Remote Lands | Themed Itineraries

Art & Architecture

Angkor & Khmer Culture - Cambodia

Cambodia is probably most famous for being home to one of the world’s most impressive man-made wonders: Angkor Wat, one of a handful of places everyone must visit during their lifetime. Angkor was the capital of the powerful Khmer Empire which controlled most of Indochina from the 11th-14th centuries, and was the largest pre-industrial city in the world, more than ten times the size of the great Mayan city of Tikal. Though Angkor Wat is undoubtedly the most famous, there are over 1,000 temples in the Angkor area, a UNESCO World Heritage-protected site that covers 155 square miles of architectural wonders. Angkor Wat is the largest and best-preserved temple at the site and has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on the national flag. Explore the site with a resident art expert and historian and learn all about the fine details of its construction and what life was like on its waterways. Visit Angkor Thom, constructed in the late 12th century by the Buddhist King Jayavarman VII. The Bayon, his state temple, is one of Angkor's most famous sights and is decorated with a multitude of massive, serene stone faces which gaze out from its many towers. Round out your experience with trips to view stupendous collections of Khmer paintings, sculptures and textiles, and elegant dance performances in styles that have been handed down over centuries.

Classical China - Bejing & Xian

In Beijing, step into the daily lives of China’s emperors as a scholar in Chinese art gives you an exclusive tour of off-limits areas of the Forbidden City, a monumental palace that housed up to 800 buildings and 9,000 rooms. The Forbidden City was the heart of a complex of five temples that mapped Confucian cosmology onto the city; the most elegant of these is the Temple of Heaven, whose round pagodas are some of China's most iconic buildings. Travel to the Great Wall with a renowned historian, and experience its grandeur unfiltered as you hike along a remote, unrestored section. The Great Wall was just one of the massive projects undertaken by China's infamous "First Emperor," Qin Shihuang. His tomb, in the western city of Xian, is a truly remarkable archaeological site. To accompany him into the afterlife, the emperor commissioned an army of over 8,000 terracotta warriors, chariots and horses, no two identical, as well as a zoo, musicians, and courtiers. The main tomb of the Emperor has been located but remains unopened; to date only the warriors have been excavated. You will have exclusive access to the floor of the excavation site with a curator, where you will be allowed to get up-close to the life-size figures. You will also be able to visit the private store room at the Xian Archaeological Institute, where, under the guidance of an expert you may handle invaluable relics, some of them nearly 3,000 years old.

Rajasthan, India

Many of India's most iconic sights are located in the northwestern province of Rajasthan. A trip through the region's former royal capitals offers the chance to stay in hotels within the lushly appointed former homes of maharajas, to travel and dine in royal style and to explore the intricate art and astounding achievements in architecture and the sciences of this ancient civilization. Destinations include the pink-hued city of Jaipur, with its many elegant palaces; the astounding carvings of the Adinath Jain temple at Ranakpur; the Lake Palace of Udaipur, which appears to float on the waters of Lake Pichola; and, of course, the iconic architecture of the Taj Mahal, Rajasthan provides a wealth of cultural experiences virtually unmatched elsewhere.

Borobudur - Java, Indonesia

Although it is the largest Buddhist monument in the world, the remarkable temple of Borobudur was nearly reclaimed by the jungle after the people of Java abandoned Buddhism in favor of Islam in the 15th century. In the 19th century it was uncovered by British and Dutch colonial leaders and restored to its former glory through a series of excavations and renovations that lasted up until 1973. Since that time it has reclaimed its place as the central Buddhist shrine on Indonesia, and is the country's most famous site and a UNESCO World Heritage-protected monument. Situated on a hill between two volcanic peaks, the temple was built as a large square stupa, reflecting Buddhism's sacred cosmology. Nearly two million cubic feet of stone were used to build its nine ascending terraces — the lower six of which are square and the top three, round &mdash 72 small stupas, over 504 sculptures of the Buddha and nearly 3,000 bas-relief carvings. The five-star accommodations of the ultra-luxurious Amanjiwo, run by the celebrated Amanresorts group, are located right near the site.

Pagan, Myanmar (Burma)

Pagan is home to one of the world’s foremost archaeological wonders: over 2,000 Hindu and Buddhist temples and pagodas built between the 11th and 13th centuries occupy a magical plain along the banks of the Irrawaddy River. Unlike Angkor, where the temples are hidden in the midst of the jungle, the temples of Pagan stretch across a vast open expanse, creating a stunning vista. With an expert guide, explore Pagan’s most celebrated temples. The Ananda Temple, with it’s towering glided spire, is nearly 1,000 years old, and is famous for its four statues of different manifestations of the Buddha. The Shwezigon Pagoda is a shrine sacred in both Buddhism and the Burmese animist nat worship. Finish your visit with a hot-air balloon flight at sunset, for an unparalleled view of this impressive sight. Sip champagne and drift slowly over the mighty river and the temples below, as the light throws their architectural splendor into high relief.

Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

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