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Discover China’s frontier land on a caravan tour
More and more travellers are searching for unique and exclusive
experiences in China, according to tour operator, China Caravan Tour,
and the company is tapping the growing niche.
 Camping
in the Xinjiang mountains: clients set their own schedules on certain
trips. (Photo by China Caravan Tour)
Senior adviser, Mr. Carl Liu, said the company noticed clients were no
longer satisfied with peering at vistas through the frosted glass of a
tour bus. So it decided to help them hit the open road in the back of
safari caravans to experience what few have access to.
“Our trips are a way to touch the wild. They are a way to experience the
land and get close to nature…have an adventure,” he said.
Indeed, the Silk Road caravan tours are a world apart from the
structured itineraries and rushed atmospheres of many conventional
tours. By contrast, they are all about flexibility and freedom, and
allow travellers to move at their own pace and set their own schedules.
“We strive to provide an experience that is much more involved and
intimate than other tours,” Mr. Liu said.
The company offers a series of set tours from April to October (outside
of which it is too cold to operate), including three - and four-week
sojourns departing Kashgar in Xinjiang, heading along the Silk Road back
to Beijing via Xi’an and Datong. Another highly recommended route is
from Dunhuang in Xinjiang, along a mountainous stretch of the Silk Road,
down to Tibet in the south. Groups are also free to pick their route
depending on the timing and other requirements.
Mr. Liu said China Caravan Tour was actively marketing its packages to
clients in Europe and Asia who were more able to afford extended visits
than their Chinese counterparts.
“Most of our customers are from Europe - in particular Germany and the
UK where we have strong partnerships with travel agents and companies
offering similar tours. I think it’s also popular with these groups
because they have had experience with caravan tours.
“We also have quite a lot of interest from Asia, but not so much from
China, mainly because this sort of travel is seen as quite expensive for
local Chinese, plus it’s a relatively unknown concept to them.”
“If clients ask us to take them (by caravan) to other parts of China,
then we will go where there is demand.”
The trips are popular with both leisure and FIT groups, according to Mr.
Liu, who regularly customises packages: “Our clients are a mix of
leisure and business travellers. For business groups, it’s popular
because it’s a very unique form of team building.”
Unlike the Winnebago-style caravans most foreigners are familiar with,
the vans used in China Caravan Tour’s excursions are more like large,
open wagons. With a huge engine, the truck can handle any terrain Mother
Nature dishes up, including sandy dunes, icy mountain passes and
everything in between.
Inside, large glassless windows ensure guests have unobstructed views of
the landscape. Seats are arranged “safari” style – some facing forward,
some backward, interspersed with the odd table, luggage lockers and a
bed for a nap during the day.
But at night, accommodation is in a series of 15 tents, which are enough
to comfortably host around 30 people. Showers are taken in a small
receptacle set up next to the van every evening.
“The visitors get to pitch tents and have dinner under the setting sun,”
Mr. Liu said. Beer and live music are served as the sun fades behind the
towering mountains. Dinner is prepared by a small army of staff who whip
up delicious meals featuring local specialties.
Although most roads are paved and smooth, there is some off-roading
required over the course of the journey, making some rides rougher.
There are a number of non-driving days, which gives clients the
opportunity to stretch their legs on hikes, play Chinese board games,
indulge in mountain biking (the van carries two bicycles) or take part
in sports, such as football, volleyball and badminton.
Sedentary travellers can simply recline in the sun with a novel from the
well-stocked library on board.
On the off days, guides will lead the group into small villages to chat
with the locals, while nomads and herders often pop past the van in the
evening to sing and dance around the campfire.
For the clients’ peace of mind, the vans are well stocked with emergency
and back-up supplies – including a large supply of purified water,
medical kits and food for 10 days.
Mr. Liu credits the tour’s success to the fact China Caravan Tour has a
team actively working to create strong ties with travel agents in Europe
and Asia. “Our program is very unique in China, mainly because we have
learnt and based our model on companies in Europe and Asia whom we work
with.”
For further information about China Caravan Tour check out their website
at: www.chinacaravantour.com. (Source TTG Asia)
Hard Rock International wants to climb global charts
Hard Rock International intends to have 100 Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos
worldwide, 10 to 15 of which will be in Asia.
Acquired by Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment in December 2006, Hard Rock
International presently owns, operates or has licensed rights to seven
full-service hotels in Las Vegas, Orlando, Chicago, Tampa, Hollywood, Bali
and Pattaya. Three more are opening in Biloxi, Penang and Macau.
Hard Rock International president and CEO, Mr. Hamish Dodds, said in a visit
to Manila he envisioned rapid growth for the hotel brand, driven primarily
in the short-term out of the US.
“We are now turning our attention to international markets, with a
particular focus on Europe, the Middle East and Asia,” he said. “Within
Asia, the growth prospects for our hotel, gaming and cafe products are
tremendous, given the big population base and the increasing wealth of Asian
economies. We just have to be pragmatic in choosing our priorities.”
Mr. Dodds added the company was exploring opportunities for a Hard Rock
Hotel and Casino or resort in the Philippines. “The Philippines offers both
the business and resort opportunities we are interested in. If we come
across the right deal, which is good for our brand and the market, we are
very open to it.” (TTG)
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