Down the Mekong in Depth

This is a more complete ‘Down the Mekong’ tour, taking in the fantastic northern Mekong, but also a full exploration of the south on board the luxurious ‘Vat Phou Cruise’.

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Duration: 8 days/7 nights

Tour Code: MLHL03

Tour Valid: Until December 30th, 2013

Highlights: Huay Xai - Pakbeng - Pak Ou Caves - Luang Prabang - Kuang Si Waterfall - Vientiane - Pakse - Huei Thamo - Khong Island - Ban Veuthong Village.

• Day 1 - Huay Xai - Pakbeng

  Place Transport: Cruise 
  Meals: Lunch - Dinner

  The Luang Say Cruise 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 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. 

  Day 2 - Pakbeng - Pak Ou Caves - Luang Prabang

  Place Transport: Cruise 
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  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. Overnight in Luang Prabang. 

  Day 3 - Luang Prabang - City Tour - Kuang Si Waterfall

  Place Transport: Car 
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Your half day city tour begins with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We also have time to visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. After lunch, drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or walk along the forest paths, return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Phanom, a well known weaving village, return to the city by late evening for observing the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang
  
  

  Day 4 - Luang Prabang - Vientiane City Tour

  Place Transport: Airplane->Car 
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  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 enables us to see the major temples of Vientiane including the oldest, Wat Sisaket, a temple of thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit Lao national icon, That Luang Stupa, and we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph. Overnight in Vientiane 

  Day 5 - Vientiane - Pakse - Champassak - Wat Phou

  Place Transport: Airplane->Cruise 
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  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 6 - Huei Thamo - Oum Moung Temple - Khong Island

  Place Transport: Cruise 
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  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 Manoluck LPQ 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 7 - Veuthong - Khone Phapeng waterfall - Pakse

  Place Transport: Cruise->Car 
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  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; colorful 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 8 - Pakse Depature

  Place Transport: Airplane 
  Meals: Breakfast

  After breakfast, you will be transferred for catching a flight to Siem Reap-Cambodia or exiting Laos overland from the Chongmek International checkpoint to Ubon Ratchathani Thailand. 

  The Tour Inclusion:

  - 07 Nights Accommodation with breakfast.

  - Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above.

  - Domestic flight tickets, including domestic airport taxes.

  - Boat cruises as specified in the program.

  - The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary.

  - Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the program.

  - Meals (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available.

  The Tour Exclusion:

  - International flight tickets and airport tax. Visas.

  - Dinners, except as specified above.

  - Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.

  - Surcharge for peak season (if any) & other not mentioned in the above detail program

  Additional Information

  Importance note

  - The itinerary is just a sample of our tours; we'll be pleased to design similar programs with dates and itinerary customized to your personal preferences in Tailor Made Tours section. Rates may vary frequently. Please contact us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period and specific touring needs.

  What to bring?

  - Sun Block, Wide brim hat, Camera + Film, Comfortable shoes, Rain gear, Warm clothes, original Passport...

  How to start?

  - MinMax Travel is a fully escorted tour and best-available all year round; the only thing you need to prepare in advance is the international air-ticket from/to your country.

   - If you don’t have enough time to complete visa before your departure, we will help you to obtain Laos Visa on arrival easily (getting visa at the airport, on your arrival).