Pic credit:Hergé-Moulinsart 2012

Pic credit: DC Comics

Pic credit: Marvel

As a comic book aficionado, have you always craved to visit the settings of your favourite comics? Places where your comic heroes have either got involved in heart-stopping adventures, or simply shared a good laugh with their sidekicks? Get ready to walk in their footsteps as you visit destinations featured in your best-loved comics.

So, you can now visit the Land of the Pharaohs and relive Tintin’s adventures in Egypt in Cigars of the Pharaoh, and can also take a tour of iconic New York landmarks that are so associated with superheroes like Superman, Spiderman and Batman. Or go to Tokyo and experience the world of the Japanese comic book, manga. Also waiting to be explored is the fascinating Asterix theme park in Paris.

It’s time to bring alive the places from the pages of comic books that you so love.

Egypt

Remember Tintin’s escapades in Cigars of the Pharaoh? Relive those adventures as you take a trip to some wonderful sites in Egypt. Head for the ‘world’s greatest open air museum’, Luxor, as you make your way through the ruins of the Luxor and the Karnak Temples. Cairo is known for its splendid Islamic architecture and its proximity to the Great Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza.

Hot ticket!

The UK-based travel company, On The Go Tours, in association with Moulinsart (it holds the rights to the works of Hergé, the author of Tintin), has a 10-day Land of the Pharaohs package that will take you to Cairo, Luxor, Port Said, Aswan and more. The tour starts on March 31 and ends on April 9, and is priced at $2,759 (around Rs 1.38 lakh) per person. It includes accommodation on twin-sharing basis in 4- and 5-star hotels, meals, a 5-star Nile cruise and surface transfers. Return airfares between Calcutta and Cairo (around Rs 37,000 per person) are extra. Visit www.onthegotours.com.

Japan

The Land of the Rising Sun is also the birthplace of popular Japanese comic, manga. And the capital city, Tokyo, boasts of manga hotspots — the Ghibli Museum that showcases quirky anime work, areas in Tokyo like Akihabara and Nakano that are known for their manga and anime stores. You can also find manga cafés at Shinjuku, where you can browse through manga comics and also chill out.

Hot ticket!

London-based Japan Journeys has a Japan Summer Manga Tour from August 15 to August 22. At £945 (around Rs 73,730) per person, it includes 3-star accommodation on double occupancy basis, breakfasts, all transfers and entrance fees. Ex-Calcutta return airfares to Tokyo (starting from around Rs 44,400) and meals are extra. You will visit the Ghibli Museum, Akihabara and the iconic Tokyo Tower. The trip must be booked 12 weeks prior to departure. Visit www.japanjourneys.co.uk.

USA

When it comes to superhero comics, New York seems to be the most happening place in the world. Want to visit the iconic Empire State Building that has been featured in numerous superhero comics? Or, maybe Flatiron Building that’s the setting of the fictional newspaper The Daily Bugle’s office in Spiderman comics? New York is a comic lovers’ paradise with places like the former office of Batman creator, Bob Kane, comic book character-inspired bars and many legendary comic book stores.

Hot ticket!

We recommend the Superheroes Walking Tour in New York by US-based travel company, New York Tours. The 90-minute walking tour will take you to places like the Marine Building that was used as Baxter Building in films based on the Fantastic Four series, the UN Headquarters featured in Batman comics and so on. The tour is priced at $29.95 (Rs 1,467) and starts at 2pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Meals are excluded. Return airfares to New York (ex-Calcutta) start from around Rs 56,300. Go to www.nytours.us for more.

France

By Toutatis! Here’s a theme park that is sure to be a hit with Asterix lovers. Opened in 1989, Parc Astérix at Plailly near Paris is choc-a-bloc with exciting rides based on the comic book series. Embark on a water-slide ride, Menhir Express, or enjoy a jolly carousel ride on the Le Carrousel de César. The park operates from April to November every year. You can visit starting April 7 this year.

Hot ticket!

Return airfares from Calcutta to Paris start from around Rs 38,000 per person. You can stay at the 4-star Hotel Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel, 32km from Parc Astérix, where tariffs for a superior room start at about Rs 14,000 per night. Meals are extra. You can take shuttle buses from The Louvre to the park and round trip fares start from 20 euros (Rs 1,300). Tickets at Parc Asterix start from 43 euros (Rs 2,800) for adults and 33 euros (Rs 2,150) for children. Go to www.parcasterix.fr and www.novotel.com.