Whilst we at Smiling Albino have made a name for ourselves for designing experiential trips in Southeast Asia, we do occasionally travel further afield in search of inspiration and ideas. Recently our co-founder and CEO Dan Fraser made a flying visit to the Maldives, to check out the stunning Soneva Fushi resort and, of course, to try their club sandwich…

As anyone who knows me will tell you, I’m not a beach guy. So what, you may ask, am I doing in the Maldives?

This is, after the all, the ne plus ultra of high-end beach destinations, an idyllic island paradise consisting of 26 atolls which are home to some of the world’s leading brands in beach escapism – St Regis, Four Seasons, Cheval Blanc, Ritz-Carlton, Six Senses; they’re all here and all offering that unique Maldives experience of crystal clear waters, private over-water bungalows, butler service, and private planes. Definitely the kind of luxury we espouse at Smiling Albino, if lacking the immersive, gritty experiential parts that have been our speciality from day one.

So why am I here, other than the club sandwich? I’m on a holiday / workshop with our friends at Soneva Fushi, whose partner resort on Thailand’s Koh Kood – Soneva Kiri – is a longtime favourite of ours. But as well as taking part in some interesting discussions, I’m also here to learn about how Soneva are changing the paradigm of what “luxury travel” might mean.

Barefoot Luxury

Pioneers in the concept of barefoot luxury, Soneva are all about privacy, ultra-luxe, and ultimate relaxation. The resort is all-villas, with 55 in total ranging from the intimate one-bedroom pool suites up to the ultimate – the Sunset Reserve, a private seven-villa compound right on the beach. Villas are all nestled in green jungle whilst being just a short walk from the beach, and guests can choose between the sunrise or sunset sides of the island. Villas are designed from natural materials and have a very rustic vibe, whilst not skimping on luxury.

The villas are so beautiful that, once checked in, guests will find it hard to drag themselves away, but the resort goes the extra mile to keep guests entertained during their stay. Soneva is famous for its open-air big-screen cinema, but it also offers diving, various wellness activities, and its innovative Soneva Stars programme, which sees some of the world’s best known chefs, wellness specialists, writers, sports stars and more visiting the resort to share their expertise – and stories – with guests.

Regeneration

But what’s really special about Soneva Fushi is the resort’s efforts to be not just as sustainable as possible, and make its destination a better place. The resort is located in the Baa Atoll region, a listed UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Soneva runs several projects there including Soneva Namoona, which tries to reduce waste by banning single-use plastics and teaching locals to farm their own food, and the extraordinary coral nursery, which aims to restore the area’s coral reefs by producing over 100,000 new coral fragments each year. Guests are welcome – and encouraged – to get involved with both projects and to learn that luxury travel, which has a bad name in some circles, can be fully sustainable. It was a real eye-opener into what is possible with a little bit of imagination and fresh thinking, and I would encourage all hoteliers to take a look at what Soneva Fushi is doing and think about how they can adopt a similar approach, however small the scale, at their own properties.

Oh, and the club sandwich? As you would expect, it was very good indeed.

We suspect this post has you packing your flip-flops and swim shorts already, so to book your stay at Soneva Fushi – which Smiling Albino can facilitate with great rates and benefits – please contact us!

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The post Letter from Dan: Perspectives from a 20-Year Old Startup first appeared on Smiling Albino.

The Trouble with Bucket Lists

At the start of each New Year we seem to be inundated with idea of things we want to do differently; dieting, working less, or checking off things from our “bucket list”.

It has occurred to me that the recent craze for checking things off bucket lists rarely results in meaningful travel. We once received a request for a bucket list trip featuring 6 major SE Asia cities in less than 10 days, as well as a botanical garden someone’s friend had read about, and lunch at a place that had good reviews on the internet. At Smiling Albino, we obsess over flow and sound logistics, and we take time to know what works and what doesn’t, and sometimes this gets in the way of bucket lists. It’s a great thing to know of destinations you just have to visit, like Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, or an elephant conservation experience in Northern Thailand, or learning cooking in a medieval Vietnamese town, but racing through these experiences is certainly NOT the best way to really say you’ve been there!

My advice: part of your holiday should be spent exploring like you did in your new neighbourhood when you first moved in. Meet a shop owner, stroll through lanes, sip coffee and watch and learn. Let us also take you off the beaten path to places that are most likely not on anyone’s bucket list (except perhaps our own). We take great pride in showing you those ‘must see’ places and it’s there you’ll uncover the true ‘gem experiences’ of any trip.

Happy New Year – I look forward to having a drink with you somewhere in Asia this year!

Daniel Fraser,

Smiling Albino Adventurer-in-Chief

Adventure Highlights

Chiang Mai: Escape the city on two wheels

You’ve asked for it and we’ve answered! We have complied the greatest hits, and now have introduced some of our top Chiang Mai day trips online. Check them out here

Our classic full day city experience is designed to seek out essential highlights such as Chiang Mai’s famous Lanna temples, walking streets and local markets, as well as all the chic galleries and boutiques along Nimmanhaemin Road. Also, a new trip we have refined, is a great way to escape the city and see the other side of the North, on a countryside bicycle trip along the Ping River crossing through quaint villages and lush nature.

For guests with more time we have customized everything from caving to cooking, rafting to Thai boxing and holistic elephant sanctuaries. Combining several day trips together provides a full Chiang Mai experience with activity, culture, and fun.

Arrive into Saigon in Style – By River and Cyclo

Saigon is a busting city that moves at break neck speed – except some of the main routes from the airport into the city! So, with smooth logistics and a bit of excitement in mind we have developed an enlightening way to cruise into the essence of Saigon in style. With an early arrival at Than Son Nhat airport we can by-pass the gridlock and go straight to an old boat pier and arrange a private boat to cruise right through the city.

Mangrove communities give way to modern bridges and urban development as we bisect the town center and continue to old Cholon, home to Vietnam’s largest ethnic Chinese population. We’ll take a walking trip through narrow streets and Chinese spice shops. This is where a brilliant cacophony of old world and new collide in front of our eyes, as we take an eye-popping cyclo trip across town to District 1, the heart of modern Saigon.

What’s Going On

Phuket’s Newest Ultra Luxury property: Iniala

Iniala Phuket is a recently opened exclusive luxury beach experience on quiet Natai Beach. Stunning, creative villas have been exclusively designed by an impressive host of internationally acclaimed designers. Their restaurant is overseen by Eneko Atxa, whose latest restaurant in Spain received three Michelin stars. Iniala represents a new class of ultra-luxury retreats. A stay in their exclusive villas come with a driver, butler, chef, spa therapist and housekeeper. Prices begin near $5,000USD per night.

Everything Elephants

One of the first things that comes to mind when speaking of Thailand is elephants. Thailand offers an incredible range of elephant experiences, from holistic conservation programs that enable guests to support the livelihood of an elephant and his mahout handlers, to short programs where families take part in learning the skills of the mahout themselves. We’ve helped many of our guests over the years have meaningful and sustainable experiences with these pachyderms, and it most often counts as one of their lifetime memories of SE Asia. Contact us to help arrange a special moment! See some photos of what the experience is like on our online web gallery here.

Connect With Smiling Albino!

Facebook and Twitter: “Like” and “follow” us on Facebook and Twitter and you will get tuned-in to the latest breaking news and hot tips on travel and adventure in Asia.

Planet Asia Travel Channel: Subscribe to the Planet Asia Travel Channel and receive expert advice and insider tips on travel in Asia from the team at Smiling Albino and our network of in-the-know locals, expatriates, and travel enthusiasts.

Contact: Get a hold of us any time.

The post Albino Smiles, Jan 2014 Edition first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Most of our clients would consider themselves successful people, and we certainly would say that the vast majority of the people that we deal with are successful in their professions or pursuits – many of you are inspirational to us.

Smiling Albino has accomplished what we set out to do all those years ago on a cold Canadian night in Calgary, Alberta. We are successfully delivering customized, high-value experiences to the people who have entrusted us with their time for over a decade. Thank you!

In constantly striving to deliver a better product and a better value to our guests, I have been spending a lot of time thinking about success and how to measure the results of work. I have learned that successful people attack work with vigor and an ideal goal, but often when it comes to holiday planning they simply leave too much to chance. Part of this is because holiday planning is not really what they do for a living, and part of it because so often it appears easy to go on holiday – after all, for many people a holiday is simply the absence of work.

I firmly believe this is where the value is lost, and it’s one of the reasons I got into this business all those years ago, and why I have made it my personal goal to become an expert in the art of travel.

Since success is defined as the accomplishment of a purpose, it must necessarily begin with a goal or a desired outcome. This is the most important part of the process and it is where Smiling Albino can be of the highest value to you. You work hard for your holiday time; make sure you’re as successful while on your break as you are in life!

Drop a line to one of our passionate travel experts at info@smilingalbino.com, and let us help you to achieve success on your next adventure experience.

Daniel Fraser,
Smiling Albino Adventurer-in-Chief

Adventure Highlights

Come hike with us

Nepal Trip Hosted by our very own Adventurer-in-chief Daniel

Himalayas, monasteries, yogis, the spa… and our very own Daniel Fraser. If you have yet to make it to the under-explored country of Nepal, April of next year is a perfect opportunity to see this country as it continues its rapid development. Dan Fraser is taking the time to host this special trip from April 1 – 13, 2014. An itinerary outline can be found here. Contact us to register for this special trip today before it fills up!

A statue of Vishnu found inside Angkor Wat

Classic Cambodia

Late last year we highlighted our Classic Cambodia trip in this newsletter and we were able to provide several outstanding trips for clients in the months since. Due to the success and popularity of this incredible adventure, we wanted to highlight it again and suggest that you join us there on your next holiday.

Cambodia is a land of dramatic contrasts. From magnificent ancient temples reflecting one of the greatest cultural forces in history, to the charming former French colonial capital and its conflicted past. Our Classic Cambodia trip explores multiple corners of the Kingdom. Starting at the incredible Angkor Wat, you’ll marvel at the glory of the Khmer Kingdom and then attempt to understand the turmoil of its recent history and youthful promise of its future. This six-day adventure features real SA variety, from biking, to various modes of transport, to hiking outer walls of Angkor Thom and remote village picnics, boutique hotels and passionate hosts. Join us to get close and personal with Cambodia’s people, places and culture.

Book now

What’s Going On

All about the Rivers

Our clients trust Smiling Albino for our inside views and knowledge of the areas that we operate in. One of the things that comes as a surprise to many is how wonderful the region is in the August to September rainy season. It really is ironic that so many people avoid Southeast Asia at this time of year because it really is one of the best times to visit. The rains come for at least a few minutes almost daily but bring with them the freshness and lush greenery that we love so much.

We’ve had some of our best cycling trips at this time of year with predictable late afternoon/ early morning showers, quiet roads with stunning scenery and clean air – check out Thailand Trek and Trail for more information and to book the trip of a lifetime.

The rainy season and just after is also the time when river life in Southeast Asia really begins in earnest. An always entertaining event in cities throughout the Kingdom of Thailand is the annual boat races. Two upcoming spectacles are to be hosted in Phitsanulok and Nan provinces on the weekend of September 21 and 22, 2013 are sure to be entertaining for all.

If you’d rather get on the water yourself, we’re starting to get into the whitewater rafting season in Thailand, so if you have ever had the urge to try this exciting sport, get in touch and let us put a trip together for you and some friends.

Click here to read the top ten reasons to travel Thailand during the rainy season.

Vertical What?

Landmark 72 – Hanoi’s tallest building – will again be hosting the Hanoi Vertical Run on September 15th, 2013. If you’ve got a hankering to try something fun and new with locals and expats alike, try to fit this unique run into your trip. We have arranged a special discount on airfare out of Hong Kong in the week preceding this event- contact us for more details.

Posts, Pictures, Flicks & Podcasts

Exploring in Vietnam

Pictures, pictures, pictures

We are exploring the idea of running a hosted photo-taking and teaching trip with an acclaimed combat photographer and photojournalist in November. If you have any interest in joining something like this, please let us know and mention the “November photo trip”.

In addition, many of you don’t know this, but Smiling Albino has an extensive gallery of photos posted at http://photos.smilingalbino.com. Have a look at the gallery and buy any that you like to hang in your living room, office or den. If you see anything that you think is especially interesting, let us know if we can organize a trip to explore something similar for you.

To let us help you arrange your own re-energizing getaway, check out smilingalbino.com and drop us a line right away.

Daniel Fraser visiting North America

As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, Dan Fraser will be in North America in September and would love to meet you! It’s the perfect time to ask questions, learn about the regions we operate in, share a drink and tell some stories about your own adventure. Dates are below so please get in touch:

September 1 – 4 – Calgary

September 5 – 9 – Toronto

September 10 – 13 – New York

September 18 – 19 – Vancouver

Connect With Smiling Albino!

Facebook and Twitter: "Like" and "follow" us on Facebook and Twitter and you will get tuned-in to the latest breaking news and hot tips on travel and adventure in Asia.

Planet Asia Travel Channel: Subscribe to the Planet Asia Travel Channel and receive expert advice and insider tips on travel in Asia from the team at Smiling Albino and our network of in-the-know locals, expatriates, and travel enthusiasts.

Contact:Get a hold of us any time.

The post Albino Smiles – August 2013 first appeared on Smiling Albino.

We’re officially more than halfway through the year now, so we are looking forward to Southeast Asia’s ideal travel season of October-March. Smiling Albino is continuing to explore new ways of allowing our guests to experience this part of the world, and we never stop trying to find new ways to make your trip a one-of-a-kind adventure that provides memories for a lifetime. Please, read on below to find out some of what’s been happening and we hope to see you soon!

Daniel Fraser,
Smiling Albino Adventurer-in-Chief

Adventure Highlights

Amazing Angkor
There’s been a tremendous amount of word-of-mouth over the past few years around our Amazing Angkor experience and this is making it more popular this year than ever before! This short, value-packed adventure will leave an impression on you that will make you want to share your experiences as well. Fortunately, if you haven’t booked a spot yet, we just added another trip date starting on October 26th. This experience will deliver an intimate, up-close view of the remains of one of the most powerful and artistic kingdoms on earth – the sprawling Khmer Empire.

Remote temples are more fun on bicycles!

The secret to why everyone loves this trip? We don’t deliver destinations along the way from a checklist: we craft moments that will touch and inspire you long after you’ve returned home. You choose your prefered terms of transport from cycling the backroads, to hiking along the walls of Angkor Thom, or relaxing from the seat of a tuk tuk or van where we’ll explore some of the hundreds of temples and local villages that sprawl across Cambodia. Challenge Smiling Albino to show you the inside corners of the grandeur and beauty of these outstanding ruins and allow our guides to bring you to the perfect place for a jungle picnic or a sunset flute of champagne. Book now

What’s Going On

Insider tips: Unique Ko Samui beach dining
Magical moments happen all around the world on a daily basis – Smiling Albino’s art is identifying when and where they will happen so that you can be there for them.

We’ve found a wonderful experience for you that happens every morning before dawn at The Library, Koh Samui that we know that you’ll love if you’re willing to wake up before most people do. If you’re an early riser, you can set the alarm and wander down to the beach in the pre-dawn darkness where you’ll find a comfortable mat and a personalized breakfast spread waiting right on the shore. As the waves gently ease up onto the beach in the fresh morning air, watch the sun herald a new day as you take in the moment while sipping your morning coffee. This is just one more example of the unique, high-value experiences that Smiling Albino’s in-destination researchers have uncovered for you.

From a pretty view to a life experience, how about some breakfast?

Buddhist text author was Thai woman
We pride ourselves on showing our destinations from a new angle, or in a new light. Recent news from Thailand has underlined our belief that there is still much to see, do, learn and uncover in the Kingdom and abroad.

The Thammanuthamma-patipatti, is a document that serializes the dialogue between two monks.This story is held very dear by the country’s Buddhist population and has always been presumed to have been written by one of the two monks in the story – a revered figure in Theravada Buddhism. However, recent research has raised the very real possibility that the text was actually written by Khunying Yai Damrongthammasan, a wealthy woman who retired to a southern Thai temple when her husband died. This possibility won’t shake religious foundations of course, but it is an interesting twist on an age-old belief that many devout Buddhists in Thailand have taken as fact, proving that their Asia still has plenty of secrets to give up if you do a bit of digging.

Bangkok Best in Asia

As most of you know, Bangkok has been the base of Smiling Albino’s operations since inception in 1999. We love all of Asia passionately, but it’s Thailand’s capital that we call home! For this reason we were very happy to see that TripAdvisor has named Bangkok the #1 destination in Asia.

Bangkok offers so much for the first-time or fiftieth-time repeat traveler, and this ranking reflects that. One of the things that keeps us so excited about this vibrant city is that we can constantly surprise and thrill guests with completely new experiences and perspectives of one of the world’s most provocative cities regardless of how familiar they think they are with it. Contact us today if you or someone you know would like to see this old city again in a new light.

Posts, Pictures, Flicks & Podcasts

Biking in Chiang Rai
We had the good fortune of being able to take almost the whole SA team on a mountain biking trip in the lush and misty hills of Chiang Rai late last month. It was incredible to get the team away for some pedaling and hiking through the inspiring greenery of the Northern Thailand landscape. Here is a photo from one of several memorable days.

To let us help you arrange your own re-energizing getaway, check out smilingalbino.com and drop us a line right away.

Daniel Fraser visiting North America

Dan Fraser will be in North America in September and would love to meet you! It’s the perfect time to ask questions, learn about a region we operate in, share a drink and tell some stories about your own adventure. Dates are below so please do get in touch:

September 1 – 4 – Calgary

September 5 – 9 – Toronto

September 10 – 14 – New York

September 17 – 18 – Vancouver

Connect With Smiling Albino!

Facebook and Twitter: "Like" and "follow" us on Facebook and Twitter and you will get tuned-in to the latest breaking news and hot tips on travel and adventure in Asia.

Planet Asia Travel Channel: Subscribe to the Planet Asia Travel Channel and receive expert advice and insider tips on travel in Asia from the team at Smiling Albino and our network of in-the-know locals, expatriates, and travel enthusiasts.

Contact:Get a hold of us any time.

The post Albino Smiles – July 2013 first appeared on Smiling Albino.