Sabai Sabai -- The gentle Thai way of joy... more than just a transient emotion; it's a way of life. It's the soft hum of everyday life unfolding in a laid-back village, the embodiment of a life lived with balance, harmony, and grace. To be "sabai sabai" is to be at ease with the world and oneself. It's a reminder that happiness is often found in simplicity, in the warmth of a shared meal, in the laughter of friends, or in the tranquility of a solitary moment. It's something the Thai have masterd.
Cross the ocean to find yourself at home in a luxe teak villa in the jungly outskirts of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Enjoy a custom mix of Thailand’s best flavors from a private chef and local hotspots. Sip rice whiskey in a tropical pool. Cling to your tuk tuk seat as you fly through the Night Market. Sip local coffee as you gaze at the vast northern Thai countryside. Be blessed by an irreverent monk on a mountainside. Sink into the peace of a culture that understands rest, and light up with the vigor of a place that never seems to stop.
SABAI SABAI
THE SPIRIT OF
Chiang Mai, northern Thailand's cultural heart, is a place that balances modern art and architecture with a firmly Thai personality. The best of Thailand’s international spirit, but deeply rooted in local traditions and history. A hotbed of ingenuity and creativity– Hard work and vibrant creativity balanced with the peacefulness that comes from knowing it will all get done, whether in this life or another. It’s New York energy with a SoCal pace of life.
WAIT, WHERE?
A secret hidden treasure in a city where the accommodation can be a bit cobbled together, Villa Mahabhirom is the definition of understated luxury.
A beautiful collection of 100 year old traditional Thai homes, painstakingly collected from all over Thailand and reassembled on a jungle property. A sprawling pool with sculptures from a beloved local artist. Cozy libraries, curated bars, room to relax in your own private villa or any one of the art-filled rooms. The villa overlooks the mountains and nearly touches the city in one of our favorite neighborhoods in Chiang Mai.
You’ll wake up in the same room a Thai family once did a century ago, but you’ll be in Egyptian cotton sheets and have hot water in your clawfoot tub. High end Japanese toilets (if you know, you know!). Ancient teakwood floors. Italian marble bathrooms. The kind of place that made us almost cry in astonishment when we first walked in.
OUR VILLA
White Dinner - Moveable Feast Thailand 2019
“Have you eaten?”
Or as the common Thai greeting wonders, “kinkhao law ru yang?”
While most of us cut our teeth on the classic pad thai, the flavors of Northern Thailand beg you to branch out STAT. It’s a wild ride– we could eat here for months and still feel like there was more to discover.
Between custom-designed meals from our local chef and street food introductions so you never have to feel intimated by a new dish you can’t pronounce but really want to try, we’ve got the full gamut of food experiences waiting for you.
The Food
"I absolutely loved the element of surprise you guys kept the whole week through. The need to know basis made things always feel exciting and fun. For example, cognac in the cave that then broke out into a dance party. Love love loved it. Also, the fact that there was so much story behind each meal, wine, cocktail, floral arrangement, etc was so fucking wonderful. It brought me to tears many times and I'll never forget it.
I loved arriving to that castle and seeing Laura greet me with tears in her eyes and champagne and a Chris (what an angel) pouring drinks. I mean, wtf was happening???? After a long train ride to arrive to something like that was beyond. So simple, so thoughtful, so impactful and a memory I will carry with me forever.
I would 1000% recommend Moveable Feast. Travel is something that has shaped my life and changed me in ways I could never have imagined. The people I have met, the lessons I have learned about myself, the dreams that have manifested due to putting myself in someone else's way of life. I am who I am today because of travel and so if someone asked me if MFR is worth it, I would say if you want your trip to be impactful, life changing, exciting, stress free and an opportunity to meet new people in a beautiful far away land, then yes. I mean, is the sky blue? Ok then."
-liz, provence 2021
"The Feast was one of the most important experiences of my life.
I prepared for the usual: I figured I’d show up, all tattooed, queer and polyamorous, and everyone there would find me annoying at best, but more likely (in my mind) insufferable and possibly even hate my character. I don’t think this way of myself, but I have often experienced a deep level of judgment simply because of certain parts of who I am. I’ve worked incredibly hard to be the person I am, to love others without reservation, to find a life worth living— and I’ve made peace with the fact that my worth cannot be seen by unwilling eyes. So I was prepared to make no friends, to be uncomfortable, and to just be myself anyway. Prepared, but dreading. I spoke with my therapist about it. I tried to lower my expectations and hopes for connection and community.
What actually happened was that I went out dancing with six other weirdos one night after our after-dinner cocktails; spent a day by the pool discussing relationships and travel and careers with a doctor, a lawyer, a tailor, an artist, and a yoga teacher; hiked up giant hills and staircases and trekked through castle dungeons with my 20 new friends; held a delicious baby for some grateful parents at the dinner table… I was just another person there. Because of course I was— I’m just some person. All the pieces of me showed up and danced with every other person’s full selves.
On the final night, Laura— one of the two founders of this incredible group— toasted each one of us. When she got to me, she said that simply by shining my own light so brightly, I empowered those around me to light themselves up, too. And that… broke me open. The same thing so many people have rejected in me, this whole group of strangers could see and embrace and even love. And Laura said it out loud (my favorite love language). I have to say, tears go well with champagne.
I can’t wait to be reunited with my friends both known and unknown. Forever grateful to be seen with such a loving gaze."
-callie, lisbon 2022
“The abbey was absolutely stunning and seeing the MFR team set up just outside with cocktails waiting and looking fabulous as always was the perfect start to the amazing week. It was really like the best start to a mix tape: start big and just keep going bigger! The introductions of local food and drink culture with almost every meal was perfect.
The biggest surprise came from the people though. If I were to try to write about all of my favorite experiences, I would just be writing a detailed log of the entire trip, but the people who gravitated to Tim and Laura that ended up on this trip were truly incredible. I feel enriched by the interactions with every single person we met.”
-ryan, sicily 2018
"As a solo traveler for the vast majority of my trips. I was worried about not having individual freedom and control over my trip, and how that might somehow result in a less fulfilling experience. Would the things I value in travel — culinary exploration, exposure to different cultures/settings, and enriching new social interactions, would those things be satisfied?
Wow, all my doubts were alleviated when we arrived at the castle with drinks and oysters waiting for us. The core piece of all my enjoyment was the people and the company. You guys were able to attract an amazing group of people with a similar zest for life. No matter the activity, it was the people that made it a truly special experience. And so much of that credit goes to you guys for fostering these attitudes and being exemplars of what it means to be “the highest and coolest version of myself.”
I would never have been able to stay at a cool castle like this, nor would I have been able to feel as "at home" or comfortable in my travel abode.
The trip was amazing. It was a rough year leading up to the trip and I was in a bit of a funk. Tim’s unwavering warmth, openness, guidance, and infections positive attitude, Laura’s amazingly sweet, empathetic, and tender reflections of all of the Feasters. Those words left a mark. You both encourage us to cultivate those ideals and traits in ourselves and even further. This retreat was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits and re-invigorate me. It has helped me re-engage in self-growth towards the person I want to be. So thank you for that."
-peter, provence 2021
I was most hesitant re: meeting up with a bunch of strangers in another country (what if they are scary weirdos?!) and whether the price tag was worth it.//To quote Pride and Prejudice, YES, a thousand times yes! I arrived at a train station to be picked up by a group of attractive, hilarious, kindly souls who felt like old friends. Once we arrived a la chateau, I was greeted with the freshest damn oysters and crisp champers- I basically felt like I had been transported to the Provence of the 1920s- it was all very Woody Allen and Midnight in Paris. My soul nearly burst.
-katie, provence 2016
When such time, care, and love is put into something so intentionally, it shows. From drinks and meals, accommodation and activities, learning and playing, this retreat was a wonderfully curated blend of magic. Thank you.
I got spectacular accommodation that I didn't have to research, a perfect blend of planned activities and downtime, and the opportunity to meet like-minded people without having to go out on my own.
I have already been telling my friends they need to go on a Feast. I only tell people I really truth, though, don't worry. The time, care, and love put into EVERY SINGLE DETAIL of this trip was evident in our activities, meals, and environment. Moveable Feast allowed me to experience a place in a way I never have.
-rachel, sicily 2018
Our first week in Thailand, a Karen hill tribe welcomed us into their fold for a wedding week. The tradition is to fill huge garbage bags with homemade rice whiskey (a local specialty), pour it into old rum bottles, and drink tiny cups of it all day long. While we (might) not make you drink garbage bag whiskey, lawo khao is the perfect example of an acquired taste that you won’t find in an average Chiang Mai bar, despite being a quintessentially Thai flavor.
You might not discover the truly local liquors here (or even know where to find them) until your second or third visit– or, we’ll bring them to you. Easy.
Custom cocktails, locally brewed booze, the classics you love (there is a time and place for the perfect pina colada) balanced by the palate-stretching flavors of underground home brew.
PS. We’ve got plenty for the purists, too! Light Thai beers go with every dish, and you’ll quickly adapt to the local custom of drinking it with ice. Don’t worry, we’ll show you how to properly share an ice bucket with a table full of new friends. And between the fresh juices and sparkling caffeine options, non-drinkers will feel right at home too.
Drinks
ADVENTURES
If you’ve been on a Feast before, you might agree that the surprises of each trip are part of what make them special. But we’ll tell you some highlights of what we have planned for you on this trip:
Thai massages at the best spa in Chiang Mai
a visit to a friendly monk at a mountaintop wat overlooking the city
coffee tasting at a local standby coffee roaster in the farflung fields outside of Chiang Mai
wandering through our favorite local shops and cafes in the Old City
private tuk-tuk tour through our favorite dishes at the famed Night Market
poolside lounging
popup dinners under the twinkling Northern Thai stars
surprises around every corner
Thai massages at the best spa in Chiang Mai
a visit to a friendly monk at a mountaintop wat overlooking the city
coffee tasting at a local standby coffee roaster in the farflung fields outside of Chiang Mai
wandering through our favorite local shops and cafes in the Old City
private tuk-tuk tour through our favorite dishes at the famed Night Market
poolside lounging
popup dinners under the twinkling Northern Thai stars
surprises around every corner
YOUR HOSTS
We’re Tim and Laura Sullivan, MFR founders, and Chiang Mai is where we first set off into married life. We’ve spent years living in, returning to, and dreaming of this dot on the map of Southeast Asia, and we’re thrilled to bring back our co-host Alana Morgan for this trip.
Alana spent a decade living, working and writing in the heart of Chiang Mai. She’s been featured in Lonely Planet, National Geographic and Design*Sponge.
She can tell you the story of how the city was founded 700 years ago and about the newest cafe that just opened last week.
She’s the local guide who shares the deeply hidden treasures that would take you years to find on your own.
Alana is a treasure who will make you feel like a local in Chiang Mai, and together we’ve assembled the dreamiest mix of high/low experiences that any casual Thailand vacationer will be hard-pressed to find on their own.
What’s Included:
luxury accommodations in the best villa in Chiang Mai
all the culinary delights
poolside drinks, happy hours, wine pairings, late night snacks, and nightcaps
thai massages at a luxury spa in the heart of the city
multiple curated excursions both in town and the under-the radar outskirts
enough inspiration that you might have to check a bag home.
luxury accommodations in the best villa in Chiang Mai
all the culinary delights
poolside drinks, happy hours, wine pairings, late night snacks, and nightcaps
thai massages at a luxury spa in the heart of the city
multiple curated excursions both in town and the under-the radar outskirts
enough inspiration that you might have to check a bag home.
Le Pricetag
November 3rd-9th, 2024
100 year old Thai teak house
En suite bathroom
Super comfy king bed
Most spacious room
Access to private pool
(shared with one other room)
$6,300 (per person)
100 year old Thai teak house
En suite bathroom
Super comfy king bed
$5,900 (per person)
(Don’t have a travel buddy and want to be matched with one? We got you!)
(Traveling solo and want a room to yourself? Just $1500 additional to make your room a private)
Reserve your spot with a $1,500 deposit down, with the remaining balances due March 1 and August 1, 2024.
Feasts frequently sell out within 48 hours– if this trip is calling your name… let’s go.
100 year old Thai teak house
En suite bathroom
Two ultra luxe XL twin beds
Best for friends/travel buddies who don’t want to share a bed
$5,900 (per person)
Royal Siam
Royal Lanna
Royal Lanna Twin
Refund policy:
Because of the boutique, custom nature of each trip, we invest a lot into each traveler’s spot– but we also want to make Feasting as easy and risk-free as possible! We know that plans change: our flexible cancellation policy is below.
Deposit: trip deposits are non refundable, but they are transferable. You can pass your deposit on to another traveler to take your spot on a Feast, or use it for a future trip within one calendar year.
90+ days prior to a Feast: 75% of your payments will be refunded (minus credit card fees and deposit).
60+ days prior to a Feast: 50% of your payments will be refunded (minus credit card fees and deposit).
30+ days prior to a Feast: 25% of your payments will be refunded (minus credit card fees and deposit).
<30 days prior to a Feast: no refund will be provided
In the unlikely event of a cancellation from our side due to unforeseen circumstances (natural disasters, political instability, vendor cancellation, etc), we will send full or partial refunds commensurate with the uncompleted portions of the trip.
We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance to cover any circumstances that may lead to cancelation either prior to or during a trip.
need more thailand?
Want to stay in Thailand a little longer?
We made something for you.
Make your long flight worth it and join us in Bangkok for a bonus add-on to the Chiang Mai trip.
Bangkok can be big and a little intimidating, but we’ve got the keys to the Venice of the East.
The Bangkok adventure can only be booked as an addition to the Chiang Mai feast, and it’ll be a smaller group so we can be nimble in the wild Bangkok streets!
Flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.
Visits to some of our favorite secret haunts in the city.
Two nights in one of our favorite boutique hotels.
A private tour of the crown jewel of Thai architecture and royal history, The Grand Palace.
A visit to Wat Pho (the temple of the famous reclining Buddha).
Dinner at a Michelin starred restaurant.
bonus trip includes:
3 day 2 night Bangkok Feast:
$3500
Flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.
Visits to some of our favorite secret haunts in the city.
Two nights in one of our favorite boutique hotels.
A private tour of the crown jewel of Thai architecture and royal history, The Grand Palace.
A visit to Wat Pho (the temple of the famous reclining Buddha).
Dinner at a Michelin starred restaurant.
