Wings Over Asia’s Iconic Monuments

Arrive in bustling Beijing, China’s longtime seat of power, where you are met and privately transferred to your luxurious hotel.

Partake in a privately led tai chi lesson taught by a master instructor at the Temple of Heaven, a stunning example of classical Ming period architecture. After lunch, take in Tiananmen Square before exploring the imperial grandeur of the Forbidden City. Tonight, gather for a special welcome dinner at your hotel.

Begin your day immersed in local daily life as you ride by pedicab through a hutong, a vast yet intimate neighborhood of small, winding alleyways dating to China’s dynastic period. Then, travel to the well-preserved Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. Ride a cable car to the top of the wall to take in sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. After an on-site champagne toast to this wonder of the world, return to Beijing.

Fly to Xian, a modern city cloaked in over 3,000 years of history. Once the eastern terminus on the Great Silk Road, Xian has become a melting pot of Middle Eastern and Asian influences. Upon arrival, enjoy a Chef ’s Table dumpling-making and noodle-throwing demonstration, followed by lunch. Visit the old city’s Muslim Quarter, with its teeming markets and beautiful Great Mosque, a 14th-century national heritage site. A blend of classic Chinese temple architecture and central Asian embellishments make it one of the most fascinating sites in Xian.

Today, accompanied by a scholar, visit the excavation site of the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, the life-size army created during the Qin Dynasty to protect Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, in his afterlife. More than 8,000 remarkably crafted soldiers are spread throughout three dig pits, each revealing a unique face. After lunch, enjoy a hands-on experience at the privately owned Ox Culture & Ceramics Museum, where you are welcome to touch and handle select objects from its unique exhibits. Tonight, gather for dinner.

Fly to Siem Reap, the town nearest to Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before checking in to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a performance by the Phare Cambodian Circus. Thrill to a blend of theater, music, dance and modern circus arts that tells a uniquely Cambodian story, presented by the gifted graduates of a local vocational school.

Begin your exploration at Ta Prohm, where the roots of great trees seem to have spilled over the roof of this iconic stone temple. Return to the hotel for the remainder of the morning and part of afternoon at leisure, perhaps enjoying your hotel’s pool or other amenities. Head out for a late lunch at a local restaurant before proceeding to explore Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer kingdom. Also behold Bayon Temple, with its carved stone faces — bearing beguiling smiles — of gods, goddesses and other beings from mythology. Later, cruise by gondola on the tranquil Angkor Thom moat while sipping a cool drink on a Scenic Sundowner.

Today, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities. Explore Phnom Koulen National Park by Jeep, relaxing beside waterfalls and visiting temples. Venture to Remote Temples, discovering Koh Ker and Beng Mealea with a local expert guide. Kayak Tonle Sap Lake, gliding among the towering mangroves guided by a knowledgeable local. Later in the afternoon, return to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a progressive dinner experience, stopping at different locales via tuk-tuk.

Rise early to experience the incomparable serenity of a sunrise over mystical Angkor Wat before exploring the vast temple complex with a local expert. Fly to Yogyakarta on the island of Java, home to the fascinating archaeological sites of Borobudur and Prambanan. Continue to your hotel set amid rice terraces in the countryside.

Begin your cultural discovery with a visit to a batik making workshop and small coffee plantation. Learn about the cultivation and harvest process as well as the traditional roasting techniques. Drive to the rural village of Candirejo, travelling by dokar (horse-drawn cart) as you cross small lanes lined with traditional houses. Observe daily life and get to know the residents.

Rise early to watch the sun rise from Dagi Hill, and afterward explore Borobudur. Learn the history behind the construction of this terraced, three-dimensional mandala, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Drive to the UNESCO-listed Prambanan Temple compound, the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia. Its collection of sharp, jagged temples includes shrines dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner.

After breakfast, you are privately transferred to the airport for your departing flight.