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Summer Abroad

Summer's here, and you'd better get your plans straight. Let our handy guide to the season's hottest happenings help you on your way to the best summer ever.

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Club Med Guilin

Getting Away

Sometimes you just have to get out of the sweltering pit that is Hong Kong.


Club Med Guilin

So you want to visit the verdant, river-washed city of Guilin—but you’re saddled by a bunch of kids who don’t understand that limestone karst mountains are both really interesting and really beautiful? There’s hope yet. Club Med Guilin opens on August 1, and it’s made good use of its beautiful location, complete with a a 46-hectare Sculpture Garden full of modern art. The resort is chock-full of activities: trapeze, hiking, golf, biking, yoga, Tai Chi, tennis, ping-pong and more. Not to mention rock climbing on Guilin’s famed mountains. And of course, there’s all-day childcare options to get the kiddies off your hands. water fountain playground and a mini court for badminton and tennis. Deals are all-inclusive: flights, accomodation, food, drink and activities all thrown in. Four-day, three-night packages start at $5,044 per adult if you book by the end of the month.

www.clubmed.com.hk.

 

Take a river cruise through Burma

Burma’s expanding borders means newer, fancier ways to see it—including the Orient-Express’s new river cruiser Orcaella, which launches July 22. The craft’s comparatively small size—just 200 feet—will be able to explore new nooks and crannies as it meanders up the Ayeyarwady or the Chindwin rivers, and the 25 river-facing cabins have floor-to-ceiling windows for perfect riverside views. Several seven- and 11-night journeys are on offer between Yangon and Bhamo from July-December, one of which includes a visit to a monastery that houses the Shwe Sagar Buddha, which was carved 1,000 years ago from a single trunk of wood. Prices start at US$5,040 ($39,128) including flights.

www.orient-express.com.


Go watch fast cars in Zhuhai

Like fast cars? Of course you do. Hop over for the race weekend at the Zhuhai International Circuit, for rounds five and six of the 2013 Pan Delta Asia Formula Renault series. These racecars hit over 160mph, so go and cheer on the Hong Kong contingent of drivers who are travelling faster than you will ever move. Ferries leave regularly from the Macau Ferry Terminal, and tickets cost from $198. Can’t make it out to Zuhai? Have a go on a super-accurate racing simulator instead at the Sideways Driving Club (LG/F, 1-2 Chancery Lane, Central, 2523-0983).

June 14-16. Zhuhai International Circuit, Chuangxin 1st Rd., Zhuhai, (+86) 756-338-3228.


 

Asian Music Festivals

Take a trip to see some of the world’s best bands.

Fuji Rock
The festival is held at an alpine resort, with a huge camping ground to allow for a three-day music nirvana. Headliners include Nine Inch Nails, Björk, Jurassic 5, the Cure and the xx. Book by June 15 to get three-day tickets for $3,063.

August 26-28. Naeba Ski Resort, Yuzawa-machi, Niigata, Japan, www.smash-uk.com/frf13.

Summer Sonic
The urban music festival has gone rock this year with Metallica, Muse, Linkin Park and The Stone Roses. Also performing are hipster indie gods Alt-J and R&Ber John Legend. Held simultaneously in Tokyo and Osaka, most bands play one day in each city, but the lineup varies. Tickets start at $1000 for a one-day Osaka ticket.

August 9-11, Tokyo; August 10-11, Osaka, www.summersonic.com/2013.

Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival
The South Korean rock festival has classic alt-rockers Suede, Fall Out Boy, and promising shoegazers such as The Big Pink, Glasvegas and Blood Red Shoes. Three-day passes are $962.

August 2-4. Incheon, South Korea, pentaportrock.com

Jisan World Rock Festival
A brand new festival held in a resort. Get an extra camping ticket ($103) to see Placebo, Jamiroquai, indie kids Switchfoot and more. Three-day tickets are $1,374 until the end of June.

August 2-4. Jisan Forest Resort, Icheon, South Korea, www.jisanworldrockfestival.com/ticket/foreignersbooking.

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