Laos + Cambodia
Temples, Traditions + Timeless Landscapes

Visiting the Laos Arts Museum with a specialist guide is a wonderful way to explore the country’s artistic and cultural heritage. This recently opened museum showcases everything from traditional textiles and sculptures to contemporary Lao art. With the guide’s expert insights, you really get a sense of Laos’s rich culture and history. It’s an engaging, personal experience that brings the nation’s vibrant artistic traditions to life.

You’ll visit Xieng Khuan Spirit City, also known as the Buddha Park, with a guide. Created by the priest Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat in the 1950s–60s, it’s a wonderfully quirky place where Hindu and Buddhist sculptures come to life in playful, unexpected ways. Giant gods, demons, and mythical creatures rise from the landscape, and your guide will share the stories and symbolism behind them.

You’ll drive to the beautiful Tat Kuangsi waterfalls, where a series of turquoise pools and cascading streams lead you through the forest to the main 90-metre fall. Here, a wonderful breakfast will be waiting amidst the stunning surroundings. On your walk back through the forest, you’ll also pass the Free the Bears project, home to rescued Asiatic Black (Moon) Bears and a Malayan Sun Bear.

You’ll stop at Mueng Khai Village and visit Dr Linda McIntosh and Alain Menoni at their home on the banks of the Mekong for lunch. Dr Linda, a specialist in Asian textiles and author of several books on the subject, will give a fascinating talk, “Textiles of Laos.” Alain, a photographer and antiques collector, will share his insights as well.

You’ll have the chance to meet Tiao Somsanith Nithakhong, a master of Laos’ disappearing arts. Spend a few hours with him learning about stencilling, floral temple offerings, Lao puppet theatre, and intricate gold-and-silver thread embroidery—a practice he describes as “pure meditation.” You’ll also see him at work restoring Buddhist temple stencils by hand, including those at Vat Sène Soukharam.

Visit Eric Raisina’s private workshop to see him and his team of Khmer weavers at work, and explore his striking couture creations at the pop-up shop. Chat with the artisans and gain insight into the design process behind his imaginative silk and raffia pieces. Next, head to Theam’s Gallery, a lively studio supporting young Cambodian artisans. Discover lacquered panels and works-in-progress before enjoying dinner in the private courtyard, accompanied by a private Apsara Dance Performance.

Wander through the world-renowned Ta Prohm, where early morning light filters through the trees and ancient stone. Pause for a peaceful breakfast before exploring Ta Nei, where there is a reasonable chance of having this temple to ourselves. Conclude the morning at Ta Keo, the “mountain with bronze peaks,” and admire its striking five-tiered pyramid structure rising above the jungle.

Start your day at pre-dawn to catch the sunrise over Angkor Wat, when the tropical sun rises behind its iconic lotus towers and the crowds are still away – perfect for photography. Explore the central complex and admire the detailed bas-reliefs depicting Hindu myths and Khmer battles. Its breathtaking scale, harmony, and artistry make Angkor Wat a crowning achievement of Khmer architecture.

Go behind the scenes with the German Apsara Conservation Project (GACP) and meet the team preserving Angkor’s temples. Explore sections normally closed to the public, watch their work up close, and learn firsthand about the techniques and challenges of conserving these extraordinary monuments.

Visit the Angkor Hospital for Children and learn about its vital work, then head to the Apopo Visitor Center to meet the “hero rats” helping clear landmines across Cambodia. Finish at the Lotus Farm, a social enterprise where you’ll discover how the lotus plant is transformed into eco-friendly textiles and high-fashion creations by over 150 Cambodian women.

Experience the rhythm of rural Cambodia beyond the temples. Visit a colourful pagoda for a monk’s blessing, meet local families practising palm leaf weaving, and explore the vast Western Baray by boat or ox-cart. End the day at villa Chandara, surrounded by rice paddies, where you can enjoy sunset drinks, stroll the levees, and take in views of the reservoir with traditional Khmer music before a classic dinner.

Cuisine offers a fascinating window into a city’s people, culture, and history, and there’s no better way to experience Phnom Penh than through its street food. On this experience, you’ll explore the streets and hidden alleyways of the city, tasting local flavours, taking in the aromas, and soaking up the sights and sounds of one of Asia’s most vibrant and intriguing capitals.

Explore Phnom Penh with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, where Cambodia’s tragic history under the Khmer Rouge is brought vividly to life. Contrast this moving experience with the splendour of the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, before ending the day along the lively Riverside, a vibrant reminder of the city’s resilience and spirit.

Escape Phnom Penh for a scenic boat ride along the Mekong to Koh Oknha Tei, then enjoy a gentle cycle around the island, passing pagodas, orchards, and market gardens while learning about local life and traditional silk weaving. End the day at Rotanak Villa, where Chef Nak will guide you through a tasting menu of Cambodian classics, sharing stories and culinary techniques.