Tours of Japan Visiting Japan, a land of dazzling contradictions, is an unforgettable experience. High-tech cities harbour relics of a fascinating past. Futuristic fashion and gadgets share the streets with evidence of deeply held traditions.…
Agra, India The Taj Mahal. Tourists come to Agra from all over the world to view the amazing Taj Mahal, one of the world’s most celebrated and iconic buildings. But while the Taj more than…
Around the World in Six Coffees: Italy, France, Japan, China, Morocco & Argentina Order a cappuccino in Italy after 11am and expect to receive strange looks. In Argentina, don’t be surprised when your coffee order…
Creating Asian empires, learning from history. The empires of Asia were expansive both in geography and in tenure. The Mongols had an empire that spanned the entire Asian continent as far as Europe, and the…
Japan's cultural contribution to the world is not to be underestimated. On a Small group Japan tour for mature and senior travellers for couples and singles you learn and explore much about the history, the last samurai, and the Shogun as well as about Astro boy! Enjoy exploring Tokyo in cherry blossom season, or Kyoto and Hiroshima, plus so much more to see and experience on a small group tour of upto 12 people.
Bhutan: a journey into the Hidden Kingdom Bhutan, a tiny and remote nation nestled within the Himalayas, has been described as a real-life Shangri-La. It is famed for its Buddhist spirituality, pristine mountain landscape, and…
The Nalakhar Tshechu festival runs for three days in the Nalakhar village in Bumthang. The celebration is part of the national Tshechu, one of Tibet's biggest religious festivals, which runs for three days throughout the…
Modern day Bhutan has a deep affinity with its Buddhist past. Buddhism is the source of religious and cultural identity for the majority of Bhutanese people. The history of Bhutan goes some way to explaining…
This gigantic domed mosque, Bibi Khanum mosque is the centrepiece of the imperial capital of Uzbekistan.
Best books to read about the Silk Road – a list for senior travellers The linking of Asia to Europe via Eurasia for conquest and trade since at least 120BC is a unique part of…
Cochin (Kochi), India ‘Chinese fishing nets’ are a testament to the multicultural history of Kochi. Known as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea‘, Kochi has long been among India’s most cosmopolitan cities. A center of…
Known as the Toy Train, this historic railway is one of the three Indian railways listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site
Delhi, India Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi. If Jaipur is historic India, and Mumbai its modern heart, Delhi is where the two collide: a frantic mix of medieval architecture, broad avenues, and modern design. Few cities have…
Discovering India as a Mature or Senior traveller India is a land of immense diversity and extremes – geographical, economic and spiritual. Its geography encompasses the glacial heights of the Himalaya in the north, the…
Eight Amazing Rail Journeys This article details eight amazing rail journeys that you may wish to consider when planning your journeys. Humans have been travelling by sea since ancient times, but on land, humans were…
Explore Bagan, a cultural and artistic wonderland, on a small group tour The opportunity to explore Bagan, a cultural and artistic wonderland, on a small group tour does exist. Odyssey Traveller has offered small group…
Exploring Uzbekistan In a 2018 article, The British newspaper The Telegraph described Uzbekistan as “the most fascinating country you’ve never been to”. Decades of isolation, particularly during Soviet rule, have pushed it down the list…
Exploring Kazakhstan. “Land of Wanderers” Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world and covers a landlocked area bigger than all of Western Europe. But unlike Europe, it does not figure prominently in the…
Festivals of Bhutan Tshechu, or religious festivals are at the very heart of Bhutan’s unique way of life. These sacred festivals take place all year round – in every monastery and temple, even in the…
Forest Bathing in Japan Much has changed since we last wrote about shinrin-yoku or forest bathing in 2017 (you can read the original article after this introduction) as the movement has gained considerable momentum in…
Hakone National Park, Japan The Hakone National Park is part of the sprawling Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, which also includes Mount Fuji, Fuji Five Lakes (including Lake Kawaguchiko near the iconic peak), the Izu Peninsula, and…
Highlights of Uzbekistan | Samanid Mausoleum The Samanid Mausoleum, dating from the 10th century, is the oldest Muslim monument in the city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan. This final resting place was built for Ismail Samani (or…
Hiroshima, Japan Southwest from Kyoto on the island of Honshu is Hiroshima (“broad island”), a major urban centre in the 1870s during Japan’s imperial period, and a city destroyed in an instant in August 1945…
The Legacy of the Silk road is outlined in this short definitive article for mature age travellers planning to take a small group tour along through these 3 countries over 29 days. The program is designed for mature couples and solo travellers.
Pakistan, a young nation created with the partition of British India in 1947, is intertwined with the history of India and the broader Indian subcontinent.
History of the Trans-Siberian Railway The history of the Trans-Siberian Railway, a network of railways connecting Moscow to the Russian Far East, covers important events of the 20th century, tracing the rise and fall of…
A Short History of Tokyo Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, the busiest intersection in the Japanese metropolis The history of Tokyo is intimately intertwined with that of Japan’s. In this article, we’ll explore Tokyo’s history from…
India’s Mughal Empire More than 4 centuries ago the Mughal empire was an immensely successful empire, covering the entire subcontinent of India and reaching a population of 100 million at its peak. It is because…
Jaipur, India Amber Fort, on the outskirts of Jaipur. The legendary ‘Pink City’, Jaipur epitomises the beauty and grandeur of historic India. The city takes its name from its founder, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, one…
Japan travel tips – a guide for mature travellers This article is a guide for mature leisure travellers who are considering their first visit to Japan. Visiting Japan, a land of dazzling contradictions, is an…
Japanese hanami: celebrating the cherry blossom The cherry blossoms of Japan are known to admirers the world over. But their brief, beautiful season is not just a draw for international travellers. Japanese people celebrate this…
The Kazakh Steppe, Kazakhstan Stretching across vast swathes of Central Asia, the Kazakh Steppe covers much of the northern region of Kazakhstan, an area roughly of 800,000 square kilometers. The great steppe is comprised of…
Kyoto, Japan Kyoto, the “thousand-year capital”, served as Japan’s imperial capital for more than a thousand years. This long history makes it synonymous with Japanese traditional culture. A tour in Kyoto promises beautiful heritage sites–ancient…
Lahore Fort is the main attraction in Lahore's old walled city, housing the marble palaces, mosques, and lush gardens from the city's golden age under the Mughal dynasty, when Lahore became the place of royal…
From steep wintry peaks, rising more than 1.4 kilometers above sea level, to ancient forests and river ways, the range of scenery around Mount Lushan is genuinely breathtaking. A relatively unknown spot for Western tourists,…
Built in 1857 on the Irrawaddy River or Ayeyarwady River by King Mindon prior to complete British rule, the city of Mandalay still bear traces of royal grandeur in the palaces and monasteries built during…
Matsue, Japan North of Hiroshima is the town of Matsue, also known as the “City of Water” as it is near the Sea of Japan, sitting between Lake Shinji (Shinjiko) and Lake Nakaumi. It is…
The Clash of the Mughals and the Marathas The Mughal Empire officially ruled in India from approximately 1526 until 1856. Unofficially, however, Mughal reign became obsolete much sooner than 1856. It was in the later…
Mumbai, India Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), Mumbai. One of the world’s great metropolises, Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is India at its most vibrant; a city of contrasts, where Bollywood stars and finance billionaires…
Nara, Japan Nara, Japan’s first permanent capital, is located in the Kansai region, nestled in the hilly edge of the Nara Basin, about 40 kilometres east of Osaka. It is a popular day trip or…
Pilgrimage routes and walking tours Several pilgrimage tracks remain intact and active centuries after they were first established. Many Odyssey tours trace their routes, walking in the footsteps of people […]
Explore and learn about on a Seniors small group tour of Kazakhstan and its pastoral, cultural and historic settlement.Witness a rocket launch at Baikonur .
Explore and learn about on a senior travellers small group tour of Kyrgyzstan and its pastoral, cultural and historic settlement.
Explore and learn about on a seniors small group tour of Mongolia and its pastoral, cultural and historic settlement. Visit Ulaanbaatar, catch the train to Moscow, seek out dinosaurs as part of a small group.
Explore and learn about on a seniors small group tour of Myanmar and its pastoral, cultural and historic settlement. Visit World heritage sites such a Bagan or spend time on the Irrawaddy river to Mandalay.
Experience the history, culture and landscape of the spice island that is Sri Lanka. For seniors who like to explore this is a small group tour that captures the essence of this island away and off the the beaten track.
Escorted small group tours for mature and senior travellers to Taiwan. Designed for couples and solo travellers who like to explore and enjoy learning as they travel.
Explore Tajikstan as part of a tour of the Stans that includes Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan as part of a small group tour for senior travellers.
Explore and learn about on a Seniors small group tour of Uzbekistan and its pastoral, cultural and historic settlement. Visit Samanid Mausoluem, or Registan sq understand this country's role on the silk road.
The and is one of the worlds most recognised which is the in In this is one of the in the country. For mature and senior travellers on a small group tour this is located on the Silk Road network and is part of our small group tours programs on the Silk road or as part of the Stans program.
The Silk Road on the most famous overland trade routes from Asia to the markets of Alexandria and onto Venice. Article for mature and senior couples and solo travelers interested joining a small group tour starting in Xian through to Uzbekistan.
The Skardu Valley is located in Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan, on the Indus River which separates the Karakoram range from the Himalayas.
Soviet Art in Kazakhstan When the Kazakh khanate splintered into three hordes in the early 17th century, they became vulnerable to raids from Mongol tribes, primarily the Dzungars (dson, “left”; gar, “hand”) who formed the left wing…
Today, the Taj Mahal attracts around 8 million visitors a year. One of the most spectacular things about the Taj Mahal is the way white marble changes colour throughout the day.
Travellers flock to Xi’an to walk around Emperor’s Qin’s tomb complex, one of the most famous archaeological finds in the world, the Terracotta Warriors
Shanghai’s “The Bund” The Bund, a stretch of historical buildings lining the western bank of the Huangpu River in Shanghai, China (“bund” derives from the Hindustani word band which means “embankment”), was initially a British settlement that…
Everything about the Forbidden City, from its name to its history, is full of intrigue. For many visitors, the Forbidden City embodies the secrecy, mystery and power of China’s past.
The Great Wall of China is, first and foremost, a remarkable feat of human ingenuity, perseverance and construction. It offers a multi-dimensional insight into ancient Chinese history. From how the wall was constructed, to the…
Saigo Takomori, story, the last Samurai is part of the history discovered on a small group package tour to Japan for mature and senior travellers. For couples and singles a study in Japanese culture, from Shoguns to Cherry blossom to the antics of Astro boy or the tea ceremony.
Over the past decade, the Bhutan Textile Museum in Thimphu has steadily established itself as one of the best adverts for local Bhutanese culture. The museum finds the right balance between past and present, highlighting…
The Red Fort, also called Lal Qalʿah, is a historic fort in the city of Delhi, overlooking the Yamuna River. It served as the main residence for the emperors of the formidable Mughal dynasty for…
The Shoguns of Japan: An Introduction to Six Centuries of Japanese Cultural Evolution From 1192 to 1867, Japan was ruled by military dictators called the shogun. The civil government continued under the imperial court in Kyoto,…
Tiger Hill is located 11 kilometres from Darjeeling town in West Bengal, India, and one of the places to visit in this town famous for its tea gardens.
The Tiger's Nest monastery, known locally as Paro Taktsang, has earned a reputation as one of the most remarkable tourist spots in central Asia. It has become the most iconic cultural landmark in Bhutan, and…
Measuring 2080 kilometres, and situated between the borders of Russia’s far east and China’s North, the Trans-Mongolian railway is journey steeped in the history of great powers.
Trans-Siberian Landscapes and Wildlife Even in a fast-paced world where travelling long distances means hopping on a plane and journeying through the air for a few hours, the Trans-Siberian Railway continues to have a magnetic…
Travelling in Uzbekistan This article Travelling in Uzbekistan is part of a series on The ‘Stans, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. While these countries may be off the beaten track in terms of the usual…
Turkmenistan: a journey for the curious Brimming with a vibrant population of around 5 million people, Turkmenistan is hospitable and welcoming to tourists, despite its history of political problems. Its vast landscape is mostly desert,…
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Mongolia’s Capital of Ulaanbaatar is a city whose history is written in its landscape, architecture and people. Located at 1,350 m (4,430 ft) above sea level and close to the river Tuul, Ulaanbaatar…
Article for mature and senior travellers seeking to Join a small group package tour of Japan with an interest in the history and culture of these islands. From tea ceremony to understanding Hanami, the cherry blossom or walking Japan's coast. These small group tours are for couples and single travellers.
Often called the City of Lights, Varanasi is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. Colourful, intense and mystical, it is the spiritual capital of India and the country's holiest Hindu city, located on the…
An unhurried ocean of calm in a crowded continent, Bhutan is scenically magnificent. Join our small group escorted tour and walk up the mountain to the famous Tiger’s Nest monastery. The Bhutanese will welcome you to share their distinctive culture, unpolluted environment, and colourful festivals.We explore centuries of Buddhist tradition inherited from Tibet that have shaped this land with art, dance, music, and even medicine shaped by religion.
During our small group Dinosaur Odyssey study program for couples and solo travellers, we will visit two of the most exciting dinosaur sites in China – Zigong Dinosaur Museum. Your program leader will take us to behind-the-scenes places, field studies in the Sichuan Province and Dinosaur Valley, and in the Yunnan Province. Go behind-the-scenes places, field studies at the dig sites, with first-hand experience at palaeontological dinosaur digs.
This small group tour organised by Odyssey Traveller, Contemporary Japan, will take you through modern life in this East Asian jewel. This contemporary tour for couples and solo travellers is an expedition through Japan’s major urban areas, beginning and ending in Japan’s tantalising capital, Tokyo. For the first 12 days we get our fill of Tokyo fashion, technology, culture, and sights.
Small group tour for mature and senior couples and solo travellers to India. Visiting Delhi and the red fort, Jaipur, Agra and so much more over 22 days explore the world of the Mughal.
Visitors to Myanmar will find a fascinating country full of old-world charm and rich culture. A beautiful scenic destination, we visit Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan on this small group tour for senior and mature travellers on a small group tour for couple and solo travellers.
Visit the largest landlocked country in the world, Kazakhstan. Once part of the Mongol and Russian Empires, Kazakhstan is where man first tamed wild horses on the vast Kazakh Steppe, the dry grassland that dominates its landscape and connects it with Europe and the rest of Asia. A escorted small group tour for mature and senior travellers, couples and solo travellers.
A small group tour for senior couples and solo travellers to Harbin, located in the north-east of China, is now home to one of the four biggest ice and snow festivals in the world. Harbin is one of China’s most popular winter destinations. The Harbin Ice and Snow festival began in 1963, each year the city has sought to create a festival that exceeds the artistic creativity of the previous festival. Harbin is called “Ice City,” and the winters are bitterly cold, but the conditions are just right for the ice festival.
A short small group tour for Mature and seniors couples and solo travellers of India and its icons. Bounded by the majestic Himalayan ranges in the north and edged by an endless stretch of golden beaches. India is a vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes, magnificent historical sites, such as the Taj or red fort royal cities, such Dehli, Jaipur , Agra and Madras colourful people, and rich culture.
Explore historic and present day Japan. Journey by rail to regions and great cities to learn about their historical significance.
During this small group program we encounter history from ancient periods; religions such as Buddhism and Shintoism; the philosophy of the people through visits to world renowned temples and shrines; and old towns full of ancient legends of Samurai and more in Japan. Together we, as mature and senior couples or solo travellers will share some traditions which the Japanese have inherited. A variety of sites including UNESCO World Heritage sites, has been chosen for this tour, all filled with clues such as Hanami or forest bathing to understand the essence of Japan including astro boy.
This escorted small group tour traverses this expanse, from Ulaanbaatar to St Petersburg; from the Mongolian Steppes to Siberian taiga and tundra; over the Ural Mountains that divide Asia and Europe to the waterways of Golden Ring. Our program for couples and solo travellers uses two of the great rail journeys of the world; the Trans Mongolian Express and the Trans Siberian Express.
The first dinosaur nest of eggs was discovered in Mongolia during 1928.Following an introduction to Mongolian history, culture and desert landscapes, participants will Experience eight days on a paleontological dig. Small group tour for couples and solo mature travellers interested in Mongolia and Dinosaurs.
Mongolia is a relatively unexplored country for travellers but it has many diverse landscapes to explore, and interesting cultures to become acquainted with, all existing in a country with few cities and towns but with extensive rural lands that remain the domain of nomadic herders. Small group tour for couples or solo travelers
This is a wonderful small group program for seniors and mature couples and solo travellers focussed on the art and archaeology, designed to take you chronologically through Myanmar’s history. From Yangon to Pyay, where the 4th-9th century walled city has received Unesco World Heritage status, on to Bagan’s 10th-13th century pagodas, to Mandalay’s last royal dynasty and the 18th-19th century colonial era returning to Yangon for the colonial heritage and modern art scene.
A unique small group cultural tour visiting the North East region of India, this tour was created for seniors travelling as couples and solo travellers. As we journey through the magnificent landscape and culture we stop to explore Darjeeling, which shares history with Bengal, Sikkim, and Nepal, as well as Tiger Hill, where we witness the changing colours of the sunrise in the Himalayan Range.
Featuring visits to the Demilitarised Zone in Panmunjom, the Fatherland Liberation Museum, and the Kumsusan Memorial Palace of the Sun.
A small group tour of Sri Lanka for mature couples and solo travellers is a great introduction to the trading history of the world and “Spice” The centre of the island offers rolling hills, year round cool climate and former British colonial hill stations complete with Tudor hotels, rose gardens and the oldest golf course in Asia. Scattered around the country are National Parks filled with game. The world’s first game reserves were founded in Sri Lanka over 2,000 years ago.
This small group program for mature and senior travelers, couple or solo includes many of Taiwan’s natural wonders; from Taroko Gorge, one of the seven wonders of Asia, to Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan’s largest lake; Kenting National Park, with its 60 kilometres of coral-rimmed shoreline to the East Coast National Scenic Area, stretching 170 kilometres. Fully escorted tour of Taiwan
A small group tour for senior couples and solo travellers to Taiwan. Held annually on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, the Lantern Festival is one of the most fascinating festivities around the globe. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is part of this spectacular Festival. Our 2022 Taiwan Lantern Festival program includes Taipei and its Sky Lantern Festival and its impressive Taipei 101 Tower.
We explore the country’s astonishing scenery and monuments. Tajikistan is the smallest of the 5 ‘Stans and is also the most mountainous. On our small group tour for couples and solo travelers we encounter many ranges and mountain chains where we reach well over 3,000 metres above sea level while crossing passes.
This Odyssey is designed for the adventurous traveller, a couple or solo traveller on a small group tour who is prepared for a range of accommodation styles, for walking excursions and some long travel days in 3 Central Asian countries. The program combines experiences with great scenery, ancient and modern histories, family visits and lifestyles that differ dramatically.
Join Odyssey Traveller on this small group tour in the Indian subcontinent, taking us from the verdant tea gardens of Darjeeling nestled in the Himalayan mountain range, to the hilltop monasteries of the former independent kingdom of Sikkim, and finally to the pristine and beautifully isolated mountain landscape of Bhutan.
This 22-day tour begins much like our 16-day tour of Pakistan, travelling from Karachi to Islamabad with a six-day extension that allows us to further explore the northern parts of the country.
This 16-day small group tour for couples and solo travellers explores the long history and colourful culture of Pakistan, and begins in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, and ends in its vibrant capital, Islamabad, includes Lahore fort and Skardu valley.
The Silk Road is an ancient trade route linking China and Imperial Rome through Central Asia. Few areas in the world remain as unexplored or offer such richness in terms of ancient and modern history, culture, and scenic diversity as Central Asia. Our Small group Silk road tours itinerary explores the Road through remote deserts and mountainous environments as we visit key sites between Xi’an and Bukhara.
Escorted small group tour, Walking Japan, for mature and senior couples and solo travellers, a walking program traces the journey of 17th century Japanese poet and haiku master, Matsuo Basho. We walk in his footsteps on this 13-day journey around the northeast Tohoku region of Japan.
