What's happening in the world of Wendy Wu Tours
Welcome to the Wu Kingdom– a place where we can keep you up to date with our latest news, bring you the inside story on the hot topics of the day and share the wonderful stories of our customers and staff.
We're so grateful to our customers for sharing their experiences with us; writing travel articles, posting about us on social media and leaving reviews, and we'd love to hear from you... Come and join the Wu Kingdom!
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Your safety and well-being will always be our Number 1 priority and with that in mind we are delighted to offer Staysure's award winning travel insurance with every tour booked by 31 December.
Including COVID-19 cover for cancellations, medical expenses and repatriation if you or a family member are diagnosed with coronavirus, Staysure has been voted the UK’s Best Travel Insurance Provider in the British Travel Awards, four years in a row.
They’ve also got more 5 star reviews on Trustpilot than any other Travel Insurer.
Learn MoreThe Japanese government is considering opening its borders for foreign tourists in time for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics next year, according to Economic Revitalisation Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura.
Nishimura said that as the government considers how it should relax strict travel bans on foreign visitors in time for next summer, it will also strengthen its airport quarantine and coronavirus testing measures.
Rumours from sources close to the Japanese government are that such a roadmap may include a trial period which could begin in April 2021.
.Simply book a group tour to Japan in 2021 or 2022 and your flights are FREE saving you up to £800 per person! This even includes the hugely popular Cherry Blossom and Autumn Leaves seasons.
While many parts of the world are still struggling with the virus, there are many places in the world that are winning the fight.
China, of course is the most well known example, with new infections almost totally confined to imported cases and great strides being made in the developments of treatments and a vaccine.
China and South Korea have shown that we will beat the virus. In the world of Wendy Wu Tours, the countries below are currently the safest with very low rates of new infections which makes us optimistic that we will return to life as normal and be able to enjoy our dream holidays soon. We’ve also included our most popular tour to each destination so you can stop dreaming and start planning!
| Country | New Cases* | Our Top Tour |
|---|---|---|
| China | 13 | Wonders of China |
| Japan* | 471 | Japan Uncovered |
| Vietnam* | 6 | Classic Mekong |
| Cambodia | 0 | Angkor to the Bay |
| Thailand* | 5 | Thailand Highlights |
| Taiwan* | 5 | Treasures of Taiwan |
| Mongolia | 0 | Mongolia and Naadam Highlights |
| Bhutan | 3 | Himalayan Kingdoms |
| Sri Lanka | 87 | Highlights of Sri Lanka |
| Laos | 0 | Highlights of Laos |
| South Korea* | 76 | Scenic South Korea |
| Malaysia* | 865 | Best of Borneo |
| Jordan | 928 | Journey through jordan |
*On the UK government safe list meaning you will no longer have to self-isolate on arrival in England
Figures correct as of 19 October 2020
Dr. Josef Penninger, a University of British Columbia Life Sciences Institute Director who helped discover an enzyme and develop a drug to stop the spread of SARS more than 20 years ago, is using that knowledge to fight COVID-19.
The promising findings of his first clinical trial of his new treatment were recently released in the Lancet Medical Journal.
The patient, a 45-year-old woman in Vienna who was on a ventilator due to severe COVID-19 symptoms, showed improvement shortly after receiving the drug known as APN01.
In one or two days, the virus disappeared in her blood system and also in her lungs. She developed perfect immunity from the virus.
She is now back home and healthy.
This encouraging news comes on top of a recent WHO report that announced that there are now 7 COVID-19 vaccines in the final stage of trials before approval for general use, including 4 in China which hopes to officially launch the vaccine at the end of December 2020. Read more.
We’re delighted to tell you that Wendy Wu Tours has been nominated in this year’s Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards!
We’d love your support once again and kindly ask you to please vote for Wendy Wu Tours in this year’s awards. We are shortlisted for Best Specialist Tour Operator
Click here to vote - and for a chance to win one of 8 amazing luxury holidays in Barbados, the Maldives, St Moritz, Tuscany, Mexico, Chicago and Puglia.
Over the next few weeks we’re hosting some very special online events where you can gain a wonderful insight into in our fabulous brochures for 2021 & 2020.
We have some exciting new destinations, new tours and new experiences to tell you about. Just click on the link at 3pm to join
Don't worry if you missed out Just click on the presentation you are interested in to see a recording of the event
Encouraging news from India.
The incredible UNESCO world heritage site had been closed down for visitors since 17th March but has now re-opened. Robust new measures are now in place to ensure everyone's safety including limiting daily visitors to just 5,000. You could expect 70,000 a day pre lockdown!
Order you copy of our new India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan Brochure
More great news - the UK government has included Thailand on the list of countries where you will no longer have to self-isolate on arrival in England adding it to the list of following countries:
| Country | Our Top Tour |
|---|---|
| Japan | Japan Uncovered |
| Vietnam | Classic Mekong |
| Thailand | Thailand Highlights |
| Taiwan | Treasures of Taiwan |
| South Korea | Scenic South Korea |
| Malaysia | Best of Borneo |
Drumroll please. The prestigious Silver Traveller Awards for 2020 have just been held virtually and the winners announced and we were delighted to win ‘Best Destination Specialist Company’
These awards are voted for by the general public, with over 225,000 voting this year, and recognise the travel companies that have delivered the very best service and most outstanding experiences for the over 50s traveller in the last 12 months.
Thank you to everyone who voted for us and we look forward to making 2021 an award winning year too
Our eagerly anticipated brochures for 2021 and beyond are out now
If you have a hankering to discover incredible new destinations, journey on wonderful new tours and learn about the must see sights and must do experiences for 2021 and 2022, then these are the brochures for you.
Order your copies here or discover what’s new in each edition below.
The Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, John Coates, confirmed that the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics will definitely go ahead next year. A resounding endorsement of the influential committee's confidence that the country will be safe in 2021.
He said "These will be the Games that conquered Covid, the light at the end of the tunnel."
We were delighted our Road to Samarkand tour made Wanderlust's shortlist of inspirational trips for 2021 this weekend.
Wanderlust said "The nomads of the Central Asian steppe have long been training golden eagles; to watch these horsemen hunt with their massive, majestic birds, before a backdrop of soaring mountains, is like travelling back millennia."
Experience it for yourself on our Road to Samarkand tour.
Pre-order your copy of our new Central Asia & Middle East brochure here
We're delighted to offer you our exclusive and exceptional Partner flies Free sale to a host of our favourite destinations. Whether you've always dreamt of exploring Mount Fuji, Angkor Wat, Machu Picchu, the Great Wall of China or the Taj Mahal, now's the time to turn those dreams into reality.
Simply book one of our wonderful fully inclusive tours to Asia or Latin America and your travel partner flies free, saving up to £800 per couple.
Travelling solo? We've got you covered too. Independent travellers also receive a 50% discount off their economy flight, saving up to £400 per person and with our Happy to Share option there are no compulsory single supplements to pay either.
Discover your dream destination with your travel companion or experience the extraordinary on a solo adventure to the following destinations:
Call our travel experts on 0808 274 8594 to book. This offer is not available to book online.
Your safety and well-being will always be our Number 1 priority which is why we’ve instituted the most stringent Covid health and safety protocols on all of our tours.
Here are some of the many steps we are taking to ensure you will be safe, secure and satisfied when you travel with us.
See our Travel with Confidence page for more information.
Learn MoreThe World Health Organisation (WHO) have announced that there are now 7 COVID-19 vaccines in Phase 3, the final stage before approval for general use.
The UK, US and Germany have 1 vaccine trial each at Phase 3, whilst the other 4 are all being developed in China.
On March 16, one particular COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Major General Chen Wei and her team, became the first to be approved by China for the first stage of clinical trials, and then the second stage domestically and internationally.
“A large amount of research needs to be done before we start clinical trials so as to minimize risks,” Dr Chen commented. "What you see is that we have one vaccine undergoing clinical trials, but behind that we have about 30 candidates."
The team led by Dr Chen have also announced that it hopes to officially launch the vaccine at the end of December 2020, with an annual output of 200 million doses. An initial dose of the vaccine is anticipated to provide a 97% antibody rate, with a second shot reaching 100%. The cost of the two-dose regime is estimated to be low, at around £130.
The vaccine is also in popular demand for large scale trials in Russia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Chile, due to its reputation as a successful vaccine against strands of SARS and Ebola.
Early on in the fight against COVID-19, Dr Chen led a team to Wuhan in the Hubei Province of China to combat the pandemic on the frontline. After arriving in Wuhan, Chen's team started building a portable testing lab, which started operation on January 30. The lab fast achieved a capability of testing 1,000 people per day.
In other news, Russia has recently announced production of a vaccine after having only gone through the 2nd stage of clinical testing, due to the country’s eagerness in controlling the virus.
Our brand NEW Japan Brochure is out now – the indispensable guide to Japan Travel in 2021 and beyond.
The first Japan brochure released in the UK this year, order your FREE copy now to discover:
Japan is on the UK Government Safe List. Discover all of the Covid Safe destinations.
Learn MoreGreat news - the UK government has included Malaysia on the list of countries where you will no longer have to self-isolate on arrival in England adding it to the list of following countries:
This makes us optimistic that we will return to life as normal and be able to enjoy our dream holidays soon.
Our favourite travel companion is back! Don’t miss Joanna Lumley’s Unseen Adventures on ITV featuring unseen footage and outtakes from Lumley’s many memorable trips across the globe.
If you’d love to follow in Joanna’s footsteps around the globe read our brand new article.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has changed its advice around the ban on cruise ships, allowing us to now take river cruises.
This is a sensible course of action. River cruise ships, like our very own Victoria Mekong, are far smaller than ocean going liners, carry a fraction of the passengers, and are always in close proximity to the shore, and therefore to local healthcare.
The Victoria Mekong also exclusively cruises a quieter stretch of the Mekong Delta with small group excursions to destinations firmly off the beaten track. Explore the ship
Experience our brand new state of the art ship on our most popular tour of Vietnam and Cambodia Classic Mekong
When spring arrives in Japan, so does the highly anticipated bloom of the beautiful cherry blossoms. For a brief time the country is awash with delicate, pink blossoms and the whole population celebrates the technicolour arrival of Spring.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year to experience Japan and its fleeting passage make it the most popular time to visit. So we’re delighted to announce our exclusive 2021 Cherry Blossom Sale. Choose from a FREE return Premium Economy upgrade with British Airways, savings of up to £500 or No Single Supplement for solo travellers.
Don’t delay, this offer will be extremely popular and departures are very limited.
Great news - the UK government has decreed that from today you will no longer have to self-isolate on arrival in England from the following countries:
This makes us optimistic that we will return to life as normal and be able to enjoy our dream holidays soon.
We're delighted to announce our Solo Traveller Sale featuring no single supplements for a room of your own on a host of tours to: Japan - Vietnam - China - Cambodia - India - Sri Lanka - Myanmar - Peru - Colombia
This exceptional offer will save you up to £1,790 and what's more even includes free return UK airport chauffeur transfers and lounge access.
Incredibly you can also upgrade to Business Class to Japan or China from just £899 or Premium Economy to India from just £199.
Rooms are limited on every departure and we know from experience this offer will be hugely popular so don't delay.
Learn More"We were so lucky to go on this holiday, the positives far outweighed the negatives”
"To visit major attractions with so few people is something that can never be matched”
Our customers Lisa & Nick travelled with us through Vietnam & Cambodia at the height of the Coronavirus in March and had a wonderful time. Attractions were so quiet it was like travelling thirty years ago and the warmth of the welcome was incredible. Read their fascinating tale
Lisa and Nick travelled on our Classic Mekong Tour, a glorious adventure starting amongst the magnificence of the temples of Angkor before boarding a three-night deluxe river cruise down the Mekong. Explore vibrant Saigon, charming Hoi An and historic Hanoi and sail the waters of Halong Bay. Explore the tour
We were delighted to talk to Central Asia expert Bradley Mayhew, co-author of the Odyssey Guide to Uzbekistan, as well as the Lonely Planet guide to Central Asia and the Insight Guide to the Silk Road, on why this region is so close to his heart.
Learn MoreReports from China suggest that they are just about to move into the third phase of clinical testing on a new Coronavirus vaccine developed by a team headed up by Dr Chen Wei - China's top epidemiologist and virologist, building on the knowledge and skills she gained fighting Sars and Ebola.
Employees of state owned companies are volunteering to test the vaccine when travelling overseas – having beaten the virus in China, there are insufficient numbers of cases to test efficacy of the vaccine in China itself.
Work is continuing apace to produce the vaccine once it is finally approved with one high tech factory completed already and another due to open shortly. Together they will have the capacity to produce 200 million vaccines a year.
The Telegraph's Adrian Bridge talks to founder Wendy Wu about the high and lows of over 25 years' tour operating, the impact of the Coronavirus, where she will travel first after lockdown and why Central Asia is going to be the next hot destination.
"China will be one of the safest places on earth. It has made itself a fortress against the virus. Countries like South Korea and Taiwan have also had very few cases and dealt with the virus very effectively"
"Central Asia is like China in the Nineties, little-known and seen as difficult and challenging. As with China, we will make them more mainstream and accessible."
"Where will you go first after this? - One hundred per cent China. This will be a brilliant time to see sights without the crowds. The panda sanctuary in Chengdu, for example, used to get 45,000 visitors a day; now it is restricted to 5,000. It will be like travelling there 35 years ago."
For a great insight into what holidays in China are like right now take a look at this video report about a visit to Chengdu's famous Panda Research Centre
You can see giant pandas for yourself on a number of our tours to China, the two most popular being In Pursuit of Pandas and Majestic Yangtze
Read the full article about how China is getting back to better than normal here
As Wendy mentions, Central Asia is also proving very popular right now. Take a look at our Road to Samarkand and Journey through Central Asia Tours.
If you want to explore two of Asia's undiscovered gems that have both been hugely successful in defeating the Coronavirus, check out our Scenic South Korea and Treasures of Taiwan Tours.
Read our brand new interactive online magazine. Full of wonderful stories from our customers and staff, incredible special offers and unique insights into what's hot right now - it's the must read to inspire your travels for 2021
Highlights
Plus much much more…
Learn MoreJapan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the nation on Monday that the "Japan model" has effectively beaten coronavirus as he lifted a nationwide state of emergency after seven weeks.
Mr Abe said the "uniquely Japanese way" in which the country had confronted the pandemic – which, unusually, did not include a strict lockdown – had allowed it to escape the large outbreaks and devastating death tolls seen in several European countries and the United States.
Japan has had about 17,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and just 850 deaths
" When China unlocks its doors, I think travellers will be rushing back to China because it will be the safest country in the world to visit, free of Covid-19"
" The jewels of their tourism offering have already reopened as the Chinese government deems Covid-19 sufficiently under control. The Great Wall reopened on March 24 and Xian’s terracotta warriors a day later"
" International travellers who head to China when it opens will experience its most famous sights without the crowds"
Read the full article about how China is getting back to better than normal here
We have some fabulous offers for China tours right now saving up to £500pp with our flexible booking guarantee and 12 months free Netflix, Amazon Prime or Audible. See the Sale or start exploring our fabulous choice of China tours here
The recent re-opening of the Forbidden City is just one high profile example that China’s attractions are opening their doors once again following the country’s defeat of the Coronavirus.
Crowds are so small that it feels like travelling in China 30 years ago. Once we are allowed to travel again, this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the country in a way that’s not been possible for decades and won’t be the same again in the future.Here's a snapshot of some of most famous attractions that have recently re-opened.
For a great report about what holidays in China are like right now view our video report from Chengdu’s famous Panda Research Centre
We have some fabulous offers for China tours in 2021 and autumn 2021 right now saving up to £500pp with our flexible booking guarantee and 12 months free Netflix, Amazon Prime or Audible. See the Sale
Over the next few weeks we're hosting some very special online events where you can take a virtual trip to some of our best-loved destinations.
Our Wendy Wu travel experts will take you on a journey to the must-see attractions, showcase our newest and most popular tours, and will even be there to answer your questions with a live Q&A session! Just click on the link at 3pm to join
Don't worry if you missed out Just click on the presentation you are interested in to see a recording of the event
If you are using a mobile phone or Apple device you will need to download the free Microsoft Teams app.
Thanks Louise for the insight on your travelling experience with Wendy Wu during the recent Covid disruption.
“Having returned from Vietnam & Cambodia my first tour with Wendy Wu I could not have imagined being away during the outbreak of Covid-19!"
"The tour was amazing, the guides Thang & Sokly were fantastic while we were away and I have never been so well looked after by a company during a very uncertain time !" The places we visited, the things we saw and witnessed will stay with me hopefully for a very long time."
"I would only now tour with Wendy Wu as I feel their service throughout this whole experience was truly professional....I’ve already booked another tour going to Peru and can’t wait to experience more with a company that I trust!”
Learn MoreWith the Coronovirus almost defeated in China our colleagues there, who are worried about their friends in the UK, have very kindly sent us their supply of brand new face masks. As they are not surgical grade, and therefore not suitable for front-line NHS workers, we would like to share this generous gift with the Wendy Wu community – our wonderful customers. Keep an eye on your inbox in the coming days.
We are so proud of the wonderful Wendy Wu Tours team who together with friends and family, embarked on a whole host of challenges to raise money for the NHS, MIND and Alzheimer’s over the weekend.
They raised over £2,500 smashing an eclectic variety of activities including, cycling, running, walking, karaoke marathons, marathon relay, wheel barrow runs around the garden, skipping, planks, sit ups, press ups, keep it uppie etc.
As part of our promise to keep you entertained during these uncertain times, we figured this could be the perfect opportunity to test your travel knowledge! The Big Quiz takes you on an adventure around the world from your armchair whilst working your brain along the way! Are you a genius of geography or do your destination facts leave a lot to be desired?
Take The Big Quiz to find out!Click here to take The Big Quiz
We’ll be posting the answers on Facebook soon so make sure you follow us and keep your eyes peeled. You can find us on Facebook here.
Our customers’ safety and wellbeing is our number one priority, therefore effective from 23 March, Wendy Wu Tours is deferring tours and tailormade holidays until after 31 May 2020. If you have booked a group tour or tailor-made holiday departing between 23 March and 31 May 2020 you will receive a travel credit of 100% of monies paid, for you to use towards an alternative holiday with a departure date before 31 December 2021.
We are happy to amend your booking free of charge to a departure later in 2020 or in 2021. Airfares held in credit are bound by different terms and conditions and we will be in contact to discuss these options with you, should they apply.
We have been working hard behind the scenes negotiating the best rates for your next holiday and we are seeing strong demand already for 2021 holidays which will be bookable at 2020 prices with us.
Please note - our operations team are extremely busy calling all passengers, in departure date order, to discuss travel options.
Please do not call us unless you are due to travel in the next 5 days.
Learn MoreWendy is invited by the BBC to speak on BBC1 News, BBC World News and BBC News Channel about the impact of coronavirus on the tourism industry.
Hear how Wendy Wu Tours are responding to this, the measures China are taking to beat the virus and reopen its doors again for tourism.
Results are in, Wendy Wu Tours have won ‘Best Long-Haul Specialist Operator’ at the Globe Travel Awards for the 10th year running.
Nominated by travel agents throughout the UK and Ireland, Wendy Wu and her team are thrilled to have remained the number one choice for specialist tours.
Learn MoreWe recently posted a series of polls on our Facebook Page where you all voted for your favourite extraordinary experience for 2020, and here are the results.
Learn MoreThe newest and greenest ship on the Mekong sets sail on her maiden voyage today. Offering an authentic insight into a little visited stretch of the delta, combined with four star comfort and superior service she'll offer unforgettable voyages between the green landscapes of Vietnam and Cambodia's enchanting capital Phnom Penh.
Learn MoreWe are delighted to be attending the Destinations Holiday and Travel show in Manchester from 16-19 Jan and London from 30 jan - 2 Feb.
Packed with cultural entertainment, world flavours, travel celebrities and more – the Wendy Wu Tours Team will also be on hand to chat to you about your travel dreams.
"We're so excited to announce the launch of our new 'Sichuan & Yangtze Delights' tour.
Discover spectacular national parks, ancient rock carvings, adorable pandas and the mouth-watering cuisine the region is famous for before embarking on a magnificent journey on to China’s iconic highlights.
You’ll also be able to benefit from our brand new hassle-free China Visa."
Learn MoreWendy Wu Tours are thrilled to announce that we won 2 prestigious awards at the British Travel Awards last night: Best Holiday Company to Southeast Asia and Best Holiday Company to East and Central Asia 2019!
Thank you to everyone who voted for us - we love hearing that you love what we do!
Learn MoreAt Wendy Wu Tours we pride ourselves on the strength of our relationship with the media and so it’s no surprise that you’ll often see us being reported in the national press, travel and lifestyle media.
To give you an idea of what we mean, here’s a selection of our recent media coverage:
The Telegraph's Mark Stratton talks to founder Wendy Wu and writes why, for all sorts of reasons, China should be your first holiday after the Coronavirus lock-down is lifted.
" When China unlocks its doors, I think travellers will be rushing back to China because it will be the safest country in the world to visit, free of Covid-19"
" The jewels of their tourism offering have already reopened as the Chinese government deems Covid-19 sufficiently under control. The Great Wall reopened on March 24 and Xian’s terracotta warriors a day later"
" International travellers who head to China when it opens will experience its most famous sights without the crowds"
For a great report about what holidays in China are like right now See our video from Chengdu’s famous Panda Research Centre
Learn More"China is now opening its borders and welcoming visitors in greater numbers than ever before. Wendy Wu Tours is cashing in on this trend specialising in off the beaten track tours to China and has seen a big jump in bookings..."
Learn More"The global pioneers who have changed the way we travel. Meet the travel company founders who saw unique opportunities and seized them."
Learn More"A guided tour is a great way to see the major attractions of Beijing, including the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall..."
Learn More"Wendy Wu Tours will be among the first tour operators to offer British holidaymakers trips to the tomb of China's only female empress next year..."
Learn More"Nick Curtis boards a lavish slow boat through China's most stunning waterway..."
Learn More"Specialist destination operator Wendy Wu took the decision to build its own bookable website in-house because it wanted to control its own destiny and not be 'just another operator'..."
Learn More"Vietnam's Red River offers the chance to discover a rural way of life that has hardly changed for centuries..."
Learn More"Wendy Wu Tours has entered into an agreement with the Shaanxi Provincial Tourism Development Commission to increase ties with the central China province, which is home to the Terracotta Warriors..."
Learn MoreFor any PR requests, please contact Andy Eastham, PR & Communications Manager on media@wendywutours.co.uk
