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Hello…

I’m Carly, one of Fleewinter’s dedicated Asia specialists!

Most of the time you’ll find me in West London, sketching out personalised tours of Asia in the sunniest spot I can find in the house.

I can always tell when a trip to Asia for myself is overdue when my cooking is suddenly all vegetarian curries and I find myself digging out my Vietnamese-style coffee maker…

 

That first trip to Asia

If you or someone you’re travelling with has never been to Asia before, you can expect me to get pretty animated on the phone while discussing your holiday. I can remember my first trip like it was yesterday (it wasn’t. It was, gulp, 20 years ago with an enormous backpack, 12 clear months and my best friend).

It was love. The food, the colours, the welcoming people. A nd so completely unique – utterly compelling and the memories are still so crisp.

Recreating that feeling for Fleewinter customers is my favourite thing about my job. And I find everyone falls in love with the region and wants to go back, so it’s a good thing we have a wide Asia portfolio!

 

Boutique hotels and local charm

We’ve worked hard to build a portfolio of hotels, villas and guesthouses that are true to the country and the region.

I think your beachfront villa in Ahangama should scream Sri Lankan style to you – and be a world away from your quirky hotel by the lake in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. I think where you stay really matters, it’s your first taste of the place and your safe space to explore from.

And since Sri Lanka and Vietnam work best as touring countries, hosted around by English speaking driver-guides and possibly an internal flight or 2, you get such variety.

 

Travelling with children…

My personal travel life looks a little different these days since my son joined us in 2018. Even as a confident and experienced traveller, I had my concerns the first time we hopped on a long haul flight to Sri Lanka with him aged 14 months. Almost all my worries were unfounded, and helping our customers plan for authentic, adventurous trips with children of all ages is a joy. Don’t hesitate to give me a call to chat this through.

I wish he could remember all those beautiful hikes, luxurious swimming pools and hugs from the kind hotel staff. And the day he touched a rescued elephant, of course… but then with me as his mum he’ll be back soon enough.

 

Spotlight on Sri Lanka

It’s incredible how much is crammed into such a small island, and all accessible in just a couple of weeks. There truly is something for everyone, and such variety.

The first time I went to Sri Lanka I had only 8 days, and somehow in that time I visited the south coast beaches and stayed in a beachfront villa, rode the scenic train ride through the hills to Ella, had my first experience of canyoning (basically, that’s clamouring over rocks and throwing myself into the Kelani river repeatedly), saw some leopards on safari while glamping in Yala National Park, and had a luxurious mini city-break in Galle Fort!

Sri Lanka has had an especially difficult time the last few years. Tourism numbers are still well below where they should be -and actually that makes it an incredible time to go. The safari parks have less vehicles so you see more wildlife. The ancient sights like Sigiriya are less busy making for incredible photos. And even the most famous of the hiking trails in the hill country are quieter – it’s like a glimpse back in time.

 

GOOD MORNING VIETNAM

I think the amazing food was the thing I talked about most the first time I returned from Vietnam. So perhaps it’s no surprise food features pretty heavily in our sample tours on the website. My favourite foodie experience has to be the Vespa Street food tour we offer in Saigon. Zipping around the city on the back of a motorbike with stops for beers, streetfood and BBQ’s certainly makes for a memorable evening. Vietnam is a fascinating country and perfect to explore top to bottom over 2 weeks. You can go almost year round, but get in touch to discuss the best route to follow the weather in the different seasons – and the best stops for you depending if you’re a history buff, fellow foodie, beach bum or seeking some off-the-beaten track hikes and bike rides.

TAKING THE PRESSURE OFF THE MALDIVES

Ah The Maldives… a few nights in an overwater villa is on everyone’s bucket list, right? Actual, unfiltered paradise.

But with well over 100 resort islands to choose from (all of which look beautiful on Instagram) and prices being anything from ‘high’ to ‘eye watering’, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Well, if you’ve landed here you’ve made a good start, I will help you filter out what’s most important to you! So if your trip does end up being only ‘once in a lifetime’, you will have zero regrets.

And yes in case you were wondering, we often pair Maldives with Sri Lanka. They are only an hour apart after all…

 

FEELING INSPIRED…?

As a top tip from me, I’d say plan ahead where you can as some of our favourite hotels have limited rooms and can book up early – especially if you need particular room types. I’m spending most of my days at the moment planning for Christmas and beyond (shout out to the extremely organised customer planning for Easter 2025!) – but it’s not too late to get to Sri Lanka, Vietnam or Maldives this summer if you’re a bit flexible. Call or email me for a friendly chat and to find inspiration!

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