Join us to uncover the Splendours of Sri Lanka’s culture and heritage.

We visit major UNESCO world heritage sites such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Dambulla Caves, as well as millenia-old Buddhist-Hindu temples and palaces.

A highlight of the trip includes visits and stays at homes and hotels designed by Geoffrey Bawa, pioneer architect of Tropical Modernism. We visit a diverse range of attractions such as gem museums/mines, tribal villages, a tea factory and many areas of natural beauty, including a game viewing safari.  

We experience Sri Lankan food in a variety of settings and visit a spice garden and local markets.  

This 12-day tour takes us from the bustling commercial capital of Colombo to the north central region – the Cultural Triangle where many of Sri Lanka’s ancient civilizations were based, and which contain important Buddhist sites. From there we head to the hill town of Kandy, home of the last ruling kings and where the holiest Buddhist shrine, the Temple of the Tooth, is also located.

Then we head south to the charming seaside town of Galle where we stay in the historic Fort and explore the gorgeous coastline by the Indian Ocean.  

For more information, click here 

For Itinerary, click here

Trip cost is approximately S$5,600 per person. This includes flights on trip dates, hotel accommodation on a twin-sharing basis, all meals, water, internal transfers, all entrance fees, meals, tips to guides/driver, and a contribution to the FOM general fund 

Not included: visa fees, transfers in Singapore, excess baggage charges, alcoholic drinks, telecom/local SIM charges, laundry, shopping, personal medicine costs, medical fees not covered by insurance, optional excursions/services. 

Single room supplement: available on request 

Turkey offers a rich tapestry of historical and cultural experiences and we will begin our tour by flying into Izmir from where we will explore Pergamon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is an ancient city perched on a windswept mountain. It offers a scenic view on well-preserved ruins. Key attractions include the Acropolis, the Altar of Zeus, and the Temple of Trajan. 

Sardis, the ancient capital of Lydia, boasts impressive ruins that provide a glimpse into its historical significance. 

We proceed to Kusadasi, a popular tourist destination known for its rich cultural heritage. It serves as a gateway to the renowned ancient city of Ephesus, another UNESCO World Heritage site, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the St. John Basilica. 

We continue our trip to Pamukkale, from here we will visit Aphrodisias, an ancient city known for its Temple of Aphrodite and well-preserved ruins. Laodicea, an ancient city, was once a jewel of the region and is a fascinating site to explore. 

Pamukkale and its famous white terraces are the next stop on our journey. Hierapolis, an ancient spa city, offers well-preserved ruins and the opportunity to visit the Cleopatra Bath.

We continue our trip to Antalya and its surroundings, ancient sites such as Perge with its beautiful ruins, Aspendos known for its perfectly preserved theatre, and Side, a prosperous trading centre.  each offering unique historical and archaeological experiences.

We will spend the last two days exploring Istanbul, the vibrant metropolis spread across two continents. Home to iconic landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, The Grand Basar and the Spice Market. The Topkapi Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a treasure trove of Ottoman history and culture. And finally we will do a relaxed tour of the Bosphorus with a stunning view onto the city. 

For more information on the sites click here. 

Trip cost is approximately S$ 8100 per person, which includes all flights, hotel accommodation on a twin-sharing basis, all entrance fees, meals, tips to guides, and a contribution to the FOM general fund, but excludes personal expenses such as visa fees, telecommunications, laundry and meal and beverage extras.

Deposit: $3,000SGD per person 

Single room supplement is: 1,100SGD

Final payment: in July 2024

This is a Study Tour, and every participant is expected to do a presentation and attend the meetings which will take place in August and September 2024.

Of Sake, Ninja and Traditions

We take you behind the scenes to meet the people who grow, cook, brew, and create the incomparable food, sake, and traditional arts and crafts of Japan. You will tour sake breweries rarely opened to the public, and most importantly, taste - a lot. But that's only part of the experience. 

You will find yourself amidst the wonders of Central Japan’s mountainous region, navigating the quaint alleys of Obuse, a town known for its juicy chestnuts and the birthplace of  the famous grand painter Hokusai, or perhaps lost in the mystique and awe of the Ninjas among mystical shrines. And why not delight at Japan's iconic Snow Monkeys too while we are there?

Last but not least, indulge in memorable stays at a luxurious Onsen hotel as well as a traditional ryokan up in the mountains. 

This bespoke tour that takes you to impeccably sourced restaurants, hard-to-find sake and authentic under-the-radar cultural experiences will be one of the most non-touristic “tours” you will experience. 

To read more about this tour, please  click this link

Trip cost is approximately S$6,590.00  per person. This does not include the flights, but it does include a Luxurious Onsen Hotel (2 nights), Mountain Ryokan (1 night), 4* Hotel in Matsumoto (4 nights) hotel accommodation on a twin-sharing basis, most meals, water, internal transfers, all entrance fees, tips to guides/driver, and a contribution to the FOM general fund.

A bus will be provided to take you back from Matsumoto to Haneda airport to catch the return flight to Singapore. 

Not included: Air ticket to Japan, visa fees, transfers in Singapore, excess baggage charges, alcoholic drinks, telecom/local SIM charges, laundry, shopping, personal medicine costs, medical fees not covered by insurance, optional excursions/services. 

Tour starts in the morning at 10 am from Haneda Airport on Nov 22 and ends at 4 pm in Matsumoto on Nov 29, when a bus leaves for Haneda airport. Please reach out if you would like help with air ticket purchase and other transportation requirements. Single supplement is available at no additional costs but subject to availability. Please also note that room sharing in excess of 2 per room may be implemented at the ryokan as it has only 8 rooms in total. 

For more information, please contact Candice Yeo @ candice5354@gmail.com 

This tour is now fully subscribed.

Join this Study Tour to South Korea to catch the special exhibition organised by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in collaboration with the National Museum of Korea titled Tree and Serpent, Early Buddhist Art in India.

Buddhism began with the teachings of Sakyamuni, born in the 5th century BC beneath the Himalayan Mountains in northern India. Over centuries, it spread across the Deccan Plateau to southern India. In this new landscape with distinct climate and customs from Sakyamuni's homeland, Buddhism embarked on a fresh narrative, encountering vibrant divines. Thriving amidst South India's rich natural backdrop, Buddhism nurtured a flourishing array of fresh and intricate artworks. These South Indian Buddhist artworks, filled with enigmatic yet mystical narratives, are making their way to the National Museum of Korea. Spanning from the 2nd century BC, a time when Shakyamuni's presence was symbolized solely by trees (Bodhi trees) and footprints, to the 4th century AD when he assumed the familiar human form seen in statues, these extensive objects offer a captivating journey through time.

This exhibition encompasses 61 pieces loaned from 12 distinguished museums in India, including the National Museum of New Delhi.

Buddhism was introduced into Korea in 372 CE and was adopted as the official state religion in the Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje kingdoms during the Three Kingdoms Period. The Silla kingdom used Buddhism to unify the peninsula.

Under royal patronage, many temples and monasteries were constructed. During the Unified Silla Period, historical sites such as Bulguksa Temple and Sokguram Grotto, and other relics were constructed in Gyeongju, the capital of Silla.

We will visit two UNESCO sites of strong Buddhist importance: Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto on the slopes of Mount Tohamsan. This Buddhist complex was founded in the 8th century under the Silla kingdom.

We will also visit Haeinsa Temple's Janggyeong Panjeon (literally means the 'Stamp of the Sea Temple'), a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for housing the Buddhist scriptures of Tripitaka Koreana. 

In addition, we will experience Korean Buddhism with a one night stay at a temple.

Trip cost is approximately S$4,600 per person, which includes flights on economy class, 4 star hotel accommodation on a twin-sharing basis, all entrance fees, meals (except one dinner), tips to guides, travel insurance, and a contribution to the FOM general fund, but excludes personal expenses such as visa fees, telecommunications, laundry and meal and beverage extras.

Single room supplement is S$700.

PLEASE NOTE:

Air tickets once confirmed are non-refundable. Hence, cancellations will incur penalties and we cannot promise that there will be any refund depending on the terms and condition, so please register only if you are sure you can travel.

Information and calls on further payments will be sent out later with a detailed itinerary to registered participants.

This is a Study Tour, and every participant is expected to do a presentation and attend the meetings which will take place in February and March 2024.  

Any questions please contact tour leader, Alice Chua, at alicecsp0@gmail.com.

You may sign up by clicking on the red Registration Tab that appears below the box describing the Study Tour you wish to register for.

Please use your FOM membership email and password to sign up, and read and virtually sign the Release and Responsibility Statement. There is no need to print and send it to the office but you may keep it for your reference. 

After you sign up and you submit a copy of the first page of your passport (B&W or colour) to the Tour Leader, you will receive an email confirmation as well as a link to make the payment for the deposit. 

You can make the deposit payment either via PayNow, PayPal or bank transfer.  Please note that PayPal incurs a fee (between 3% to 8% depending on the credit card used) which you will have to bear, while PayNow is fee free. PayNow to FOM's UEN number: T04SS0218E.  If you elect to pay by bank transfer through your bank's online banking platform or mobile app, please contact the FOM Office to request FOM's account details.

You are requested to pay this deposit amount within 3 days of getting the link to pay, in order to complete your registration for the tour. Please note since October 2023 cash and cheques are no longer available as payment options (website updates are in progress). 

Note: On all tours, participants are confirmed on a first-come basis, based on the order in which the registrations are done online and the passport copies and deposit payments are received. A Health & Safety Questionnaire is sent to registrants by the Tour Leader and is required to be filled in by all participants to ensure their fitness and suitability for the tour. This Questionnaire must be filled and returned to the Tour Leader before the first meeting. FOM members who are living in Singapore and have not been on a FOM Study Tour in the previous two years (from the date of the upcoming Study Tour) have priority during the first week of the registration period. After the first week, those who have been on  a Study Tour in the previous two years and overseas members may register if there are spaces available. 

*If not too certain how to use the new activity sign up system, click here for full information.