Rosewood Luang Prabang

Rosewood Luang Prabang, Laos

Laos is a country few of us have visited and, perhaps, even fewer fully understand. Yet it has a natural beauty and serenity that’s a revelation to discover at Rosewood’s brand new resort. It’s just 10 minutes drive away from the 14th century city of Luang Prabang, one of the lesser-known UNESCO World Heritage sites, but once you’re there the seclusion, deep in the lush green forest, is near-total.

The spacious tented villas and riverside rooms have a stunning natural waterfall as their central focus, and all of them look out over a meandering river, with some having views of surrounding mountains. The Mekong River is nearby and a blissful day cruise along this waterway is an absolute must. That’s just one of the numerous outings you can take, which also include forest-trekking and mountain-biking.

French colonialism is just one facet of the troubled history of Laos in south-east Asia, which is land-locked between Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia and Myanmar. But at Rosewood, amazing local food and explosions of flavour are actually given French-style food reverence. French-born ‘culinary director’ Sebastien Rubis is the guardian here of a rich, epicurean culture.

He has a mission to tease out the lesser known aspects of Royal Laotian cuisine – a surprising number of characteristics have actually been hijacked for Thai cooking – and he sources strictly seasonal ingredients from local farms and fishermen. The Rosewood organic garden itself provides an abundance of produce, and cooks and guests can also forage for leaves, herbs, roots and flowers in the forests as locals have done for thousands of years.

Trust us, if you want to devote your entire week to the search, preparation and mouth-watering consumption of exotic food – plus a little time off for R&R, of course – then Rosewood Luang Prabang is a luxury destination out on its own.

At A Glance…

• Rosewood Luang Prabang is one of the newest additions to the Rosewood collection, located in a forest setting in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Laos.
• Rosewood Luang Prabang was designed by Bangkok based American designer Bill Bensley and the resort really does encourage its visitors to unwind and become at one with the serene surroundings.
• The Great House offers a selection of local dishes that have been influenced by the cuisine of historic royal courts. Elephant Bridge Bar is the perfect setting for sundowners – as its name suggests the bar is situated at the top of the Nam Khan River and is filled with elephant-themed decor, as Laos was once known as the ‘Land of a Million Elephants’.

Why 360 Loves It…

• Featuring just 23 luxury riverside retreats all with traditional Lao and French colonial style woven throughout. We love the Hilltop Tents that include their own private dining areas and oversized balconies.
• Rosewood Luang Prabang can arrange several tours from heritage tours discovering the hidden secrets of Luang Prabang, Food Tours to discover the variety of street food and restaurants showcasing the unusual flavours and ingredients that northern Lao is famous for.
• Sense Spa offers a range of ‘Lost Remedies’, a selection of Laotian therapies designed to cleanse, replenish and balance the body, mind and soul. All of the treatments take place in hillside Spa Tents creating a tranquil environment.

For more details on Rosewood Luang Prabang and to start planning your Asian adventure contact your 360 Private Travel Consultant.