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This was to be the third attempt to travel on the Trans-Siberian
Railroad, due to Covid, the 2020 and 2021 trips were cancelled and moved
forward a year. The invasion of Ukraine
means we will near travel the Railroad.
The following is Plan B or is it Plan C, still exciting and probably
more fun.
Fall 2022 Round the
World Adventure
Day 1
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Fly to Tokyo
Day 2
Wednesday, September 14
We arrive in Tokyo mid-afternoon. Staying at the Candeo Hotel
Roppongi. Dinner at one of my favorite
restaurants Inakaya East (favorite at least 30 years ago.)
Day 3
Thursday, September 15
Day and night tour of Tokyo.
Day tour (hotel pick-up at 9:00)
- Hamarikyu Garden: a beautiful Japanese garden with a tea house
on the water
- Asakusa: a charming old town home to the iconic Senso-ji Temple
- Akihabara: a colorful electric town with unique history
Night tour
- Shibuya: Tokyo's Times Square best known for its busy scramble crossing.
We can also enjoy a variety of Japanese dishes from different regions at
Shibuya Yokocho. (hotel drop off at 20:00)
Day 4 Friday, September 16
This morning depart to Hakone National Park for a day of fresh air
and sightseeing at one of Japan’s most iconic parks in the shadow of Mt. Fuji.
Throughout the tour you will have a chance to take a glimpse at this
awe-inspiring mountain, but please bear in mind that it needs to be a clear
day. Meet your guide at your hotel before transferring to Shinjuku Station
where you’ll hop on the ‘Romance Car’, for an hour and a half long journey into
Hakone. Transfer to Gora station, before riding in a cablecar to the Hakone
Ropeway. Now, soar above the active volcanic site, Owakudani, which translates
to the Great Boiling Valley. Watch the steam rising from the mountain, as
thermal water grazes just under the rocky façade at extraordinarily hot
temperatures. Stop amongst the steamy rocks, and see if you can spot Mt. Fuji
in the distance before trying kuro-tamago, or a black egg. Boiled in the
sulfuric hot springs each egg turns black as its cooked; it’s rumored that
eating it will add several years to your life. Descend the mountain via ropeway
to Togendai, where you’ll board a pirate ship and sail across Lake Ashi. A
crater formed by a volcano nearly three-thousand years ago, these charming
waters offer beautiful views of the enveloping mountains and even Mt. Fuji on a
clear day. Finally, it’s time to bid farewell to Hakone, so hope on a bus to
Odawara to catch your bullet train back to Tokyo.
Day 5 Saturday,
September 17
More Tokyo. (hotel pick-up at 9:00)
- Tsukiji fish market: a foodie's paradise where you can try all
kinds of seafood
- Ginza: Tokyo's Fifth Avenue with a fascinating food market at
the basement of a department store
- Harajuku: a popular town of fashion, architecture and sweets
- Meiji Shrine: a sacred shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji
surrounded by a tranquil man made forest
(hotel drop-off at 17:00)
Dinner at Den, one of the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants (#20)
Day 6 Sunday,
September 18
More Tokyo. (hotel pick-up at 9:00)
- Tokyo station: a magnificent 100+year-old brick building
- Imperial Palace East Garden: aka the remains of Edo Castle
- Kagurazaka: a neighborhood with hidden back alleys lined with
traditional houses and restaurants
(hotel drop-off at 17:00)
Dinner at Florilège, another one of the Worlds 50 Best (#30)
Day 7 Monday,
September 19
Fly to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Arrive at 19:15 at Chinggis Khaan International Airport. Meet driver and
guide then transfer to the Holiday Inn hotel and have dinner at hotel
restaurant. (D)
Day 8 Tuesday,
September 20
Elsen Tsarkhai Sand Dune. Ger camp (B/L/D)
Day 9 Wednesday,
September 21
Husati NP, Ger camp (B/L/D)
Day
10 Thursday, September 22
Husati NP, Ger camp (B/L/D)
Day 11
Friday, September 23
Terelj NP via Ulaanbaatar. Ger camp (B/L/D)
Day
12 Saturday, September 24
Drive back to Ulaanbaatar, Chinggis Khan equine statue and
Ulaanbaatar. Holiday Inn Hotel (B/L/D)
(B/L/D)
Day 13
Sunday, Seotember 25
Fly to Khovd town at 14:30. Local hotel in Khovd (B/ L/ D)
Day 14 Monday, September 26
Khar Us Lake NP (40 km from Khovd) for bird watching.
Arrive in Ulgii. New hotel in Ulgii (B/L/D)
Day 15
Tuesday, September 27
Sagsai village to visit eagle hunters. New
hotel in Ulgii. (B/L/D)
Day 16
Wednesday, September 28
Drive back to Khovd for the departure to Ulaanbaatar. Flight time
is 15:50. Holiday Inn Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 17
Thursday, September 29
Fly to Seoul, South Korea. Stay at the Grand Hyatt Incheon
Day
18 Friday, September 30
Fly to Jakarta, Indonesia Stay at FM7 Resort Hotel
Day
19 Saturday, October 1
Early morning (6:00am) flight to Pangkalan. Upon arrival we will be transferred to the
port of Kumai to board a renovated traditional Klotok, or wooden riverboat,
measuring about 18m by 3m, with a comfortable upper deck where you can view the
rain forest as it glides by. The boat has 3 air-conditioned ensuite cabins
below deck. Our cabin is fully equipped with sheets, towels and toiletries.
Delicious Asian fusion meals are eaten around the dining table on the deck. The
boat crew includes the boatman, a cook, assistant cook, and English speaking
guide. En route to the Tanjung Puting National Park, we stop first at Tanjung
Harapan, a rehabilitation center for orangutans. After a short walk in the
forest to the platforms, we witness feeding time at 15.00. Later, in the
peaceful late afternoon, we will slowly explore the quiet river to observe the
proboscis monkeys and possibly fireflies in season among the nipa palms along
the riverside. Optional night walk in the forest. Dinner and overnight on the
boat.
Day
20 Sunday, October 2
After breakfast, the klotok slowly cruises up the river, spotting
wildlife in the forested river sides. The klotok then turns off the muddy
Sekonyer River as lunch is served. It slowly makes its way along the pure black
waters of the side creek to access Camp Leakey. Dense vegetation is reflected
perfectly in the tannin waters. Camp Leakey is where the older orangutans are
reintroduced into the rainforest. On arrival, we take an easy forest walk to
see the original research station and historical display and to see feeding
time at 14.00pm. Overnight on board.
Day 21
Monday October 3
During your early breakfast, the klotok cruises slowly downstream
following the black water canal, spotting wildlife in the forested riversides and
then turning into the muddy Sekonyer River. We are headed for Pondok Tangguy,
the rehabiltiation centre for new ex-captive orangutans, to see feeding time at
9 o’clock. In the afternoon we visit
Tanjung Harapan rehabilitation centre, witness feeding time at 3pm and take the
opportunity to hike further into the forest.
Overnight on the boat (B,L,D)
Day 22
Tuesday, October 4
Enjoy breakfast on board. The boat slowly cruises along the
Sekonyer River. This is the last opportunity for wildlife spotting along the
mangrove riversides. After lunch, transfer to Kumai port then to Pangkalan Bun
airport for for a fight at 2:10pm. We
arrive at 3:25 in Jakarta then transfer to a flight at 6:00pm to Medan in
Sumatra, Indonesia. Upon arrival a
driver will take us on a 3 to 5 hours ride to Bukit Lawang and take us to the
Jungle Inn.
Day 23
Wednesday, October 5
At 9:00 am we will start a traditional village tour. Our guide
will pick us up at Jungle Inn after breakfast. We will walk until the entrance
of Bukit Lawang (15 minutes) to take a beak (tuk tuk). By tuk tuk, you'll first
stop at the market to buy everything you need to do the cooking class. Then you
will go through rural villages, explore the surroundings, stroll among the rice
fields and meet local people. You will assist to the local productions of tofu
and brown sugar and a demonstration of bamboo weaving. We will stop at a nice
place to enjoy a young coconut or another drink (included) before heading to
the local house where you will do the traditional cooking class. The lovely
cook will then welcome you into her kitchen, share her cooking experience and
teach you how to cook yummy traditional Indonesian dishes. You will cook 2
starters and 2 main meals to choose between a large selection of local food (curry,
rendang, sambal, sate, tempeh goreng, spring rolls, pinsang goreng...). After
your cooking class, it's time to enjoy the meals you cooked all together! The
tour will end around 2 or 3 pm and you will head back to Jungle Inn. At the end
of the class we will send you our PDF cooking book for you to try again our
yummy recipes back home!
Day 24
Thursday, October 6
We will start our Ethical Jungle Trek at 9 am. Our guide will pick up up at Jungle Inn after
breakfast and we will trek around 6 hours with many stops at nice view points,
waterfall or river! We will enjoy a traditional lunch and some tropical fruits
in the middle of the wild. we will be back between 1 and 3 pm after a fun and
refreshing tubing ride along the river.
Day 25
Friday, October 7
At 9:00 am we will go by car where to drop our luggage. Then we will stop at the
traditional market. We will be able to stroll among the traditional market for
2 hours. At 11:00 am the private car will pick you up at the market to bring
you to the airport. A 3 to 4 hours ride will take you back to Medan airport for
your flight at 5 pm to Jakarta. We will
stay at the FM7 Resort Hotel.
Day 26
Saturday, October 8
ToursbyLocals tour with Ratih.
Day trip to Bandung. Visit volcano Tangkuban perahu, walini tea plantation
to see the processing for making tea, taste and see the making of coffee luwak,
Cisanca waterfall
Day 27
Sunday October 9
ToursbyLocals tour with Ratih, Jakarta City Tour
At 9:05pm flight from Jakarta to Istanbul.
Day 28
Monday October 10
Arr Istanbul at 5:05AM. At 3:05pm fly home arriving at 7:05pm