China
and The Far East:
Cities
of South China Sea
"Lets
get away, far away..."
American
Express, in partnership with Abercrombie & Kent offers you a
series of travel experiences you won't find anywhere else. These
one-of-a-kind packages, created solely for Platinum Card and Centurion
Card members, provide luxury travel experiences by combining the
best destinations and the best tour guides, traveling at the best
time of year. Platinum Destinations Exclusives offer you the opportunity
to enjoy intimate gatherings with politicians, prominent businessmen,
and royalty. You'll have entrée to locations that are off-limits
to the general public and feast on culinary delights prepared by
some of the world's most acclaimed chefs.
February
14: USA / Singapore (Thursday)
Depart
your hometown for the overnight flight to Singapore. IN FLIGHT
February
15: Arrival Singapore (Friday)
Your
arrival in Singapore, depending on the airlines you are flying,
will be either around noon or just before or after midnight. You
will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. If you are
arriving in the afternoon, the remainder of the day is at leisure
and dinner is on your own arrangements.
RAFFLES
HOTEL (SUITE)
February
16: Singapore (Saturday)
Following
breakfast, begin your morning sightseeing which will include a bumboat
ride, a visit to Singapore's Chinatown, which captures the old Chinese
lifestyle with a fascinating array of sights, sounds and smells
and a chance to explore the spice scented streets of Little India.
It is here that you will find a treasure trove of ethnic jewelry,
jasmine garlands, brassware and saris. Visit also the Kandang Kerbau
Market and the National Museum and Botanical Gardens.
The
National Museum was originally called Raffles Museum when opened
in 1887. It is an architectural gem with each of its three levels
reflecting a different order of classical Greek architecture. Of
particular interest in the museum are the recently added dioramas
tracing Singapore's history and development. Lunch will be at the
"Bar and Billiard Room" in the hotel, accompanied by Singapore slings.
The afternoon is at leisure for independent activities. The evening
activities begin with cocktails at Compass Rose, located in Asia's
tallest hotel and enjoy the stunning view of the island through
26 feet of glass panel all around followed by dinner at "Bastianis."
RAFFLES
HOTEL (SUITE ROOM): B, L, D
February
17: Singapore/Solo / Borobudur, Java, Indonesia (Sunday)
After
breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight
to Solo. A short sightseeing tour will include the Mangkunegaran
Palace, the market and curio shops. The kraton, or palace of Surakarta
(Solo) which was constructed between 1743 and 1746, lies on the
banks of Java's longest river.
Radyapustaka
Museum, which is associated with the kraton, contains ancient Hindu-Javanese
bronzes, traditional Javanese weapons and three marvelous coaches.
Continue by vehicle overland to Borobudur, in Central Java, with
a visit to Prambanan en route. To the east of Yogyakarta, the main
Yogya - Solo highway slices through a plain that is literally littered
with ancient ruins. Because these are considered by Javanese to
be royal mausoleums, this region is known as the "Valley of the
Kings" or the "Valley of the Dead". In the center of the plain lies
the small town of Prambanan and a major temple complex of the same
name. For many, Prambanan is the finest monument in Java. It was
completed sometime around 856 AD and was deserted within a few years
of its completion and eventually collapsed. Restoration was completed
in 1953.
On
arrival in Borobudur,you will check into your hotel with time to
relax before enjoying dinner by the swimming pool. The resort is
situated in the countryside of Central Java, with the ragged Menoreh
Hills rising directly behind and a series of volcanoes in the distance.
Amanjiwo looks out onto Borobudur, the largest Buddhist sanctuary
in the world. The free-standing suites are arrayed in two walled
crescents and linked to the main building and the Pool Club by stone
walkways. The suites include a pavilion with a day bed for outdoor
lounging and dining, a four-pillar bed on a terrazzo platform, coconut
wood and rattan furniture and Javanese art and textiles. The bathroom
includes twin dressing areas and an outdoor sunken tub in a garden
setting. Dinner this evening will be on your own arrangement.
AMANJIWO
RESORT (SUITE ROOM): B, L
February
18: Borobudur (Monday)
Your
sightseeing today will be full day to the Borobudur, Sultan's Palace,
Sapto's gallery, bird market and batik outlets. Borobudur, one of
the greatest Buddhist relics of South-East Asia is built sometime
between 750-850 AD in the form of a massive symmetrical stupa, literally
wrapped around the hill. The entire monument was conceived as a
Buddhist vision of the cosmos in stone, starting in the everyday
world and spiraling up to nirvana - the Buddhist heaven. With the
decline of Buddhism and the shift of power to East Java, Borobudur
was abandoned soon after completion and for centuries lay forgotten,
buried under layers of volcanic ash. It was only in 1815, the site
was cleared and restoration began in the early 20th-century.
The
bird market is colorful and crowded with hundreds of budgerigars,
orioles, roosters and singing turtle-doves in ornamental cages.
Batik is an innovative and uniquely Indonesian form of art. Motifs
of flowers, twinning plant, leaves buds, birds, butterflies, fish,
insects and geometric forms are drawn on textiles. Lunch is at Hyatt
Regency. The evening is at leisure and dinner is on your own arrangement.
AMANJIWO
RESORT (SUITE ROOM): B, L
February
19: Borobudur (Tuesday)
Your
day today begins with a full day of sightseeing in this fascinating
area, including a private train trip to Ambarawa and a charter "cog
railway" train with lovely old carriages for a train ride to the
villages of Jambu and Bedong. Dinner this evening will be on your
own arrangement
AMANJIWO
RESORT (SUITE ROOM): B, L
Feb.
20: Borobudur /Jimbaran Bay, Bali (Wednesday)
Transfer
to the Yogyakarta Airport today and fly to Denpasar, the capital
of Bali. On arrival you will be met by a representative of Abercrombie&Kent
and transferred to your resort. The Four Seasons is secluded on
the shore of Jimbaran Bay, one of Bali's most beautiful bays. The
architecture is that of a Balinese villa, and the individual villas
are terraced down the gentle hillside amid luxurious gardens to
Jimbaran Bay. Within every villa are separate pavilions for sleeping,
living and bathing. The main pool cascades off the edge of the earth
and the Spa offers treatments including a deep Balinese massage
and herbal scrubs. Available also are mountain bikes, canoes, catamarans,
wind-surfers, floodlit super-grass tennis courts and a well-equipped
fitness and exercise studio.
The
remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy the facilities of the
hotel, including a full spa that combines ancient Balinese and modern
day spa treatments. Lunch and dinner today are on your own arrangements.
FOUR
SEASONS, JIMBARAN BAY (ONE BEDROOM VILLA): B
Feb.
21: Bali (Thursday)
Your
day will begin with a full day sightseeing. Starting on a trip to
Ubud and Mas, famed for woodcarving and painting respectively and
located only a short distance away. Bali's rich tradition of art
is rooted in its religious history, which continues to influence
the present generation of craftsmen Ubud is a place for both local
and foreign artists. The main street of Ubud is lined with shops
selling crafts as well as tourist souvenirs, while the surrounding
villages and countryside are as charming as ever and most artists
will gladly welcome you into their studio. Mas is an almost exclusively
Brahman enclave and a village of master carvers. In earlier times,
woodcarvers worked only on religious or royal projects, but they
now also produce decorative and art works for export. Here you will
visit the Neka Museum, which boasts the most comprehensive collection
of traditional and modern Balinese paintings on the island. It is
housed in a series of purpose-built pavilions.
Lunch
today is in a restaurant. You will get to see a spectacular view
of rice fields tripping down hillsides like giant steps. The development
of the fields, particularly in the highland areas where extensive
terracing took place, required great organisation, either at a cooperative
village level or through the suppression of a peasant work force.
You will continue to visit Tampaksiring, a small town with probably
the most impressive ancient monument in Bali. The large and important
Tirta Empul Temple founded in 962 AD, has a holy spring in the inner
courtyard is believed to have magic curative powers. Dinner this
evening will be at the Amanusa Resort.
FOUR
SEASONS, JIMBARAN BAY (ONE BEDROOM VILLA): B, L, D
Feb.
22: Bali (Friday)
This
morning you will have a visit to the Bali Museum in Denpasar. The
museum houses a fine collection of archaeological artifacts and
examples of Balinese craftsmanship. See also the region's most illustrious
temple, Pura Uluwatu, unrivaled on the island for sheer grandeur
of site and elegance of architecture. Return to the resort for a
leisure afternoon and lunch is on your own arrangement. This evening
you will have a performance of Kecak dance around the lower pool,
followed by dinner at "PJ'S" located in the resort.
FOUR
SEASONS, JIMBARAN BAY (ONE BEDROOM VILLA): B, D
Feb.
23: Bali/Hong Kong (Saturday)
The
morning is at leisure for independent activities. Lunch is on your
own arrangements. This afternoon you will be transferred to the
airport for the flight to Hong Kong. On arrival, you are met and
transferred to your hotel. This evening is at leisure and dinner
is on your own arrangements.
PENINSULA
HOTEL (FULL HARBOR VIEW ROOM, NEW TOWER)B
Feb.
24: Hong Kong (Sunday)
After
breakfast this morning, embark on a comprehensive tour which focuses
on the unique heritage of Hong Kong, a city built on British administration
and Chinese ingenuity and hard work. Explore the back lanes of the
city with its herbal medicine pharmacies and neighborhood temples,
led by a Hong Kong specialist. From there marvel at the architectural
masterpieces of the 20th century Hong Kong including the dynamic
Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Building, and the I.M. Pei designed
new Bank of China Tower. Return to Kowloon by Star Ferry for lunch
at Spring Moon and the rest of the afternoon is at leisure to relax
and enjoy some time for your own independent activities This evening's
activities start with drinks on a Junk cruise and continue with
a Farewell Dinner at "Felix", both in the hotel.
PENINSULA
HOTEL (FULL HARBOR VIEW ROOM, NEW TOWER) B, L, D
Feb.
25 Hong Kong / USA (Monday)
Today
you will be transferred to the airport by Rolls Royce and assisted
with departure formalities before boarding your homebound flight.
B
Tour
Price: $8,821.00 (per person double room occupancy and based on
a minimum of 15 passengers and a maximum of 24 passengers traveling.
Single
Room Supplement: $3,978.00
Internal
Air Fare: $1,300.00 per person for Singapore to Solo, Yogjakarta
to Bali and Bali to Hong Kong.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Your
Cities of South China Sea land arrangements include:
Accommodations:
All hotel accommodations as shown in the itinerary based on twin
bedded rooms with private bath or shower, in superior room at the
best available properties. Single accommodations cannot be guaranteed.
Suites are available at some destinations at a supplementary cost.
Meals:
Breakfast as indicated in the itinerary, beginning on February 16th,
2002. Lunch as indicated in the itinerary including local wine or
beer, soft drinks or mineral water and coffee/tea. Dinner as indicated
in the itinerary including local wine or beer, soft drinks or mineral
water and coffee.
Sightseeing:
Sightseeing as indicated in the itinerary by private vehicle and
with a qualified A & K guide. All entertainment as indicated
in the itinerary. All entrances fees as indicated in the itinerary.
Surface
Transportation:
Surface transportation will be provided in the most modern equipment
available with a professional English-speaking driver/guide. Bottled
water on coaches.
Air
Transportation:
The airfare from Singapore to Solo, from Yogjakarta to Bali, from
Bali to Hong Kong are a separate cost in addition to the land price.
Escort:
Your program includes the services of a professional Abercrombie
& Kent tour escort, and services of local city guides.
Taxes
& Service Charges:
Hotel taxes and service charges as imposed by city and state governments
are included for hotel services specified in the itinerary.
Gratuities:
All gratuities for hotel staff, restaurant, drivers and local guides.
NOTE: (Gratuity to the A & K Escort is not included as it is
felt that this is better left to the individual's discretion)
Transfers
& Baggage Handling:
Arrival transfer in Singapore to the hotel. Departure transfer in
Singapore to the airport. Arrival transfer in Solo, Indonesia to
the hotel. Departure transfer in Yogyakarta to the airport. Arrival
and departure transfer in Bali. Arrival and departure transfer in
Hongkong. Transfers on arrival and departure from airport to hotel
and return, including porterage of 2 bags per person. (Baggage and
personal effects are at owner's risk throughout the tour and baggage
insurance for members is strongly advised.)
PRICING:
Please
contact Quality Travel Services for updated prices.
Or use our online Travel
Request Form.
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Quality Travel Serivices, Inc. 2007. All Rights Reserved.