Bhutan, Southern India and Sri Lanka are on the agenda as travellers seek more unusual and distinctive destinations to explore, according to Australia’s leading Asia travel specialist, Travel Indochina.

Journeys that offer a more intense focus on festivals, activities or seldom visited places are proving popular, with many selling out well in advance.

Travel Indochina Managing Director, Paul Hole, says that this desire for more in-depth experiences has encouraged the company to continue to grow and expand its ‘Specialist Collection’ and ‘Insider Experiences’ program for its small group journeys.

“ABS figures continue to show good yearly growth of Australians travelling to Asia, with results from early 2012 showing double digit growth across most destinations, including Vietnam, China and India,” says Paul.

“Our results are no different, but we do know that we need to cater for our repeat and more adventurous clients differently, through more in-depth experiences like our Specialist Collection.”

Highlights of Travel Indochina’s Specialist Collection for 2012-13 include:

• A 13 day “Highlights of Bhutan” tour, departing 24 October, that includes witnessing one of  Bhutan’s most important festivals – the Jambay Lakhang Drup, as well as visits to ancient fortresses, temples and monasteries, and the opportunity to experience life in traditional villages. There are also 10 day departures of Highlights of Bhutan in 2013 which take in the festivals of Thimpu and Paro;
• An 11 day “South India Discovery”, with journeys starting in Cochin and covering an enchanting trail through the lush jungles of Periyar National Park, the ancient World Heritage-listed temples in Madurai, Tanjore, and Kumbakonam, charming Pondicherry, the seaside village of Mahabalipuram, before finishing in the former ‘Madras’, Chennai; and
• An exclusive 11 day “Vietnam Culinary Tour” with Emily Cheung and Scott Bradshaw of My Kitchen Rules fame departing 28 October, which includes market visits, special cooking demonstrations and a chance to experience a hands-on ‘ingredients challenge’;
• A 15 day “Sri Lanka Discovery”, starting 6 October, and including the colonial capital, ancient Buddhist cities of the Cultural Triangle, spectacular Sigiriya Rock, the cave art of Dambulla, the tea-growing highlands and the wilds of Yala National Park.

“Feedback from the Specialist Collection has been tremendous,” says Paul. “Our clients appreciate the intense nature of these journeys that permit them to explore countries from a different perspective, whether culinary, cycling, iconic rail journeys or exploratory tours to destinations where tourism is in its infancy.”

“The ‘Insider Experiences’ program provides special touches that make our journeys more memorable.”