South East Asia Cruise - from Sydney - 127153

Cairns, the capital of the "Far North" region is full of that tropical lust for life. As the secret "backpacker capital" of Australia, it has an almost magical pull on young travellers thanks to the seemingly limitless recreational activities it has to offer. It is far easier to reach the Great Barrier Reef from here than from central Queensland. The crystal-clear waters, palm-lined islands and sandbanks attract divers and snorkellers in particular, making the two offshore islands, Green Island and Fitzroy Island, hugely popular holiday destinations. The outer reef loved by divers is around 50 km away. In the near vicinity are untouched sections of coast and a mysterious wilderness of rainforest backed by a high mountain range.

Cairns, the capital of the "Far North" region is full of that tropical lust for life. As the secret "backpacker capital" of Australia, it has an almost magical pull on young travellers thanks to the seemingly limitless recreational activities it has to offer. It is far easier to reach the Great Barrier Reef from here than from central Queensland. The crystal-clear waters, palm-lined islands and sandbanks attract divers and snorkellers in particular, making the two offshore islands, Green Island and Fitzroy Island, hugely popular holiday destinations. The outer reef loved by divers is around 50 km away. In the near vicinity are untouched sections of coast and a mysterious wilderness of rainforest backed by a high mountain range.

The relaxed atmosphere of the outback dominates in Darwin too. The nearby wilderness of Cockatoo National Park boasts cave paintings and aboriginal art, rock formations that are more than 20,000 years old, and the dense lush Australian rainforest with many many waterfalls.

The relaxed atmosphere of the outback dominates in Darwin too. The nearby wilderness of Cockatoo National Park boasts cave paintings and aboriginal art, rock formations that are more than 20,000 years old, and the dense lush Australian rainforest with many many waterfalls.

Komodo is one of the Lesser Sunda lslands, a part of Indonesia as yet almost untouched by tourism. It could have been the set for the film "Jurassic Park", with its prehistoric animals the Komodo dragons and its unique landscape of craggy mountains, grasslands and forests with dried-up riverbeds. There are no roads and only a single village. Not far from Komodo are some of the most beautiful islands with a huge diversity of plant and animal life and fantastic areas for snorkelling in untouched coral colonies.

Benoa is a traditional fishing village in the South of Bali. At the entrance to the port is the Pura Sakenan temple . It is linked with the pilgrimage of the Buddhist saint Dang Hyang Nirartha and is particularly important during the Galungan Festival celebrated every second year.

Benoa is a traditional fishing village in the South of Bali. At the entrance to the port is the Pura Sakenan temple . It is linked with the pilgrimage of the Buddhist saint Dang Hyang Nirartha and is particularly important during the Galungan Festival celebrated every second year.

The busy little port is the main port of the federal state of Sabah on Borneo, which is part of Malaysia. It has a forestry museum providing an overview of the country's plant species as well as the famous Sabah Orchid House with a magical collection of rare orchids. The Gomantong cave complex, home to the thousands of swallows that build the nests which are used to make the Chinese delicacy of bird's nest soup, is also worth a visit. Not far from Sandakan there is also a crocodile farm, with over 1,000 animals. It serves mainly for breeding purposes; wild stocks are boosted with young animals from here.

The metropolis of Manila, which has a population of around 1.7 million, is the capital of the Philippines and is considered to be a very important port. The city lies in Manila Bay, Luzon, and consists of 7 main areas. Manila has several universities, an international airport, many shopping centres, oil refineries and other industrial trades. Sights include numerous Baroque churches, which were granted World Heritage Site status in 1993, "China Town", a magical area of Manila, the Chinese cemetery, "Intramuris", the oldest part of the city with many churches and ancient buildings and "Mataki", an ultra-modern and luxurious shopping centre.

The metropolis of Manila, which has a population of around 1.7 million, is the capital of the Philippines and is considered to be a very important port. The city lies in Manila Bay, Luzon, and consists of 7 main areas. Manila has several universities, an international airport, many shopping centres, oil refineries and other industrial trades. Sights include numerous Baroque churches, which were granted World Heritage Site status in 1993, "China Town", a magical area of Manila, the Chinese cemetery, "Intramuris", the oldest part of the city with many churches and ancient buildings and "Mataki", an ultra-modern and luxurious shopping centre.

The Chinese island of Hong Kong ("Xiang Gang" in Chinese) has, together with the island of Lantao and the Kowloon peninsula, has belonged to the Chinese special administrative region since July 1st 1997. "Hong Kong in the narrow sense" forms the core settlement of the group of islands with a population of more than 4 million. The city is one of the largest financial centres in the world and represents a major junction for sea transport in the region. Sights include: floating restaurants at the harbour, Tai Po racecourse, the beaches at Castle Peak, Man Mo Temple; the bell tower at the tip of the Kowloon peninsula serves as an excellent viewing platform of the city skyline; the 800 m long escalator on Hongkong Island (the longest in the world), "Tiger Balm Garden" with its small caves and statues from Chinese mythology, Victoria Peak with views of the port and the city. There is also a huge number of restaurants and shops.

The Chinese island of Hong Kong ("Xiang Gang" in Chinese) has, together with the island of Lantao and the Kowloon peninsula, has belonged to the Chinese special administrative region since July 1st 1997. "Hong Kong in the narrow sense" forms the core settlement of the group of islands with a population of more than 4 million. The city is one of the largest financial centres in the world and represents a major junction for sea transport in the region. Sights include: floating restaurants at the harbour, Tai Po racecourse, the beaches at Castle Peak, Man Mo Temple; the bell tower at the tip of the Kowloon peninsula serves as an excellent viewing platform of the city skyline; the 800 m long escalator on Hongkong Island (the longest in the world), "Tiger Balm Garden" with its small caves and statues from Chinese mythology, Victoria Peak with views of the port and the city. There is also a huge number of restaurants and shops.

Da Nang is the capital of the Vietnamese province of Quang Nam Da Nang. It was here that the Americans set up one of their largest air force bases in South East Asia. Today, Da Nang is a bustling port and a popular holiday destination with beautiful white sandy beaches. It has a wonderful promenade, lined with tall trees, behind which there are large, prestigious villas dating from the French colonial occupation. Sights include: Han Market, the Cham Museum with 300 statues and reliefs from across the country, the China Beach made famous by an American television series, the marble mountains, remote grottos and Buddhist pilgrim temples.

Ho Chi Minh City is the former capital of South Vietnam. It was renamed in honour of the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh and represents the economic centre of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh is divided into 17 urban and 5 rural districts. A large number of cafés, markets and shops dominate the varied cityscape. Sights include: the Dragon House, the Giac-Lam Pagoda, the Historical Museum, the zoo, the Botanic Gardens, the Cathedral "Notre Dame" (1877-1883), the central post office, the town hall (1908), the water puppet shows and Nghia An Hoi Pagoda.

Ho Chi Minh City is the former capital of South Vietnam. It was renamed in honour of the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh and represents the economic centre of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh is divided into 17 urban and 5 rural districts. A large number of cafés, markets and shops dominate the varied cityscape. Sights include: the Dragon House, the Giac-Lam Pagoda, the Historical Museum, the zoo, the Botanic Gardens, the Cathedral "Notre Dame" (1877-1883), the central post office, the town hall (1908), the water puppet shows and Nghia An Hoi Pagoda.

Laem Chabang is the port of the Thai capital of Bangkok. The deep-sea port is around a half-hour car journey from Pattaya and in the space of just a few years has established itself on the list of the most important ports in the world. Today, Leam Chabang is one of the 20 largest container ports in the world. Plattaya's famous resorts are perfect for swimming and relaxing.

Laem Chabang is the port of the Thai capital of Bangkok. The deep-sea port is around a half-hour car journey from Pattaya and in the space of just a few years has established itself on the list of the most important ports in the world. Today, Leam Chabang is one of the 20 largest container ports in the world. Plattaya's famous resorts are perfect for swimming and relaxing.

Laem Chabang is the port of the Thai capital of Bangkok. The deep-sea port is around a half-hour car journey from Pattaya and in the space of just a few years has established itself on the list of the most important ports in the world. Today, Leam Chabang is one of the 20 largest container ports in the world. Plattaya's famous resorts are perfect for swimming and relaxing.

Ko Samui is Thailand's third-largest island and lies around 700 km to the South of Bangkok. The island is also known as "Coconut Island" due to the fact that there are more than 3 million coconut palms growing there. Accordingly, there are around 1,000 coconut farmers on the island. The coconuts are harvested for the most part by specially trained monkeys. An insider's tip until a few years ago, Ko Samui is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination, but this has not yet taken anything away from its idyllic charm. For anyone looking for a place with perfect white beaches, crystal clear light-blue waters and picturesque landscapes, Ko Samui is the right place. The most visited sight on the island is 'Big Buddha', a statue of Buddha built in 1972 that stands 12 m high.

Singapore is a city state at the lower end of the Malay Peninsula, only around 100 km North of the equator. Today the city is one of the most important ports and trading centres in South East Asia. Singapore has a population of over 3 million, including first and foremost Chinese, Malaysians and Indians. Europeans and other ethnic groups round off the city of many nationalities and four official languages. Visitors will notice the spotlessly clean and well-kept roads and squares; Singapore is also one of the safest cities in the world. Some interesting buildings dating from the colonial era have been placed under preservation order, including several former British administrative buildings and Raffles Hotel, whose guests included many authors. From the southern shore of the Singapore River visitors can take a boat trip around the river and Marina Bay. Sights include: the shopping street Orchard Road, Chinatown, Little India, Singapore River, the Botanic Gardens, the zoo and Fort Canning.

Singapore is a city state at the lower end of the Malay Peninsula, only around 100 km North of the equator. Today the city is one of the most important ports and trading centres in South East Asia. Singapore has a population of over 3 million, including first and foremost Chinese, Malaysians and Indians. Europeans and other ethnic groups round off the city of many nationalities and four official languages. Visitors will notice the spotlessly clean and well-kept roads and squares; Singapore is also one of the safest cities in the world. Some interesting buildings dating from the colonial era have been placed under preservation order, including several former British administrative buildings and Raffles Hotel, whose guests included many authors. From the southern shore of the Singapore River visitors can take a boat trip around the river and Marina Bay. Sights include: the shopping street Orchard Road, Chinatown, Little India, Singapore River, the Botanic Gardens, the zoo and Fort Canning.