Southeast Asia. 

10-22 January 2025.

A small group jaunt between three jewels of Southeast Asia. 

I am drawn to places with rich historical narratives and right on our doorstep, Southeast Asia ticks this box. Breathtaking scenery, gorgeous people and a universe of gastronomical delights are the bonus—alongside Buddhism, its beauty rubbing off on even the staunchest non-believer.

From street food to gold-dipped temples, ancient cities overrun by jungle and sci-fi-worthy skylines, superb hotels and some of the warmest hospitality known to man, few corners of the world offer such a beguiling travel experience. My small group trip set for January 2025 celebrates all there is to love about Southeast Asia, hopping between the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, and the charming Buddhist enclave of Luang Prabang.

Small-group travel Siem Reap.
Bangkok's coolest hotel: The Siam.

For more than 600 years, between the 9th and 15th centuries, much of what is now Thailand, Cambodia and Laos formed the Khmer Empire. At its zenith, this Hindu-Buddhist kingdom was larger than the Byzantine world and even today, Angkor Wat remains the largest religious structure on earth. Its fall is still debated by scholars but roughly coincides with the rise of Ayutthaya, the precursor of Siam—and modern Thailand—just upriver from Bangkok.

Further north in Luang Prabang, a Lao prince was banished to Angkor after his father was caught dallying with one of his grandfather’s wives. Marrying a Khmer princess while in exile, the prince returned to Luang Prabang with an army of elephants and the Phra Bang—an important statue of the Buddha—to claim his birthright and spread Theravada Buddhism. Seven centuries later and the town remains an important spiritual centre, home to hundreds of saffron-robed monks and fabulous French colonial architecture.

Not that this trip is all ancient history. Together we’ll discover local scenes of art and design, cuisine to die for—from street food to the darlings of Michelin—jazz clubs and sexy cocktail joints. And plenty of downtime to enjoy the wonderful places we’ll be staying, including the former palace of a prince and the coolest hotel in all of Asia. As well as cultural experiences that will have you reevaluating the magic of this corner of the world.

The Pursuit Of Southeast Asia:
12 nights, 10-22 January, 2025
From $14,900 per person (double occupancy)
50% deposit with balance due 90 days prior to departure.
Zannier Hotel, Siem Reap.
Zannier Phum Baitang, Siem Reap.
Antiques at The Siam, Bangkok.

Day 1-5: Bangkok, Thailand.

The Siam is so utterly fabulous, you could check in and not leave the property for four days and still have the time of your life. Perched on the Chao Phraya just north of Bangkok Old Town, the hotel comes with a long list of accoutrements: a vinyl room, gorgeous library, cinema with life-size models of Yoda and ET, gym with Muay Thai boxing ring, Opium Spa, a Sak Yant studio for the inking of sacred tattoos, a striped lap pool overlooking the river, antique shop, art gallery, two restaurants and a jetty bar. Not bad for a hotel with just 39 rooms, also home to the museum-grade antique collection of its owner—a Thai rockstar—with striking interiors by Bill Bensley.

Parked at the hotel’s jetty is a Venetian-style cruiser to ferry us up and down the Chao Phraya. Bangkok is dazzling from a myriad of angles but from the river—flanked by the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Chinese temples and quirky neighbourhoods like Talat Noi —it feels unique in the world. We’ll take longtail boats down otherworldly canals to a cafe built of bamboo; explore an 18th-century Chinese mansion and visit one of the loveliest house museums in the world; watch the sun set from roof top bars; dine en-famille at David Thompson’s one-starred Aksorn; and drink martinis at the legendary Bamboo Bar—in between visits to galleries, concept stores and out-of-the-way jazz clubs. 

Bangkok's most beautiful library, at The Siam.

Day 5-9: Siem Reap, Cambodia.

A one-hour flight and we arrive in Siem Reap. The gateway to Angkor is also a dynamic destination in contemporary terms, the ancient world rubbing shoulders with village life and the 21st-century in the most enchanting of ways. Temples like Angkor Wat have lured travellers to Siem Reap for centuries: a Portuguese friar visited the site in 1586 and a French explorer believed he ‘rediscovered’ the lost city in the 1840’s. In reality Angkor Wat was never lost, used for spiritual purposes—the first photos of the temple show a Buddhist monastery in the temple’s grounds—long after the decline of the Khmer Empire.

We’ll visit the big-ticket items as well as lesser-known sites from the idyllic Zannier Phum Baitang. Phum Baitang translates as ‘green village’—accommodation comes in the form of traditional Khmer stilt homes with wooden floors and shutters, woven bamboo walls and beautiful antiques set within rice fields and lemon-grass scented meadows just outside Siem Reap. Watch buffalos grazing in the grounds, enjoy epic sunsets from the infinity pool, discover Khmer wellness at Spa Temple and kick back at the 100-year-old farmhouse—now an atmospheric bar—paying homage to Cambodia’s colonial heritage.

Terrace Villa interior, Zannier Phum Baitang.
The ruins of Angkor, Siem Reap.
Spa Temple at Zannier Phum Baitang, Siem Reap.
Satri House in Lunag Prabang, Laos.

Day 9-13: Luang Prabang, Laos.

Set within a mountainous landscape straight out of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong River, few places evoke Shangri La like Luang Prabang. Buddhist temples, streets lined in French colonial architecture and a significant population of saffron-robed monks add to its beauty. A beauty that lulls you into tranquility, as if it were the only energy the world had ever known: despite its difficult history, the cares of the world feel a long way away in Luang Prabang.

I fell in love with the town six years ago and have been aching to return ever since. I can’t give you a big list of things I did there, although shopping for antique textiles and cruising on the Mekong were pretty memorable. To visit Luang Prabang is to simply step back in time: its pace, its people and its streetscapes are magic. Sit outside on the steps of a temple at dusk—lost in the chanting of Buddhist monks—and you’ll feel like you’ve been to heaven.

That’s not all that’s special about Luang Prabang. Food here is a little different to the rest of Laos as it was always a royal enclave—the capital of the Lan Xang kingdom from the 14th century and the centre of the Kingdom of Luang Prabang from 1707—with its own cuisine. Think cured meats, freshwater fish and crunchy and zesty greens, alongside the café and pain that came with French influence. We’ll make a deep dive into the local food scene, including a cooking class at a legendary restaurant—fully skippable if you’d rather lay by the pool. Speaking of which you have two, set amongst the verdant gardens of Satri House. Built in 1904 by the parents of Prince Souphanouvong, the ‘Red Prince’ who became the first president of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975, the rustic royal residence is now Luang Prabang’s loveliest boutique hotel—and our home for the final leg of the trip.

Photography: The Siam, Zannier Phum Baitang, Satri House, Chris Schalkx and Jason Mowen.

Satri House, Luang Prabang.
Satri House, Luang Prabang.

From out-of-the-way jazz clubs in Bangkok to the archaeological wonders of Siem Reap and romantic Luang Prabang, delve into a kaleidoscope of Southeast Asian wonder.

The Pursuit Of Southeast Asia

12 nights

10 – 22 January, 2025

$14,900 including GST

50% deposit with balance due 90 days prior to departure

See below for inclusions

Zannier Phum Baitang.

Included: 

  • Private Airport Transfer upon arrival in Bangkok
  • Four nights The Siam, Bangkok
  • Four nights Zannier Phum Baitang, Siem Reap
  • Four nights Satri House, Luang Prabang
  • Breakfast plus lunch and/or dinner daily, including alcoholic beverages
  • Sunset drinks and cocktail experiences
  • All transport throughout itinerary 
  • Entrance fees, taxes and local guides where required
  • Private airport transfer upon departure in Luang Prabang

Not Included:

  • Flights to Bangkok/from Luang Prabang
  • Comprehensive travel insurance (mandatory)
  • Visa or travel requirements for entry into Thailand, Cambodia and Laos
  • Room Service 
  • Massage and spa treatments
  • Laundry
  • Gratuities
The Siam, Bangkok.
Sime Reap, Cambodia.

Also:

  • A total of five guest rooms are available for single or double occupancy. 
  • Rooms include 80m2 Siam Suite (The Siam), 80m2 Terrace Villa (Zannier Phum Baitang) and 35m2 Deluxe Room (single occupancy Satri House) or 43m2 Junior Suite (double occupancy Satri House) 
  • Suite upgrades available, pending availability.
  • Additional accommodation can be arranged should you wish to arrive a day or two earlier in Bangkok, or if you would like to stay longer in Luang Prabang, pending availability.
  • January is the ideal month to visit Southeast Asia, with warm days and cooler nights
  • Dress for comfort although casual-elegant attire is required at some restaurants and bars featured in the itinerary.
Small-group travel to Southeast Asia.

Jason Mowen is an Australian interior designer and writer who divides his time between Murrurundi in the Upper Hunter and Matino, Puglia. An inveterate traveller, he has worked with tourism boards, luxury hotels and cultural institutions to promote atmospheric travel across the globe.

Jason is a contributor to Vogue Living, WISH and The Murrurundi Argus. His words have also appeared in Australian Financial Review and international publications such as Vogue and Conde Nast Traveller, while his interiors have been published in Elle Decor, Belle and AD.

His travel style is unhurried and full of passion, seeking beauty and interest in unexpected places and always avoiding the crowd.

The Pursuit Of small-group travel to Southeast Asia.

Terms and Conditions:

Please note, a minimum number of guests are required for the trip to proceed. You will be provided with confirmation once this number has been reached. 

If you choose to book your flight in advance of final confirmation, please book a refundable fare and/or obtain travel insurance to protect yourself against additional charges, should dates change or if cancellation occurs.

You will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total booking cost, unless the booking is made 90 days or less prior to departure, in which case full payment must be paid when booking. If there is an unforeseen date change or cancellation, your deposit is refundable.

Fully comprehensive travel insurance is required for the trip. Please provide proof of insurance prior to departure.

Please note that while all efforts are made to present the itinerary as presented, we reserves the right to make any changes to the final itinerary deemed necessary, or due to circumstances beyond our control, such as flight changes, cancellations, political disturbances, natural disasters, etc.

Photographs and video recordings of guests may be used by The Pursuit Of for promotional purposes.