WITH TOUR MANAGER DENISE VAN SEVER

This journey is really three tours in one - and that’s what makes it so special! It's out of the box, an incredible experience by cruise, rail, and land. We began in Luang Prabang, a charming town that feels like a hidden gem of Laos.

If you haven’t been, it’s a place that will stay with you. It’s home to more than 30 monasteries. One morning, we rose early to witness the serene dawn ritual of Tak Bat, the daily alms-giving ceremony. Joining the silent procession and offering food to monks was a truly humbling experience.

That evening, we switched gears for something fun and authentic – a progressive dinner by tuk-tuk. Drinks by the water at sunset, entrées at one spot, mains at another, and finally a tiny bar to wrap up the night. It was a lively, local way to kick off the adventure.

We then boarded our river ship, Heritage Line Anouvong, it’s a small ship and can only take 20 guests, so is exclusive to our small group of 16. The meals were exceptional, fresh, beautifully presented, and served with care. The ship’s manager, Mr. Win from Burma, couldn’t have done enough for us as guests on board.

As we cruised the upper Mekong, we visited small riverside towns for authentic glimpses of local life. This stretch of the river is changing. Vietnam and Thailand are building a dam that will reshape the landscape and relocate communities, scheduled to be completed in 2030. This means that this trip is something best to do now, before these landscapes have been transformed with the new development.

Throughout the journey, elephants were a recurring theme. We visited an elephant orphanage, and later, the Four Seasons Tented Camp in Chiang Rai. This is a property that left everyone speechless, and my personal highlight. Built into the forest, the “tents” are pure luxury. Meals were exquisite, and the spa, set in the heart of the rainforest, was unforgettable. Here, we also fed elephants in the morning, a highlight for many.