Welcome to the PATA UK & Ireland Chapter
PATA UK is the hub of activity for Pacific Asia. We have a community of over 5,000 travel professionals who strive to be travel experts for a wide array of destinations throughout the region. Our goal is to educate the UK travel trade by hosting events throughout the UK, where members can keep up-to- date about the latest happenings in Pacific Asia.
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Bucket List Experiences You Can Only Find In Singapore
Singapore’s 2026 calendar is packed with must do moments that belong on every traveller’s bucket list:
The world’s original F1 night race (this year 9–11 Oct 2026)
Grand Prix Season Singapore is set to return, bringing a fresh wave of energy to the city. From thrilling race-week excitement to vibrant lifestyle events, there’s plenty to discover both on and off the track.
The three-day event will see more than 100 hours of captivating performances throughout the Marina Bay Street Circuit like global icon Janet Jackson, The Killers, Lana Del Rey, Swedish pop powerhouse Zara Larsson and British singer-songwriter James Arthur just some talent as part of the event line-up.
Gardens by the Bay's Supertree Grove and Garden Rhapsody
Towering up to 50 metres above Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay's iconic Supertrees are unlike anything else. These iconic structures are home to vertical gardens and come to life in a glorious spectacle of light and sound after dusk with Garden Rhapsody show that transforms the Supertree Grove into a coordinated symphony of colour and music.
Step into the Flower Dome, a breathtaking sanctuary housing exotic plants and flowers from five continents, before making your way to the Cloud Forest with its magnificent indoor waterfall, one of the tallest in the world. For those seeking a little adventure, dare to walk the OCBC Skyway, a stunning aerial walkway suspended high between two iconic Supertrees.
On the horizon for future more bucket list experiences:
- Porsche Experience Centre (2027): The world’s first regional PEC with a two kilometre handling circuit, drift areas, simulators and museum grade exhibitions near Changi.
- New Science Centre Singapore (2027) in the Jurong Lake District.
- teamLab Flagship Museum (2028) at Gardens by the Bay’s upcoming wetlands precinct.
- Therme Singapore (2030): A large scale, urban wellness attraction featuring thermal pools, saunas and water slides on Marina South’s waterfront.
DTH Travel: Asia by Train. Yes, it’s possible?
Every traveller has a bucket list. Cruise Ha Long Bay. Wander the UNESCO-listed streets of Luang Prabang. Stand among China's extraordinary Stone Forest.
What if we told you you could tick all of these off in one journey... by train?
That simple question inspired our local experts to craft one of our most distinctive itineraries. Our exclusive 14-Day Great Train Journey connects Laos, China, and Vietnam by modern high-speed rail, transforming what used to be transfer days into some of the most memorable moments of the entire holiday. Instead of treating every destination as a separate trip, travellers discover one beautifully connected story, where mountain hideaways, boutique retreats, vibrant cities, and world-famous landmarks unfold naturally, one after another.
Your Journey in a Snapshot
- Three countries connected in one seamless itinerary – without constantly returning to airports.
- Five of Asia's most iconic destinations experienced at a slower, gentler pace.
- Modern rail travel that serves as gateway to spots that flights simply fly over.
- Boutique hotels and lodges selected as carefully as the destinations themselves.
- Local experiences, artisan encounters, and cultural insights that transform sightseeing into genuine discovery.
Laos Spotlight: Where the Fast Train Slows You Down
It sounds impossible. One of Southeast Asia's fastest trains somehow introduces travellers to one of its slowest countries.
Yet that's exactly what happens.
The Laos-China Railway isn't simply an infrastructure. It's your exclusive gateway to landscapes that rarely appear on traditional itineraries. Towering limestone mountains replace airport terminals. Quiet villages emerge between emerald valleys. Rivers weave alongside the tracks as though they're guiding the journey themselves.
Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage city, deserves every place it occupies on travellers' bucket lists. Golden temples, saffron-robed monks, French colonial charm, and lively cafés create one of Asia's most captivating small cities. But the journey doesn't end there.
Travellers continue to the legendary Kuang Si Waterfalls, where brilliant turquoise pools cascade through the forest. Local folklore tells of a wise hermit who struck the earth with his staff, releasing these healing waters before a golden deer settled beneath the falls, giving Kuang Si its name. Whether or not you believe the legend, after a refreshing swim it's surprisingly easy to believe the healing part.
Further north, Nam Kat offers an entirely different flow. Hidden within protected forest, this secluded sanctuary invites travellers to trade busy sightseeing schedules for nature walks, quiet evenings, and traditional Khmu cuisine. It's the sort of place that rarely appears on a bucket list, yet somehow ends up becoming everyone's favourite memory.
Why It's Bucket-List Worthy
• Experience the rare feeling of walking through a place that seems lifted straight from a National Geographic episode.
• Discover why sometimes doing less becomes the most rewarding part of travelling.
China Spotlight: The Border You Barely Notice
Crossing borders usually feels like a pause. This one feels like the next chapter. As the train glides from Laos into China's Yunnan Province, the transition feels remarkably seamless. The scenery changes gradually, cultures begin to blend, and suddenly you're discovering a side of China that many international travellers never even consider.
Kunming offers a wonderfully relaxed introduction, with lakeside promenades, forested hills, and a gentler pace than China's famous megacities. Then comes one of the journey's most extraordinary highlights: the UNESCO-listed Stone Forest.
At first glance, it's an astonishing geological wonder. Then your guide begins sharing the stories of the Yi and Sani peoples, whose legends transform towering limestone formations into heroes, spirits, impossible romances, and sacred places where folklore has been passed from generation to generation.
It's proof that every great landscape comes with two explanations. One written by geology. The other written by imagination. Both are worth hearing.
And somewhere between the two, you'll probably find yourself confidently ordering dinner simply by pointing at the menu. Consider it an authentic cultural experience.
Why It's Bucket-List Worthy
• Discover Yunnan's remarkable hidden ethnic cultures and traditions.
• See a side of China that lies well beyond the familiar city skylines.
Vietnam Spotlight: The Grand Finale
By the time the journey reaches Vietnam, something unexpected has happened. You've stopped thinking about getting somewhere. Now you're simply enjoying being there.
The mountain landscapes of Sapa provide a spectacular beginning, where endless rice terraces ripple across the hillsides and quiet villages invite travellers to explore a gentler pace of life. High above the valleys, Topas Ecolodge offers the sort of views that make checking your emails feel not only unnecessary, but vaguely offensive.
Then comes Hanoi. Bustling yet endlessly charming, Vietnam's capital rewards curiosity. Hidden alleyways reveal family-run cafés, tiny temples, bustling markets, and street food that somehow tastes even better when enjoyed from a tiny plastic stool. Crossing the road may briefly feel like an advanced survival exercise, but rest assured, millions of scooters somehow make it work.
Finally comes Ha Long Bay. Once the day boats disappear, everything changes. The limestone karsts grow quieter, the water calmer, and the bay begins revealing why an overnight cruise remains one of Asia's truly iconic travel experiences. Sunrise over the emerald waters becomes less of a photograph and more of a memory you'll find yourself revisiting long after you've returned home.
Why It's Bucket-List Worthy
• Experience Hanoi beyond its famous landmarks.
• Finish one unforgettable journey with one of the world's great natural wonders.
The DTH Difference
Anyone can book the destinations. We curate everything between them. For nearly 70 years, DTH Travel has believed that Asia is best experienced not as a collection of famous landmarks, but as a series of connections between landscapes, cultures, and people.
That's why every stage of this itinerary has been designed with the same care as the headline attractions. Boutique hotels that become destinations in their own right. Local guides who reveal the stories hidden behind every temple, village, market, and mountain. Border crossings become adventures rather than inconveniences. Even transfer days become stories worth telling.
The result is a journey that doesn't simply tick off bucket-list destinations. It connects them into one unforgettable story.
Ready to help your clients discover the Asia they've been flying over? Connect with Mr David Carlaw at david.carlaw@dth.travel or discover more at DTH.Travel.
Come and Say G’day to Australia’s Ultimate Bucket List
From the heart of Uluru to the breathtaking turquoise expanse of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia is packed with moments that stay with you forever. Whether travellers are connecting with Red Centre in the Northern Territory, swimming alongside gentle whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef, or taking on the legendary Great Ocean Road, there’s nothing quite like Australia for Bucket-list experiences.
Find more bucket list inspiration for here - https://www.australia.com/en-gb/things-to-do/nature-and-national-parks/australias-top-natural-attractions.html
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