How about a really wild Asian adventure with a heart of gold? Luxe Asian tour operator Remote Lands has teamed with legendary designer Bill Bensley for an exclusive expedition: The Bensley Trail. This 14-day itinerary whisks 16 guests on a journey through Southeast Asia, including Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, with luxurious stays in four of Bill Bensley’s most iconic resorts.
The adventurous travellers will be treated to a deep exploration of each country including immersing in nature, adventure and astounding national beauty, marveling in the culture, history and architecture of metropolitan Asian cities, indulging in authentic regional cuisine and relaxing on picturesque beaches.
It all begins in Laos at Bensley’s Rosewood Luang Prabang resort, the former estate of French colonial civil servant and diplomat Auguste Pavie, and the first luxury villa and tent resort within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang. While spending three nights in this natural paradise, travelers will get the chance to explore Laos, experiencing the nature and wildlife as they interact with elephants at the MandaLao Elephant Sanctuary, cruise downstream on the Mekong River and enjoy a temple walk with Rosewood’s resident Buddhism expert.
After departing Laos, participants will then make their way to Cambodia where they will stay in two different properties in the Bensley Collection, including the Shinta Mani Siem Reap in Angkor, a lush, Art Deco-inspired private villa resort which offers a serene oasis just moments away from one of Cambodia’s most exciting towns; and the new Shinta Mani Wild, a 15-tent luxury adventure camp in the heart of the Cambodian jungle.
The group will next head to Thailand’s metropolitan capital Bangkok, where they will check into the brand new Rosewood Bangkok, an outstanding urban retreat in the heart of the city and the only non-Bensley designed property on the Bensley Trail. This part of the journey includes an exclusive soirée at Bill Bensley’s private home, an exclusive hard hat tour of Bensley’s latest project by the river led by Bensley himself, exploring the Buddhist temples and shrines of the city, discovering authentic neighborhoods, cruising on a private long-tail boat along the Chao Praya River, a Muay Thai lesson, and receiving an optional Sank Yant Tattoo – that’s one way to remember the trip.
The itinerary ends in Danang, Vietnam for three days of beachside relaxation after an adventure-packed trip. The final resort on The Bensley Trail is the Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, a whimsical realm spread across four levels – Heaven, Sky, Earth and Sea – taking advantage of the incredible vistas from the mountaintop and pristine beach.
The Bensley Trail expedition with Remote Lands takes place February 16 – March 1, 2020 and costs $37,888 per person based on double occupancy.