04 - Float on a pontoon through the rainforest
Cambodia's national parks offer up the best wilderness and wildlife.
Rainforest clad mountains and pristine riverways
Imagine yourself in the heart of the rainforest with 4,000 square km of wilderness stretching out around you. Picture nights in a safari-style lodge on a floating river pontoon, and days swimming in the river, kayaking through mangroves, and hiking to remote mountain trailheads. Watching the sun go down and the fireflies dance on the water, while macaques call to each other. If that sounds like paradise to you, welcome to the national parks of the Cardamom Mountains.
For a start, there's rugged Koh Kong - a mountainous province cloaked in rainforest, lined with mangroves, and fringed with near-deserted beaches. At its heart, you'll find Canvas & Orchids, a boutique collection of floating and on-land tented villas, perfect to use as a base for exploring the surrounding rainforest.
Then, there's Southern Cardamom - Cambodia's newest and one of its largest national parks. It was the final critical piece needed to connect six major national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, forming a mega-protected area spanning over 18,000 square km. This was to provide a permanent sanctuary for some of the world’s most endangered animals, including some of its last remaining Asian elephants, Indochinese tigers and Asiatic black bears.
Your go-to stay here should be Shinta Mani - where you can choose from 'Wild' or 'Waterfall' tents. A visit here isn't just an adventure into the heart of Cambodian wilderness, it's also supporting the vital conservation efforts which protect Cardamom from illegal logging and poaching.
"A game-changing luxury tented camp built along a river valley in the waterfall-laced Cambodian rainforest. A stay will make you feel like you’re at the front line of conservation."
Shinta Mani Wild hotel review - The Telegraph
Where in the world are the Cardamom Mountains?
Connects with:
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh may no longer be the “Pearl of the Orient”, but don’t judge a book by its cover: beneath this chaotic exterior is a city alive with energy, art, and youthful verve.
Koh Krabey
Think barefoot luxury on a tropical desert island and it’s unlikely Cambodia will spring to mind, but if anywhere’s likely to change that – it's the unspoilt gem of Koh Krabey.
Can't do February?
Cambodia has one of the simplest weather systems in Southeast Asia: just two seasons and little variation across regions.
- Dry season - October to late April
- Wet season - May to late September
- Hottest months - Feb to June (32-35°C / 90-95°)
- Coolest months - Oct to Dec (28°C/ 82°F).
05 - Explore the lush waterways of Vietnam's ricebowl
Bask in the warmth of Vietnam's Mekong Delta.
This is the Mekong Delta: equivalent in size and population to The Netherlands.
Voted one of the ten most beautiful places in Vietnam, the Mekong Delta is a lush maze of rivers and the most fertile area in the country. It's home to floating markets and Khmer pagodas, and surrounded by rice paddies. A boat is the best way to explore the myriad waterways of the Delta. You'll be in among the buzzing longtail taxi boats and crowded barges piled with mangoes, pineapples, and fresh fish, floating between mangroves and paddy fields. When you’ve had your fill of boat life, hop ashore to explore the countless temples and stilt villages on foot, haggle for snacks and handicrafts at the floating markets, and cycle through farmlands dotted with coconut palms. Stay at the Azerai Can Tho hotel, set on the lush Con Au Islet, a private island on the Hau River. The only accommodation on the islet, it’s got that exclusive feel - and offers lots of trips and excursions to help you discover daily local life in the Delta.
Where in the world is the Mekong Delta?
Connects with:
Ho Chi Minh City The yin to Hanoi’s yang, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon to its friends) offers a more internationally minded counterpoint to that northern bastion of tradition — not to mention an exciting base from which to explore Vietnam’s most interesting war sites.
Can't do February?
South Vietnam sees very little variation in temperature throughout the year, with average daily highs sticking to a narrow range of about 30-35°C / 86-95°F all year round.
- The hottest months are usually March and April, and the coolest around December when rainfall is almost non-existent.
- The rainy season is May until October, dropping off in November. Downpours are usually short and heavy.
06 - Trek the cloud forests of Laos
The ultimate in wild and untamed beauty.
Experience the misty cloud forests of Laos
Roughing it in jungle camps, hiking for days into deep, wild rainforest, scrambling up to mountain summits, and trying to ignore the mozzies and leeches — all for some of the most magnificent scenery imaginable. That’s what a trip to the cloud forests is all about.
Covering nearly 6,000 square km, the cloud forests of Nam Et-Phou Louey provide a haven for endangered animals, including sun bears, white-cheeked gibbons and perhaps even Indochinese tigers (none have been seen in over a decade, but we like to think they’re still out there).
To safeguard these delicate ecosystems, access to the forests is restricted to organised tours – and there are some amazing options to choose from. Trek into the heart of the rainforest, hiking for three-to-six hours up paths that wind to 1,274m above sea level. Stop to cool off in waterfall pools, go wildlife-spotting at a salt lick, explore Khmu villages, and enjoy spectacular views over mountains, forest, and oceans of clouds. Then, spend your evenings around the campfire and your nights in bamboo huts surrounded by the sounds of the jungle. This is Laos at its wildest and most beautiful.
"We loved Laos, it was so relaxing with beautiful landscapes, the people were very friendly and the food was great".
Davina - InsideAsia customer, Laos 2023
Where in the world is Nam Et-Phou Louey national park?
Connects with:
Muang La
Gently rolling hills and picturesque farmland dotted with ethnic minority villages and hot springs: Muang La is a place to unplug and sync up with the rhythms of countryside life.
Sam Neua
With its distinctly Soviet aesthetic and remarkable “hidden city” tunnelling deep into the mountains, this former communist HQ is a relic of revolution set against a backdrop of some of Laos’ most remote and beautiful scenery.
Can't do February?
Hiking the cloud forests of Laos is generally only recommended during dry season (October to late May). However, both ends of the dry season can still bring unstable weather, so we recommend attempting the hike between November and February for maximum enjoyment.