This exceptional island-hopping adventure from one palm-fringed tropical island to another, starts in the chilled out beach resort of Puerto Galera, and culminates in Coron to snorkel or dive on a fleet of Japanese WWII shipwrecks, and to kayak around spectacular, towering limestone islands. This is an ideal trip for divers of all levels and non-divers too.

Bookings close for the March run of this trip at the end of this month, January, due to high demand for rooms at the lovely Sangat Island Reserve. The March departure is guaranteed to go. If you have a group of 4 or more, we can tailor a similar trip to your own dates and objectives.

Full description on the Symbiosis Custom Travel website here.

25% off this fantastic 4 day river cruise aboard the lovely Toum Tiou, starting in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) in southern Vietnam and ending at Phnom Penh, Capital of Cambodia.

Dates: 05 to 08 April 2012
Price: EUR 527 per person sharing a cabin

Book now with Symbiosis Custom Travel

Also, last few cabins remaining on the following dates:

Toum Tiou 1
Mar 28th – Apr 4th – Siem Reap to Saigon, 8 Days/7 Nights – 2 available cabins

Toum Tiou 2 
3 Days/2 Nights, Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
Jan 27th – 29th – 1 available cabin
Feb 2nd – 4th – 2 available cabins
Feb 23rd – 25th – 2 available cabins
Mar 15th – 17th – 6 available cabins
 
3 Days/2 Nights, Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Jan 30th – Feb 1st – 3 available cabins
Mar 12th – 14th – 1 available cabin

Conservation agencies have released one of the most endangered turtles — a Southern River Terrapin — back into the wild, with officials, conservationists, and local residents attending the release ceremony on January 16.

The release was first announced Monday by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Cambodian Fisheries Administration and Wildlife Reserves Singapore. The 75-pound female turtle was released into the Sre Ambel River in Cambodia, outfitted with a satellite tracking tag, to allow researchers to monitor the turtle’s movements in the wild, according to a WCS press release.

The released turtle is one of only 200 Southern River Terrapins remaining in Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia, and only one of fewer than ten nesting females in the Sre Ambel River, according to estimates from PhysOrg.

Read the full story from RedOrbit.

Image Caption: This photo shows the release of the Southern River terrapin at a ceremony on the Sre Ambel River in Cambodia attended by representatives of WCS, Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration’s Conservation Department, the Singapore Embassy, and local officials. The turtle has been equipped with a satellite tag, which will allow WCS conservationists to track it. Credit: Eleanor Briggs

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has launched a Sustainable Seafood Policy. The new policy, which includes the commitment to cease serving shark fin in all of its operated restaurants, as well as accepting new orders for shark fin products in banqueting, is with immediate effect.

Shangri-La also has plans to phase out blue fin tuna and Chilean sea bass in all its operated restaurants within the year.

In December 2010 the company initiated the process with the removal of shark fin products from its restaurant menus.

Special Offers for the following cruises:

14th to 21st January – Classical Route (7 days, 19 dives)
21st to 28th January – Classical Route (7 days, 19 dives)

OFFER:
2 divers: € 985 per person (€400 pp discount)
1 diver: € 1,135 per person (€300 pp discount)

EXPEDITION “GREAT SOUTHERN MALDIVES”
28th January to 4th February – Week 1 Southbound: Male – Ari – Meemu – Laamu
4th to 11st February – Week 2 Southbound: Laamu – Gaaf Alif – Faomulah – Aduu
11st to 18th February – Week 3 Northbound: Adu – Faomulah – Gaaf Alif – Laamu
18th to 25th February – Week 4 Northbound: Gaaf Alif – Thaa – Faafu – Ari – Male

OFFER: One week cruise
2 divers: € 1,265 per person (€300 pp discount)
1 diver: € 1,365 per person (€200 pp discount)

OFFER: Two week cruise
2 divers: € 2,265 per person (€300 pp discount)
1 diver: € 2,365 per person (€200 pp discount)

The price includes:
Transfer Male airport – boat – Male airport.
7 days dive safari with Full board (beverages not included), stay in a double cabin (sharing) on the MALDIVIAN DREAM
19 dives per week including bottle, weights, boat and guides
Nitrox free.
12 or 15 liters bottles.
Mineral water

The price does not include:
Flights to and from Male.
Domestic flights for the Great Southern Expedition
Drinks on board (only mineral water included)
Tips (USD50 suggested.).
Rebreather optional supplement €20 per person per week (oxygen and cal)
Supplement cabins 9 & 10 (2nd deck, double bed): €45 /person
Surcharge for higher taxes in Maldives from 1st January 2012: €45 / person

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel for more info and to book. Spaces are limited.

MS Aurora just opened a super short-notice Raja Ampat cruise, 24-31 January 2012, Sorong-Sorong 7 nights. Still a few places available!

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel for more.

Great video in B&W of scenes from modern-day Cambodia by film director, Shae Sterling.
Smile of Cambodia – Beautiful film by Shae Sterling

Last minute discount on a 10 day scuba diving liveaboard to the amazing Raja Ampat archipelago of eastern Indonesia.

Boat: Temukira
Dates: 10 to 20 Feb 2012
Offer: USD295 off normal price
Cost: USD2,655 per person, sharing a cabin

Contact Symbiosis to book.

Super Santa last minute special – 1 space in a deluxe cabin has opened up for the Christmas trip to Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia… just in case you are in the area and lost for anything else to do!!

Dates:   Friday 23 Dec to 01 Jan
Boat: Mermaid I
Offer: 20% Off
Price: €1,836 (Normally €2,295)

Contact Symbiosis IMMEDIATELY if you can make it.

Huge 25% discount on a 4 day deluxe river cruise on the lower Mekong River from Saigon, Vietnam to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Boat: The Toum Tiou
Dates: 05 to 08 April 2012
Special offer: 25% off published price

Other dates with cabins still available aboard the Toum Tiou II (normal price)

3 day/2 night cruise from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (Angkor)
Jan 27th – 29th – 3 available cabins
Feb 2nd – 4th – 2 available cabins
Feb 23rd – 25th – 3 available cabins
Mar 15th – 17th – 4 available cabins
 
3 day/2 night cruise from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Jan 1st – 3rd, 2012 – 6 available cabins
Jan 30th – Feb 1st – 7 available cabins
Mar 12th – 14th – 4 available cabins

ONLY for the following cruises:
03 to 12 January 2012 – Special 9 day Classical Route + South
14 to 21 January 2012 – Classical 7 day Route   

Cost for 2 people, sharing: 
9 day cruise : € 1,850 for 2
7 day cruise : € 1.435 for 2

 The price includes:
- Transfers from and to Male airport.
- 9 days or 7 days dive safari with full board (not including beverages), in a double cabin (sharing) on the Maldivian Dream
- 25 dives or 19 dives, respectively, depending on the route, with tanks, weights, boat and guides
- Free Nitro
- 12 or 15 litre tanks.
- Mineral water
 
The price does not include:
- Flights
- Drinks on board (only mineral water)
- Maldives Taxes liveaboard (€65 approx.)
- Tips (USD50 approx.)
- Rebreather optional supplement 200€ per person per week (oxygen and cal)
- Supplement cabins 9 & 10 (2nd deck, double bed): 45 € /person
- Surchage for higher taxes in Maldives from 1st January 2012: 45 € / person
- Anything not specified as included

To book, please contact Symbiosis Custom Travel today!

A wildly-coloured gecko, a fish that looks like a gherkin, and a monkey with an Elvis-like hairstyle are among the more than 200 new species discovered in the Greater Mekong region last year.

The area’s diversity is so astonishing that a new species is found every two days, but regional cooperation and decision-making must take centre stage to preserve its richness, the group added.

Read the full story from Reuters.

The Philippines Island Hopping, Diving & Kayaking Safari is an exceptional adventure, hopping from one palm-fringed tropical island to another by traditional, outrigger boat (banca), culminating in Coron to snorkel or dive on a fleet of Japanese shipwrecks, and to kayak around spectacular, towering limestone islands. This is an ideal trip for divers and non-divers together.

Scheduled, join in trips in March and April 2012

Microbreweries and beer gardens are making inroads in Phnom Penh as the taste for hops keeps growing.

Cambodia might not rank among the world’s brewery or beer garden capitals, but change is coming.

From its setting on the banks of the Tonle Sap river, Kingdom Breweries, Phnom Penh’s newest boutique producer, opened in October 2010, is gearing up to give local brands Anchor and Angkor a run for their riel, using only the best German and Czech hops, premium German malt and top-quality water to produce the brand’s flagship pilsner.

Read the full story in the LA Times.