Mission to Burma

The country's newest (okay, first) luxury lodge

EDITOR'S NOTE: In light of the unfortunate developments in Burma since the publication of this story (which had been in the works for several months), what you're about to read below may seem a bit unrealistic, and possibly offensive. We apologize for the timing, and hope that the situation is resolved as justly as possible. We also wish Brett Mezler well in his efforts to open up the country and its citizens via tourism.

September 21, 2007—Could Burma—a.k.a. Myanmar, a.k.a. the setting for that crappy John Boorman movie starring Patricia Arquette—be Asia's next big tourist destination? Brett Mezler thinks so. "This place is like Thailand as it was 40 years ago," says the commodities-trader-turned-hotelier, who next month is unveiling the Malikha Lodge, an eco-friendly wilderness resort in the country's northernmost (read: less dangerous) reaches. Designed by architect Jean Michel Gathy (who made his bones at several Aman Group resorts), the backcountry haven, which is situated in a subtropical rain forest at the foothills of the Himalayas, consists of ten "traditional-style" bungalows. As one might expect, there's plenty of locally sourced rattan and bamboo, plus a 400-gallon handcrafted teak bathtub in every room. And, while Malikha's plenty remote (getting there requires a four-hour flight from Rangoon to Putao), guests still enjoy the services of a Michelin-trained chef and a masseur who's apparently worked on both Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett (separately, as far as we know). There's also guided trekking (with elephants, even), mountain biking, and white-water rafting on the Nam Lang River, not to mention manicured gardens adjacent to Asia's largest tiger reserve, the 2,500-square-mile Hukawang Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. Who knew Thailand circa 1967 was so great?

Malikha Lodge, 95-1-652-809, malikhalodge.com. Bungalows from $450 per person per night with a three-night minimum stay; open from October through April