DOWN THE MEKONG IN DEPTH
Duration : 8 Days 7 Nights
Route : Huay Xai - Luang Prabang - Vientiane - Vat Phou Cruise
Tour Code : DLDMD
Day 1. Houay Xai– Pakbeng
Your local slow boat leaves Houay Xai pier at 09:00hrs for a leisurely cruise down the Mekong to Pakbeng. En route you will make a stop where you will have the opportunity to observe rural life in a remote ethnic minority village.
Your local lunch will be served onboard as you continue on downstream, arriving in Pakbeng before sunset. Overnight in Pakbeng (L, D)
Day 2. Pakbeng – Pak Ou Caves – Luang Prabang
After breakfast we will board our slow boat to continue our cruise to Luang Prabang. This morning we will stop to explore an ethnic Hmong village before having your lunch on board.
Midafternoon we will arrive at Pak Ou Caves. These caves are an ancient pilgrimage site and contain thousands of gold lacquered Buddha images left there over hundreds of years.
Continuing down the Mekong River we will arrive in Luang Prabang by late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B, L)
Day 3. Luang Prabang – half day city tour – Kuang Si Waterfall
We head off this morning on bicycles to see some of the highlights of Luang Prabang including a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts from the Royal period in Luang Prabang. Cycling on, we are seeing the city’s oldest temples, the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roof sweeping low to the ground, representing classical Lao architecture, the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham.
This afternoon we journey to Kuang Sii Waterfall stopping along the way to visit the morning Phousi Market, this where all the locals of Luang Prabang come to do their daily shopping. You will see a variety of local foodstuffs and products including dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, fish, vegetables and fruit, everything needed for daily life in Laos.
On arrival at the Kuang Sii Falls you will have the opportunity to cool off with a refreshing swim in the topaz pools below the falls, walk along the forest trails and visit the Bear Sanctuary.
Returning to Luang Prabang late afternoon your evening is free to explore or relax at the hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)
Day 4. Luang Prabang – Vientiane - half day city tour (Flight)
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Vientiane.
Following hotel check in and lunch you will head out on your site seeing tour of the Capital where you will see the major temples of Vientiane including the oldest, Wat Sisaket, with it’s thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image.
We also visit the national icon of Laos, That Luang Stupa, stopping along the way to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Overnight in Vientiane (B)
Day 5. Vientiane – Pakse – Vat Phou Cruise (Flight)
You have an early start this morning with a 6.30am flight to Pakse.
On arrival you’ll be met and transferred to the Vat Phou Cruise boat, 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 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 the Vat Phou (B, L, D)
Day 6. Vat Phou Cruise (Huei Thamo - Oum Moung Temple - Khong Island)
After a leisurely breakfast on board, we set sail for the village of Huei Thamo, only a few minutes’ walk away from the spectacular and ancient forest temple of Oum Moung.
Rejoining the boat we cruise south to the ‘4000 islands’ region, while enjoying lunch on the deck. Arriving midafternoon at Ban Dua Tae, a traditional Lao village, you will have the opportunity to explore and observe the traditional daily life of the village.
As the sun sets over the Mekong you will return to the boat and enjoy a quiet dinner on board serenaded by the songs of the buffalo toads. Overnight on board Wat Phou Cruise (B, L, D)
Day 7. Vat Phou Cruise (Veuthong - the “Niagara of the East - Xieng Di) – Pakse
Today we will enjoy breakfast on the upper deck, while cruising to the small village of Ban Veuthong, where we will board a small long tail boat for a short journey to Khong Island, the largest island in the 4,000 islands region.
After visiting the island we return to the mainland for lunch amid the bygone splendor of another age, colorful French colonial houses and an old customs post alongside a stone quay.
Following lunch we jump in minivans for our drive to the captivating, scenic splendor of the Khone Phapeng waterfall, “the Niagara of the East“, close to the Cambodian border. Return to Pakse by road we will arrive late afternoon. Overnight in Pakse (B,L)
Day 8. Pakse - Departure
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cambodia or to the Chongmek International Checkpoint to Ubon Ratchathani Thailand. (B)
Prices below are quoted in USD per person, valid till March 2015 |
Group of | 2-2 | 3-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | 13-16 | 17-20 | 21-24 | 25-29 | Single suppl. |
Budget ** | 2372 | 2221 | 2035 | 1910 | 1845 | 1823 | 1799 | 1794 | 619 |
Standard *** | 2501 | 2252 | 2055 | 1929 | 1853 | 1840 | 1819 | 1813 | 684 |
Superior **** | 2738 | 2478 | 2293 | 2166 | 2104 | 2081 | 2058 | 2051 | 883 |
Deluxe ***** | 2833 | 2574 | 2388 | 2263 | 2201 | 2175 | 2152 | 2147 | 986 |
Prices above are based on below local standard hotels and room types |
Cities | Budget** | Standard*** | Superior**** | Deluxe***** |
Pakbeng | | | | |
| Standard | Standard | Superior | Deluxe |
Luang Prabang | | | | |
| Standard | Deluxe | Deluxe | Superior |
Vientiane | | | | |
| Standard | Superior | Regular Floor | Deluxe |
Pakse | | | | |
| Standard | Superior | Deluxe | Deluxe |
Champasak | | | | |
| Standard cabin | Standard cabin | Standard cabin | Standard cabin |
Included in above prices
· Accommodation on a twin shared basis
· Private, Airconditioned Transport
· Boat trips as stated in the itinerary
· English speaking guide
· Admission fees to sites stated in the itinerary
· Meals: As indicated in above itinerary = B, L, D
· Gov’t taxs and service charges
· Luggage handling
· Drinking water
Exclusive of above prices
· Visas and Immigration fees on arrival
· Domestic airticket
· Int’l air tickets to/from Laos
· Travel and/or Medical Insurance
· Lunch or dinner unless stated in the itinerary
· Single suppl. room accommodation (quoted separately)
· Child or adult in triple share accommodation
· Foreign language guides other than English
· Peak Season or Special Events Surcharges
· Tip, drinks and other personal expenses
Cancellation policy
· No Show = 100 % charge
· 1-7days = 50 % of the tour price
· 8-14days = 30 % of the tour price
· 15-30 days = 10 % of the tour price
· 31 days up = no charge
Additional Remarks
· Itinerary is subject to change depending on flight availability, road and/or weather conditions and room availability.
· Group of 10 persons and above will use separate vehicle in Luang Prabang due to UNESCO restrictions on large coaches entering downtown Luang Prabang.
· Hotels listed above may not meet international star rating standards, especially in the remote areas where accommodation options are limited.
· Room rates quoted above do not include compulsory fees for special events, peak season such as Christmas and New Year or Gala Dinners etc.
· Prices are subject to change at any time as a result of VAT, Fuel Excise or other tax increases and USD currency fluctuations.
