Travel

Within the margins of Asia

If you want to enjoy your holidays within the margins of Asia you have a variety of choices. From bustling Bangkok with its floating markets and ancient Buddhist temples, to the romance of rain in Cherrapunji, the shimmering scenery of Shillong, cloud-surfing in Darjeeling, culture and adventure in Srilanka, and finally, scaling heights in Nepal, there's no dearth of places to see and things to do. There are plenty of tour operators around the city, who offer some attractive package deals. Let's look at a few names that offer you the perfect hassle-free holiday at an affordable price.

Galaxy Holidays
Galaxy Holidays offers a 6-day 5-night Bangkok/Ho Chih Minh twin city package.
Package highlights include two nights' stay in Bangkok Hotel, three nights' stay in Ho Chih Minh. The package charge is US $583 (single) or US $339 on twin or triple share basis. The price includes all land transfers between airport and hotel in Ho Chih Minh and Bangkok, sightseeing and entrances in Ho Chih Minh and Bangkok city and also shopping tours.
A 6-day 5-night Bangkok/Yangon twin city package will cost US $830 on single basis and US $427 on twin or triple share basis.
The 6 day 5 night Bangkok and Chiang Mai explorer package will cost US $342 on a single basis and $207 on twin or triple share basis if stay at DMA hotel/Duangtawan. The charge will rise to US $427 (single basis) and US $269 (twin or triple) if you stay in Holiday Inn/Duangtawan hotels.
A 5-day 4-night Bangkok and Pattaya package will cost US $177 on twin or triple share basis.
They also have a 4-day 3-night Kuala Lumpur/Genting highland package and a 3-day 2-night Kuala Lumpur trip.
A 3-night 4-day Kathmandu trip will cost around Tk12,000, 3-night 4-day Kathmandu/Nagarkot will cost around Tk14,000 and 4-night 5-day Kathmandu/Phokhra trip will cost around Tk17,000. In India they have Dhaka-Delhi-Ajmir-Delhi-Dhaka trip and Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Delhi.
They also offer Sri Lanka, Singapore, Vietnam, and a special shopping tour in Bangkok.
Galaxy Holidays is situated at Taj Marriot, 5th floor, 25, Gulshan Avenue. Their contact no is 9888055 and 9885871

South Asian Tourism
Their Dhaka-Sylhet-Shillong-Dhaka 4-night 5-day guided trip will cost Tk8000 per person. Prices include expense for transportation, sightseeing, accommodation on twin sharing basis and all meals including evening snacks. But you have to have extra money for travel tax, boarder expenses and entry fees to the places of interest, still and video camera charges. Visa charges are also your responsibility.
They also offer a 4-night 5-day trip to Kakorvita, and Darjeeling at the price of Tk8000. Tour highlights are the same as above.
South Asian Tourism is situated at Ahmed Plaza, 819 Begum Rokeya Shawroni, Shewrapara, Mirpur. Their phone no is 9004096.

Prime Tourism Network
This company arrange regular trips to India, Nepal and Bhutan. Their next package highlights are as follows:
A 10-day trip following the Dhaka-Kolkata-Agra-Jaipur-Azmir-Delhi-Dhaka route costs Tk14, 900.
7-day trip, Dhaka-Darjeeling (India)-Kakarvitta (Nepal)-Phuntsoling (Bhutan)-Dhaka, at Tk9.900.
Dhaka-Kolkata-Chandigarh-Simla-Kulu-Manali-Dhaka at the cost of Tk16.900 for 12 days.
Dhaka-Kolkata-Jammu-Srinagar(Kashmir)-Amritsar-Dhaka at Tk20,900 for 14 days.
Dhaka-Kolkata-Murshidabad-Siliguri-Darjeeling-Digha-Shantiniketon-Dhaka at
Tk10.900 for 11-day.
A 9-day trip following Dhaka-Darjeeling-Lava-Loleygaon-Kalimpong-Dhaka route will cost Tk9, 900.
A 14-day Dhaka-Kolkata-Bombay-Goa-Bangalore-Chennai-Dhaka trip cost Tk18.900. And an 8-day Dhaka-Kolkata-Puri-Bhubeneshwar-Dhaka trip will cost Tk9.900.
Package price includes hotel expenses, all meals, transport cost, tax, sight-seeing, and guide service.
To book your place in one of these package trips visit their office at room no 506, Motaleb Mansion, 2, RK Mission Road. Their phone no is 9562430 and 7111990.

Amazing Holidays
Amazing Holidays offers a 3 day 2 night Kuala Lumpur package priced Tk17, 999 per person on twin sharing basis. Package includes two nights stay at Malaya Hotel at Kuala Lumpur, breakfast, half-day city tour, airport transfers, and full day Genting Highlands tour. Amazing Holidays also arranges trip to Kakorvita, Darjeeling, Shillong and Cherrapunjee. A 4 night-5 day Kakorvita-Darjeeling trip will cost Tk8000 per person. Price includes Dhaka-Burimari- Dhaka transport (AC bus). Burimari-Shiliguri-Kakorvita-Darjeeling non-AC Jeep/Coach, hotel accommodation on twin sharing basis all meals, sightseeing, guide services, visa and dollar endorsement and travel tax. The next trip is on May 26 and on June 15.
The Shillong-Cherrapunjee trip is also for 4 nights and 5 days with the same charge offering almost the same services. The next trip starts on 18 May and 8 June.

Guide tours Limited
This company arranges a 5-day trip to Darjeeling. It will follow Burimari route via Sayadpur by air, then drive to Darjeeling. Next two days is Darjeeling stay. Day four is back to Bangladesh and day five is a visit to the Kantajee temple. The Bangladesh part will cost Tk16,000.00 for 2 people on twin sharing basis.
For the accommodation and transfers in India it will cost around US$ 295 for 2 on a twin sharing basis. The price includes all transfers, all accommodation in Darjeeling, currently applicable taxes, Sikkim entry permit. But price excludes all entry fees, international charges, portage, personal expenses etc. all meals and all sightseeing.
Guide Tours Limited is situated at Darpan Complex (1st Floor), Plot #2, Gulshan Circle 2. Their phone no is 9862205 and 9886983.

World Tourism Limited
They arrange a Sylhet-Shillong-Sylhet 5 day 4 nights trip. Their address is 29/A, Purana Paltan lane.

The Bengal tours Limited
Bengal arranges a Darjeeling trip. The package will cost Tk8500. Minimum size of the group has to be at least 6 person. Bengal Tours is situated at house no 45, road no 27, block a, Banani. Their phone no is 8820716 and 9885940.

Saint Martin tourism
A ten-day Dhaka-Kolkata-Delhi-Agra-Azmir-Joypur-Kolkata-Dhaka with this tour company will cost Tk11, 900. For an 11-day Dhaka-Kolkata-Hydrabad-Uti-Maysur-Bangalore-Kolkata trip, they will charge the same. If you want to visit Shillong, Cherrapunjee, Gohatti, and Kamruk Kamakkha it will cost you Tk5, 900. They also have trips to Nepal and Bhutan. Their address is 37/B, Purana Paltan lane. Their phone no is 9338431.
By Shahnaz Parveen
Special thanks to Faisal Ahmed
Disclaimer: Star Lifestyle is not responsible for any changes in price, service and itinerary made by the tour operators.