Legend has it the Buddha himself prophesied the rise of Luang Prabang. True or not, for the past 600 years this glittering town has been the religious heart of Laos. Rise early to witness a silent procession of orange-robed monks receiving alms from the faithful, then get an insight into their daily lives as you chat to local monks at a hillside temple. You’ll also receive coaching from a yoga expert in mindfulness, choose from the many treatments at Luang Prabang’s finest spa, and enjoy drinks and canapés on a sunset Mekong cruise. There’s nowhere better to begin your spiritual enquiries than Luang Prabang.

Life in Champasak is so slow it’s practically stationary, and the car-free river island of Don Daeng is an idyllic base from which to explore. On arrival, enjoy sunset over the water as you’re welcomed with a traditional baci “spirit calling” ceremony. Then, spend a day exploring on foot and by bike, sampling exotic fruits, learning about Siamese, Vietnamese and European influences on local worship, helping out with basket-weaving or rice-planting, hunting for Khmer ruins tangled in the jungle. Wat Phou is the jewel in Champasak’s crown — with magnificent views to boot — and an afternoon at the spa will take care of any aches and pains from climbing to the top!

Where better to get in touch with your spiritual side than the home of the world’s largest religious monument? In fact, there are over 1,000 temple ruins in the Angkor area, and your guided tour of the most famous sites will help you understand how Hinduism and Buddhism have shaped religious beliefs in Cambodia. Of course, you’ll balance out your historic exploration with plenty of relaxation, including yoga, traditional Khmer massage, a sunset gondola cruise with Champagne and canapés and a guided morning meditation with good luck blessings from local monks. Round it all off with a candlelit dinner at a beautiful villa in the countryside.

At the Six Senses Koh Krabey, all paths lead to the spa! So they claim, anyway — and we can confirm that this really is a wellness paradise. Sleep in one of just 40 private villas on the island and you’ll wake to the sounds of hoots and chirps from the jungle. You might think there wouldn’t be much to do on an island of just 30 acres, but you’d be wrong. If you wanted, you could fill every hour of your stay with nature walks, cooking classes, Cambodian rituals, sunset cruises, aerial yoga, picnics, watersports, sustainability tours — and that’s before we even get to the extensive spa, with its integrated wellness programmes and Khmer-inspired treatments. Welcome to Cambodia’s Shangri-La.