Frontier travel experiences do still exist
*For the most up-to-date itinerary, inclusions and pricing, visit Crooked Compass here.
Boutique tour operator, Crooked Compass is calling spirited travellers to join the new Road to Mandalay exploratory tour encompassing India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The trip traverses the recently opened border between East India and Myanmar.
This Australian-owned and operated company is the first in the southern hemisphere to secure permits for the new border crossing.
Travellers on the Road to Mandalay journey will be among the first few hundred foreigners in the world to cross this post by land.
There is a growing trend among over-60s Australian travellers for bespoke small group tours and this one ranks among the most unique.
A 25 or 30-day itinerary is available for travel in March or October, 2017, accommodating 12 people per tour. Private departures can be arranged on request.
“This is one of our most exciting and memorable journeys, perfect for those who seek that sense of discovery and serendipity which occurs on first time forays into new places. This is the essence of our company motto #FollowADifferentPath,” says company Founding Director, Lisa Pagotto.
Many of the regions visited on the tour have not been previously accessible to foreign travellers which means interactions with little-known tribes, breathtaking wildlife, spectacular virgin landscapes and raw cultural experiences will set this trip apart.
Crooked Compass says on this journey of discovery, you are part of the exploration.
‘Although we have a set itinerary, as this region is untouched and untrodden, you help make decisions as we go, sharing insights with our guides and local people about your experience. Patience and flexibility is a must. This tour has been designed in cooperation with conservation organisations and local indigenous communities inviting us to venture into wild lands and remote villages to support new ecotourism initiatives.’
There are no physically strenuous activities on the tour such as long hikes nor altitude acclimatisation but naturally, given the remoteness of locations, there are times when accommodations will be basic and roads not exactly highway quality … which are indeed reasons why you take such a journey in the first place.
That said, when travelling through larger cities, 4 and 5 star accommodation is offered.
Prices from $22,985 per person for the 4-star 25-day journey.
