Thailand & Laos: A Luxury Mekong Journey

Arrive at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, where a representative fast-tracks immigration and assists with luggage before introducing your EXO Travel guide. Continue by air-conditioned car to the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. Overnight at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.

This morning, from around 11:00, board a private wooden barge, richly decorated with cushions and flowers, for an architectural cruise along the Chao Phraya River. Visit Chee Chin Khor Temple, Bangkok's finest example of Chinese pagoda design, then continue to Wat Prayun Wongsawat to study classic Thai temple architecture, including its 80-metre chedi ringed by 18 smaller towers. Continue to Turtle Mountain (Wat Prayoon) to see its spirit houses, small shrines believed to house the spirits of the deceased, then admire Wat Arun from the water, its ceramic-inlaid chedis newly visible after years of restoration. Cruise on to Bangkok Noi Canal, once a major trading route lined with aristocrats' homes, before a final stop at the Royal Barge Museum to see the ornate barges used by the King on state occasions. The tour ends in the late afternoon at the hotel's pier. This evening, be collected at 17:30 for the embarkation point and a 19:00 departure aboard the Saffron Cruise by Banyan Tree, a celebrated gastronomic experience on the Chao Phraya River. Enjoy a sumptuous Thai set dinner amid stylish modern and traditional touches, award-winning cuisine and entertainment, watching the city drift past from the glass-windowed dining room or the open-air moon deck above. Return to the hotel after disembarking at 22:00. Overnight at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for the flight to Chiang Rai. On arrival, a representative from Four Seasons Tented Camp meets you and transfers you to the camp pier, continuing by traditional long-tail boat to the camp itself. Before dinner, unwind with a massage at the camp's open-air spa, its rustic salas set amid the bamboo forests of the Golden Triangle. In the evening, join "Sundowners", the camp's tradition of pausing all activity to savour the sunset with a casual drink and snacks. Dinner is served at Nong Yao Restaurant, an open-air, thatched-roof pavilion on the riverbank serving Thai, Laotian, Burmese and western cuisine, with the choice of a long family-style table or private seating. Overnight at Four Seasons Tented Camp, Golden Triangle.

After breakfast, meet the camp's professional mahouts for training in how to care for and guide an elephant, before putting your new skills to the test on a full jungle trek through the bamboo forest, finishing with a one-of-a-kind elephant shower experience. Enjoy late morning at leisure and lunch back at Nong Yao Restaurant. In the afternoon, take a short ride to Wang Lao village for a two-hour walk observing local life and northern hill architecture, then hike through jungle, terraced rice fields and pineapple plantations to a panoramic viewpoint over the Golden Triangle, returning to camp through a bamboo tunnel while your guide points out wild herbs and forest plants used locally as medicine and food. This evening, dine by candlelight at the Elephant Camp, tables arranged safari-style around a campfire, with glimpses of elephant silhouettes nearby and a formal dinner of regional Thai, Laotian and Burmese cuisine, followed by after-dinner drinks and stargazing. Overnight at Four Seasons Tented Camp, Golden Triangle.

After an early breakfast at Nong Yao Restaurant, bid farewell to the camp and transfer to the Chiang Khong border, arriving by 08:00. At 12:30, meet the Mekong Kingdoms representative to board the Gypsy, the country's most exclusive river cruiser, for the start of a three-day journey down the Mekong. Following border formalities assisted by the cruise staff, the cruise director gives a safety briefing aboard the 41-metre boat, home to just two private cabins with floor-to-ceiling windows, en-suite bathrooms, spa amenities and a minibar of free-flow drinks, complete with bathrobes, a writing desk and an in-suite safe. Enjoy a complimentary bottle of champagne as the Gypsy sets sail toward Pak Tha village, with a choice of onboard activities (yoga, folk dancing, a Lao language lesson, a weaving workshop, a cooking class) and shore excursions (fishing, jungle trekking, mountain biking, a Lao whisky tasting, meeting elephants) along the way. On arrival at Pak Tha, enjoy a welcome cocktail and canapés, followed by dinner on the beach, with the bar open late for after-dinner drinks. Overnight moored at Pak Tha village.

Wake early for an introduction to Buddhist meditation, then set sail for Ban Houy Phalam, a Kamu village known for its weaving and scarf-making, visited around 09:00. Continue sailing toward Pak Beng, enjoying an à la carte lunch on board. Arrive in Pak Beng in the evening for visits to Pak Beng Temple, known for its falang murals, a Hmong village and an elephant camp across the river. The cruise manager briefs the following day's programme over dinner, accompanied by a tasting of local spirits and Lao rice wine, with the bar open late. Overnight moored at Pak Beng village.

This morning, sail toward Khok Aek, with an early yoga session on the sun deck before breakfast. Arrive around 09:00 at Khok Aek's two villages, one Lao and one Hmong, for a walking tour comparing the two communities, then continue to Ban Baw village for a guided tour of a traditional Lao weaving village and a chance to taste and buy Lao whisky. Set sail for the Pak Ou Caves, taking part in a cooking demonstration with the head chef along the way, with lunch served on board. On arrival, take a guided visit through the two Buddhist caves before the final stretch of sailing into Luang Prabang. After a closing briefing from the cruise manager, arrive at 16:30, where your guide and driver meet you at the royal pier and transfer you to Rosewood Luang Prabang, the country's newest luxury address. The rest of the evening is free at leisure. Overnight at Rosewood Luang Prabang.

Explore Luang Prabang with a knowledgeable local guide on a half-day tour, beginning at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, its corridors filled with historical relics and exhibits. Continue to Wat Mai, its gold-covered bas-relief an extraordinary piece of craftsmanship, then through downtown Luang Prabang to Wat Sensoukharam, known for its dazzling gold façade, and finally to Wat Xieng Thong, one of the country's oldest and most revered temples, its carvings and mosaics intact after centuries. Enjoy lunch at Manda de Laos, a stunning setting around lily ponds serving refined, homey Laotian cuisine. In the afternoon, see Luang Prabang through an expert's eyes on a walking tour with Francis Engelmann, a leading authority on Lao architecture and heritage with twenty years spent researching the country's buildings. Explore the four building types recognised by UNESCO, from traditional bamboo structures to Chinese-style shophouses, gaining a deeper understanding of how Luang Prabang's architecture reflects its history and culture, complete with the stories behind individual buildings. Return to the hotel for a final evening at leisure. Overnight at Rosewood Luang Prabang.

This morning, join a complimentary Royal Cooking Class, a masterclass in Royal Laotian cuisine. Forage for fresh produce, roots and leaves on a tour of the morning market and a nearby farm, then prepare forgotten recipes using traditional methods, sampling the results with a glass of French wine (08:00 to 12:00, followed by lunch at The Great House). In the afternoon, check out and transfer with your private guide and driver to the airport for the onward departing flight.