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Activity Level: E-M
Start / Finish: Hong Kong / Bangkok
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The Best of Asia on the Grandest Scale
“Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, all in two weeks? Sure, we can do that.” And so was born the Indochina Grand Journey, B&R’s most extraordinary and ambitious travel epic to date. Want dazzling landscapes; centuries of tradition; complex cultures influenced by powerful civilizations; incredible local cuisine; the finest of everything? We have them in spades. From an elephant-borne entrance to your resplendent Thai hotel to sunset cocktails in the shadows of Siem Reap’s majestic temples and a private jet linking all points in between, this incredible trip blends ancient wonder, natural splendour, modern-day magic and truly stellar biking and walking into an experience that may just change your life. “Grand” may be an understatement.
Day 1 Arrive in style at your extravagant hotel aboard Thailand’s most sacred symbol: the elephant
Day 2 Explore the temples around the ancient capital of Chiang Saen before the crowds catch on
Day 3 Pedal past the ever-expanding Wat Rong Khun, the life’s work of one of Thailand’s best-loved artists
Day 4 Take in a “Thai dye” demonstration with our friend Patricia at her textile studio
Day 5 Lose yourself in the hustle and bustle of Chiang Mai’s famed night bazaar
Day 6 Enjoy a private tour of Laos’ National Museum, open exclusively for us
Day 7 Take in the awesome panorama of Luang Prabang and the Mekong Delta from the balcony of La Résidence Phou Vao, your deluxe Laos hotel
Day 8 Explore the Forbidden City of Hué, home to Vietnam’s last imperial dynasty
Day 9 Cruise up the Perfume River to visit the tomb of the Vietnamese emperor Minh Mang
Day 10 Hike a meandering route around scenic Marble Mountain
Day 11 Bike past rural rice paddies, fish farms, ancestral tombs and the occasional water buffalo around Hoi An
Day 12 Squeeze in some extra biking or walking before a spectacular dinner at the Nam Hai hotel’s restaurant
Day 13 Walk in the footsteps of the ancients through Cambodia’s temples of Angkor
Day 14 Experience life as the Cambodians do by biking past pagodas and visiting local schools and villages
Day 15 Breakfast in Siem Reap, then moog zoo in Bangkok
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Click a date below for detailed pricing information
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2011
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January 10 – 24
15 Days / 14 Nights
Price per person from: $59,000
Single supplement: $5,000
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Anantara Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen
The Anantara is a small luxury resort that takes full advantage of the tranquil splendour of the Golden Triangle. Our rooms have high, teak beam ceilings and private balcony overlooking the bamboo forest, and are accented with the best of local silks and woven cottons. Amenities include sunken tubs and DVD players. The resort is most magical at night when hundreds of candles cast shadows across Naga carvings in the main building and along the gorgeous infinity pool. The spa is sublime with stone steam rooms, hot rock massages and facials galore.
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Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai
One of the most celebrated resorts in Asia, the Four Seasons Resort is an icon in Thailand. It has been voted Asia’s top Spa Magazine and every year is ranked among the top 20 hotels in the world. The hotel is located outside Chiang Mai in the Mae Rim Valley on 20 acres of tropical gardens and rice paddies. Your rooms boast rice-paddy views, and your upstairs verandas offer glimpses over the mountain ranges. It may be hard to drag yourself away from the polished teak floors, double vanities, over-sized bathtub and spacious veranda for a visit to the fully equipped fitness club, tennis courts or world-renowned spa, but they’re all worth it.
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La Résidence Hôtel & Spa, Hué
This former governor’s residence has been restored and converted into a boutique hotel and spa. Situated on the fabled Perfume River, La Résidence has a huge saltwater pool overlooking Hué’s ancient citadel, a fully equipped gym and wonderful new spa. With its distinctive art deco design, it is reminiscent of colonial Indochina.
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The Nam Hai, Hoi An
This beachfront retreat sits right on the shores of the famous China Beach. Our one-bedroom villas with private pools offer gorgeous views over the rolling waves of the South China Sea.
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Amansara, Siem Reap
For us, the only place to stay in Siem Reap on such a Grand Journey is the Aman. Once the summer home of King-Father Norodom Sihanouk, the resort is located close to the town of Siem Reap and blends French colonial architecture with indigenous Khmer art objects. Our pool suites offer a perfect oasis for the afternoon heat, and the resort provides the perfect base for our temple visits.
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Amantaka, Luang Prabang
The Amantaka is a welcome addition to the exclusive collection of Aman resorts worldwide. Incorporating a French colonial building, the hotel is designed around a spacious courtyard and features 24 luxurious suites in a tranquil setting. Perhaps best of all, the Amantaka is located right in town; walk out the gates of your private oasis, and you are immediately immersed in the beautiful lantern-lit streets of Luang Prabang.
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Easygoing to Moderate
This trip is rated Easygoing to Moderate. The terrain is generally flat throughout our daily rides of 20-30 km (12-19 mi.), although you should expect a few hills and some dirt roads in the countryside. Our walks take us through villages. To avoid midday heat, the days tend to start early and you will have midday breaks at the resorts to relax, catch up on your journal or take on some of the extra options we offer. We will aim to have shorter late-afternoon riding and walking options each day.
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 Alex Kerr, Local Expert
As the son of a U.S Navy family, Alex spent his formative years living all over the world including Japan, where he first fell in love with all things Asian. A celebrated author, he is a noted authority and consultant of the traditional arts and culture of Asia. He published his first book, Lost Japan, in 1996—which he originally wrote in Japanese—chronicling his experiences living in Japan as a boy in the 60s and 70s. He currently splits his time between his farm house on the Japanese Island of Shikoku and his home in Bangkok.
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