New cultural tours showcasing the best of the East and Australia

Australia

Spend 10 days exploring Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, the mountain village of Kuranda and Tjapukai Aboriginal Park, which showcases the culture of Queensland's indigenous rainforest people, with Cox and Kings' new Australia tour. The itinerary includes a barrier-reef cruise, snorkelling and diving expeditions, a helicopter ride over the reef and an optional hot air balloon trip and expeditions to Warner Brothers Movie World and Sea World, popular Gold Coast theme parks. The trip costs Dh4,874 per person, including taxes, accommodation at city centre hotels, most meals, airport transfers, local transport and sightseeing as mentioned in the itinerary. Visit www.coxandkings.ae or call 04 3572 628 for more details.

Myanmar

This November, see Myanmar with Mountain Kingdom's "Return to Burma" tour, with a sunset visit to Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon to cruises down the Irrawaddy River, day trips to the temples of Bagan and flights to Mandalay and Heho for overnight stays. The trip costs from £1,795 (Dh10,863) per person and includes all accommodation, airport transfers, local transport and flights, sightseeing, taxes and a free travel kit. Trip dates are November 12 to 25. For more information, call 00 44 1453 844 400 or visit www.mountainkingdoms.com.

North India

Watch villages and cities slowly pass by as you sail down the Ganges from Delhi to Kolkata on this relaxing Wild Frontiers tour. The boat stops at historically important towns, including Kathgodam and Muktheshwar, home to the Corbett Tiger Reserve, where visitors will be taken tiger-spotting. En route, see the historical cities of Allahabad and Lucknow before sailing on to Varanasi, one of India's holiest sites, before ending the journey in culture-rich Kolkata. The trip costs from £2,095 (Dh12,678) per person, including taxes, government passes and permits, entrance fees, some meals and all transport outlined in the itinerary. International airfare is not included. For more information, visit www.wildfrontiers.co.uk.

Mongolia

Join the Mongols in celebrating the Naadam festival with an off-the-beaten-track tour this summer. Travel Indochina's 17-day "Trans-Mongolian Adventure" takes visitors to meet local reindeer herders, with stays in traditional yurts and camel rides through the dunes of Mongol Els from the edge of the Gobi Desert into Central Mongolia. From July 11 to 13, Naadam is celebrated all over the country with fiercely contested archery, wrestling and horse racing competitions. The trip departs on July 2 and costs from £2,560 (Dh15,493) per person based on two sharing, including taxes, accommodation in hotels and yurt camps, local transport (air-conditioned vehicles and camels), all sightseeing, most meals, airport transfers and the services of an experienced guide. Visit www.travelindochina.co.uk or call 00 44 1865 268 940.

Vietnam

Feel more relaxed with Six Senses Ninh Van Bay's new spa offer. Spend two nights in a pool villa on a full board basis (three healthy, organic meals a day), including welcome drinks and gifts, three 60-minute spa/salon treatments, daily yoga or t'ai chi, complimentary snorkelling and kayaking, free Wi-Fi, airport transfers and taxes. The offer costs from US$1,713 (Dh6,292) for two nights, based on double occupancy, and is valid for stays between May 1 and June 30. Call 00 84 58 352 4268 or visit www.sixsenses.com.

ciyer@thenational.ae