Tales from the Trunk, Fall, 2013

The art of little big things
Smiling Albino has always prided itself on being a small company that does big things. In the years since launching, we’ve added a wide range exciting adventures and peeks behind the curtain of Asian culture, and I still get excited when something new and big is on the board. Amazingly however, some of our most luxurious “big adventures”, from private jets and helicopters to exclusive access with notable local characters, to elaborate private villas, are often remembered for the little things we do. The simple touches or common local experiences choreographed well for a fast-paced, discerning client. We’ve taken billionaires for street-side noodles, rock stars for an evening watching local buskers, and something as simple as providing local SIM cards and programmed mobile phones so that members of an arriving family could hit the ground running, so to speak. While we aspire to – and plan to deliver on – the big things, we prefer to always be measured on the little ones.

Tell us your giant travel dreams and big ideas at info@smilingalbino.com, and we’ll do all the little things that count to make it special.

Daniel Fraser,
Smiling Albino Adventurer-in-Chief

Adventure Highlights

Last month we mentioned an upcoming trip to Nepal which I’m extremely excited about. See the itinerary for it here. From treks over stunning mountain passes to biking through canyons to facing the rapids on an overnight rafting trip, it’s a Himalayan-sized adventure of a lifetime. We’ve got this on the calendar for April 2014, which sold out very quickly, and will be opening a second edition for fall 2014.

Another exciting item is our upcoming trip to Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. It’s been in the works for a while and the finishing touches are being applied, but we’re looking forwarding to being able to add a bit of Smiling Albino spice into the ancient, intriguing, little-understood country to the west of Thailand. Our first trip is already online here. Keep watching this space for more!

Visit Myanmar on Your Feet!
For decades, Myanmar has been a rather hermetic state, with extremely strict rules on who can visit and how they get in and out. But recently, the country has been opening up, and it’s now possible to cross into the country via land crossings. Previously you could only enter overland for a day trip, but things are changing – and Smiling Albino is at the front of the line. We love showing people new things in new places, and our team knows all the right people to make it happen.

Introducing Pa Sak Tong

We’ve operated in Thailand for over a decade but that doesn’t mean we stop researching on the ground and we’re always on the hunt for exciting new properties. Well we’ve recently found a stunning private villa in our own backyard – Chiang Rai. We’d like to introduce you to Pa Sak Tong a private 3-Bedroom Luxury Villa with over 60 staff for a sublimely luxurious and intimate northern Thailand experience. All the amenities are there, including private pool, spa, gym and kids club. Being 10-minutes from Chaing Rai city, plenty of activities are nearby. Pa Sak Tong villa is perfect for families or a small group of friends looking for an intimate hideaway.

Thousand-dollar moments for (almost) free

When planning a trip, it’s easy to become so focused on the big things that the little details are often forgotten. Of course, the big things are very important (have you ever shown up at the airport without your passport? It’s no fun), but one unique aspect of travel that SA likes to focus on is something we call thousand-dollar moments for (almost) free. These are the little touches that add color and depth to a trip – one example is the addition of khom loy’s to really spice up a special occasion. The large, floating lanterns are popular during major festivals in Thailand, but we can make sure you have them to celebrate in your own way, at your own time.

What’s Going On

Going Underground in Vietnam
As if Asia didn’t have enough marvelous sights to see on the surface, did you know that Vietnam has the largest cave in the world? Son Doong Cave, located in (or rather, under) Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, about 1hr flight south of Hanoi near the Laotian border, it was only discovered in 1991 and first explored in 2009. The biggest cavern is over 5km long, 200m high and 150m wide, which is five times larger than the world’s second largest cave. This is a fitting lesson that even if you know a country well, there’s always something new to discover.

Ancient Ayutthaya
A lot of people think that in order to see fantastic ruins of ancient civilizations, one must walk, climb, hike, or slash through forests with a machete, but that’s not the case when you’re in Bangkok! Only an hour away by car, the town of Ayutthaya will come into sharp focus on theAncient Ayutthaya day trip. Pronounced a-YOO-ta-ya, you’ll get a close up look at this UNESCO World Heritage Site and its superb ruins dating to 1767, when the Burmese invaded what was then one of the grandest and richest cities in the region. Explore this storied location by bike and on foot, and get an up-close view of one of SE Asia’s most historically important sites.

Daniel represents SA at Pure Life Experiences in Marrakesh

From 11-14 November of this year, Pure Life Experiences held PURE 2013 in Marrakesh, an invite-only conference that celebrates the spirit of the world’s most inspiring creators of enriching experiences. The conference focuses on experiential travel – the big, the bold, the brave, the exciting. Only a select few operators from each region are invited. With this in mind, is it any wonder that Daniel Fraser was asked to represent Smiling Albino and Thailand at the event? Check out our facebook page for an update and some pictures from this exciting event.

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Contact: Get a hold of us any time.