Pearls of the Orient

Our luxury private jet expedition leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.

Programme

Experience a new level of luxury on an exclusive private jet expedition with Air Cruise Collection. Avoid long lines at the airports and enjoy a tailor-made flight schedule. With our private jet, fly straight to your dream destinations. Share the experience with like-minded guests. Visit exotic places and enjoy unique experi-ences.

We would like to welcome you on board our private jet to experience the elegant lifestyle of all-inclusive luxury cruising. Our private jet is equipped with 56 comfortable classic business class seats with only window or aisle seats. Where possible, you will experience VIP treatment at the airport and avoid long queues at customs and security. The private jet, with the same crew, stays with the group throughout the entire air cruise. Each air cruise is led by two experienced tour managers.

This air cruise takes you to seven countries. From London, you fly to Petra in Jordan, one of the seven new wonders of the world, then to Agra in India. Here you explore another world wonder: the Taj Mahal.

From India, you fly in comfort to Vietnam. After visiting Hanoi, enjoy a three-day luxury cruise through one of the most beautiful bays in the world: Halong Bay.

Laos is still a relatively unknown destination, a jewel waiting to be discovered. You fly to the exquisite city of Luang Prabang. Your next dream destination is Siem Reap in Cambodia. Here you visit the impressive Angkor Wat complex.

The exotic Maldives are a paradise where you can enjoy all the good things in life. You are flown to your resort by private seaplane. The final destination of your trip is Abu Dhabi, where you stay overnight at the world famous ‘Emirates Palace’. You may not want to participate in each and every excursion, but may want to take advantage of the facilities offered by the hotel or resort instead.

The excursions are not mandatory. If you desire, there will be plenty of opportunities to do your own thing away from the group during your journey.

Day 1: London - AqabaDay 2: AqabaDay 3: Aqaba - AgraDay 4: AgraDay 5: Agra - HanoiDay 6: Hanoi

Day 7: Halong BayDay 8: Halong BayDay 9: Halong Bay - Luang PrabangDay 10: Luang PrabangDay 11: Luang Prabang - Siem ReapDay 12: Siem Reap

Day 13: Siem Reap - MaldivesDay 14: MaldivesDay 15: MaldivesDay 16: Maldives - Abu DhabiDay 17: Abu Dhabi - London

Experience a new level of luxury on an exclusive private jet expedition with Air Cruise Collection. Avoid long lines at the airports and enjoy a tailor-made flight schedule. With our private jet, fly straight to your dream destinations.

Share the experience with like-minded guests. Visit exotic places and enjoy unique experiences.

A maximum of 54 people can join this exclusive aircruise.

IndianOcean

Arabian Sea

Bay of Bengal

Aqaba

Abu Dhabi

Agra

Hanoi Halong Bay

Siem Reap

Maldives

Laos

THAILAND

SRI LANKA

OMAN

SAUDI ARABIA

AFGHANISTAN

PAKISTAN

IRANIRAQ

JORDAN

INDIA MYANMAR

VIETNAM

CAMBODIA

To London

From London

UAE

Petra

The most exclusive way to discover the most beautiful places of the Orient is without doubt the unique Air Cruise ‘Pearls of the Orient’.

Day 1 London - Aqaba

flight time 4:35 hours

Today you depart for the first destination on your journey through Asia: Aqaba in Jordan. Enjoy the service and relax in the comfort-

able seats on-board the flight. In the afternoon you arrive in Aqaba. A special welcome awaits you along with an exclusive dinner.

You will stay for 2 nights at the Al Manara, A Luxury Collection

Hotel, that guards the mouth of Jordan’s Saraya Lagoon. The hotel is located on the shores of the Red Sea and set against the rugged backdrop of the expansive granite mountain range. The hotel is

exceptionally appointed and has private sandy beaches. This hotel is situated at an ideal location to explore Petra the next day.

Day 2 Petra

After breakfast, we drive to Petra. You enter the city of Petra on foot through a narrow siq. Your local guide explains everything you need to know about the fascinating history of the ‘rose-red’ city.

The magical Petra is considered one of the 7 Wonders Of The World.

The ancient city of Petra was built by Nabataeans between 800 BC and 100 AD. In this period, Petra was no more than a fort carved out in an area that was almost impossible to reach.

In the first and second centuries, when the Romans took over the city, Petra reached the height of its fame.

Petra takes up an area of around 100 square kilometres and there are more than 800 monuments.

When transport by boat took over from the caravan routes, the city’s importance dwindled. The city of Petra was abandoned and lost to the world until it was rediscovered by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burkhart. These days, Petra is the number one attraction in Jordan and known as the ‘rose-red city half as old as time’. The Khazneh (the Treasury) featured in the movie ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’.

After your visit to the city of Petra, you return to Aqaba, where you can enjoy the amenities on offer at your resort.

Day 3 Aqaba - Agra

flight time 5:25 hours

After an early breakfast, we fly to Agra in India. Let yourself be spoilt with the service, drinks, snacks and lunch available on-board

the flight. You arrive in Agra at the end of the afternoon.

Agra is still associated with the Mughal period. The Mughals were not only great rulers, but they were also famously capable builders, who

created the architectural wonders in Agra and its surroundings. Their drive to build has left us with many beautiful monuments, including

the Taj Mahal, the most important of them all, and an absolute masterpiece in Mughal architecture.

See also the massive, but elegant Agra Fort, the delicate artistic grave of Itimad-ud-Daulah, the stunning Taj Mahal and the abandoned

capital of Akbar the Great, Fatehpur Sikiri. They are unique and of extraordinarily high quality.

The luxurious Oberoi Amarvilas Resort enjoys a unique location in Agra within 600 metres of the amazing Taj Mahal. Every room offers a view of this architectural

wonder. The rooms and suites contain elements of the Mughal period and are all decorated with tasteful interiors.

In the evening you will enjoy an exclusive dinner at your luxury hotel.

Day 4 Taj Mahal & Agra

The Taj Mahal is everything you have ever heard about it and so much more. The construction took 22 years and provided 20,000 people with work. The white marble was mined and transported to the construction site by a fleet of one thousand elephants. The Taj Mahal was commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, as an expression of his affections for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

The Taj Mahal is considered one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. During lunch, you enjoy traditional Indian music and dance along with an impressive view of the Taj Mahal.

After lunch, enjoy a tour of the city of Agra or choose to hang back and enjoy the luxury and comfort of your resort.

In the evening, there is a themed dinner ‘Jodha Mahal’ to enjoy.

Hanoi is Vietnam’s main political centre. It served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954, and from 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam.

In October 2010, the city celebrated its 1000-year anniversary. On this occasion, Hanoi was named one of the world’s ‘Top Destinations in 2010’. With its broad boulevards and imposing colonial mansions, Hanoi oozes French colonial history at every turn.

Despite the fact that it has 4 million inhabitants, the ambience in Hanoi is much more peaceful compared to Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi’s elegance can also be found in the lakes that characterise the city. The city centre is located around Hoan Kiem Lake in the Old Quarter, which is a good choice for sightseeing. he name Hoan Kiem Lake, which means ‘Lake of the Returned Sword’, is related to a 15th-century legend.

In Hanoi, you will stay at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel.

In the morning, a city tour will introduce you to Hanoi’s history, culture and lifestyle. North of Hoan Kiem lake is the city’s oldest district, Hanoi’s bustling commercial centre. Its narrow streets were originally named after the goods once traded there: Hang Ma (Paper Street), Hang Gai (Silk Street) and Hang Dau (Shoe Street), among others.

South of the lake is the French quarter, which is known for its magnifi-cent colonial buildings in Bien Phu Street and Le Hong Phong Street.

The tour includes a visit to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. The Temple of Literature is made up of five different inner courtyards. An oasis of calm and a pleasant retreat from the streets of Hanoi, the Temple of Literature was established 900 years ago to educate the sons of Mandarins.

After lunch, you will have plenty of time to explore the city at your own pace, go shopping or enjoy the facilities of your hotel.

Dag 5 Agra - Hanoi

flight time 3:45 hours

Day 6 Hanoi

After breakfast, we will head to Halong Bay. On this drive you will stop at a picturesque village located between Hanoi and Halong Bay, where we will have lunch.

Later in the afternoon, you will board the luxury 3-day cruise along one of the most beautiful natural bays in the world: Halong Bay.

Halong Bay contains thousands of small islands and colourful floating villages situated in emerald green seas.

Halong Bay is one of the most stunning bays in the world and is listed as a Unesco World Heritage site.

Your cruise ship, the Au Co. It has more than thirty luxury cabins with a private balcony or terrace. The cabins have been nicely decorated with an eye for detail.

Day 7 & 8Halong Bay cruise

The restaurants and open-air bars have been designed according to the principles of Feng Shui and heighten the feeling of being at one with the beautiful surroundings. Dining on-board the Au Co is a culinary experience you can’t miss. Every meal is a sensation for the palate.

While you enjoy the view over these poetic landscapes, the best chefs will be preparing the most wonderful food.

They put together their menu using local ingredients, locally sourced seafood and vegetables grown in Viet Hai, a village on Cat Ba Island. You can visit the Au Co Green Farm on the second day of your cruise.

During your cruise with the Au Co you will experience the charm of Vietnam and flavours of the Orient. There are plenty of activities on offer: Tai Chi lessons, cooking workshops, readings on the culture and history of Vietnam and visits to the local communities that live in the world famous region.

Laos, officially referred to as the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, is a beautiful country in Southeast Asia with a population of just under seven million people. With its vast, green and mountainous landscape, Laos has become an increasing-ly popular destination for travellers.

Despite the growing interest of tourists, Laos still offers visitors a slice of untouched Asia, with terraced rice fields, breathtaking temples and incredibly friendly and welcoming people.

It is only as recent as 1989 that Laos opened up to tourism and the country that had previously been cut off from the rest of Southeast Asia developed a small but steady economy, based on tourism and regional trade.

The ancient town of Luang Prabang situated in northern Laos, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Luang Prabang is encircled by moun-tains at 700 metres above sea level at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers. Dubbed the Pearl of Mekong and considered by many travellers and writers as being the heart of Laotian culture, Luang Prabang is quite possibly the most beautiful place in Southeast Asia.

Luang Prabang was the ancient royal capital of the Lan Xang Kingdom until King Phothisarat moved the administrative seat to Vientiane in 1545.

This former Royal capital still remains the main centre for Buddhist learning in Laos and is the perfect location for spiritual contemplation.

Day 9 Hanoi - Luang Prabangflight time 0:40 hours

Your hotel for the next few days is the stunning and serene Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao, an oasis of calm in the mountains of Laos. Located on a hill top with mesmerising views of the sacred mountains, Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao is an unforgettable place to stay.

Designed in a traditional style, this intimate hotel is gemmed with teak, silk and fresh cotton accents. It is famed for its wonderful French-influenced local cuisine and boasts an impressive, open-air spa besides a beautiful pool.

Day 10

Luang Prabang and the Mekong River

The alms giving ceremony gives you a wonderful opportunity to experience an ancient Lao tradition in the wee hours of the morning. Watch the procession of colourful, barefooted monks walk by as they collect their daily alms from devotees in their bowls. Witnessing the

alms giving ceremony is a must-do.

Today you will explore the town and its surroundings. You will take a boat trip floating down the Mekong River to the sacred Pak Ou caves. Luang Prabang is without a doubt the most charming town in Laos.

With its French colonial buildings, picturesque alleys, impressive panoramic views of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, stunning temples, young monks in saffron robes, luxurious boutiques and cosy eateries, there’s plenty to explore. This little city with only 70,000 inhabitants is the perfect place to enjoy rural country

living and the excitement of the city life of Laos.

Situated just outside Luang Prabang are the spectacular Kuang Si waterfalls and the statue-filled Buddhist Pak Ou caves.

A relaxing and scenic 25 km Mekong River cruise will take you to the sacred caves. As you drift along, you will see scenic country

villages, French colonial architecture and local weaveries, and have the opportunity to meet local people.

Day 11Luang Prabang - Siem Reap

After breakfast, you return to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia. Lunch will be served during your flight.

In the heart of Cambodia, north of the Tonle Sap Lake, lies the green provincial town of Siem Reap. Siem Reap stands for “Defeat of Siam”. It is the capital of the prov-ince and has a population of 140,000 people, making it the third largest city of Cambodia. The town has various influences of French colonial and Chinese architecture.

The place is known as a gateway for the world famous temples of Angkor Wat and Wat Bo temple in Siem Reap itself. The latter has beautiful, well-preserved frescoes on the life of Buddha.

You will spend the next two nights in the luxurious Bel-mond La Résidence d’Angkor, an authentic Cambodian retreat located on the banks of the famous river. Retreat to the salt-water pool, or indulge at Kong Kea Spa. After a day of adventure, it is the perfect welcome home.

First, we travel to the ancient city of Angkor Thom by TukTuk. This city is surrounded by an eight-metre high wall that forms a perfect square. You enter the city through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate with elephants and four large carved out faces in the rock.

You will visit the Bayon Temple with its 54 towers, each representing a province of the Khmer empire. Ta Prohm is one of the most famous temples in Cambodia, partly due to the movie ‘Tomb Raider’.

This jungle-covered complex is already impressive to see in pictures, but in reality it is even more stunning.

It appears as though the trees are trying to smother the construction with their roots that twist and turn around the temple. Without the roots the Ta Prohm would probably fall apart.

After lunch you can go back to the hotel to relax during the midday heat. In the afternoon, you explore the famous Angkor Wat Temple. Dinner is served at a special location.

flight time 1:00 hours

Day 12 Angkor Wat & Angkor Thom

At Siem Reap Airport you board your private jet to Malé in the Maldives. After your arrival at Malé Airport in the Maldives, you are taken to your resort by seaplane. The flight is an experi-ence in itself. During the flight, you can enjoy extraordinary views that reveal the vastness of the archipelago.

The Maldives is a group of islands that contains 1190 coral islands, comprising 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean southwest of India. The islands are spread across an area of around 90,000 square kilometres, but the landmass totals no more than 298 square kilometres.

The largest island is 5 square kilometres and there are only nine islands that are more than 2 square kilometres. Two hundred islands are inhabited, 88 are resorts.

It is a real life paradise with the white-sand beaches and tropical blue water. The islands boast a rich underwater world of colourful coral reefs and a wide variety of fish, including trumpet fish, clown fish, stingrays, barracudas, mantas and sharks.

The local inhabitants are hospitable and live mainly off the tourism industry, fishing and ship-building.

Day 13 Siem Reap - Malé

flight time 4:40 hours

Set on an enchanting private island in the pristine Lhaviyani Atoll in the Maldives, Hurawalhi Island Resort is a perfect match of serenity and excitement, comfort and adventure; it stirs up your every atom with an intricate blend of intimacy and thrill.

It is at Hurawalhi that you can fill your days with an unsparing amount of extraordinaires, your mind with wonder, and your heart with romance. This adults-only luxury resort is as brilliant as the ocean that laps against its beaches.

Using solar panels, an independent water bottling plant, energy efficient solutions, warm water recycling and an in-house marine biologist, its ecological credentials are up there as the best in the Maldives.

The island is also a breeding ground for green turtles, mantra rays and nurse sharks. Wise Oceans is responsible for the preservation of this natu-ral habitat and will gladly tell you everything you want to know about the fragile eco-system of the spectacular the marine life here. Snorkelling and diving here is an unforgettable experience. Wise Oceans works closely with the PADI diving centre at the resort.

Day 14 & 15Maldives

You return to Malé Airport by seaplane, then fly by private jet to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Lunch is served on-board the airplane. In the capital of the United Arab Emirates you find modern interpretations of Arab architecture, villas and palaces in the Corniche Riviera style. A new addition is the majestic Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the third largest mosque in the world, named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president of the United Arab Emirates. Your stay includes a city tour through Abu Dhabi so you can enjoy the main sights in this special city.

Dinner is at a special location where you enjoy local, culinarydelights. You stay overnight at the magnificent Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

The hotel sensation of the United Arab Emirates stands amidst a 100 hectare plot of land with beautifully sculpted gardens. Emirates Palace offers you a magical location to enjoy the quintessence of award-winning 5-star luxury hospitality and authentic local experiences. This hotel is the definition of an unrivaled and Arabian fantasy which is built like an Arabian palace along a 1.3 km long sand beach.

Day 16 Malé - Abu Dhabi

flight time 4:20 hours

Day 17 Abu Dhabi - London

Today, there is time to enjoy the luxuries available at your resort. Abu Dhabi has a number of splendid shopping malls including the Al Wahda Mall, the Marina Mall and the Yas Mall.

If you want to make any last minute purchases, we can arrange a transfer to one of the malls for you. If you like, you can also pay a visit to Ferrari World or the Louvre Museum. In the afternoon, you fly back to London.flight time 7:35 hours

The aircraft used is a VIP model Boeing 737-700 or 737-500. Our Aircruise Boeing 737 is equipped with 56 comfortable classic business class seats with only window or aisle seats.

Since we use our own private jet we are able to create unique itineraries with places which are hard to reach by commercial air. Experience the comfort of flying straight to your destination.

Where possible you will experience VIP treatment at the airport, so no long queues at customs and security.

Luggage of two bags totalling 32 kg per person is permitted, plus hand luggage. Enjoy delicious meals, your favourite drinks and services of business class quality aboard our private jet. You will only fly during the day to enhance your unforgettable memories.

Travel Period Reference is made to our website www.aircruisecollection.com for the travel period of this aircruise.

CountriesThe following countries will be visited: Jordan, India, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Maldives and Abu Dhabi.

ParticipantsThe journey takes place with at least 38 participants, maximum of 54 participants.

Tour managers and guidesTwo experienced tour managers will join the journey, they are responsible for the trip running smoothly. On site you will be guided by local English speaking guides.

IncludedAll accommodation, flights, excursions, gratuities and meals organized by Air Cruise Collection are included. These meals include mineral water, soft drinks, (local)wine and beer. Open bar on aircraft flights and at scheduled food and drink events.

Excursions/activitiesThe journey involves a number of excursions that are all included in the programme. We can imagine that you may not want to participate in each and every excursion, but may want to take advantage of the facilities offered by the hotel or resort instead. The excursions are not mandatory. Possibly you want to do something you have planned yourself. Your tour manag-ers will happily offer you the best advice on the possibilities and costs. However, planned excursions cannot be refunded if you choose not to participate.

AccommodationYou will be staying at exclusive luxury accommodation. Not all hotels have the same rooms. The accommodation will be assigned in the order of the bookings. Please note that in some hotels or resorts an upgrade can be limited.

ClothingFor this trip we recommend airy summer clothing, such as linen trousers, cotton T-shirt or shirt. In some areas it may be chilly, especially in the morning and in the evening. A sweater or pullover is recommended. Evening wear is not required, ‘Smart Casual’ is sufficient for the dinners. Please note that there are stricter dress codes for visiting certain temples. Sometimes it is customary to leave your shoes and socks back at the entrance of a temple and enter the temple barefoot. Depending on the type of temple it is customary to take off any hat or cap, or to cover the head in the traditional way.

Travel documentsFor this trip you must have a passport that is valid for at least another six months before arrival in your final destination. You will be visiting seven countries. This means that you must have at least ten blank pages in your passport for visas and stamps. Air Cruise Collection is not liable if you do not have the correct travel documents.

Medical informationPlease note that special assistance due to a mobility disability is not available at our aircruise. It is vital that you ensure you are fit to travel. During the aircruise, you visit several countries. We recommend familiarising yourself with the vaccinations you might need. In general, vaccination against hepatitis A and DTP is recommended. Depending on your journey and the areas you visit additional vaccinations are sometimes recom-mended. Air Cruise Collection is not a medical authority and therefore cannot give out official advice.

Special dietary requestsIf you require a special diet, including any food allergies, we ask that you please submit your written dietary requests on the reservation form.

InsuranceTravel insurance with worldwide coverage is mandatory for the passengers. Please note that this insurance is not included.

ReservationsWe have compiled the programme with great care. Nevertheless, unforeseen situations may arise that may require changes to be made in the programme. For instance, this could occur with the flight plan. The airports could be subject to last minute changes in landing and departure schedules, imposed by local authorities. We have to comply with these changes. Changes in the programme are reserved for organisational reasons. Air Cruise Collection is responsible for the transpor-tation (by aircraft, air carrier, coach, train, vessel or otherwise), accommodation, restaurant, ground handling and other services from various independent suppliers. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Air Cruise Collection is not liable for any negligent or willful act of any such person or entity or of any third person. Air Cruise Collec-tion reserves the right to cancel (a part of) the trip due to force majeure. Reference is made to our website www.aircruisecol-lection.com for our terms and conditions (including the ANVR Consumer Terms & Conditions).

Important informationYour private jet

Upgrades

The hotels are selected with care, a focus on luxury, quality, location and a remarkable service level. All the hotels have been selected by our dedicated team. We have first-hand experienced staying at the hotels in order to enhance the best experience for our guests. In all of the hotels it is possible to book

upgrades. Please note that these upgrades have limited availability.

Journey beyond Expectations

Veersedijk 95 | 3341 LL | Hendrik Ido Ambacht | The Netherlands +31 (0) 88 130 73 80 | info@aircruisecollection.com | www.aircruisecollection.com