This was made clear in 2009 when a team headed to central Vietnam close to the Laotian border, to learn more about a tantalizing rumor. They’d heard that in 1991 a farmer took shelter from a storm in a remote cave, and knew by the sound of water and rushing wind coming from deep inside that it was much bigger than it seemed. But it was hard to get to, and was soon forgotten. However, with a bit of perseverance, the 2009 team managed to enter the small cave that the farmer found and make their way over a steep wall to where the sound of the river was coming from, and what they found amazed them.

Son Doong Cave, as it was eventually known, turned out to be the largest in the world, with its own river and jungle ecosystem that had been hidden from the outside world for millions of years. The scale of the cave is massive – some parts measure 150 meters across and several hundred meters high, big enough to house several city blocks quite comfortably. Huge holes hundreds of feet above let shafts of sunlight pierce the clouds inside the cave, illuminating the vines and moss and rock formations that have sat undisturbed for millennia. It’s like something out of an Arthur Conan Doyle novel.

[Tweet “The discovery of Son Doong Cave shows there’s always something new to see and travel for”]

It’s truly something to behold, and these humble words don’t do it justice. To see some stunning pictures, check out this National Geographic story on the exploration of the cave, or this jaw-dropping drone footage from inside the cave.
Far from being just a pretty hole in the ground, we feel that the cave represents something important about travel, and that is: no matter how well you think you know a place, there is always some new restaurant, some hidden street, some previously unknown angle, that adds a bit more depth to an area you thought was all wrapped up. Not only is it why some of our guests are on their third or fourth SA adventure, but it’s one of the reasons that keeps us excited about our job. Sure, we’ve been to Angkor a thousand times. But what if this time we find something new?

While we don’t organize any trips to Son Doong Cave (yet), we do explore almost all corners of Vietnam. From the buzzing streets of Hanoi and clubs of Saigon to the silent sunrises of Halong Bay and the crumbling beauty of Hue, Vietnam is a traveler’s dream. We’ve never stopped discovering new things there, and it thrills us to be able to show them to our guests.

The post World’s Largest Cave Discovered in Vietnam first appeared on Smiling Albino.

It might not be surprising, but we here at Smiling Albino think that a little bit of adventure should be included in every bit of life. From the places you go to the food you eat, why keep doing it the same way? So, when you’re about to begin a really big adventure – like marriage – why not kick things off with a bang?

Not so long ago a honeymoon meant an international air ticket and plenty of room service, but this is the twenty-first century, lovers, and things have changed! Over the past half century, the average age at which people get married in the west has risen – in 1960 in it was 21, and in 2010 it was 28. Add that international travel is more popular and accessible than ever, and what we get are newlyweds who have likely already done a good amount of traveling, and need something more unique.

This is where an adventure honeymoon can be just the ticket. However, it’s more than just stepping out of the comfort zone for some cool pictures, and of course, no two couples define ‘adventure’ the same way.

An adventurous honeymoon doesn’t necessarily have to be anything like going over a waterfall in a kayak or pushing a spouse out of an airplane (with a parachute, we mean).  Some couples might prefer a jungle hike, bathing an elephant, or learning how to ride a motorcycle along the Burmese border – every couple is different. Heading into – and conquering – a challenge together can provide a huge sense of accomplishment, and even help set the tone for the relationship to follow.

[Tweet “An adventure honeymoon can be just the ticket!”]

Of course, every trip with Smiling Albino is customized, but in offering unique and adventurous honeymoons, extra steps are taken to craft something that truly fits with a couple’s personality. Of course, if you know anything about how we do business, just because something is adventurous doesn’t mean it must be austere – luxury is most definitely a part of the package. After all, this is supposed to be adventure with comfort, not trial by fire. We go out of the way to place an extra emphasis on crafting something where the challenge is the reward, the journey is the memory.

Indeed, overcoming barriers and working through new situations together is a pretty apt metaphor for a successful marriage, right? We say, if a new couple survives a challenging, adventurous, one-of-a-kind honeymoon, their marriage is more likely to be one that is happy, enduring, and filled with positive energy!

Don’t hesitate to contact our team for up-to-date Adventure Honeymoon ideas in Southeast Asia. Click here for inquiries.

The post Adventure Honeymoons Done Right first appeared on Smiling Albino.

I had the great honor of hosting the first Destination Thailand festival held in Toronto last month and had an absolutely fantastic time.

The Destination Thailand event was organized by the Thai Embassy in Ottawa to promote Thai culture to the world, and what better place to start than Toronto, Canada. It was a wonderful big event, but what struck me most about the day was how involved and excited the people who participated were. We had a wide assortment of participants from across the Kingdom: Thai traditional dancers, musicians, culinary artists, boxers, and massage therapists were just some of them. The Smiling Albino team from Calgary was even able to come participate along with some long time SA customers and fans who came to support.

It was an amazing and energetic crowd and it reminded me of how special the people of Thailand and Southeast Asia are and how fortunate we have been to have had the opportunity over the past decade to interact with a great assortment of people – clients, partners and employees alike.

Many of you have met some of these special people over the years – Mr. Jeep in Chiang Khong, Mr. Bird in Chiang Rai, or Mr. Barang in Cambodia, Oi in Krabi, Lam in Vietnam, Mads and Clare in Nepal… That’s not even to mention all of you who have booked a trip with Smiling Albino have been touched by the people who work in our office and put the pieces of the puzzle in place to make sure you have an outstanding holiday.

Each of these people has made a difference to countless numbers of our friends and customers by just being their vibrant, enthusiastic and genuine selves.

I’m taking this opportunity to thank all of these people who have touched my life and so many of your lives through your experiences with Smiling Albino. I would love to hear back from you about any anecdotes that have stuck with you over the years since your first Smiling Albino experience about some of these special people so that I reflect back on them the impact that they have had on you. Please send them to me at dan@smilingalbino.com

I am lucky to be part of this, and thank you!

Safe travels!

Daniel B. Fraser

Adventure Highlights:

Surveying Chiang Dao

When we say that we personally scout every area, eat at each restaurant, source and train every guide/host, sleep in every hotel bed, ride the bikes, board the boats and scratch the elephants, we really do take our wholehearted promise to you, the traveller, seriously. We work hard to ensure every tour is highly original, well thought out, oozing value, and most importantly a trip we’d take our friends and families on.

During the seasons when there are fewer clients travelling and, at times, adverse weather conditions, our adventure specialists are often out in the field (literally) to discover and survey new resorts, sites of interest, outdoor activities and routes.

This is a tale of our intrepid Adventure Consultant, Queen who, along with our local guide, Eak, set out to survey a new trekking route in Chiang Dao.

Chiang Dao, an area dominated by national parks and a town of the same name, 80 km north of Chiang Mai, is regarded by many as the most beautiful scenery in Northern Thailand.

Chiang Dao’s most striking feature is Doi Chiang Dao, Thailand’s third highest mountain at 2225 m, which plays host to an abundance of wildlife and nature. It is one of the lesser-visited, but nonetheless interesting Thai birding sites. The area is also known for it’s famous caves.

Queen and Eak were on the final day of their survey of the region, driving into the jungle along a newly identified trekking route. Monsoonal rains, however, proved too unyielding, and their truck got hopelessly stuck in the rain-saturated red clay track. It took them hours to free themselves, and finally with the help of friendly passing locals, they made it out and back to Chiang Mai where Queen finally caught her thrice re-booked flight back to Bangkok.

The first-hand observations, incredible photos and new friends Queen acquired on this survey were immediately incorporated into our Northern Thailand Adventure Tours. Come the dry season, this trek will be a unique and rewarding experience.

Surveying Laos, in photos

Our Director of Sales and Business Development, Stephanie, spent a week surveying new resorts, activities and locations in Laos earlier this month, and she captured some great shots, a sampling of what our Classic Laos Trip has to offer. Don’t hesitate to contact our team for up-to-date Laos travel and accommodation information. Click here for inquiries.

What’s Going On

New Dynamic App Explores European Heritage Sites in Thailand

The European Union launched the “European Heritage Map and Cultural Calendar” smart phone application on October 13^th, 2014. This content-rich app describes, illustrates and locates 250 European heritage sites throughout Thailand. The criteria for the entries were “remarkable locations that share common heritage resulting from centuries of Thai-European interactions”.

Smiling Albino’s Daniel Fraser emceed the intimate event, hosted by H.E. Mr. Luis Barreira de Sousa, Portuguese Ambassador to Thailand, on behalf of the European National Institutes for Cultural Thailand at his splendid riverside residence, the oldest European Diplomatic mission in Bangkok.

The comprehensive app, developed by Talisman Media, is a valuable resource for history enthusiasts, locals and tourists alike. It also provides an up-to-date “European Cultural Calendar” that lists up-coming events organized by EU member States’ embassies and cultural institutes in Thailand

It’s a really cool free app! Search “European Heritage” in your app store now. Available for Android and iOS.

Smiling Albino Wins Expat Entrepreneur Award

On October 14th, Bangkok’s expat community gathered at the Rembrandt Hotel to drink free beer recognize outstanding expat businesses. For the first time, companies established in Thailand by the country’s expatriate community were honoured for their creativity, ingenuity, excellence and proven success in The Expat Entrepreneur Awards 2014. Supported by The BigChilli Magazine in conjunction with BNOW, Bangkok’s networking community group, the Award highlighted the contribution foreign operated businesses make to Thailand’s economy.

The awards night was well-attended, and as our own Adventurer-in-chief, Daniel Fraser was hosting a trip, SA’s Marketing Mahout, Andrew Clark was there to accept the award on behalf of the Smiling Albino team. Smiling Albino thanks all who participated.

PURE Life Experiences 2014

We will be back at PURE LIfe Experiences 2014, November 10-13 in Marrekech. We look forward to seeing you there at the global marketplace of high-end experiential travel!

New Connections

Soneva Kiri

Soneva Kiri is pleased to announce a new direct flight service to Siem Riep. Launching on 16th November 2014 with a special introductory offer! Two flights a week linking Indo China to the beautiful beaches of Koh Kood.

Halong Bay

Seaplane Flights are now available from Hanoi airport to Halong Bay! A 30-minute flight or 45 minutes with some sight-seeing. Reasonably priced, quick and easy with fabulous aerial views over the countryside and experience the thrill of a water landing at the Tuan Chau Island Marina.

Contact Smiling Albino today for all your travel needs.

The post People Drive Adventures – Albino Smiles Oct., 2014 first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Many years ago, we were in a car in India, dodging cows and camels and cars and bicycles on the road back to Delhi. We hadn’t yet made it to the Taj Mahal, but there was no way we were leaving India without seeing it. Time was tight, but we figured that we could spare 45 minutes. It was a ridiculously short amount of time to see one of the world’s most beautiful, enduring, enchanting structures, but we did it in a mad rush, and barely made our flight. Was it worth it? You bet it was.

Point is, travel must sometimes bend to the reality of scheduling. Sure, an entire day at the Taj would have been magical, but it was 45 minutes or nothing, and it was fantastic.

Doing what we do, one of the more common questions we hear is if Angkor Wat can be done in a single day. That’s a really hard question to answer, because ‘Angkor Wat’ is often used to describe the entirety of Cambodia’s majestic 12^th century temple complex, which is around 400sq.km. You certainly can’t do that in a day. However, ‘Angkor Wat’ is also used to refer to several of the most-visited temples, as well as the single main temple of the complex, which, is technically the only one called Angkor Wat. So, the answer is yes. Probably. If you plan accordingly you can certainly see Angkor Wat (the building) and many of the most important temples with only a single-day pass from the park.

[Tweet “If you plan accordingly you can only see the most important Angkor temples with a day pass.”]

There are a few tips and tricks you’ll want to employ to get the most out of your day. First, you’ll need to rent a tuk-tuk. In Cambodia, these are two-wheeled carts pulled by motorcycles. You’ll get the most bang for your buck if you hire a driver for the whole day, and if you avoid trying to bargain him down to nothing he’ll usually go out of his way to make sure you have a great time. A few bucks goes a long way in Cambodia.

We suggest starting off by watching the sunrise at the main Angkor Wat temple. Yes, it’s crowded and the cameras are clicking away by the dozens, but the place is huge, and there are plenty of vantage points (and more than a few secret spots that your Smiling Albino guide can lead you to). This will be the main part of your day, and can easily take you right up to late morning, when you should treat yourself to a nice meal and a cool drink, as by this time it’s probably quite hot.

Realistically, you’ll probably have time to see about three more locations during the afternoon, as long as they’re not too far afield. There are dozens to choose from – the stoic stone faces of Bayon, the steep staircases of Baphuon, the overgrown majesty of Ta Prohm, the remote but beautiful Roluos, the intricately carved Banteay Srei, and many more. Do some research, ask around, and choose the ones you want to see the most.

By the end of the afternoon, you’ll likely be “templed out”. Let’s be honest – as magnificent as they are, there are only so many temples one can see in a single day before fatigue – both physical and mental – sets in.  While it’s certainly possible to see the key temples in a day, it’s important to stress that the temples are not Cambodia, and though they are found on their flag, there is more to Cambodia then just the temples. For a full Khmer experience, multiple days in the Kingdom are required.

A few quick tips:

Drink lots of water and take plenty of mini-breaks. Some tuk-tuk drivers will even have a cooler that you can stash your own drinks into. Despite having limited time, pace yourself and enjoy it.

If you want to squeeze a little extra time out of your ticket, buy it after 5pm the day before your main trip. These tickets are good for the last few hours of the first day, plus the entirety of the second day.

[Tweet “Get extra time out of an Angkor ticket, buy it after 5pm and get the rest of the day and the next!”]

For more information about Smiling Albino and what makes what we do so special, contact one of our travel enthusiasts today to ask about your next holiday.

The post Angkor Wat in One Day first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Thailand's two famous northern cities sound similar, but are actually quiet different. It's very possible to love both equally, but for wholly dissimilar reasons.

Family Dynamics

Ah, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai—two destinations that sound so similar yet offer such delightfully different experiences. If Thailand’s north were a family, Chiang Mai would be the big sister—cultured, sophisticated, and bursting with artistic flair—while Chiang Rai would be the younger, wilder brother, more about the great outdoors and a thirst for exploring.

If you’re trying to decide between these two, fear not! We’ve explored both extensively and are here to break it down for you—no fluff, just the juicy details.

Chiang Rai – Adventurous Little Brother

Nestled in Thailand’s far northern reaches, Chiang Rai is actually older than Chiang Mai, founded in 1262 by the legendary King Mengrai. While Chiang Mai stole the limelight as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Rai remained blissfully unbothered, maintaining its small-town charm and developing into an outdoor wonderland.

Chiang Rai is a dream for those who want to ditch the crowds and dive headfirst into nature. The city itself is relaxed, spread out, and delightfully slow-paced, but just beyond its edges, you’ll find a landscape that begs to be explored.

Want to pedal your way through emerald-green rice paddies? Go for it! Prefer to zip through the treetops like a gibbon on an espresso shot? No problem! Fancy a leisurely riverboat cruise past jungle-clad banks? Done and done.

For adventure junkies, Chiang Rai delivers in spades. Rock climbing, abseiling, spelunking, ziplining—you name it, Chiang Rai’s got it. And if you prefer your excitement on two wheels, the region’s mountain biking trails are nothing short of world-class. From gentle rides through tea plantations to adrenaline-fueled downhill runs, there’s something for every level of rider.

Of course, it’s not all just daredevil stunts and mud-splattered fun. Chiang Rai has its fair share of fascinating cultural sites, from the gloriously bizarre White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) to the darkly intriguing Black House (Baan Dam Museum). And don’t forget the hill tribe villages, where you can learn about the rich traditions of the Akha, Hmong, and Karen people.

The Chiang Rai Lowdown

✅ Small-town charm with fewer tourists

✅ Quick, easy access to jaw-dropping nature

✅ Thrilling outdoor activities galore

✅ A more authentic, Thai-style experience

❌ Dining options are mostly local, so don’t expect five-star fusion cuisine

❌ Not as many international hotel brands (though the Four Seasons Tented Camp and Pa Sak Tong Private Estate are standouts!)

❌ Less structured for independent travelers—better with a guide

Chiang Mai – Cultured Big Sister

A few hours southwest, Chiang Mai stands tall as Thailand’s cultural capital of the north. Founded in 1296 by (you guessed it) King Mengrai, it became the beating heart of the Lanna Kingdom and remains Thailand’s second city—bustling, creative, and absolutely brimming with things to do.

Imagine a city where ancient temples, hipster cafés, Michelin-starred restaurants, and bustling night markets coexist in glorious harmony. That’s Chiang Mai. With over 300 temples, from golden-spired stupas to hidden cave sanctuaries, the city is a playground for history buffs and spiritual seekers alike.

But wait, there’s more! Chiang Mai isn’t just about its past—it’s also Thailand’s arts and culture hub. Wander down its atmospheric streets and you’ll stumble upon gorgeous silver shops, intricate wood carvings, artisan textile studios, and boutique galleries showcasing cutting-edge contemporary art. If you love craftsmanship and creativity, Chiang Mai will have you swooning.

And the festivals? Oh, they’re spectacular. Imagine launching a floating lantern into the night sky during Loi Krathong, or getting into an all-out water war during Songkran. Chiang Mai doesn’t do things by halves—when it celebrates, it goes all out!

Food lovers, rejoice! Chiang Mai is a gastronomic wonderland, boasting everything from hole-in-the-wall khao soi noodle joints to fancy rooftop dining with panoramic mountain views. Want to learn how to cook like a Thai master? Cooking classes are everywhere, and they’re seriously fun.

Now, let’s talk about the great outdoors. Yes, Chiang Mai has stunning nature too, but it requires a bit of a commute. Doi Suthep National Park, Mae Sa Valley, and the lush hills beyond are all spectacular, but you’ll have to deal with the city’s growing traffic to reach them.

The Chiang Mai Lowdown

✅ A thriving arts, culture, and shopping scene

✅ World-class hotels, restaurants, and entertainment

✅ A smorgasbord of activities, from cooking classes to monk chats

✅ A major transport hub, making it easy to get in and out

❌ The countryside isn’t right at your doorstep—you have to commute to it

❌ Lots of tourists—if you want solitude, this ain’t it

❌ Traffic can be a headache

The post Culture vs Adventure: The Difference Between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai first appeared on Smiling Albino.