The River Resort

Constructed with the lightest possible footprint within at seven acre parcel of parkland, The River Resort is an eco-lodge in Laos’ southern Champasak province. It is the ideal jump-off for exploring 4000 Islands’ natural wonderland and the nearby UNESCO-designated ruins of Wat Phou (a pre-Angkor temple complex).

Seated on the Mekong riverbank, The River Resort offers 28 air-conditioned villas—either riverfront or garden-facing, stacked two stories high. (Reserve an upper unit for the best views.) Watch the sunrise over the Mekong right from your bed, courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows that are a feature of the Deluxe Riverfront Villas. Alternatively, six Deluxe Pond/Garden Villas overlook an evergreen rice paddy that frames a distant Mekong. Bamboo furniture and Laotian handwoven textiles adorn the rooms, giving them a distinct sense of place.

On-property, guests dine at The Riverside Sala, an open-air restaurant with terrace and indoor table settings (fresh-caught Mekong fish is a signature dish). Casual fare is served in the cafe while the bar is a convivial place for a nightcap. Al fresco riverside dining is available upon request. A spa offering one- and two-hour massages (swoon) and two dreamy infinity pools are splendid places to while away a midday break. Kayaks are also available to guests who want to get active.

Travelers will appreciate The Riverside Resort’s eco-credentials—solar-heated water in the kitchen, a composting program, and the working rice paddies and small-scale farming woven into the landscaping—but it’s the smiling staff that they will remember. More than 90% of the team lives in the local community and many are illiterate. Your stay helps generate community uplift for employees and their families through the resort’s investment in education and English language lessons.