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.//l!l'..

Luxury camps
in Southeast Asia
bring guests closer
to nature without
sacrificing comfort
Text Tan Lee Kuen

any people who

feel increasingly
overwhelmed by city
life are turning to nature
to regain a sense of
balance. But for those of us accustomed to
the comforts of home, roughing it in a tent
- exposed to the elements, with only a thin
pallet to sleep on - might not be our cup
of tea. Fortunately, glamping, or glamorous
camping, offers a way to enjoy outdoor
escapades amid stunning surroundings, in
total luxury, free from the hassle of pitching
a tent or enduring the absence of hot water.
Fom Seasons Tented Camp
(fourseasons.com/ goldentriangle) in the
Golden Triangle of Thailand brings guests
up close to nature but in lavish settings and
with impeccable service. Perched on Thai
soil, it has a superb location that overlooks
the lush hinterlands of Myanmar and Laos.
Conceived by Bangkok-based
hotel designer Bill Bensley, the luxury
camp offers an extraordinary glamping
experience that invokes the spirit of
rom anticised safari romps. Each of the
15 roomy tents is decorated to the hilt in
different themes such as Butterfly Tent and
Culinary Arts Tent, complete with a fully
stocked mini bar, a vast viewing deck and a
handmade cooper bath tub.

0
The Jeeva Beloam
beach camp in
Lombok has a
Robinson Crusoe

feel to it

Four Seasons
ll!nted Camp
comes with its
signature service
and hospitality

Rooms a~ made
from recycled
wood and
bamboo atJeeva
Beloam

flOUr seasons
Thntedcamp

has a care

programme for
abused or retired
elephants

One of Four
Season's
luxurlousty
appointed rooms

"It is camping in a very luxurious way,

complete with the Four Seasons service
and hospitality," says Alvin Thrun, the
assistant caJUp manager. You will be
thoroughly coddled with nature right at
your doorstep, albeit trimmed and pruned.
Cicadas sing as you walk along
bamboo-shaded paths to your room.
Mornings are a cacophony of an awakening
jungle. One minute you could be tucking
into perfectly cooked Icing prawns while
watching a herd of buffaloes cool off in
the Ruak river; tl1e next you're getting the
knots out of your back, enveloped by tl1e
great outdoors. At sunset, the spot to be
is at the Burma Bar, savouring a flute of
champagne and watching the sun sink
behind the motmtains.
It's not only about luxury at this allinclusive resort camp as elephants lie at
the core of its extensive list of highlights.
Four Seasons Tented Camp and wother

nearby hotel established the Golden

Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation in
2006 to rescue and care for abused or
retired elephants, together with their
mahouts. The foundation currently cares
for more thru1 20 elephants, four of which
carry out the resort's mahout training wd
trekking programmes for guests.
"Some guests get really attached to the
elephants during their stay, spending a lot
of their time with them. Or some guests
come just to completely unwind and to
watch the elephants from the comfort of
their room," says Tham.
For most glamping vacations, the
experience is about the careful balance of
the wilderness and creature comforts, as
exemplified by Kamu Lodge (kamulodge.
com) in Laos. You have to cruise the
Mekong on a traditional long riverboat
for almost three hours to arrive at this
eco-lodge, which was founded in 2005 by
a group of travellers led by Eric Merlin. He
was travelling on the outskirts of Luwg
Prabang with his business partners when
they chanced on this piece of verdant lwd
on the bwks of the mighty river. This was
where Kamu Lodge pitched its 20 thickwalled safari tents with sturdy thatch roofs
and snug beds; they provide enough guard
against the elements but allow guests to
feel tl1ey're in the clutch of nature.

oolnP
dar:.e-,;
0
o.

Jlllle 2015

ON TREND

"Giamping in Kamu Lodge is camping

in comfort. 1he idea was to provide the
basic necessities of modern Jiving while
not going over the top to take the whole
element of slow travel and real adventure
away from the experience," says group
general manager Kurt Walter.
The resort is committed to being
sustainable. Solar panels provide enough
electricity to run the fans and lights. Food
at the lodge is simple but delicious Kamu or
Laotian fare, the meat and produce sourced
within the area.
It also advocates slow travel, slackening
the rushed pace of life and immersing
oneself in the local culture. The creators
ofKamu Lodge have worked closely with
the neighbouring Kamu Village to ensure
a mutually beneficial integration with
minimal impact on the community's
way of life. Guests can participate in
local activities such as fishing, archery
or rice planting.
At Jeeva Beloam Qeevabeloam.com)
in Lombok, you can experience a form
of camping on the beach without getting
sand all over your sleeping bag. Nestled on
pristine white sand in a secluded cove on
the eastern edge of Tanjung Ringgit, there is
a Robinson Crusoe element to this quietly
chic beach camp.
Inspired by a passion for responsible
travel and built with a nod to its Indonesian
roots, Jeeva Beloam's 11 traditional berugas

Delicious local
fareatKamu
Lodge

@
Jeeva Beloam's
dining area
overlooks the

beach
@)
Guests

p!lrtlclpatlng
in rice planting
activity in Laos'
Kamu Lodge

are made from recycled wood and bamboo

with alang-alang roofs. And because the
resort's designers know the real stars are
the sand and sea, all rooms offer unfettered
views with direct access to the beach.
There's no shortage of activities at Jeeva
Beloam to help you answer the call of the
v.rild; mornings can be spent trekking to
the lighthouse at the tip of the promontory
to catch the sunrise. Afternoons are for
exploring the rich w1derwater world or
cycling out to Pantai Segui to swim in
its crystal clear waters. At the end of the
day, guests are welcomed back to the airconditioned comfort of their rooms, a hot
shower and the catch of the day at Tenda
Restaurant.
So as luxury and nature strive to
become bedfellows, glamping can be
a naturally rewarding fit. For tl1e best
experience, look for resorts tl1at offer
unique experiences and opulent
setups as well as a commitment to
the environment.