Thai Express & Mekong Magic | Thailand & Laos | 12 nights

This wonderful journey takes you through Thailand’s cultural highlights by train and then on to charming Laos by boat. This is travel at an altogether more civilised pace, allowing you time and space to take in the region’s highlights.

Perfect for… ‘slow travel’ fans who like the journey just as much as the destination.

When to go… the Eastern & Oriental train has set departures so please call a travel expert for details.

Consider… slow things down even further and hit the beach in Thailand for some r&r at the end of the trip.

• We fly you to Bangkok for two nights of city living in this captivating capital. Your luxury ‘bubble’ for the two nights is the excellent Peninsula hotel.
• From Bangkok you board the Orient Express Eastern & Oriental Train north to Chiang Mai. Enjoy afternoon tea and dinner on board as you roll through the Thai countryside. Over night in your cosy cabin on board.
• The next morning you wake in Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second city, with enough temples and markets to keep even the most avid culture fiend happy for two nights. We like Four Seasons Chiang Mai for sheer style, service and luxury.
• From Chiang Mai, we transfer you by road to the Chiang Rai in the Golden Triangle. Stay at the wonderful Four Seasons Tented Camp, where 15 luxury tents nestling in the Thai jungle provide the perfect base for exploring this beautiful area - best seen from the back of an elephant.
• We now transfer you to Houei Say on the Thai/Lao border to board the Luang Say cruise. This delightful journey takes you along the Mekong where you learn a little about daily life in Laos as you float past villages, Buddhist temples, farmland, mountains and jungle.
• Your first day ends nearby the town of Pakbeng and you spend the night in the lovely Luang Say Lodge, where 20 simple yet comfortable teak and rosewood bungalows enjoy dramatic Mekong views.
• The next day, you continue by boat to Luang Prabang, former capital of Laos and absolutely charming. Don’t miss the monks on their morning alms procession, French Indo-Chinese architecture that has made this town a UNESCO site and craftsmen making jewellery, baskets and textiles. Indulge in the excellent spa at The Residence Phou Vao, your home for the four nights.
• At the end of your stay, we fly you back to Bangkok, where you can connect with a flight home or onwards to the beach.

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