the group later this evening for
dinner at one of the most interesting private homes in Bangkok.
The Oriental Bangkok
Design Your Day
Monday, January 12
● Elephant Experience
Fly to Chiang Mai and the elephant training camp at
Chiang Dao to watch a demonstration of their strength and clever
teamwork. Afterward, you have a brief opportunity to ride an
elephant before sitting down to a private lunch at the camp.
●
The Ruins of Ayuthaya
Visit Ayuthaya, the former capital of Thailand, and see
the surviving ruins of palaces and temples topped by headless
Buddhas - reminders of the glory of what was once the most
magnificent city in the Orient.
●
Silk Museum and Shopping
Legendary American architect-entrepreneur Jim Thompson,
who settled in Thailand after World War II, almost
single-handedly revived its moribund silk industry. Explore a
small private museum filled with his priceless collection of
Asian antiques, pottery, and curiosities. Then visit the silk
shop that stocks some of the best quality silk products
available. Continue shopping with your private guide in Bangkok.
●
The Oriental Spa
Enjoy treatments that merge ancient and modern techniques
from around the world, utilizing pure essential oils and herbs.
The spa offers massage, body treatments, facials and finishing
touches.
Tuesday, January 13
Bangkok - Cairns, Australia -Port Douglas
(Flight time: 7 hours, 30 minutes)
Arrive in Cairns and transfer to Port Douglas, the closest town
to the Great Barrier Reef. Your hotel is surrounded by natural
lush, tropical flora and unspoiled beaches. Sea Temple Resort &
Spa Elephant training center at Chiang Dao Sea Temple Resort &
Spa, Port Douglas
Wednesday, January 14
Port Douglas
The 1,250-mile-long Great Barrier Reef is the world's
largest single living organism. Separated from the mainland by a
shallow lagoon, it forms a natural breakwater for Australia's
Queensland coast. Cruise to the Outer Barrier Reef aboard a
catamaran.
After lunch there's time to sunbathe, view the incredible coral
canyon or snorkel. Later, return to your hotel for dinner at an
A&K-recommended restaurant.
Thursday, January 15
Design Your Day around Port Douglas
You have time to relax and enjoy the resort's amenities or
choose a Design Your Day option. This evening, experience an
unforgettable tropical dinner in the rainforest. Sea Temple
Resort & Spa
Design Your Day
Thursday, January 15
● World Heritage Parks
Explore Cape Tribulation National Park, a rich mosaic of
diverse ecosystems that includes coastal mangroves, swamps,
lowland and upland rainforests and mountaintop heartlands. Also
visit Daintree National Park, home to rarely seen marsupials,
such as the tree climbing and musky rat kangaroos.
●
Botanical Ark
Visit a private botanical garden in Australia's tropical
rainforest, the home of Alan and Susan Carle. Learn about the
link that exists between rainforest plants and indigenous
cultures.
●
Sea Temple Spa
Escape and stimulate all your senses in your hotel's day
spa, which features Elemis spa products and traditional
therapies from around the world.
Friday, January 16
Cairns - Papeete, Tahiti
(Flight time: 6 hours, 15 minutes)
(Fuel stop en route)
(Flight time: 3 hours, 30 minutes)
Return to Cairns and join your private jet crew for the journey
to Tahiti. Gain a day crossing the International Dateline.
Thursday, January 15
Arrive Papeete
Arrive Thursday evening in Tahiti's capital, Papeete ("water
in a basket"). After completing arrival procedures, transfer to
your hotel located on a 30-acre tropical garden site.
InterContinental Tahiti
Friday, January 16
Papeete - Bora Bora
(Local flight time: 50 minutes)
Explore the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands. Continue to the
restored Marae Arahurahu, a sacred religious site dedicated to
the early gods and used for important ceremonies. After lunch,
board a local flight to Bora Bora's airport on Motu Mute, a
small islet on the coral reef that frames the principal island.
From there cruise by yacht to your resort. While your private
room butler helps you settle in to your over-water villa, look
through viewing panels in the floor to observe brilliantly
colored tropical fish swimming beneath. A cocktail party on the
beach is followed by a black pearl fashion show. Dine tonight
Over-water villas, St. Regis Resort at any of the hotel's
restaurants or offproperty at Bloody Mary's Kaina Hut or Top
Dive. St. Regis Resort Bora Bora
Saturday, January 17
Bora Bora - Design Your Day
Design Your Day as you like. Tonight attend a private,
traditional Fire Dance and Polynesian feast on the beach and a
showing of South Pacific during after-dinner drinks. St. Regis
Resort Bora Bora
Design Your Day
Saturday, January 17
● Catamaran Lagoon Cruise
Cruise the island's lagoon with stops for ray feeding,
shark watching and snorkeling, followed by a barbecue lunch.
Meet the Imamas who teach you how to tie a pareo (sarong); learn
the basics of Polynesian Tamure dancing and how to weave
palm-leaf plates.
●
Four-Wheel Drive Safari Adventure
Explore Bora Bora by four-wheel-drive vehicle and gaze at
the beautiful panorama of the valleys, the barrier reef and
colorful lagoon. Conclude your excursion at Pahau Point, where
American troops installed cannons during World War II.
●
Lagoon or Deep Sea Fishing.
Many species of large game fish are at home in the deep waters
outside the reef. Fish the deep sea for swordfish, bonito,
yellow fin tuna, barracuda, mahi-mahi, wahoo or even marlin.
Catch smaller fish with a rod and reel in the calmer waters
inside the lagoon.
●
Miri Miri Spa
Relax in Miri Miri Spa's 13,000-square-foot facility and
fitness center, located on its own private island in the lagoon.
Choose from a variety of exotic Tahitian or Pacific Rim
treatments such as Polynesian Taurumi massage, a hibiscus milk
facial or Tamanu green balm sunburn relief wrap.
Sunday, January 18
Bora Bora - Papeete -Honolulu - Los Angeles
(Local flight time: 50 minutes)
(Flight time: 5 hours, 15 minutes)
(Fuel stop and u.s. arival procedures in honolulu)
(Flight time: 6 hours, 05 minutes)
After breakfast, return via boat and local aircraft to Papeete,
where you rejoin your private jet and crew. Arrive in Los
Angeles in the late evening after an interim stop in Hawaii.
Transfer to your airport hotel. Hilton Los Angeles Airport
Monday, January 19
Return to the airport for your commercial flight home or
stay in Los Angeles for a few post-tour nights at additional
cost.
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