Lanjia Lodge

Bright, traditional outfits line the hallways, mirroring the staff who also proudly wear authentic uniforms. Life at the lodge centres around the open-sided dining area where meals are served at low bamboo tables with guests seated on cushions. Breakfast is a feast of eggs, rice soup, fresh fruit, pancakes and organic jams. Dinner is three courses beginning with glass noodle soup, followed by your choice of flash-fried vegetables, spiced curries and barbecues. Dessert is a platter of fruit harvested on local plantations.

Constructed from red and bamboo matting, the rooms are set in four lodges on the hillside. Simple and rustic, they have few frills but are comfortable, and all have a sleeping platform and netted bed draped in colourful Batik throws. The bathrooms are kitted out with all the necessities with a piping-hot shower and toiletries in large ceramics. The main feature is the large picture windows that reveal a pretty forest scene - listen for the morning calls of the birdlife when you first open your eyes.

The lodge is deeply invested in the local communities, so get into the swing of things with a visit to the shaman, a Batik dyeing class, or a visit to a local market. After that, trek into the lush forests to find tranquil waterfalls and enjoy a spot of birdwatching beside Chiang Saen Lake. Enjoy an adventurous longtail boat ride down the Mekong, where you can peer over the border between Laos and Burma. After nightfall, do a little stargazing with the on-site telescope and listen to the sounds of nature.