Peace Haven offers boutique accommodation in the form of two B&B’s and a large villa. We stayed in the Hibiscus Villa B&B which was delightful in every way. The stand out elements of our stay, for me, would have to be the gorgeous setting, wonderful hosts, clean, comfortable rooms and being able to immerse myself in nature. Worthy of a special mention are the soft comfortable beds which are a blissful treat in South East Asia.
In this post I will briefly tell you about the destinations we visited and give you links to the full post on each. I will also include the accommodation we stayed in and the transport we chose, as well as visa and currency information, and cultural information, including food and tips on visiting pagodas.
Seeing Mandalay with such a friendly local was fabulous… but what made our time in Mandalay so special? Was it the temples, monastery, school visit or refreshing waterfall? Or was it something else entirely?
There are so many unique experiences to be had in the township of Nyuang Shwe where Inle Lake is situated – both on the lake and around the lake. The 10 things we experienced at Nyuang Shwe (and although there is more to do in the area we believe these 10 activities will make your stay all the more enjoyable) included a cooking class, wine tasting and lake tour with weaving, hand rolling cigars and silversmith.
As soon as I tasted the Burmese tea leaf salad I knew I wanted to learn how to make it. When we were visiting Inle Lake, in the township of Nyaung Shwe (Shan State), we decided we’d do a cooking class. We chose Bamboo Delight Cooking School and we were not disappointed. Exquisite food and exceptional value for money!
Whatever land-locked Laos lacks in beachside attractions, it more than makes up for with stunning landscapes and dramatic beauty. Whether it’s relaxing amid the coffee farms of the Bolaven Plateau or exploring dark caves in an adrenaline rush of excitement; marvelling at giant prehistoric stone jars or trying to catch a glimpse of the rare Irrawaddy Dolphin, Laos has something for everyone!
Railay Peninsular is the undisputed rock climbing mecca of Thailand! People, from all over the world, flock to Railay to climb the majestic limestone karst. There are over 700 bolted sport climbing routes ranging from beginners to extreme which will keep any climber, novice to experienced, a happy climber for years! If you want to combine the adventure sport of rock climbing with a beautiful tropical island-like destination you can’t go past Railay.
The countryside hurtled by to the soundtrack of excruciatingly loud music and a blaring bus horn. Landmarks, and local villages, merely a blur as we shot past without slowing, barely missing small children, dogs, pigs and chickens… we didn’t miss the cow. I knew we were about to hit something when the driver hit the brakes so hard I was thrown forward in my seat. Transport in Laos can be an adventure and, for us, that adventure started a few days before the incident with the cow, and continued on for a couple of weeks there after…
In southern Laos, where the Mekong River flows into Cambodia, you will find a spectacular archipelago of islands, rocks and sandbars. This archipelago is called Si Phan Don, which translate to 4000 Islands. Si Phan Don is definitely the place to go if you want the laid-back bohemian lifestyle of backpackers, hammocks, and beer. Many people visit these islands for the type of relaxation that can only be found when the internet connection is so slow you will forgo the use of it to pursue other activities such as river tubing, kayaking, or watching endless episodes of “Friends” at the Friends Bar, all of which can be found here!