Asia Transpacific Journeys Launches Culinary Asia Vacation Tours to Thailand and Vietnam: Features Superb Food and Cultural Immersion with Luxury Thailand Travel

Asia Transpacific Journeys, a U.S.-based Asia travel company, announces the launching of The Cuisine and Culture of Thailand and Vietnam, a groundbreaking journey featuring superb food and cultural immersion coupled with luxury Thailand travel. This extraordinary journey features cooking courses at renowned cooking schools, personal visits with acclaimed chefs and beautiful boutique-hotel style resorts in traditional style.

BOULDER, Colo. (Business Wire EON) February 15, 2008 -- Asia Transpacific Journeys, a U.S.-based Asia travel company, announces the launching of The Cuisine and Culture of Thailand and Vietnam, a groundbreaking journey featuring superb food and cultural immersion coupled with luxury Thailand travel. This extraordinary journey features cooking courses at renowned cooking schools, personal visits with acclaimed chefs and beautiful boutique-hotel style resorts in traditional style.

It's the hands-on immersion and interplay of culture and cuisine that makes this culinary tour of Thailand and Vietnam so special

“It’s the hands-on immersion and interplay of culture and cuisine that makes this culinary tour of Thailand and Vietnam so special,” says Marilyn Downing Staff, President and founder of Asia Transpacific Journeys, an Asia vacation and Asia tour operator for 21 years. “Travelers will interact with locals, and discover regional harvesting and cooking techniques. They’ll learn to combine the lemongrass, spices, coconut, meats and vegetables in traditional Thai and Vietnamese recipes, while exploring UNESCO World Heritage sites, and indulging their senses at some of Asia’s finest restaurants.”

Culinary travel diva Peggy Markel will lead the group into the countryside where lemongrass and coconuts are harvested, then into kitchens for roll-up-your-sleeves cooking lessons. This type of hands-on experience is a window into the culture that makes for truly insightful connection. Markel’s international travels connecting cuisine, culture and lifestyle have been reported in, among others, the New York Times and Food & Wine.

Travelers will unwind at gorgeous traditional resorts such as the Anantara Resort & Spa, set amidst 200 acres of tropical gardens and furnished with silks, regional cottons and wooden accents. The motif of culinary experience, cultural immersion, history and exemplary luxury Thailand travel and accommodations in Vietnam and Thailand is repeated throughout.

This 14-day Small Group Trip (up to 18 travelers) departs Feb. 7, 2009. The per-person double rate is $7,895 for land costs that includes luxurious accommodations, nearly all meals, regional flights, transfers, visa fees, tips, entrance fees, medical and emergency insurance and a comprehensive pre-departure packet. A custom journey may be arranged for those who have specific Asia vacation travel plans or prefer other dates.

About Asia Transpacific Journeys

Asia Transpacific Journeys is an award-winning, Boulder, Colorado-based Asia travel company specializing in Custom Journeys and Small Group Trips for Asia vacation travel since 1987. Outstanding service, long-standing connections in Asia and deeply insightful cultural interpretation make them the operator of choice for discerning individuals, their families and friends. Asia Transpacific Journeys is the recipient of three “Top Travel Specialists” awards for 2007 from Condé Nast Traveler magazine. In November 2007 Asia Transpacific Journeys was also honored as a “World’s Best Tour Operator” by National Geographic Adventure. For more information, visit http://www.asiatranspacific.com or call 800-642-2742.