Immerse yourself in the spiritual and isolated side of South East Asia on this 15 night luxury vacation, where you’ll experience the cultures and landscapes of Thailand and Laos. Head north and unlock the secrets of traditional Thai-style cooking, then work alongside experienced Mahout elephant trainers in the remote jungles of the Golden Triangle, before setting sail to cruise into the mysterious kingdom of Laos. In one of South East Asia’s most pristine landscapes, Laos, you’ll explore hidden temples and experience Buddhist ceremonies, finishing off your trip back in Thailand on the golden sands of Phuket.<\/p>\n
After landing in Bangkok, you’ll take a short transfer flight to Chiang Mai where you\u2019ll meet your Black Tomato guide. Staying right in the center of Chiang Mai at the Tamarind Village Resort, you\u2019ll be able to escape the hustle and bustle of the city in your chic Lanna-style room, whilst still being within walking distance of all the main sights.<\/p>\n
Over the next few days, you’ll explore some of the many temples dotted around the urban landscape.\u00a0 Chiang Mai is steeped in history and the city is a perfect setting to give context to the country\u2019s religious beliefs.\u00a0 You will learn about Buddhism at Wat Chedi Luang, as well as how the city was built and a bit about Lanna culture.\u00a0 Without a doubt, one of the best views of the city is from Wat Doi Suthep where you can\u00a0watch the sunset and visit one of the country\u2019s most beautiful and cherished temples.<\/p>\n
For us, there is one thing that you must absolutely do when in Chiang Mai: uncover the secrets of Thai cuisine. We\u2019ll arrange an authentic cooking class where you can whip up the most fragrant and freshest food you\u2019ll have ever tasted.\u00a0 We have spent years finding the very best cooks in Chiang Mai, and not just professional chefs but people that have been cooking for years for their family. You\u2019ll join them on their daily visit to the various fish, meat, rice and vegetable markets before visiting their homes or small cookery schools to be taught the skills that they\u2019ve been passed down through the generations.\u00a0 Truly one of our favorite experiences in Thailand.<\/p>\n
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Weaving through the rolling plantations and dramatic hillsides; you\u2019ll be taken up to the misty hills of Chiang Rai on one of the best drives in Asia. Here, you’ll venture into the mountains for unparalleled views of the terraced tea and rice plantations, coffee fields and a meeting with Karaen tribe villages. Meeting such tribes and walking through some of the most beautiful scenery in north Thailand is an absolute must on this trip and we can tailor the trek to be as gentle or difficult as you like.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll then whisk you off to the remote Anantara Golden Triangle for the ultimate encounter with a few of the locals (elephants, that is). Spend your time with Thailand\u2019s gentle giants during a sunrise wake up call as you join in with their frolicking at river bath time and learn all about these incredible creatures alongside expert elephant trainers \u2013 the mahouts. Enjoy the rest of your time here on the Ruak and Mekong Rivers aboard traditional fishing boats, or visiting remote hill-tribes and enjoying the views over the Thai, Laos and Myanmar borders..<\/p>\n
Bidding farewell to Thailand, your next stop is the peaceful country of Laos. We’ll send you off down the river to the historical capital of Luang Prabang on a luxury overnight river cruise which will see you arrive at your hotel in the city, Amantaka. The next day, we recommend visiting the Pak Ou Caves, followed by an afternoon in the temples. You\u2019ll be taken by your knowledgeable guide on a traditional longtail boat up the Mekong River, past the natural limestone formations and fishing villages, arriving at the sacred Tham Ting and Tham Teung caves. These caves house 4000 wooden Buddha statues, accumulated over several centuries; it\u2019s an awe-inspiring sight.<\/p>\n
The afternoon will then take you through the town of Luang Prabang where you’ll see the palace of the former Laotian Royal Family, Wat Mai, Luang Prabang\u2019s oldest Pagoda and a few other historic sites. Finish the day with a short climb to the top of Mount Phousi in the center of town and savour the view of the rivers and surrounding mystical mountains.<\/p>\n
Having already made friends with elephants in Thailand, you’ll meet them again here as you learn more about caring for elephants. You\u2019ll have lunch by the river, where you can bathe with the gentle giants before topping the day off with a trip further up the river to the glistening Tad Sae Waterfall; one of the area\u2019s best natural beauties.<\/p>\n
Saving the best till last, on your final day in Laos you\u2019ll wake up before dawn as your Black Tomato guide will be taking you to see the offering of alms by the saffron-robed Buddhist monks. It\u2019s a sacred tradition dating back countless generations. A wonder to behold, observe the ritual from a distance or make your own offering with the help of your guide as the sun begins to rise and the city comes to life. In the afternoon you\u2019ll be taken into the jungle and shown how to collect herbs, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots and learn the local way of fishing in order to survive the tropics. Trekking through the jungle, you\u2019ll reach the Kuang Si waterfall where the goodies you collected will be used to make a delicious Laotian lunch.<\/p>\n
For a grand finale, we’ll arrange for you to spend a few days in complete luxury by the beach. You\u2019ll be transferred to Phuket and onto Khao Lak where you’ll check in at the idyllic Sarojin hotel. Overlooking the turquoise Andaman Sea, you can bury your toes in the sugar-white sand and bask in the sun. Spend your days at the hotel spa and taking yoga lessons or venture out to the Similan Islands on a full-day snorkelling adventure. You\u2019ll depart for your flight home feeling completely refreshed with lasting memories of these two incredible countries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Immerse yourself in the spiritual and isolated side of South East Asia on this 15 night luxury vacation, where you’ll experience the cultures and landscapes of Thailand and Laos. Head north and unlock the secrets of traditional Thai-style cooking, then work alongside experienced Mahout elephant trainers in the remote jungles of the Golden Triangle, before […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101059,"featured_media":271372,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1456],"tags":[],"country":["Laos","Thailand"],"class_list":["post-221697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized-us","country-laos","country-thailand","month-april","month-december","month-february","month-january","month-march","month-may","month-november","type-experience","feeling-challenged","feeling-contentment","need-to-unwind","need-to-discover","need-to-challenge","what-beach","what-culture","who-couple","who-family","who-honeymoon","who-solo","who-with-friends"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n