Mekong River cruises, Thailand & Laos
| country: | Laos, Thailand |
| departures: | Departs every day except Sunday, from October to April |
| price: | From US $260 - US $383 (2 days) excluding flights, depending on the season. Minimum 2 people. Price includes transfer, 2 days cruise with English-speaking escort, 1 night accommodation, meal plan, non-alcoholic beverages, admission fee, group insurance |
the amazing things you'll be doing
2 day cruise along the mythical Mekong River
Gliding effortlessly across currents and along pristine forests, the boat is a purpose-built 34 metre river barge, a stylish replica of the journey craft famous to these waters.
Long scenic stretches of breezy, sun soaked river cruising are punctuated by visits to river-side hilltribe villages and the magical Tham Thing Caves of a Thousand Buddhas.
In between the two days on the river, the riverside lodge at Pakbeng, Laos offers a charming and serene riverside stay, a perfect romantic interlude in this unspoiled wilderness setting.
The Mekong River is rich in legend linking seven Asian nations from Tibet to the South China Sea. Perhaps the most mythical of Mekong experiences is a slow-boat river journey through Northern Laos, a timeless land still rich in exotic mysteries waiting to be discovered.
The cruise is a journey through remote mountainous stretches of the Mekong River between the northern Thai border at Houeisay and the royal old city of Luang Prabang, Laos - in a style fit for a king.
Established in the 14th Century, Luang Prabang sits majestically on the banks of the Mekong River. This charming and much sought-after city was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1995 and is considered one of Asia's best preserved ancient capitals. To wander its quiet, timeless lanes is to enter a living museum of life, architecture and serenity.
Gliding effortlessly across currents and along pristine forests, the boat is a purpose-built 34 metre river barge, a stylish replica of the journey craft famous to these waters.
Long scenic stretches of breezy, sun soaked river cruising are punctuated by visits to river-side hilltribe villages and the magical Tham Thing Caves of a Thousand Buddhas.
In between the two days on the river, the riverside lodge at Pakbeng, Laos offers a charming and serene riverside stay, a perfect romantic interlude in this unspoiled wilderness setting.
The Mekong River is rich in legend linking seven Asian nations from Tibet to the South China Sea. Perhaps the most mythical of Mekong experiences is a slow-boat river journey through Northern Laos, a timeless land still rich in exotic mysteries waiting to be discovered.
The cruise is a journey through remote mountainous stretches of the Mekong River between the northern Thai border at Houeisay and the royal old city of Luang Prabang, Laos - in a style fit for a king.
Established in the 14th Century, Luang Prabang sits majestically on the banks of the Mekong River. This charming and much sought-after city was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1995 and is considered one of Asia's best preserved ancient capitals. To wander its quiet, timeless lanes is to enter a living museum of life, architecture and serenity.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Houei Say - Pakbeng. The boat leaves Houei Say pier at 09:00 hrs for a cruise down the Mekong to Pakbeng. En route one stop is made to observe rural life along the Mekong and discover minorities. A buffet lunch is provided on board. Arrive in Pakbeng before sunset and check-in at the lodge. Dinner on the terrace, overlooking the Mekong River. |
| Day 2: | Pakbeng - Pak Ou - Luang Prabang. Full breakfast at lodge. (Optional: walk to Pakbeng market, where people from the surrounding village of minorities exchange their goods). At 08:30 board the boat for the second leg of the cruise. A short stop is made to visit a hilltribe village where you can watch the traditional process of Lao whiskey production before having a buffet lunch on board. Continue to Pak Ou village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River, where you visit Tam Ting “Caves of a Thousand Buddha’s”. Arrive at Luang Prabang before sunset. |
| Please note: | The above itinerary runs on Monday, Thursday & Friday. The itinerary runs in reverse on Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday. |
travelling with a local operator
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.how this holiday makes a difference
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We have a long term agreement with a local company who provides us the boat for this cruise, including a local captain with his crew. During the trip a local guide is taking care of the customers. Our cruises stop in local Mekong riverside villages every day that we cruise. In these villages we help the local community by supporting the locals by buying their handicrafts. We also help the village school and temple with donations and aid the villagers to clear litter and other debris from their paths.
The opening of the lodge gave employment to 37 villagers and tribal people and wages earned at the Lodge are three to four hundred percent higher than the local standard. Villagers around the lodge are encouraged to grow fruits and vegetables and raise livestock and all their products are purchased by the lodge. Many of the vegetables at the lodge are organically grown in our own garden, using fertiliser from our compost bin instead of pesticides. The lodge hired a dance teacher to teach Khamu and Hmong people tribal dancing, which is now performed regularly. The Lodge also supports the financing of local musical instruments. Dancers and musicians are now able to earn their living without sacrificing their culture and traditions, as we are able to revive these old traditions for them which had been lost from the Pakbeng area. On the way, our cruise stops at Pak Ou village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River, where we visit Tam Ting “Caves of a Thousand Buddha’s”. With the entrance fee for each of our customers we contribute to the cultural preservation of this unique cave. All bottles, cans and plastics that are used during the cruise and also at the lodge are recycled. We are committed to reducing and recycling waste in our offices. Our offices practice double-sided printing, and recycle printer cartridges, whenever possible. Our offices turn off air-conditioning units and PC’s when offices are not staffed. Much of the waste from our offices is naturally recycled (e.g. bottles and paper waste are sold, where they are re-used/ recycled). We are supporting the Green World Foundation in Thailand and will have lecturer from this foundation to conduct seminars in our office for our staff in the near future. We already started selling some environment friendly products (bags, T-shirts) on their behalf and hand over all the money and profit to them. |
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