Luxury family adventure through Southeast Asia

Set on the Chao Phraya River, The Siam isn’t just a hotel—it’s an immersive journey into Bangkok’s golden age of glamour. Its 39 palatial suites come with vintage steamer trunks, clawfoot bathtubs and beds draped in crisp linens. For those seeking greater exclusivity, there are teakwood residences with private pools and garden courtyards. Beyond its sheer beauty, The Siam delivers a deeply personal experience, with a dedicated butler ensuring your every whim is met. The temple-like Opium Spa offers therapies that instantly remove you from Bangkok’s frenzied energy. Dining is equally special—whether it’s a leisurely breakfast at the riverside pier or a candlelit dinner at Chon Thai, where generations-old family recipes take centre stage.

Set within a cluster of graceful French colonial buildings and palm-shaded courtyards, Amantaka distills the essence of Luang Prabang—serene, storied and steeped in quiet luxury. The suites, many with private pools, whisper Indochine elegance, their high ceilings and four-poster beds framed by handcrafted teak and billowing linen. Mornings begin with a private almsgiving ceremony at dawn as saffron-robed monks process silently through the misty streets. Evenings bring candlelit dinners on the verandah, where fragrant Lao curries and Mekong River fish are served beneath a canopy of stars.

A stay at Phum Baitang feels a world away from the crowds flocking to Angkor Wat. Rising gracefully from the surrounding rice fields, its 45 thatched-roof villas, some with private plunge pools, are studies in understated luxury. Days unfold unhurriedly—sipping freshly pressed sugarcane juice in the farmhouse-turned-bar or floating in the infinity pool as golden hour settles over the paddies. Two excellent restaurants serve up vibrant Cambodian dishes from fragrant fish amok to market-fresh curries. As fireflies flicker across the fields and a soft breeze carries the scent of lemongrass, Phum Baitang captures something rare: an escape that feels both rooted and deeply transporting.

Located deep in the untamed jungles Cambodia’s Cardamom Hills, Shinta Mani Wild redefines the concept of wilderness luxury. This Bill Bensley-designed tented camp is not just a place to stay—it’s an adventure in itself, which starts with your arrival by zip line over the forest. Tents are inspired by the golden age of exploration, with vintage leather, hardwood floors and open-air brass soaking tubs overlooking the river. Dining is a foraged affair, with jungle-to-table dishes such as river prawns grilled over open flames or wild greens folded into fragrant broths. There’s a rainforest spa offering Khmer-inspired therapies, and you can join the onsite conservation team on anti-poaching patrol to help protect this wild frontier.

A private island retreat adrift in Cambodia’s Koh Rong archipelago, Song Saa effortlessly intertwines sustainability and barefoot luxury. Its stunning overwater and jungle villas are crafted from reclaimed timber and local stone, and each is blessed with a private infinity pool and uninterrupted ocean views. When you’re not snorkelling through coral gardens, kayaking through mangroves or being pampered at the spa, tuck into Kampot pepper crab and coconut-laced curries. At night, bioluminescent plankton shimmers beneath the surf, a natural wonder that turns every swim into something quite magical.