CATCH the dramatic mass choreographed gymnastics display at the Arirang Festival in North Korea, or trek to the tomb of Mongolian conqueror Genghis Khan.

These are just some of the off-beat Asian experiences travel agents are offering at the Natas travel fair taking place from Aug 1 to 3 at the Singapore Expo.

ASA Holidays will be promoting its new Beijing-North Korea package aggressively during the fair, said deputy general manager for marketing communications Eileen Oh.

It wants to ride on the increased demand for nearby destinations due to rising fuel surcharges, which are higher for long-haul flights.

Said Ms Oh: "There are not many unexplored places in Asia. North Korea is a place many have been interested in but, because it is so closed up, we are creating an opportunity for Singaporeans to go there."

The package includes a visit to the scenic Mount Kumgang, and a chance to learn about North and South Korea's separation at the Panmunjom military demarcation line.

About 250 people are expected to sign up. Universal Travel Corporation, which has offered tours to North Korea since 1994, sees 200 to 500 Singaporeans take up its packages every year.

Managing director Khoo Boo Liat told my paper the tours are getting more popular and he hopes to break the 500 mark this year.

The company will also launch a new eight-day tour combining the best sights in Indochina, including Cambodia's Angkor Wat, Luang Prabang in Laos and a junk cruise in Vietnam's Halong Bay.

Said Mr Khoo: "People usually tour individual countries, but this covers the best spots in each one. It is ideal for those who don't have time to visit each country separately."

ASA Holidays' Ms Oh said that since 2006, the company has chartered flights every year to uncommon destinations in Asia.

This year-end, it has chartered five direct flights to Thailand's Chiang Rai for customers.

She said: "There are undiscovered places even within common Asian destinations. Some might see chartered flights as a risk, but we are confident they will fill up."

Meanwhile, SA Tours is offering a new package to Inner Mongolia and Ningxia in China, where travellers can ride camels, visit herdsmen's homes and take in majestic desert scenery.

Travel agents said soaring fuel surcharges will not put the brakes on year-end travel.

Said National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (Natas) CEO Robert Khoo: "I expect a surge at the end of the year. Those who did not travel in June are likely to do so in December."

This was the case during the Sars crisis in 2003, where the first half of the year was quiet, but the second half picked up because of pent-up demand."

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