Asia specialist, Insider Journeys, has released its new Asia River Cruising brochure for 2015-17, featuring 3 new river cruise vessels to meet the increased demand the tour operator has received for cruise product in the Asia region. In addition, to capitalise on the growth of this sector, its well-established Small Group Journeys programme now offers the possibility of combining river cruise and land tour products.

As small boat specialists, Insider Journeys has carefully hand-picked vessels which perfectly suit its customers and their preferred style of travel, whether that be on a tailor-made itinerary or as part of a small group journey. The three new vessels added into the latest brochure are the brand new “RV Anawrahta”, the “RV Angkor Pandaw” (for cruises on the Red River in Vietnam) and the “Mekong Eyes”.  The boutique nature of these small vessels reflects the intimate style of travel that has become synonymous with Insider Journeys' programme.

The new “Asia River Cruising” brochure features cruises that navigate the waterways of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, India and China, and the boutique nature of the vessels enables the operator's clients to access lesser-explored areas of this fascinating region with minimal impact on the remote communities visited. There is no better example of this than the “RV Anawrahta” vessel, which allocates a guide for every twelve passengers for onshore excursions to limit the impact on the small riverside villages.

NEW – AMAZINGAYEYARWADY (8 days)

Cruise up or down the Irrawaddy, from Bagan to Yangon, on this iconic river journey. Embarking on its maiden voyage on 10 December 2015, the yet to launch “Anawrahta” features 23 spacious cabins and an impeccable service level, with the luxury of one crew member for every passenger.  Cruise price starts from just £2,577 per person*.

NEW – RED RIVER CRUISE (11 days)

Alternatively, guests may choose an 11-day “Red River” Vietnam river cruise on “RV Angkor Pandaw”, setting sail from Hanoi on a first-of-its-kind adventure into unchartered river cruising territory, taking in scenic national parks, historic villages and hilltribe communities along the way to Halong Bay.

MEKONG EYES (3 days)

Or fans of the Mekong can sail along a stretch of this majestic river on the small and intimate “Mekong Eyes”; this former rice barge with 14 cabins offers panoramic views of the Mekong and access to massages, cooking classes, tai chi and yoga.

Due to increasing demand and the popularity of its river cruises, Insider Journeys 2015-17 programme now includes NEW journeys combining the best of river cruising and small group touring. The popular Vietnam Discovery small group journey now includes an overnight on the “Mekong Eyes”, allowing passengers to experience the best of both worlds in one unforgettable trip. Similar overnight cruises are also available in Burma, Thailand and on cross-border cruises between Vietnam and Cambodia.

General Manager Commercial UK, Lesley Wright, explains: “We have seen increased demand for our river cruise products and the addition of these new vessels and journeys to our cruise portfolio will enable our customers to feed their cravings for new experiences along the most fascinating rivers of Asia.”

T&Cs

*Price is based on 10 May 2016 departure.  7 nights on board in a Deluxe Stateroom cabin, all meals, transport in air-conditioned vehicles, touring with entrance fees and English-speaking guides, airport transfers, domestic flights from Bagan to Yangon and port taxes.

-Ends-

Editor's notes

Insider Journeys has been operating small group journeys, tailor-made travel and river cruises to the 'real' Asia for 22 years, formerly under the name Travel Indochina. Today, the company features the widest range of itineraries and departures to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos than any other tour operator in the UK, as well as a large variety of journeys to Thailand, Burma, China and Tibet, India, Japan, Bhutan, Mongolia and Sri Lanka. Unlike many other travel companies, Insider Journeys limits its group size to a maximum of 16 people. These smaller groups enable travellers to gain the best from both worlds – greater access to the local culture and Insider Experiences, and plenty of opportunity for independent exploration.

For more information on Insider Journeys, please visit www.insiderjourneys.co.uk or telephone 01865 268 940. The operator's continually-updated blog also features a range of travel resources, see www.insiderjourneys.co.uk/blog.  

For media information and images, please contact Sarah Habicht at Hume Whitehead on 0845 498 9987 or email sarah@humewhitehead.co.uk.