Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 17 December 2024

SAVINGS FOR ASIA

There are savings of up to $3800 per couple for early bookings on some trips in APT’s newly released Vietnam and Cambodia 2025-2026 season. APT’s program includes voyages on the Mekong River on its river ship Mekong Serenity. But APT is broader than that and is more than 95 years old. The season has tours which combine land journeys with river cruising.

One of its most popular trips is the 13-day Vietnam and Cambodia Highlights, which visits 13 destinations, including seeing Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and attending a Buddhist blessing ceremony at a monastery in Oudong. It includes a seven-night Mekong Serenity cruise and starts from $7395 per person, including savings of up to $3000 per couple.

APT’s 17-day Vietnam and Cambodia Discovery includes the seven-night cruise and also a three-day luxury cruise in Ha Long Bay. It visits 15 destinations and is from $9995 per person, including savings of up to $3400 per couple. aptouring.com.au and 1300 336 932

SERENITY NOW

Launched in 2023, APT’s Mekong Serenity is a purpose-built ship with 44 suites, four dining venues, a guest-to- crew ratio of 2 to 1, an outdoor pool, and a spa and fitness centre. And being on the Mekong takes travellers to regional Vietnam and Cambodia — to visit riverside villages and connect with local farmers and artists. Mogens Johansen sailed on the Mekong Serenity last year. The story of his voyage is here, and free.

FAMILY OWNED

A spokesperson says APT is Australia’s biggest family-owned tour and cruise company (which has now grown into a global business) and I like the fact that it has dedicated consultants who can guide travellers through the entire booking process. They will book all aspects of the tour, including flights, pre and post-tour accommodation, rail, car hire, day tours — and even help with visa requirements. There is also access to a 24-7 emergency contact number. aptouring.com.au

VIETNAM PLAN

Q: A Perth traveller looking for a family “relax-by-the-pool kind of holiday” who doesn’t want to go to Bali or Thailand.

A: There are direct flights from Perth to Vietnam with VietJet (usually cheaper) and Vietnam Airlines. From there, a private car takes a bit over two hours to Vung Tau, on the south coast (there are online bookers like blacklane.com). Or there’s a fast ferry, which takes a little longer but gets you out of the traffic (greenlines-dp.com/en/). There are good “boutique resorts” in Vung Tau — smaller places like V Boutique Hotel and Song Boutique. For something quieter, Long Hai is just a bit further, and then Ho Tram.

123 GO FOR LIGHTS

In northern Vietnam, the iconic 123-year-old Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel has a “Candlelit Wonderland” theme for the festive season. There are shimmering ornaments and sparkling lights, with a 15m-tall Christmas tree as the centrepiece. This historic hotel’s five and seven-course Christmas Eve dinners are from about $200 (VND 3.3m) to $325 (VND 5.3m). sofitel-legend-metropole-hanoi.com

SURF SRI LANKA

Surfing in Sri Lanka is riding a wave of popularity and guests at Teardrop Hotels’ Fort Bazaar (Galle Fort) and Kumu Beach (Balapitiya) properties are now being offered a two-hour private surfing session.

Sri Lanka has been a lesser-known surf destination since the 1970s. With warm water and consistent waves, the surf is good for all skill levels.

South-west Surf Hikkaduwa, Dewata, Ahangama and Weligama from the end of October to early April.

East Coast Arugam Bay and Whisky Point are best from May to October.

Shoulder season The Dewata and Weligama beaches can be good in July and August, and are safe for beginners, with sandy-bottomed breaks. More advanced waves are further back, with offshore winds making clean waves.

Teardrop Hotels’ private two-hour surfing experience at Dewata Beach, for up to four people, is from $US35 ($55) per person for guests. It begins with half an hour of theory and demonstration of basic moves, followed by a one-hour practical lesson. teardrop-hotels.com

DRY INTERIOR

Kings Canyon, three hours’ drive from Uluru and five from Alice Springs, is in Watarrka National Park, which has just been added to the National Heritage List. Recognised for its outstanding national significance, it is the traditional lands of the Anangu ngurraritja traditional owners. It’s a favourite spot of mine and there’s a bit to do there:

Kings Canyon Rim Walk is a 6km trail with big views of the red cliffs and desert landscapes. It was featured in the movie The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, and takes walkers to the Garden of Eden, an oasis with ancient flora, chasms and a water hole.

There’s also the gentler Kings Creek Walk — a 2.6km stroll.

Stay at Discovery Resorts — Kings Canyon, which has campsites, cabins, safari-style tents and spa rooms with king-sized beds. discoveryholidayparks.com.au

SEE THE LIGHT

Discovery Resorts — Kings Canyon now has a Light-Towers installation by artist Bruce Munro, who did the light show at Uluru, and the temporary Field Of Light in Albany in 2018. But Light-Towers, at Kings Canyon, is a permanent light and sound spectacle. It features 69 glowing, 2m-tall towers that shift in harmony with sounds by Orlando Gough. Munro was inspired by his first visit to Kings Canyon in 1992. He recalls how a fellow camper’s suggestion led him and his now-wife Serena to go to Kings Canyon — a visit which continues to inspire him.

HISTORY THROUGH LAW

Reader Pauline Handford kindly says she’s keeping our recent When Family And Friends Come To Visit edition for future reference. And she adds: “In your area around Elizabeth Quay, you perhaps could include the Old Courthouse Museum.” It is in Perth’s oldest building (the 1836 Court House). The building was built as the Swan River Colony’s legal hub, then became the centre of early colonial social and civic life. It is open Monday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

lawsocietywa.asn.au/old-court- house-law-museum/

Pauline adds: “It was also the venue for Dom Salvado’s piano recital in the early days of the colony when he was raising funds for New Norcia.”

New Norcia is Australia’s only monastic town. The Benedictine monk community founded in 1847 by Spanish Dom Salvado is about 115km north of Midland up Tonkin and Great Northern highways.

Pauline has a trip to France planned and says she is listening to The Pod Well Travelled’s Packing Series. (Find it wherever you get your podcasts.)