Thailand Retreats: Sedhapura Villa by Tohsang

Sedhpura Villa, a firm favourite of ZiZ Asia and A Member of the Isan Boutique Collection

Sedhapura, a mesmerizing and remote luxury villa retreat on Thailand’s less-travelled Northeastern frontier where the Mekong River carves the boundary separating Thailand with Southern Laos.  A mystical region steeped in history, legends and mythology, the peacefulness and serenity intoxicates the very air one breathes.

Exhausted from the violence of its course through Tibet, the Mekong River receives a docile stimulant at its confluence with the Mun (Moon) River before it meanders timelessly from Thailand into Southern Laos, charting its course to the lands of Angkor, the Tonle Sap and onwards to the end of its journey in Vietnam and the South China Sea.

There are few places that truly epitomize the ultimate escape but Sefhapura is certainly one of them; void of crowds, as far removed from the tourist trail as can be and as naturally luxurious as it is resplendent.  Not just a confluence of rivers but also of nations, cultures and cuisine.

Located adjacent to the border settlement of Woen Buk Village in the province of Ubon Ratchathani, Thais intermingle with Laotians, Khmer and Vietnamese, an eclectic mix that has produced a unique culinary fusion, a product of evolution and a paradise for Asia food enthusiasts, gourmets and culinary anthropologists.

Sedhapura distils stress, evaporates the routinely mundane and revitalizes ones soul.  There is something surreally majestic about the place, the forest-carpeted mountains, the Mighty Mekong and, not least, the rarefied surroundings of the villas themselves; the peacefulness, the romance, the serenity.

The Villas

Created and managed by the Tohsang Hotel Group, Sedhapura consists of 4 villas, three of which are bungalows and the fourth a duplex.  Each villa features privacy . . . as well as a King-sized bed, private dining, a 4m x 3m private plunge pool and all have unadulterated views over the Mekong and the distant verdantly green mountains of Southern Laos.

Contemporary Thai in style, clean, white-washed walls are framed with natural wooden beams.  White fabric cascades from the ceilings to floor-level to shroud daybeds beneath them.  The interiors provide the perfect balance of furnishings whilst avoiding unnecessary excess and combine the same earthy wooden colours with traditional Isaan floor cushions.  Gentle up-lighting echoes the subtleties of nature found beyond the four walls.  The focal point is of course the terrace where hours can be whiled away absorbing the views.

An intimate family-run business, the villas are in close proximity to the Tohsang Khongjiam Resort where you have use of the facilities including its restaurants and meeting rooms.  Alternatively nurture the reclusive ambiance of your villa and order an alfresco, riverside candlelit dinner on the terrace from where you can absorb the kaleidoscope of technicolor dancing over the Mekong’s evening sheen.

Events

Understandably, Sedhapura is a paradise for Honeymooners looking to totally escape the maddening crowds and retreat into their own private ideal.  Conjoined with the Tohsang Khongjiam Resort and you are also presented with an idyllically romantic riverside wedding venue where all your needs are met at this, the place that is first to witness the sun rising each day in Thailand.

Corporate Retreats are also well catered for at Sedhapura where you can host informal meetings within your villa or opt for one of three meeting rooms and facilities provided at the Tohsang Khongjiam Resort:

The Kanadol Meeting Room – 12m x 15m and can accommodate 120 guests in theatre style seating.

The Club House – 9m x 10m and can accommodate 30 guests in theatre style seating.

The Garden Terrace Meeting Room – 8m x 6m and can accommodate 10 guests in theatre style seating.

Activities

Explore Southern Laos - Trips can easily be made across the border into Laos.  It’s not often that tours offer the opportunity for time travel as well but this is one of them. The border crossing delivers you into Champasak Province of which the capital is Pakse.  To do this thoroughly you should really allocate at least 3 days and 2 nights.

Spa & Massage – Enhance the tranquillity of Sedhapura with a traditional Thai Massage or Spa Treatment.  Choose from a menu of Spa Treatments that include Body contour, Anti-Stress and Sensual Spa to achieve a deep calm. Do experience the Thai massage on the floating sundeck.  It’s not to be missed.

Dining - Ubon Ratchanthani is renowned for its food and connoisseurs of Southeast Asian cuisine will be in their seventh heaven.  Find out what happens when Thai food collides with Khmer, Vietnamese and Laos cuisine; it is like a little rave going on in your mouth.  Dining at Sedhapura is a treat with a full Thai and International menu and if you can tear yourself away from the views, the candlelit table and terrace a trip into Ubon to indulge your taste buds at one of the many restaurants and bars is certainly worthwhile.

Thai Cooking Course - Monopolise the Chef at Sedhapura for a private Thai cooking course.  As our ditty “You can visit as a tourist but its best visited as an enthusiast” and this is particularly true where Thai Cooking is concerned.  There is nothing quite like learning to cook a Thai menu on holiday to impress your friends upon your return.

Biking – Exploring by bicycle or hired motorcycle gives you the ultimate freedom to take things at your own pace. Visit villages, national parks, waterfalls, temples, museums and much, much more.

Nature & Landscape Photography - The area is an Eden for photographic enthusiasts particularly if nature and landscape photography is your speciality.  From sunrise to sunset the photographic opportunities are limitless. Just fall out of bed and start shooting.  You cant really fail, the backdrops are everywhere.

Trekking & Hiking - Trekkers are simply spoilt for choice with all the national parks in the vicinity. Trek to viewpoints, waterfalls, flower meadows, rock paintings and caves and remote forest Temples.  The trails are generally well defined and the going not overly challenging but if you want to get up to the most spectacular viewpoints a certain level of fitness is clearly required.

Mekong Cruise - Take a river cruise to see the confluence of the Mekong and Mun Rivers which create what locals refer to as the “Coloured River”.  The river cruise can take you to visit the Weon Beak Village, and Kaeng Tana National Park.

Fishing - Take to the waters of the Mighty Mekong for a days fishing.  A Panama hat, a parasol, a picnic, some beers maybe and you have the ingredients to create a wonderfully memorable day afloat on the Mekong.  Whether or not you catch a fish becomes almost immaterial.

Numerous attractions exist in Ubon Ratchathani and we have only highlighted a few of the activities that you could indulge in.  Temple visit, prehistoric rock paintings, waterfalls and museums are certainly items to add to the list.

Ubon Ratchathani

Ubon Ratchathani is the eastern most province in Thailand’s less travelled North eastern Isaan region. Home to a range of impressive national parks including Pha Taem National Park which is famous for its numerous prehistoric rock drawings, waterfalls and verdant forests, the Mekong River also flows through it.  The capital of the province is its namesake; City of the Lotus.

Despite being completely below Thailand’s mass tourism radar the area yields much to do with plenty of exploring to be had.  Admittedly the advent of the Chong Mek / Vang Tao border crossing has magnetized a few more independent travellers to Ubon but the area is still perceived as a one-night stop-over as opposed to a destination in its own right which is bitter sweet; sweet where retreatists are concerned.

Previously the province of Ubon Ratchathani was a pilgrimage for remote meditation, individuals removing themselves for civilisation to retreat at a forest Wat (Temple) for weeks or even months and in the same way that these forest Wats are still highly regarded, the meditative aura hangs like a veil over what has to be one of the loveliest and most serene parts of the world.

Sorties into Champasak Province in Southern Laos and to the town of Pakse make for intriguing adventure.  While Ubon certainly lacks the modern polished sophistication of the world leading cities, Southern Laos really is like entering a time warp and, sadly, now an infinitely more authentic experience than Luang Prabang.

When to Go

For the Retreatist there is no right or wrong time to escape.  The calling is all that is required.  As far as seasons are concerned though, the rainy season runs from May to October, the cool season from October to January and the hot season from February to May.  The cool season arrives earlier in Ubon Ratchathani than any other Thai Province because of its geographical location.

One of the most magical times to visit Ubon Ratchathani though is in August when Pha Taem National Park explodes into a dazzling floral palette of colour and waterfalls such as Ru and Sang Chen are in full flow.

Ubon Ratchathani also hosts the annual candle festival in July which consists of a parade of huge, oversized and intricately carved candles.  Very popular with Thais and if you are at Sedhapura in July the Candle Festival is definitely worth a peek.

If you would like to plan an outdoor wedding at Sedhapura any time during the cool season would be best. Guests may suffer during outdoor weddings in the hot season and sweating during the ceremony is arguably a little premature.

How Long to Go for

How long do you need?  Nature lovers and trekkers would be reluctant to leave after a week knowing that there is still much that they haven’t seen or done.  For those venturing to Sedhapura for a Spa Retreat you will doubtless intensify your treatments to beat the anxiety of having to return to normality and pure Retreatists will soon become Spa Retreatists for the very same reasons.

Getting There

The easiest way to reach Sedhapura is by plane from Bangkok.  Other means include overnight train or car but in both cases the journey is long and fairly arduous.  Ubon Ratchathani is currently serviced by Thai Airways, Air Asia and Nok Air with approximately five flights a day.