Welcome to a special one-off edition of Khiri Insider! There's so much going on in the incredible Southeast Asian destination of Laos at the moment that we decided to dedicate a whole newsletter to it. Laos is fully open to vaccinated or COVID-negative travellers and has so much to offer - and the new high-speed railway has made getting around the country much easier than before.   Factor in some of the friendliest people in Asia, fascinating culture, stunning landscapes and amazing value for money, and you have arguably the most underrated country in the region. Check out the updates and articles below then contact us to discuss how we can help you help your clients fall in love with Laos!        

  Welcome to the June edition of Khiri Insider! This month we're showcasing some of our newest "Wow!" experiences, as well as presenting the latest episode of our Khiri Pulse podcast and introducing the first of our Khiri Stories long reads.   All our destinations are now open to travellers and, apart from Myanmar, have all lifted most of their entry restrictions. With tourist numbers still much lower than 2019, there's never been a better time to visit our region!     Thai Tattoos: The Sak Yant Experience Learn all about this fascinating & sacred art from our experts, & get a tattoo from a Sak Yant master! Private Royal Train Dinner in Cambodia An incredible luxury dining experience on the king's private rail carriage in Phnom Penh The latest episode of our podcast, in which our Marketing Manager, Tim Russell, is joined by chef and broadcaster Kay Plunkett-Hogge     Bali by Helicopter See the Island of the Gods from the perspective of the Gods, on this amazing provate helicopter flight over the island's spectacular northern coast     Sri Lanka Marine Expedition A luxury private boat cruise with a local marine biologist Helicopters, Hikes & Hilltribes in Laos An amazing adventure in one of Northern Laos' most remote areas         Khiri Stories: Hidden Gems of Northern Thailand In the first of a new series of long reads, we embark on a spectacular journey through the mountains to Nan, Lampang and Pai    

Before taking the helm as CEO of Khiri Travel, Herman Hoven was general manager of Khiri Travel Indonesia. In this Expert Hub article, Herman offers his expert insight on the rise of multi-generation family travel in Indonesia.   We ask how suitable Indonesia is for three generations of one family traveling together, and how do visiting families experience the country?   How do you define multi-generational (3G) travel?   Typically an adult couple over 60, their married son or daughter, and their young kids, who are usually under 10 years old. In short: children, parents and grandparents, so fun and challenging.   When did you notice this 3G trend starting to occur in Indonesia?   Parts of Indonesia has always been a popular destination for families with a relatively well developed domestic infrastructure. Many Dutch-Indonesian families migrated back to the Netherlands in the 1950's and 60's. These families now wish to show their children and grandchildren where they grew up.   More recently, it's a growing phenomenon among Americans, western Europeans and Australian families.   A family treasure hunt in Indonesia   How do different nationalities approach a 3G holiday in Indonesia?   Europeans tend to stay a little longer and stretch their budgets to over two or even three weeks of holiday. American families tend to stay a maximum of 10-12 days but in more upscale accommodation.   Itineraries for European families tend to be more on the adventurous side, with plenty of hiking and cycling. Americans often enjoy some more culturally-immersive experiences.   Standalone villas are a popular choice for 3G families   Why do families perceive Indonesia to be suitable for this type of trip?   Families tell me they are attracted by many things. The hotel infrastructure in Bali is varied and flexible. There are plenty of connecting rooms, standalone villas and apartments.   3G holidays require activities that create interaction between all generations. In Indonesia families like sharing experiences such as a treasure hunt through rice paddies, cooking classes at a local family house, local village visits, and family blessing ceremonies by Balinese royals and priests.   Visiting families also like that there are options for different generations to experience time on their own. Usually that's private time for the parents, for example a spa or romantic dinner, plus a practical activity for the grandparents and grandchildren.   How do Indonesians perceive their multi-generational visitors?   Indonesians are culturally very respectful of the family as a unit. As is common in Asia, they show great respect to the elderly and adore children. Families love the warm welcome they receive.   Indonesians are very respecful of family   What do families think is essential to the success of their 3G trips in Indonesia?   The key to success is the choice of accommodation. Families want an option to be together in one big living space, but also a chance to retreat into private rooms for downtime. Indonesia's private villas are best suited to this.   They also like accommodations that can provide services such as cooking, babysitting and arranging children's activities. Another hit is locally owned accommodations, where staff can help immerse the family into local communities and culture.   Families want plenty of time to relax and chill together. They want to visit destinations which offer different attractions for different generations in the same area. One example is the botanical gardens and Bali treetop adventure.   What are the favourite experiences of 3G families visiting Indonesia?   Visiting the village of Bulian with a local guide and meeting different generations is a perennial favourite. Traditional Balinese culture is very much alive here. Visiting kids play with local kids and guests are welcome in the kitchen.   Also popular among our 3G clients is a treasure hunt in a village called Sidemen. It's a good example of families enjoying an activity they can all share together.   Children doing Lontar writing   How do 3G families experience Indonesia beyond Bali?   Java, Bali, Lombok and West Flores have better facilities for all the generations. We rarely see 3G families traveling beyond these more organised parts of Indonesia.   Families are surprised how an adventure visiting Komodo dragons in Flores is easy to organise. The same counts for visiting volcanoes in Java by jeep, as well stays on the beautiful beaches of north Lombok and the Gili islands.   What are common mistake made by DMCs when organising 3G itineraries?   Families are happy when the needs of every generation can be satisfied. When trips are less successful it's usually due to a lack of local knowledge.   Don't have them hiking up temple steps in the midday heat. Keep itineraries flexible, so that the grandparents or young kids can relax in a sea view cafe, or similar, while fitter members have the option of exploring by themselves.   Most of Khiri's local staff have families of their own and live together with multiple generations. So they have insight into both the country and visitor.   As general manager of Khiri Travel Indonesia, Herman Hoven designed and implemented multiple new DMC travel experiences, and opened offices in Bali, Java and Sulawesi. Herman Hoven is now CEO of Khiri Travel.   Herman Hoven

Destination management company Khiri Travel has launched four new ecotourism tours in Sri Lanka as the country reopens for quarantine-free travel for fully vaccinated arrivals. From Mirissa on the southern tip of Sri Lanka, guests can sail in a catamaran with a marine biologist to spot blue whales and dolphins. In the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, the Trails of Matale trip allows guests to  meet villagers and hike through pepper, cinnamon and coffee plantations. In the Kandy hill country, Khiri has created an educational tour to show how spices such as cinnamon are cultivated. The trip includes a mug of locally grown 'wild coffee', a forest curry lunch and a donation to a reafforestation foundation. Guests can also help with a seagrass restoration project in the Puttalam/Kalpitiya area in the north west of the country. The experience involves planting seagrass, in a lagoon which is an important breeding ground for sealife. Since January 2021, Khiri has been offsetting guests' holiday carbon emissions by charging US$1.50 per person per day. The process is being carried out in cooperation with ClimateCare which helps companies such as Khiri Travel with the technical fulfillment of carbon offsetting. "There has been a noticeable increase since September but since the 7 October announcement enquiries and bookings have picked up at an even faster rate," said Mahiru Fernando, Acting General Manager of Khiri Travel Sri Lanka.

Head of travel design for DMC Khiri Travel, Patchanee 'Queen' Sudsai has a passion for discovery, especially for Bangkok. In this Expert Hub article she provides an inside scoop on the Thai capital, using her decades of experience to reflect on visitors changing perceptions and interests.   What are the main nationalities, age groups and demographics of Khiri clients visiting Bangkok?   The majority of clients we handle for Bangkok are in the 40-50 age group, often couples, typically from USA, UK, Netherlands, Germany and France.   The second most common are millennial couples around 30 years old. We find that this younger audience are seeking more responsible and active lifestyle activities, such as walking, hiking and biking. They show a real interest in wanting to give back.   More recently I see more multi-generational travel happening too, with three generations of one family traveling together.   A floating market near Bangkok   What do Khiri clients love about Bangkok and is this different to 10, 20, or even 30 years ago?   All our visitors love the variety and energy of Bangkok, epitomized by its street food, temples, rooftop bars, plus canal boat rides into Thonburi and foodie tours in Chinatown.   Visitors are now more comfortable using the continuously expanding BTS and MRT skytrain and underground networks, which are really opening up different parts of the city to tourism.   Bangkok is much more of a trendy, lifestyle and shopping city for couples compared to 20 or so years ago, when it still had a red light reputation. For the under 40s, nightlife now means rooftop cocktails, top DJs in the clubs of Thong Lor, or bar hopping in the converted shop houses of the up and coming Chinatown area.   Visitors are increasingly comfortable with Bangkok's public transport   How about hotel preferences? Has that shifted over time?   Younger couples who still want nightlife are now veering to the Sukhumvit 11 area.   The older demographics are moving towards heritage-legacy hotels near the riverside. They prefer to stay away from the busy and congested streets of Sukhumvit for the relative tranquility of being on the water.   What do Khiri clients dislike and why? How is this different by age group?   Everyone hates the traffic. High humidity, pollution and heat takes its toll on most visitors. Pacing is really important to organising successful itineraries in Bangkok and visitors don't often appreciate how long it can take to get around.   Taking a walk through Bangkok   How are visitors experiencing Bangkok differently to 10 or 20 years ago?   Bangkok has a hugely vibrant and diverse food scene and this comes unexpectedly to most. Many visitors already like Thai food when they arrive but are amazed at the variation of what is now on offer - bustling street food stalls in Chinatown, Michelin-starred French cuisine, different types of Thai cuisine and different styles of dining.   Destinations like The Grand Palace are famous for good reason. Visitors still like the famous sights but there is a trend towards seeking a more authentic experience. Bangkok does offer this, especially through a host of impressive temples and lesser known sites outside the city's heart.   Bangkok's culinary diversity is now a big visitor highlight   What aspects of the city most surprise your clients?   One of my Bangkok highlights is how every visitor can find their own surprises and unique experiences. When I speak to visitors I'm amazed at the different things they stumble upon when exploring this diverse city.   I cannot pinpoint a single one. It can be shop houses and converted warehouses in the old town, receiving a blessing at a private monk ceremony, or seeking something beautiful down a nondescript alley. There is something surprising for everyone and the unifying element is that most of them are in the total absence of other tourists.   Bangkok is often hailed as the most vibrant tourism city in the world. That every visitor can find their own surprises is a reflection of this.   As head of travel design for DMC Khiri Travel, Patchanee 'Queen' Sudsai enjoys creating new travel experiences for visitors seeking a fresh take on the Thai capital.   Patchanee 'Queen' Sudsai    

Khiri introduces comprehensive offsetting program with ClimateCare and new low emissions ‘slow travel’ holiday options.   Asian DMC Khiri Travel is on its way to becoming fully carbon neutral. As part of its approach to take responsibility for its impact on the environment, Khiri Travel has partnered with climate and sustainable development experts ClimateCare. The result will be the complete offsetting of carbon emissions for Khiri guests’ holidays and Khiri’s own operations, starting in January 2021. This includes CO2 emissions generated by all of Khiri’s offices in seven Asian destinations, staff commuting, and all business travel by Khiri employees.   Once travelers arrive in Southeast Asia, Khiri Travel will offset carbon emissions for guest trips by charging US$1.50 per person per day. The aim is to offset entire itineraries, including accommodation, activities and transport. Funds will go to ClimateCare’s best-in-class carbon reduction projects in the Asian region.   Herman Hoven the CEO of Khiri Travel said that Khiri had calculated the average carbon footprint of its itineraries. As a result, a carbon offset rate of US$1.50 per person per day will be automatically added to each travel proposal to partners. Hoven said that partners would have the possibility to opt out if they had their own carbon offsetting program in place. “Otherwise the US$1.50 fee will apply,” he said.     “Our overall aim is to do our best to improve environmental management and decrease any negative impacts on our destinations,” said Hoven. “We want to ensure that not only Khiri as a company, but all our operations on the ground, are carbon neutral.”   ClimateCare’s Director of Partnerships, Robert Stevens, said: “We work with forward-thinking organizations such as Khiri Travel to turn their climate responsibilities into positive outcomes, which also support sustainable development.”   To further reduce CO2 emissions, Khiri Travel has introduced a new product line: “Rediscovering The Art of Slow Travel”. In these trips there will be no regional flights. All transport will be by train, car or boat. Itineraries will typically be a minimum of 15 days. Accommodation will be vetted against Khiri’s social, cultural and environmental criteria. And excursions will benefit the host communities, mostly in less developed regions. “By offering longer duration trips in-destination, with much less flying, Khiri’s guests will greatly reduce their carbon footprint,” said Nia Klatte, Khiri Travel’s Regional Sustainability Coordinator. “It also gives guests time to slow down and immerse themselves in the local area.”   On climate action, Khiri’s position is to follow current advice from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which recommends cutting global carbon emissions to 55% of 2017 levels by 2030 in order to limit global warming to 1.5 o C (2.7 o F).   Khiri Travel’s climate position is explained here. Its climate emergency strategy is here. Khiri Travel is a signatory of Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency.

Across Southeast Asia Khiri Reach is helping volunteer groups such as the KuMel Volunteer Connection in Myanmar and helping distribute rice in poor areas of Colombo and Bangkok.   Khiri Reach, the charitable arm of Khiri Travel, has been active helping communities in Asia impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.   Its focus has been on marginalized communities, many of them in long-standing relationships with Khiri Travel, such as local families, artisans or community based projects that were regularly visited by tours before lockdown.   In Sri Lanka, Khiri Reach donated grocery packages to 250 families in Grandpass Colombo. They worked with local people, all wearing masks and practicing social distancing, as best they could, while distributing packages to local families.   In Myanmar, Khiri staff and local volunteer groups have been busy setting up two social enterprises: KuMel Volunteer connection and Honeybee Arts & Crafts. KuMel — the short form of “Ku Nyi Mel” in Burmese or “We will help” — aims to support local communities or organizations who need volunteers to help communities.   KuMel also keeps active people well informed about how to find volunteer jobs through its Facebook page and website.   Honeybee Arts & Crafts provides local artisans with the opportunity to sell their crafts and souvenirs online and worldwide. Many of the local communities depended on income from tourists. They are now heavily impacted by the travel shut down. All the products available on Honeybee are made from sustainable materials, such as bamboo, paper mâché, cotton (from longyi fabric), recycled plastic, or coconuts.   Khiri Travel Vietnam staff also donated funds to a CanCham project to purchase about 148kg of rice to help families in Binh Tan, Hooc Mon, Cu Chi, Tan Phu and Nha Be, suburbs around Saigon where many labourers have been made unemployed. Local communities developed the system of Rice-ATMs — automatic rice dispensers — which limit physical contact. People in need come with their own bags, which they can fill up with free rice.Khiri Travel in Thailand is supporting the Covid Relief BKK Project set up by SOS Thailand (Scholars of Sustenance). Khiri is providing two vans for donating deliveries to communities, homeless shelters and health care centres. The COVID Relief BKK Projects have helped by distributing over 500 bags of dry goods so far.   When tourists travel again, Khiri Travel will offer visits to select NGO sites in Asia at cost, so that all profits go in full the projects. By doing so, Khiri Travel hopes to provide extra support to NGOs. These ‘not-for-profit’ travel experiences help community projects such as The Endangered Primate Rescue Centre in Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam, Free the Bears in Laos, the Saunders Weaving School and Burmese Star Tortoise Conservation Project in Myanmar, and the Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre in Phuket.   “The initial instinct of Khiri staff to Covid was to help vulnerable people in the margins of the tourism industry,” said Nia Klatte, the Executive Director of Khiri Reach, based in Saigon. “We are adding more helping activities every week. Every little bit counts in these difficult times.”