Destinations:

- Vietnam
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Thailand
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Myanmar
- Indonesia
- China
- India
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- Home

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MEKONG EXPLORER
10 DAYS 9 NIGHTS

Day1) Arrival – Chiang Rai
Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel where you have the rest of the day at leisure to relax.
Overnight in Chiang Rai

Day2) Huay Xai – Pakbeng
We transfer early this morning to the border town of Huay Xay. The Luang Say Cruise boat leaves Huay Xay 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 visit minority ethnic groups; then, a buffet lunch on board.
Arrive Pakbeng before sunset and check-in at LuangSay Lodge. You can then enjoy dinner on the terrace overlooking the Mekong River.
Overnight in Pakbeng

Day3) Pakbeng – Pak Ou Caves – Luang Prabang
Full breakfast at lodge, (Optional: walk to Pakbeng market, where people from the surrounding minority villages exchange their goods). At 08:30 board the boat for the second leg of the cruise. A short stop to discover a Hmong village before having a buffet lunch on board. Continue to Pak-Ou village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River, and then visit Pak Ou Caves "Cave of a thousand Buddha's".
On the way to Luang Prabang a brief stop is made to observe the traditional process of manufacturing local rice alcohol. Arrive at Luang Prabang before sunset, where you will be met by your driver and guide and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day4) Luang Prabang – half day city tour
The daily morning ritual of ‘Tak Bat’ or giving alms to the monks.  This is a unique ritual still followed by the locals in Luang Prabang.  We can also visit the local fresh market to see how the locals shop, before returning to your hotel for breakfast.
Duration: 2 hours
Your half day city tour starts with a visit to Wat Visoun, known as ‘The Water Melon Stupa’ due to its shape. Next we visit the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, with its roof sweeping low to the ground, representing the classical Luang Prabang style. We also visit the excellent Arts and Ethnology Centre which gives us a great insight into the ethnic mix and culture of Laos. We then visit the weaving and textile villages of Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek.
Duration: 4 hours
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day5) Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfall half day
After breakfast, we visit the local Phosi Market, this is the place where all the locals shop and your guide will show and explain to you the diverse offerings on display. We also stop at Ock Pop Tock, a silk weaving centre. Here you will be given a guided tour and the silk weaving process will be explained.
We then drive out of the town where you have the option of stopping to visit Khmu, Hmong and Lao Loum villages, representing the main ethnic groups of Laos. This then takes us to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the turquoise pool or walk along the forest trails.   Next to the falls is a Bear Rescue Centre, that does a great job in protecting and rehabilitating the rare Asiatic Black Bear.  We then return to Luang Prabang by lunchtime.
Duration: 4-5 hours
Drive time: 1 ½ hours
Tips: bring a towel with you if you’d like to swim at the waterfall
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day6) Luang Prabang – Vientiane - half day city tour
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival you will be checked into your hotel and following lunch Your half day city tour, begins with the oldest wat in Vientiane, Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which now serves as a museum of arts and antiques.  We then travel up Lanexang Avenue you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxai Monument, which resembles its Parisian inspiration, the Arc de Triomphe.  The climb to the top offers great views over Vientiane.
We continue onwards down Rue Singha 23 to Laos’ National icon, and most important religious  building, the golden stupa of That Luang.  The final visit of the day will be the excellent COPE exhibition centre, highlighting a much overlooked aspect of Laos and a major problem many of the local people face on a day to day basis in the form of unexploded ordnance as a result of heavy bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War area.  We then return to your hotel.
Duration: 4 hours
Overnight in Vientiane

Day7) Vientiane – Pakse – Vat Phou Cruise (B,L,D)
You will depart Vientiane early for your 6.30am flight to Pakse. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Vat Phou Cruise leaving Pakse for Champassak at 10:00am. Once on board, we head south, arriving at Champassak in time for a riverside lunch, followed by a guided tour of the mysterious pre-Angkorian 10th century temple of Wat Phou, the boat’s namesake. As dusk falls, we board the Vat Phou for a relaxing cruise down-river, enjoying the tropical sunset on the deck. Dinner is served on board, while the boat docks for the night alongside a remote Laotian village.
Overnight on board Vat Phou Cruise.

Day 8) Vat Phou Cruise (Huei Thamo - Oum Moung Temple - Khong Island) (B,L,D)
After a leisurely breakfast on board, we set sail for the village of Huei Thamo, only a few minutes walk away from the spectacular hidden ancient forest temple of Oum Moung. We rejoin the boat for a leisurely cruise southbound and enjoy lunch on the deck, continuing south to the wild paradise of the “4,000 islands” region. In the afternoon we will arrive at Ban Dua Tae, a traditional Laotian Village where the traditional way of life has not changed in centuries.  We observe traditional village life and learn about the daily activities within the village. This evening we enjoy a quiet dinner on board, under the stars, serenaded by the songs by the songs of the buffalo toads. Overnight on board Wat Phou Cruise.

Day 9) Vat Phou Cruise (Veuthong - Xieng Di) – Pakse (B,L)
Today we will enjoy breakfast on the upper deck, while cruising to the small village of Ban Veuthong, where we will board a small longtail boat to Khong Island, the largest island in the 4,000 islands region.  After visiting the island, we take a long tail boat back to the mainland for lunch amid the bygone splendid of another age; colourful French colonial houses and an old customs post, alongside a stone quay. We will transfer by minivan to the encaptivating, scenic splendor of the Khone Phapeng waterfall, “the Niagara of the East“, close to the Cambodian border. We return to Pakse for “civilization”, which is a two-hour journey by road, arriving in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Pakse. 

Day 10) Pakse – Departure (B)
After breakfast; you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.
Note: This tour would be complimented well at the end with either a beach break in Thailand or a three night Angkor Wat tour in Siem Reap, please contact us if you need assistance with this.

Tour price per person in US$
Price valid from 01-Oct-11 to 30-Apr-2012

Tour price per person in US$
Price valid from 01-May-12 to 30-Sep-2012

Supplement for Spanish speaking guide: On demand.

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