The Prize

Win the Adventure of a lifetime and benefit Kunzang Palchen Ling.

Kunzang Palchen Ling has teamed up with Authentic Asia to offer you and a friend the opportunity to win a dream vacation. The prize is your choice of one of Authentic Asia’s scheduled tours as available or have a personalized tour designed to fit your preferences. Your purchase of a raffle ticket for $50 is an opportunity to win a dream vacation and to help support Kunzang Palchen Ling.

Take a look at the unique itineraries that combine spectacular places and cultural interaction creating the perfect mix for an unforgettable adventure. Visit their web page to explore the possibilities…..www.authenticasia.net

Bhutan

Nestled deep in the Himalayas, between the powers of India and Nepal lies Bhutan – one of the most beautiful and isolated places on earth. It is now the last living Vajrayana Buddhist kingdom, where, during the seventh century, the teachings of the Buddha became the country’s state religion. Over the last twelve hundred years these timeless teachings of wisdom and compassion have infused every aspect of society.

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Cambodia

Cambodia is home to Indochina’s most magnificent site, the temples of Angkor, ornamented by the finest artisans of its time, once redolent with incense and prayer, were lost beneath the sands of time only to be re-discovered at the opening of the last century. Whether one be king, queen, courtier or commoner, he or she would have had a mind-transforming experience of the order and harmony of the universe, the presence of powers far greater than mortal man. We know this because it is the same as we enter Angkor today.

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China

With it’s bustling and modern metropolis cities of Shanghai and Beijing, it’s great mixture of ethnic minorities, it’s stunning architectural marvels, a rich artistic heritage and civilization dating back thousands of years, China has long been a favorite destination among our travelers. Your journey may take you all the way from China’s ancient center of power, the Forbidden City, to the winding valleys of Lijiang, bordering the Tibetan plateau and home to the Naxi people, on to the desert oasis town of Kashgar with its famed Sunday Market and down the shores of the legendary Yangtze River.

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India

Mark Twain once described India as:

the country of a hundred nations and hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, cradle of the human race, birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of tradition, whose yesteryears bear date with the mouldering antiquities of the rest of the nations – the one land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of all the rest of the globe combined”

The awe-inspiring subcontinent of India is abundant with an energy, diversity and a landscape that is unparalleled in the world. Here we wander in the land where the world’s greatest have lived an left their traces.

Its vast expanse reaches in the North from the long forgotten heavenly mountain lakes of Kashmir along the foothills of the Himalayas to the spectacular landscape and snow capped peaks of Ladakh. The tucked away states of Assam, Nagaland and West Bengal are still waiting to be discovered by intrepid travelers.

The vibrant and colorful architecture and history of Rajasthan, home to fierce warriors for thousands of years, with its ancient palaces and forts, the might of its artistry and magnificence surpasses anything the Western eye has ever seen. In Varanassi, where thousands of pilgrims come to bathe in the holy waters of the Ganges River, one can feel the heart beat of India and in the South we find tranquility as we travel along the backwaters of the Keralan coast. 

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Japan

Japan is known as the Land of the Sun Goddess and according to legend, it is believed that its people are her direct descendants. It is a heavenly land of natural beauty where ancient and distinctive traditions and customs are treasured and kept alive amidst a modern society. From the snow covered top of Mt. Fuji and the emerald green rice paddies covering the hillside, into the mountains and across the old Edo Highway, past the magical castle town of Takayama and on to Kyoto, one of Japan’s many jewels and its old capital, Japan offers an opportunity to step back in time and discover its history of powerful emperors, fearless shoguns and mysterious geishas.

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Laos

Laos is considered by many the jewel of Southeast Asia, a timeless land rich in mysteries, the Shangri-La of Indochina stretching from the Plain of Jars in the North to the Boloven Plateau in the South. It is home to colorful ethnic minority tribes such as the Akha and Hmong, the town of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the elusive “Pink Dolphins” of the Mekong River.

The aspiration to unify the spiritual and the material is as old as civilization itself. In the sacred sites of Myanmar, we discover the merger of mind and matter, of stone and spirit, and we envision them as they were created, as they prospered and as they fell into ruin through the inevitable vicissitudes of time. As the sun sets over the thousands of pagodas in Pagan, the ancient monasteries and shrines, we realize the relentless passage of time and the irrepressible force of life and change dramatically embodied in the ancient stone.

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Myanmar

Myanmar formerly known as Burma, is one of Southeast Asia’s most magical countries stretching from the islands of the Andaman Sea all the way up to foothills of the Himalayas. It is situated between the powers of India and China, overlooking the vast Indian Ocean. It is home to a diverse culture ranging from the capital city of Rangoon to the magical stupas of Pagan, the splendid monasteries around Mandalay, the fishing villages of Inle Lake and the remote hill tribes of the North.

Over the past few years, Myanmar has began to emerge as one the most desirable destinations in Southeast Asia. It is home to some of the most impressive Buddhist sites in all of Asia beginning with the Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon which the writer Rudyard Kipling once called “a golden mystery… a beautiful winking wonder”!

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Nepal

For many travelers, Nepal holds a special fascination. It is the gateway to the Himalayas, the world’s most majestic mountains, the sprawling foothills, dotted with tiny Sherpa villages and home to Kathmandu, a city with a pulse and energy overwhelming to our senses. Only in Kathmandu can one pass by a Hindu cremation ceremony, where the sadhus, the ascetic warriors and devout mystics, perform their magical rituals before visiting a Buddhist temple, where Tibetan pilgrims walk in silence and contemplation with their prayer wheels in hand.

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Tibet

Heinrich Harrer once wrote:

Religion is the heart of the fabric of the Tibetan state. Pilgrims from the remotest parts of the Changthang undergo countless hardships in order to come once a year and witness the brilliant manifestation of their religious faith and they feed on the memory during their hard and lonely lives. The daily life of Tibetans is ordered by religious belief. Pious texts are constantly on their lips; prayer wheels turn without ceasing; prayer flags wave on the roofs of houses and the summits of the mountain passes; the rain, the wind, all the phenomena of nature, the lonely peaks of the snow-clad mountains, bear witness to the universal presence of the gods.

Much has changed in Tibet since Harrer wrote these words, however, the magic of the country and the heartwarming devotion of its people can still be found when we set out, off the beaten path, to explore some of the more remote corners and sacred sites. Our trips take us by train through the Tibetan highlands to Lhasa, the capital city or across some of the world’s highest mountain passes deep into the Kham region or past the majestic Mt. Everest to the border of Nepal.

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Vietnam

Despite its history and the memories that still linger in so many people’s minds, Vietnam has emerged as one of the most beautiful and desirable destinations in Southeast Asia. It is a country filled with captivating natural splendor, tranquil village life, bustling port cities, and old French colonial architecture. Vietnam is home to many different ethnic minorities and spectacular scenery stretching from the jagged mountains and the high plateaus in the North, to the lofty limestone islands around Halong Bay and the many heavenly beaches in the South.

Regardless if you are interested in history, architecture, village life or just some relaxing time at the beach, there is plenty to see and do in Vietnam for everyone. We begin in Hanoi, a bustling fun city and a wonderful architectural masterpiece. The Perfume Pagoda, located outside of Hanoi has a long history in Vietnamese literature, its name has been a theme of many songs, topic of poetry, used in literary works as well as backdrop for paintings. It is the most important place of worship for the Vietnamese Buddhists.

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Individual Travel & Luxury Private Tours

Authentic Asia’s founder, Tina Patterson specializes in organizing private tours for individual travelers ranging from budget conscious trips to all inclusive and high-end deluxe journeys. Over the years, we have developed a loyal circle of repeat clients whose travels have taken them from the Himalayan mountain tops, to the temples of Southeast Asia, through the wind-swept steppes of Mongolia and the desert cities of Iran. Everywhere throughout Asia, our clients can rely on us to provide them with a unique and unforgettable travel experience.

We take pride in our love and passion for creating a personalized travel experience tailored to your preferred destination, specific needs and budget. Our private itineraries are all inclusive ranging from accommodations in the most luxurious and splendid hotels in Asia’s metropolitan cities to a small bed and breakfast in a remote corner of the Himalayas. You will be accompanied by some of the best guides in the world, many of whom have become dear friends over the years. Your private drivers have been carefully selected and will take you off the beaten tourist path if you wish, your days are flexible, there is no schedule that needs to be followed…

Our level of personal attention and knowledge when it comes to designing your perfect itinerary has been recognized and rewarded by many repeat travelers and referrals from our private clients.

“It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation on behalf of Authentic Asia – a simply superb travel company. Having just landed from a 3 month tour of 18 cities in Asia, I can assure you my family and I have just finished a trip of a lifetime which was in no small part achieved through the tireless effort of Tina Patterson. It was her impeccable attention to detail, one which was at all times tailor made to our ever changing needs that created an unforgettable experience, that had all the more merit given that it was all organized within one month.

We had never been to Asia and so with no predisposed notions simply trusted blindly in her judgment. Tina had to liaise with handling agents, accommodate site seeing to baby schedules etc. and it was her unfailing commitment to excellence that ensured not just our ease and comfort but most importantly left us wanting to know more of the “Authentic Asia” she had presented to us. There was never a NO you cannot do that, just a smile and guidance. Top notch hotels, amazing guides and great restaurants too!

We felt strongly that all the agents and guides throughout our travels were particularly keen to deliver excellent service because they were acting on the behalf of Tina Patterson. Her ability to deliver impeccable service reaches far!”

Jake & Ewi, Asia 2009

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