Smiling Albino

Since 1999 Smiling Albino has been exploring and refining journeys in an effort to deliver the best travel experiences in Asia. We believe that this effort is reflected in the stellar adventures that we run throughout the region on a regular basic. We also realize that for a variety of reasons our scheduled and pre-planned trips don't always fit the needs of our clients. Whether you want a private family trip with a few special touches, or a honeymoon that provides the ideal combination of pampering and activity, we can bring together all the elements to make it perfect.

A luxury villa on a quiet island, motorcycling remote mountain roads, chartering a yacht, a nanny for the weekend, educational experiences for children, team building events, or private jet services. Styles and budgets vary, but as a general guideline our custom trips range from $250US to $1,500US per person per day.

Here are some of our favorite custom trips:

Siamese Family Adventure: Thailand

This active and deluxe trip was built for a family seeking the best of Bangkok and its luxurious side with some real physical adventure in the northern part of the country. Bangkok's most famous hotel, The Oriental, set the tone at the beginning with a private exploration of the city using multiple modes of transport. In Thailand's northern mountains, bikes, boats, elephants, kayaks and foot power combined to introduce these travelers to wonderful remote locales, hilltribe communities, complimented by fantastic 4 & 5-star accommodations, fine food and wine at the end of each day.
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Luxury Spa Adventure: Thailand, Vietnam

A successful CEO came to us craving some time to unwind and focus on personal well-being, enjoy the best of Bangkok, experience Thailand's fabled Golden Triangle region and get a taste of Vietnam. Smiling Albino delivered by welcoming her with a VIP express entrance through Immigration when her plane touched-down, then sent her by BMW to one of SE Asia's foremost health and wellness centers for 11 days of bliss. Next came Bangkok, full-force, featuring the best hotels, 5-star dining, a couple fun nights on the town with a local expat host, then the real fun began! A short flight to Chiang Mai took her to the legendary Four Seasons then further afield to the Mekong River in the center of the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar converge. Add a day of hosted cycling along the banks of the Mekong, hiking through terraced fields and hilltribe villages, then a couple days in Hanoi, Vietnam shopping for art and textiles and there you have it - an incredible journey that soothed the soul from start to finish.
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Active Honeymoon Adventure: Thailand, Laos & Cambodia

Vibrant honeymooners wanted to experience the best of SE Asia and we delivered with a 26-day epic. They hiked, biked and motorcycled Thailand's far north, enjoying the finest hotels along the way, complimented by regular spa therapies, bubbly at the right time and private hosting by a local and western host. Then it was off to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Luang Prabang, Laos, with a private host escorting them to key temples, hidden caves and other gems. The temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia were given a generous exploration using bicycle and private car with a private champagne sunset overlooking one of the most stunning temples. The capper was a romantic stay at one of southern Thailand's finest private beach properties and a final night in Bangkok at a royal residence. Truly a honeymoon never to be forgotten.
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Tri-Nation Voyage: Cambodia, Nepal & Thailand

A retired school teacher wanted to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting Thailand, Cambodia and Nepal, but had limited time and a very specific budget. The result was a top-notch adventure experiencing key sites, Angkor Wat's temples, some hiking around the Kathmandu Valley and a couple days exploring Bangkok's nooks and crannies. Comfy hotels, expert hosts and seamless transitions made the dream reality.
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Art, History & Culture: Thailand, Laos & Cambodia

A cultured family wanted to learn about SE Asia's architecture, art, design and history with expert hosts. Longtime Lonely Planet author Joe Cummings was consulted to design the initial framework then Smiling Albino applied the finishing touches and executed an incredibly rich program. Architects, historians and authors hosted this group of eight as they made their way from Bangkok to the ancient Thai capital of Sukhothai, to Thailand's cultural center Chiang Mai, then Luang Prabang, Laos for a look at World Heritage temples and local art, and finally to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia to experience the world's largest temple complex and Khmer culture. This historical voyage was truly noteworthy.
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A Team on the Town

A group of 12 corporate executives from around the world required an experience that combined team events, an opportunity to build trust and greater understanding amongst the group while having a lot of fun. The result was a multi-destination program combining self-propelled exploration, ropes courses, Harley Davidson motorcycles, hot air balloons, gourmet gala dinners and a host of creative challenges that left the group smiling ear-to-ear.
Read the itinerary (PDF - 1.2 MB)