Long ago in Luang Prabang, Lao princes would climb to Phou Vao hill, high above the town, to fly their kites. Today, this spot known as Kite Hill is home to La Résidence Phou Vao, a Belmond Hotel.
With its lofty vantage point overlooking jungle-clad mountains, this serene sanctuary is moments from the architectural treasures of Luang Prabang, the former capital of Laos and UNESCO World Heritage site. And yet, to enter it is to discover a world where time stands still.
Connection with nature is everything at this colonial-style retreat. Sculpted grounds, lush with bougainvillea and frangipani, give way to endless cloud forest. A dramatic cliff-edge infinity pool beckons for a dip. The celebrated Mekong Spa offers open-air pavilions clustered around a lily pond. In lemongrass-scented rooms, healing Laotian therapies draw on Buddhist philosophies to rejuvenate and revive.
Guests relax in light-flooded suites boasting a harmony of traditional Lao materials: teak and rosewood, silk and cotton, handmade textiles. Free-form terrazzo bathtubs and entertainment systems ensure modern indulgence is never far away. Views from the private balconies range from the exotic gardens to mountaintop Phousi Temple.
Exceptional Asian gastronomy is served in the panoramic Tam Nan restaurant. For unbridled romance, the Magic and Lights Dinner is an intimate, glimmering affair by the lotus pond. Cookery classes, ancestral Baci ceremonies and local dance shows provide an authentic immersion in Laotian culture. Beyond the hotel gates, enthralling adventures await, from mystery tuk-tuk dining tours to sunset cruises on the Mekong River.
Breakfast is included every morning
