Slow Paradise Asia . January 2027
Overview
Slow Paradise Asia . January 2027
James Elphick
12 reviews
Jan 8 - 31, 2027
Slow Paradise Asia . January 2027
Bangkok, Thailand
Jan 8 - 31, 2027
James Elphick
12 reviews
£5,500
Deposit: £2,225
About this trip
Slow Paradise Asia.
A slow journey through Southeast Asia, moving together as a small group through places, rhythm, and shared daily life.
Slow Paradise Asia is a 23 night small group journey through Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia designed around pace, atmosphere, and shared living.
This is not a retreat, or a tour. I hold a way of being in the group where reflection, emotional awareness, and inner experience are welcome, but not structured or taught.
It’s a slower way of traveling , moving through beautiful places together with enough time to settle, connect, wander, rest, and experience daily life along the way.
We’ll travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, cross into Laos for a two-day Mekong river journey to Luang Prabang, and finish in Siem Reap and Angkor Wat.
The experience is intentionally small (maximum 6 people) to keep the atmosphere relaxed, personal, and grounded.
The Route.
Bangkok, Thailand → Chiang Mai, Thailand → Laos Border → Mekong Slow Boat → Luang Prabang, Laos → Siem Reap / Angkor Wat, Cambodia.
Trip Length.
23 Nights / 24 Days
January 8th to 31st 2027
Group Size
Maximum 6 people
The Style of Travel
Boutique and locally owned guesthouses.
Private rooms included
Slow-paced travel with minimal rushing
Shared meals and relaxed group rhythm
Space for both connection and independence
Cultural experiences, nature, temples, cafés, markets, river life, and beautiful everyday moments
This trip is best suited to people who enjoy:
meaningful travel
calm pacing
good conversation
beauty and atmosphere
openness, curiosity, and flexibility
balancing shared experiences with personal space
What's included
23 Nights Accommodation.
Private Rooms in small Guesthouses. and boutique hotels.
All Breakfasts.
Typically western or local breakfasts in the Guesthouses.
Landing Dinners.
In each country to anchor in and enjoy a meal together.
All internal flights
Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang to Siem Reap,
2 Day Mekong River trip.
A beautiful slow travel experience drifting past small villages and local life as well as beautiful nature.
Airport Coordination.
To keep your arrival to Bangkok and internal flights coordinated.
Elephant Sanctuary.
An overnight experience in the nature of Northern Thailand. Ethical yet intimate experience of being with elephants.
Cultural activities.
Includes temple visits, morning alms giving , cultural performances,.
Guided Meditations,
Slow Paradise guided meditations with James. Silent group meditations in temples.
Angkor Wat
5 day pass to to this vast and ancient temple complex. For one of the days we will be guided by a carefully chosen guide known for his depth of Spiritual understanding of the temples.
Ground Transport.
Related to all group activities.
Trip Hosting.
James will be your point of contact and host throughout.
2 Pre Trip Calls.
Call 1: Meet the group, go through trip flow, key info, and set shared expectations for how we’ll travel slowly together. Call 2: Practical prep call covering packing, mindset, Q&A, and getting ready
What's not included
International flights.
From your home country and return including transfers.
Most lunches and dinners
To give freedom and flexibility most lunches and dinners are chosen and paid for by the guest.
Travel Insurance.
Prerequisite to the application.
Massages.
Will advise on the best Temple massages, at guests own cost.
Personal Shopping,
Souvenirs and everyday expenses.
Visas.
These will need to be planned and paid for by the guest, with guidance from James
Day 1 -3
Bangkok Landing.
Arrival and soft landing into the journey.
Riverside stays and canal life
Wat Pho and the Reclining Buddha
Boat through Bangkok river.
Local dinners and slow wandering
Shared welcome dinner
Day 4-10
Chiang Mai Slow Down
A slower rhythm surrounded by temples, cafés, and mountains.
Boutique guesthouse in the Old Town
Morning meditation at a temple
Hidden temple in the hills
Sticky Waterfalls day trip
Daily optional Thai massage
Ethical overnight elephant sanctuary experience
Markets, cafés, and relaxed evenings
Day 11 - 13
Two Day Slow-Boat Journey On the Mekong.
One night near the Laos border followed by a two-day slow boat journey down the Mekong River to the ancient capital of Luang Prabang.
Comfortable Mekong river cruise
Slow travel through remote river landscapes and past little river villages.
Overnight stay in Pakbeng village
Shared meals and relaxed pace
Day 14 - 18
Luang Prabang
Quiet mornings, waterfalls, cafés, temples, and river sunsets. Enjoying the French Colonial architecture and sleepy river energy.
Boutique guesthouse stay
Kuang Si Waterfalls
Night market wandering
Alms giving to monks in the morning
Mekong sunset evenings
Temple visits and free days to explore slowly
Day 19 - 23
Siem Reap and Angkor Wat.
The final chapter of the journey.
Guided Angkor Wat temple day with Spiritually attuned Guide,
Additional independent group temple exploration by tuk tuk
Pool and rest days
Khmer food and cultural experiences.
Closing dinner together
Location
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1. Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok, ThailandAbout your organizer
James Elphick
12 reviews
James Elphick is rooted in decades of supporting others through change. From twenty years working in therapeutic social care to leading deep transformational retreats and one-to-one journeys.
His work weaves intuitive insight, body-based awareness, and Parts Work into a grounded path of healing and wholeness.
James creates safe, compassionate spaces ,both online and in person, where people can meet the parts of themselves that have long waited to be healed and step into greater clarity, ease, and self-trust.
He has led five transformational group retreats, as well as joint collaborations.
He shares his time between Corfu Greece, London and Asia.
