Since our last update in December, Christmas and the Western and Chinese New Years have come and gone…

Looking back…

Burma Research with Mareen and Nancy

In January, Mareen and Nancy, accompanied by Htein Linn, a Burmese photographer, went to Burma for three-and-a-half weeks. This on-the-ground research, together with knowledge gathered over the years, formed the basis for our first Burma itinerary (about which more below).

Red Earth and Fields of Gold

In March, Mareen, Nancy, Ron, and Fiona hosted a group of guests, many of whom have previously joined quite a few of our journeys, on a new itinerary, Yunnan through a Lens: Red Earth and Fields of Gold.

Our Customer – Andrew and Glenis

One of the guests told us after the journey that: “…we had a wonderful trip, passing thru the most beautiful scenery ever. Mareen, Nancy & Fiona served us really well with their heart, that we appreciate & Ron has been a most professional mentor, patiently coaching the least qualified photographer like us. Our driver Mr. Wu was such a cautious driver with excellent driving manners.“

Looking forward…

Burma really is the next big thing for us. In the next few weeks, we are very pleased to be able to share more information about our first Burma journeys. For now though, we can tell you:

• 

  Burmese fishermen

  The first journeys will depart 9 November, 2016 (4 cars booked, 1 more car available) and 29 November, 2016 (available). January 2017 is fully booked and Feburary 2017 (available).

• You can view our all-new Journey Dossier here.

• For those of you in Hong Kong, we will organise a Burma talk-and-dinner event in May.

Join Us

We’re hiring… We are looking for journey hosts. If you know anyone like Mareen, Nancy or Peifen, our wonderful journey hosts, please let them know that we are hiring and ask them to visit our “Join us” page.

Between May and September, we are offering journeys for photography lovers, for families with children and more. In case you’ve missed our announcements, please take a look at the schedule below:

Searching for SHANGRI-LA – April 8^th & 29^th and July 15^th

• Our most popular Yunnan journey…
• Why go? Read our blog essay right here…
• In a nutshell
  • What?
    • In just a few days, see how beautiful China can be!
    • Discover where Shangri-La really might have been!
    • Stunningly beautiful boutique hotels, along back roads, far away from the crowds.
• How long? 7 or 9 days
• How much? Starting from CNY23,700/person
• Click here for yet more info

PHOTOGRAPHY: Yunnan through a Lens:  Tea Horse Trails – June 3^rd

• For photography lovers…there’s nothing like working with Ron!
• Read Ron’s recent short essay about travel photography in this region…
• In a nutshell
  • Where? Hidden gems of Yunnan along the tea horse trail
  • What?
    • Capture moments with your camera like never before.
    • Work, hands-on, with Ron and learn his techniques for portraits, landscapes, architecture, low-light and many other situations.
• How long? 6 or 9 days
• How much? Starting from CNY29,600/person

FAMILY: Adventures in Yunnan  – July 4^th and July 15^th

• An unforgettable adventure for the whole family!
• In a nutshell
  • What?
    • Experiences, not things!
    • Haggling in the markets (in Pugonghua), gentle hiking, batik making, up-close-and-personal encounters with a Tibetan family…
    • Memories of a great time together!
• How long? 8 or 10 days
• How much? Starting from CNY78,000 (for a family of 4) less early-bird discount of 10% for those who book by March 31st!

FAMILY & PHOTOGRAPHY: Travel Photography with Ron Yue – June 24^thand October 21^st

• Start the holidays with a Family Adventure with Master Photographer Ron Yue
• Click here for more info and read Ron’s latest blog entry about photography…
• In a nutshell
  • What?
    • Give your children the gift of photography…to see beauty everywhere!
    • See beauty where others don’t, learn to simplify life, re-learn the value of patience…
• How long? 8 or 10 days
• How much? Starting from CNY84,720 (for a family of 4) less early-bird discount of 10% for those who book by March 31st!

CROSSING BORDERS into Lao and Vietnam – May 13^th  and September 16^th

• Travel through ancient Asian Border Lands
• In a nutshell
  • What?
    • At the best times of the year…
    • … drive from Yunnan via northern Lao to Mai Chau in Vietnam.
    • Discover, along back roads, a region brimming with different minorities…
• How long? 9 days
• How much? Starting from CNY39,900  less early-bird discount of 10% for those who book by March 15th!
• Alternative date September 16^th : For a longer version “Summit to Sea: Yunnan to Vietnam”, please write to us for details.

On 16 April, On the Road will be a live-auction sponsor at the annual Gala Dinner of a Hong Kong-based charity called Kids4kids. Our sponsored prize is for a family of four to join our “Family Adventures – Travel Photography in Yunnan” journey. We have designed this journey to inspire an interest in travel photography – the art of seeing beauty everywhere – something that might become a lifelong passion for children, and an activity that parents and children can share. In this world of “insta-” everything, having a chance to explore a new environment as a family and learning a new skill together provides a particularly meaningful break from the frenetic pace of everyday life.

We are proud to be sponsoring several other charitable events in the months to come.

Happy Easter!

We wish you a Happy Easter!

Over the Easter period, Angie and I will be in Europe. I’m selling it to her as a “holiday”. As she does every time, she will ask me “Do you call this a holiday?” Why? Because, during our trip we will be also researching a new itinerary that will run through the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Italy (Fruili and Alto Adige). Whether business or pleasure – fortunately the two often overlap, we can’t wait to go!

We wish you, too, Happy Easter and a Peaceful Qing Ming!