As the Nile is to Egypt, so is the Mekong to Thailand.
Navigate the less-traveled Upper Mekong with art historian Christopher Noey, cruising the river that shaped Southeast Asian civilization for millennia aboard the luxurious Anouvong.
Enjoy Sacred Treasures
In Bangkok, stay at the Four Seasons overlooking the Chao Phraya River and enjoy guided looks at sacred treasures such as the Grand Palace’s Emerald Buddha. Savor Michelin-starred Royal Thai cuisine during a special dinner. Fly to Luang Prabang and ring in 2026 with an authentic Laotian dinner in a festive setting. Go behind the scenes of Luang Prabang’s UNESCO-listed temples, gilded palaces, fascinating craft workshops, royal museum collections, and French colonial architecture. In Luang Prabang, board the 14-cabin Anouvong for three nights. Arrive in remote villages to meet local scholars at the Buddha-filled Pak Ou Caves and learn silk-weaving techniques from master artisans in riverside communities. In Thailand’s Golden Triangle, observe elephants wandering freely during an unforgettable stay at a 160-acre bamboo forest sanctuary.
Highlights
- Travel with Christopher Noey, a scholar of Asian art and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, as he illuminates centuries of Buddhist art, royal palaces, and diverse cultures through Thailand and Laos
- Explore remote stretches of the Upper Mekong for three nights aboard the luxurious Anouvong, which has only 14 sumptuous cabins, the perfect base to witness the living traditions of mountain communities along the Mekong’s banks
- Enter Bangkok’s Grand Palace complex with expert guides to discover its mythological guardians and most sacred spaces, including Thailand’s revered Emerald Buddha
- Welcome 2026 in UNESCO-protected Luang Prabang, joining local families for traditional New Year festivities and specialties at Manda de Laos
- Connect with rescued elephants during a three-night stay at Thailand’s pioneering 160-acre Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, learning about conservation efforts and traditional mahout culture
- Ascend with local guides to the sacred Pak Ou Caves in Laos, where 4,000 Buddha statues, placed by generations of pilgrims, fill ancient limestone grottoes
- Join Luang Prabang residents in their dawn ritual of offering alms to Buddhist monks as they process through the quiet streets
- Receive special invitations into the mountain homes of Ban Muang Keo and Had Sako villagers in Laos to learn their traditional arts of silk weaving and whiskey making
- Savor regional cuisines across spectacular settings, from Bangkok’s two-Michelin-starred R-Haan, with its exquisite Royal Thai dishes, to moonlit dinners beside the Mekong
- Stay in carefully selected luxury hotels in Bangkok and Luang Prabang that enhance your experience: the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River and the Avani+Luang Prabang Hotel
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