La Résidence Phou Vao in Luang Prabang, has created an indulgent experience for those who want to get away from it all, with the ‘Body, Mind, and Soul’ package.
Incorporating meditation sessions to relieve the mind from the pressures of every day life, massages to relax the body, and a bike ride through the serene town of Luang Prabang, the three day experience has been designed to leave guests feeling refreshed, revitalised, and relaxed, in both body in mind.
On day one, weary travellers are collected from the airport, and transported to the hotel by private transfer. Once they have settled in, their ‘Body, Mind and Soul’ experience begins with a rejuvenating jet lag revival massage at the Mekong Spa, where all treatments are based on traditional Laotian herbal remedies aimed at healing and nurturing. After their massage, guests can take a soak in the herbal steam baths to fully relax their muscles.
Guests will start their second day with a calming morning yoga session overlooking the Laotian countryside with their own private instructor, followed by a hearty breakfast by the hotel pool. To get their blood flowing, tourists are then taken on a leisurely guided bike ride through Luang Prabang. A private guide will take cyclists to Laotian temples not normally frequented by tourists, giving a rare insight into traditional Laotian culture. The bike ride continues on to a forest meditation, conducted on a hill, bringing guests to a complete zen-like state before returning to the hotel.
Following a private pilates class, the final day of the relaxation process is a boat excursion to a tropical forest in the North of Luang Prabang. A session with monks will introduce guests to the customs of monkhood, the principles of meditation and teach them about the concepts of Buddhism. Following the lesson, guests are given the choice of a meditation experience in the temple or further into the forest, allowing them to become ‘at one’ with their natural surroundings.
Prices for the ‘Body, Mind, and Soul’ package start from $475 (approximately £301) per room per night for a Garden View Suite, and are based on two people sharing for a minimum of three nights. This price includes daily breakfast, the Jet Lag Revival Massage, round-trip airport transfers and all excursions.