Golden Triangle & The Mekong

Fly to Chiang Rai before taking a riverboat through exotic bamboo jungle to the Four Seasons Tented Camp in the Golden Triangle. Here you can feel like a 19th Century explorer, staying in one of the secluded freestanding tents, with treetop terraces overlooking the Ruak River. Spend your days with the camp’s herd of elephants learning about the unforgettable characters of Asian Elephants whilst you bathe them at sunrise in the Mekong.  Help the herd’s mahouts by feeding the elephants and walking with them through the wilderness, learning about traditional medicine ingredients. Guests can pick from a selection of activities during their stay, such as a trip to see Chiang Rai’s incredible temples or sailing down the river on a private cruise past rice paddies and local villages, with Thailand on one bank and Burma on the other.

Hop on the Mekong Kingdom’s glorious two-cabin river vessel, Gypsy, from the Thai side of the Mekong River. From here you will set sail through the heart of Southeast Asia, down the river and stopping at traditional wooden teak villages along the way, visiting temples and watching silk weavers as they show you their complex craft. Try your hand at fishing, tasting Lao rice wine or learning the Lao language onboard your boat, before eating delicious gourmet meals created by the onboard chef. Dine on the sun deck, taking in the mountain views or by candlelight under the stars, and wake up to the fresh Laos mountain air and spectacular riverside views straight from your private cabin. Finish your river adventure at the Pak Ou Caves, taking a guided tour of both Buddhist caves, before arriving in Luang Prabang.

Gypsy will take you to the ancient UNESCO town of Luang Prang, the capital of Buddhist learning in Lao, and here you will stay at the five star luxury boutique hotel, The Luangsay Residence, for one evening. Explore the beautiful town’s markets and colonial buildings, taking a heritage tour or enjoying a meditation experience. In the evening, climb up Phousi Hill to Wat Chom Si, to experience panoramic views over the town and the Mekong River and watch as the temple’s golden dome glints in the setting sun. Enjoy a cocktail at the hotel’s 1861 colonial bar before feasting on French/Lao cuisine at the beautiful Terrace de Colonies by the hotel’s garden pool.  

Drive to northern Laos to stay two nights at the riverside Muang La Lodge in a remote paradise. The hotel offers a variety of different hikes and treks through the tropical jungle mountains, where guests can visit the various mountain villages of the ‘People of Heaven’. These are the different ethnic communities found in the region who still practice their traditional customs and traditions, all of which you can learn and witness during your stay at Muang La. Walk through mountain trails, rice paddies and past grazing buffalo before enjoying the hotel’s thermal spring baths on the banks of the river or a dip in the island infinity pool across the bridge. Spend your evening enjoying a traditional Khamu music and dance show before settling into a five course meal on a candlelit terrace to the sounds of the flowing river.