CuriOdyssey Travel
Custom & Curated Travel Planning
Chinese Proverb
"DON'T LISTEN TO
WHAT THEY SAY.
GO SEE."
ASIA
Use these trip ideas as starting points. They can be taken as described or customized for your interests or expertise.
Don’t see a trip or a country here? Just ask!
EAST ASIA
Explore several of the world’s most spectacular fossil sites of feathered dinosaurs, the species at the transition from reptile to bird. This is an unusual opportunity to see natural and cultural China, the best of the must-see sites plus off-the-beaten-path destinations. Tour important fossil sites in remote, traditional China, plus the Museum of Vertebrate Paleontology and Changdzou Dinosaur Park.
Discover a Japan rarely seen in tours: bustling markets, village life, volcanoes, forests, and lesser-visited Kyoto temples. Mountains, hills, and forests cover over two thirds of Japan; travel from the coast to the mountains by bullet train and hand-rowed houseboats. Sample Japanese foods, which must satisfy all the senses, and visit its famous fish markets.
Enter the beauty, peace, and grace of Japan, Korea, and China through their art, gardens, temples, and people. Gardening in East Asia is heavily influenced by Taoism, which emphasizes nature and mystery. This is a trip of serene vistas and is a photographer’s paradise.
This unusual journey begins in Beijing, visiting highlights such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. Then fly deep into the Himalayas to Lhasa, Tibet. Often referred to as “Shangri La” or “the Rooftop of the World,” Tibet has long captured the imagination of the West. Back in China, meet with scientists and researchers and visit pandas at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Center and the Wolong Panda Preserve.
Journey into a spectacular karst limestone landscape of dramatic gorges and canyons with terraced hillsides and enchanting vistas. Its isolation makes it one of China’s most culturally and naturally rich provinces. Discover the artistic and musical traditions of the many minority groups found here, before this undiscovered gem opens up very shortly.
Make the epic journey overland from Mongolia’s breathtaking Gobi Desert to Siberia’s “Blue Pearl,” Lake Baikal, as few travelers have. In the Gobi Desert, visit some of the most important paleontological discoveries, explore stunning landscapes where Bactrian camels roam, and visit with local nomads. Then drive to Irkutsk, Siberia, a place of exile since the days of Genghis Khan. The culture here is a fascinating mix of Asian and European, traditional and modern.
Retrace what was once the world’s most daunting trade route: the Ancient Tea and Horse Caravan Road. Passing through the mightiest mountain range on Earth—the Himalayas—the Road often intersected with the Southern Silk Road and served as a vital route for isolated tribes. Today it remains a fascinating window on authentic China. Also travel to Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai, where China’s classic imperial palaces and gardens stand alongside skyscrapers.
Three Faces
of Japan
Explore three distinct regions of Japan and experience the country as few foreigners—or even Japanese—ever see it. Visit three islands, each with distinctive geographical features, history, and cultures. On Hokkaido, see alpine and coastal wilderness, dramatic thermal hot springs, caldera lakes surrounded by mountains, and tribal culture. On Honshu, witness the rich history of Kyoto and Tokyo. On Okinawa, relax among tropical reefs and white sand beaches, learn about the traditional Ryuku people and the island’s history during World War II.
From its mystical source in the 14,000-foot Tibetan highlands, the Yellow River sweeps across the northern plains where China's original inhabitants first learned to till and irrigate, to make porcelain and gunpowder, to build and bury imperial dynasties. The river, curving through regions intermittently touched by China’s economic boom, mirrors the country’s path to modernity, and captures the soul of the nation.
Discover two of Mongolia's most fascinating regions, the Altai Mountains of Western Mongolia, where Kazakh hunters celebrate their traditional culture and magnificent Golden Eagles, and the Gobi Desert. Visit the Flaming Cliffs, the legendary site where the first nest of dinosaur eggs was discovered, and Tugregiin Shiree, where paleontologists unearthed the "Fighting Dinosaurs" fossil. A highlight will be attending the spectacular Golden Eagle Festival.
Diverse and interesting excursions await; learn about nature and conservation from Chang Mai in the north to Khao Sok in the South, and the stunning limestone karst islands and legendary beaches of Phang-Nga Bay. Hike through forests, cruise through blue seas, and discover Thailand's beautiful flora and fauna.
This original journey presents three countries linked by their common Khmer heritage. Learn about Khmer architecture, from seldom-visited gems to Cambodia’s sprawling, thousand-year old Angkor Wat. In Laos, witness the misty-morning alms walk of the saffron-shrouded monks, cruise along the Mekong River, and visit golden temples. Witness life along the Mekong River, peruse local markets, and discover Khmer heritage from yesterday to today.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Indonesia’s islands, 17,000 at last count, are strewn across the Pacific. Rainforests, rice fields, ancient monuments, prolific wildlife, and over 300 distinct traditional cultures make wondrous destinations for exploration. This journey captures the essence of this diverse land, from Bali and its outlying islands to Java and Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo). A highlight of this trip is the six nights spent aboard a beautiful125-foot wooden schooner.
Experience a country still unspoiled and meet the cultured and hospitable people of Vietnam in a variety of settings. Travel from fast-moving Ho Chi Minh City to the tranquil Temple of Literature in Hanoi. View diverse architectural styles and the legacy of a long history of foreign invasions, in these two cities and in Hue and Hoi An. Drive through highland plateaus and narrow coastal plains with stunning limestone scenery, and marvel at the beauty of Halong Bay.
Explore Indonesia’s dramatic biological and geological variations from Kalimantan, Borneo, to Komodo Island. Observe why Orangutans, tigers, and rhinoceros are found in Indonesia’s west, while just mere miles to the east live Komodo dragons and highly endemic animals of Australian descent instead. Discover caves, spectacular national parks, playful Orangutans, pink coral beaches, coral reefs, the world's largest lizards, and fascinating local cultures and their arts and cuisine.
In the rainforests of Borneo, the orangutan shares 96% of their DNA with humans. Learn about wildlife issues that affect the Orangutan and on the preservation of the habitat that protects them. Observe where orphaned orangutan are rescued and raised. Witness the botanical paradise of Mount Kinabalu. Spend a night on an island to observe a night turtle landing. Take guided walks, dip in a waterfall, go river rafting, and walk along forest canopies.
Become immersed in old French Indochina, from ancient capitals to recently discovered gems. Witness both the must-see highlights and visits to more remote villages. Travel over the Thai border from the Golden Triangle into Myanmar. Cruise two days on the Mekong River, take an elephant ride at sunrise along the riverbanks, and meet with conservation and aid organizations. Conclude in enigmatic and breathtaking Angkor Wat.
Discover remote villages, archaeology, seldom-visited tribal peoples, pagodas, shrines, and traditional markets. So much of Burma was closed off for so long that there remain pockets of humanity in a type of splendid seclusion, unprecedented in Southeast Asia. Venture into areas that have just opened to travelers—villages, an archaeological site accessible only by boat—impossible just a few years ago. Here, the Asia of old endures nearly untouched by modern influences.
Discover the Himalayan Kingdoms of Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan in a single, unusual trip. The ancient cultures that flourished in the remote valleys and mountain plateaus of the Himalaya were once hidden to the outside world. They reigned in splendid isolation with gorgeous vistas, peaceful farms, and deep religious convictions on the rooftops of the world. No other chain can boast of peaks of 26,000 feet. Discover its beauty, history, arts and culture.
Ladakh is unique in India, located in a far-flung corner of northern India that is surrounded by alpine desert and bounded by two of the world’s largest mountain ranges. Nearly inaccessible from the outside world each year from November to May, Ladakh’s relative isolation has preserved an almost medieval way of life. However, despite the rugged terrain and difficult climatic conditions, the people of Ladakh exhibit a natural joie de vivre. This is a trip for the true adventurer.
SOUTH ASIA
Water has been an object of worship in India from time immemorial, and rivers are considered to be most sacred. Experience the range of cities and wildlife habitats along many of India’s mightiest rivers, including the Indus, the Brahmaputra, and the most sacred Ganges (including the Chambal and Hugli tributaries). Visit villages, monuments, holy sites, and explore wildlife sanctuaries that are home to tigers, sambar, leopard, and more.
Bhutan is steeped in ancient customs, yet measures its success by remarkably progressive standards—the “Gross National Happiness” of its citizens. This unusual outlook is influenced by Buddhist spiritual values, a desire to conserve the natural environment, and a unique culture. Discover a land with a timeless and spiritual quality not easily found elsewhere in the world. Learn about traditional medicine, talk with monks, and meet students on the forefront of Bhutan’s transition to modernity.
Tumbling down from the Tibetan Plateau to the Bay of Bengal is one of the world’s greatest rivers, the Brahmaputra. Cruise along the river, exploring teeming cities, ruins of ancient kingdoms, tea estates, Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries, numerous national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage National Park of Kaziranga, home of the world’s largest population of Asian rhino and a sizeable population of Bengal tigers. Visit a tea garden, explore towns by rickshaw, and witness life along the busy Brahmaputra river.
The lands of southern India offer visitors a world of discovery. Begin in the densely forested and mountainous Western Ghats. In its jungles, search for the last remaining large herds of Asiatic elephant, and tiger, leopard, and wild dog. Descend into the verdant plains of Kerala, where sky, sea, lakes, and emerald-green fields of rice paddies merge seamlessly. Cruise on traditional rice boats though a network of lakes, lagoons, and canals. Throughout, temples, markets, public squares, and roads are alive with the effervescence of friendly people.
The pages of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book come alive! Travel through ancient civilizations, architectural wonders, and lush nature. Watch a magnificent wild tiger stroll through its native habitat; explore forests from atop the back of a powerful, gentle elephant; be amazed at the temples of Khajuraho and stand in reverence at the holy city of Varanasi. Experience an exotic landscape of rich colors, textures, unique wildlife and cultural wonders.
Rajasthan fulfills one’s fantasies about India with its magnificent palaces and forts, colorful bazaars and festivals. The desert fort of Jodhpur, the palaces and lakes of Udaipur, the spectacular Jain temples at Ranakpur, and Ranthambhore National Park evoke the romance and splendor of India’s princely past. In the Thar Desert, enjoy a jeep safari, ride a camel or horse, take walks and visit villages. Overnight in palaces once home to pre-Independence royalty, and also in comfortable tented camps to experience night in the desert and dining under the stars.
CENTRAL ASIA & WEST ASIA
The countries of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran are woven together like the burnished threads of a fine Persian carpet. From earliest recorded history, they have exchanged rulers, architecture, art, and religion. Explore dazzling bazaars and extravagant architecture along the old Silk Road between Tashkent and Tehran. Admire seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites along old caravan routes, learning about the culture, nature, science, history, architecture, and spiritual beliefs that have had such a profound impact on the modern world.
Take a modern-day caravan on an epic journey along the Silk Road. Travel ancient trade routes where merchants passed with exotic goods, foreign beliefs, and new forms of architecture, agriculture, music, and art. Encounter surprising alpine lakes and meadows in Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan’s boisterous bazaars and gleaming modern monuments, Uzbekistan’s blue oases, the red rock formations of Kazakhstan, and the ancient ruins of Tajikistan. Discover a rich medley of cultures, natural beauty, contemporary politics, and friendly people.
Open the door to enigmatic Iran on this remarkable journey of discovery. Once the seat of the mighty Persian Empire that grew up alongside the ancient Greeks and Romans, Iran today is a place of searing beauty, with its billowing domes and mosaic-clad mosques and madrasahs. Its monumental archeological sites are some of the finest in the world, its architecture is infused with color and energy and its bazaars are without equal. With a culture that prizes hospitality, Iranians are unfailingly warm and engaging, delighting in welcoming travelers into their modern lives.
Experience the wave of change washing over the diverse cultures of the Trans-Caucasus on this journey of education and discovery. Wedged between the Black and Caspian seas at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan feature stunning mountain landscapes, age-old customs, remarkable bio-diversity, and a steadily improving infrastructure. With their unique place in history as the crossroads of trade, religion, language, and the arts, these little countries host a fascinating modern culture as well as some of the earths oldest traces.
East meets west, north meets south: since time immemorial, this rugged, remote branch of the ancient Silk Road has existed at the intersection of trails trodden by nomads, peddlers, pilgrims and, at times, the soldiers and emissaries of great powers. Take a breath-taking caravan-style journey through Western China, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, with glimpses of Afghanistan from across the Tajik-Afghan border, the Panj River. Travel up and over the majestic Pamir Mountains, newly accessible after decades of isolation, through busy cities, and secluded villages.
Follow in the footsteps of disguised British spies and wily Russian Cossacks up and over the sheer passes of the majestic Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains—newly accessible after decades of isolation—through the busy cities, secluded villages and remote ravines of Western China, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, the very territory so passionately desired by both Britain and Russia in the 19th century. See for yourself the daily lives of people in this isolated corner of the world; a place where great powers have often been outwitted.
Radiating outward from the lush eastern coast of the Black Sea, the rugged sunburnt Anatolian Plateau of Eastern Turkey and the steep-sided green valleys of Georgia are brilliantly paired on this unusual back-road exploration. Although modern times have arrived in parts of eastern Turkey, they have left untouched the heartfelt traditions and natural treasures. In Georgia, the rich valleys and towering mountains hide villages where the wine flows, the feasts are frequent, and hospitality and graciousness are unquestioned.
This adventure focuses on the wild Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia's east coast, the most spectacular volcanic region in the world. The region is also known for its abundance of wildlife, including sable, ermine, and the Kamchatka brown bear. The native Kamchatka people hunt, fish and herd reindeer; travel north to a seldom-visited region to meet them. Also helicopter over the volcanoes and to a traditional summer camp of indigenous peoples who breed reindeer.