Ultimate Indochine Luxury Explorer

Touch-down in Hanoi to kick off this three-week odyssey through Southeast Asia. A VIP visa fast-track will expedite you through customs. A private driver will whisk you away to Capella Hanoi, one of Vietnam’s best hotels, located in the city’s leafy French Quarter. The rest of the day is at leisure.  

Spend a day experiencing Hanoi like a local. Get a caffeine buzz while sipping a delicious egg coffee—unique to the north—and sample bánh mì, Vietnam’s beloved baguette sandwich. Next, venture into the fray of Hanoi’s Old Quarter for insight that touches on Indochine architecture and Vietnam War history—or rather, the “Resistance War Against America.” End your day with a visit to Hanoi’s railway tracks, a unique part of the city where homes sit just a few nerve-wracking feet from the tracks.

Depart for Hanoi via a direct flight to Da Nang. After a private transfer, check in and unwind in your private villa at the beachy Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An—the region’s most luxurious lodging. We strategically situated you here, close enough to Hoi An but away from the fray of its Old Town crowds. Spend the rest of your day at the resort’s immaculate, white sand beach.  

Dedicate a full day to Hoi An, a darling, lantern-lit UNESCO destination. Watch the morning shoppers sift through fresh produce in the Central Market, weave through handsome streets lined by colorful facades, nip into artist workshops, and cross the jaw-dropping Japanese Covered Bridge. Then you're invited into the home of a local family who will teach you how to craft your own handmade lantern—a meaningful souvenir of your time in Hoi An.

A second day in Hoi An brings you to the “real Vietnam” in Go Noi Village. Mr. Phap—a farmer—and his family are your gracious hosts, serving tea and homemade bánh xèo (crispy rice pancakes). From here, cycle along pastoral roads amid rice paddies. Return greetings from villagers and schoolchildren with a jubilant, “Sin chao!” Visit local artists to appreciate the skill required to produce intricate wood carvings, then return to Mr. Phap’s home for an authentic lunch spread.  

Depart Vietnam on day six. Fly from Da Nang to Siem Reap, Cambodia’s charming gateway to Angkor. You’ll enjoy a VIP vista fast-track and then transfer to the incomparable Zannier Phum Baitang. The rest of your day is at leisure. Don’t feel guilty if you don’t leave this dreamy, luxe property. Busy bodies might nip into central Siem Reap to wander its charming streets or to peruse the Old Market.    

Alongside an expert, discover one of the greatest wonders of the ancient world: Angkor Archaeological Park. Depart in the morning to journey back to the ninth-century Khmer Empire, visiting the complex’s most iconic temples with an insider who will bring history to life. Witness in sublime wonder how the ruins of the Khmer Empire endure even as nature tries to reclaim the land.

Take a seat in an open-air Jeep to rumble along forest tracks and pastoral roads. First, call on Kna Por, a quintessential Khmer village. Meet local families who will open their doors to show you specific trades including rice wine distillation, mat weaving, and traditional broom making. Next, you’ll seek out our favorite secret temple. With crumbling structures that tangle with overgrown trees, this elusive ruin isn’t included on the Angkor tourist ticket, so most visitors are entirely unaware it exists.

Depart Cambodia for northern Laos. A direct flight brings you to Luang Prabang, the country’s spiritual heart. A representative will greet you and fast-track you through the visa process. A driver transfers you to Amantaka, an exclusive hideaway conveniently located at the foot of Mount Phousi. Unpack and relax into your private suite, then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Walk through central Luang Prabang’s charming streets alongside a local guide. Visit 500-year-old Wat Xieng Thong with its whimsical nested and winged roofs—perhaps the finest example of Luang Prabang architecture. Relax for the afternoon before heading to Luang Prabang’s National Museum, housed in a former royal palace, on a private guided visit after the museum has closed to the public. Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of Laos and its monarchy as you visit preserved royal living quarters, frozen in time since the departure of the royal family.

Rise at daybreak to watch queues of barefoot, saffron-robed monks as they weave single-file through the city streets, collecting rice (alms)—a sacred, time-honored ritual in Laos. Afterward, climb the 328 steps to Phousi Mountain, which overlooks the royal palace. In the afternoon, you’ll meet Mr. Francis Engelmann, a writer and consultant from Paris who was instrumental in securing Luang Prabang’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. Enjoy a walking tour of the city as Francis guides you through its architectural influences from colonial times to the present day.

Depart Laos for Thailand, touching down in Bangkok. A private driver receives you for a transfer to your spacious river view suite at The Siam. Later, step aboard a private Hacker-Craft boat to cruise the Chao Phraya River in style. Observe life along this storied river in utmost comfort with a glass of Champagne in hand. Drift past wooden houses, historic temples, and iconic landmarks such as Wat Arun and the Grand Palace.

Spend the morning discovering Bangkok’s most revered and sacred sites, including the country’s largest reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, the Grand Palace, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. After lunch, board a longtail boat for a cruise down the city’s ancient canals, gliding past floating wooden shopfronts and Buddhist temples. Stop at the Artist’s House (Baan Silapin), a beautifully restored centuries-old teak house turned art gallery. Return to the Chao Phraya Riverfront and end your day with a visit to Wat Arun, the iconic Temple of Dawn.

Depart in the morning to fly north to Chiang Mai. Settle into your suite at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai then set out on a privately guided exploration of this leafy city. This joyful excursion is a freewheeling one—you’ll be riding in a samlor, a three-wheeled bicycle taxi. Along the way, visit iconic temples (Wat Loi Kroh and Wat Ket Karam Temple), and snack your way through San Pakoy Market and Kad Luang Market.

Immerse yourself in Lanna tradition, a legacy of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, on a culinary experience in the serene village of Bandoo. Meet a local family in their beautiful private residence, which has been passed down through generations and is a lovely example of traditional Lanna architecture. Gain a unique glimpse into Thai domestic life, handpicking ingredients from the family orchards before learning how to prepare a northern Thai dish, all while surrounded by the family’s personal stories and warm hospitality.

Travel by tram to the ancient ruins of Wiang Kum Kam outside the city. Explore this 8th-century archaeological site, discovering stone tablets with Mon inscriptions, pottery, earthenware, and Buddhist sculptures. Then settle into a peaceful spot for a relaxed picnic lunch featuring delicious Northern Thai specialties.

Depart Chiang Mai for the southern beaches of Krabi. A private driver will whisk you to the five-star Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve for four paradisical nights in an ocean view pavilion. The balance of your days is mostly unscheduled for total relaxation. When you’re stirring for adventure, set out on a private speedboat bound for Phi Phi Island, one of the world’s most breathtaking destinations. Feel awestruck by the beauty of Pileh Cove, Monkey Beach, and Viking Cave where dramatic limestone formations and towering cliffs meet azure waters.

On the last day of your Southeast Asian adventure, board a flight back to Bangkok to begin your international flight home.