In the afternoon, you will embark on your charming boutique river and settle into your accommo-dating cabin and unpack for a 11-day cruise. (Check-in is at 1 pm).

In the afternoon you join a guided city tour including all highlights of the Laotian capital that includes highlights of the Laotian capital such as the That Luang Stupa and Patuxai, known as the Arc de Tri-omphe of Vientiane. Back onboard your river vessel will start cruising upstream. Enjoy its spacious decks and lounge before attending your welcome reception and dinner. A selection of Asian and European food will be provided throughout the cruise.

Overnight: All overnights aboard your boutique river cruise ship.

Meals included: Dinner (D)

During the day, you cruise upriver, where you discover some of the most remarkable, impressive landscapes. In the afternoon, you enjoy the beautiful views and watch nature’s wonders along the Mekong’s shores before your boutique ship stops at a quiet place to stay for the night.

Overnight on board.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner 

Further north the landscape becomes more and more spectacular: hills covered with tropical vege-tation, awe-inspiring rock formations along the riverbanks, and a diverse array of rapid currents and slow rivulets. The power of the mighty Mekong gives your cruise the feeling of a real expedition. You enjoy the beautiful views and watch nature’s wonders along the riverbanks before your ships heads north again and stops for the night.

Overnight on board.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner 

Upstream you will stop at the small farming village Ban Don Saingam, where you can participate in a 30 minutes trekking to explore a hidden cave visited exclusively by Mekong River Cruises guests. The purely natural landscape is only broken by the seldom sights of small villages and local herds of cattle.

Overnight on board.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner (BLD)

During and after breakfast on board, you enjoy the beautiful view and possibly watch local fisher-men along the shore. On the way, don’t miss the Xayabouri Dam, the biggest hydroelectric power plant in Laos. In the afternoon, you meet the inhabitants of a small hill tribe village regularly visited by our guests and supported by donations.

Overnight on board.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner 

In the morning, you join a guided shore excursion that takes you to the Kuang Si Falls, some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Laos. In the afternoon, you reach Luang Prabang, the former royal capi-tal of Laos, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a walk up to Mount Phou Si, which offers a spectacular view of the Mekong and Khan Rivers and the surrounding mountains. Later you stroll along the Mekong promenade and visit the colorful night market of the local Hmong minority. Back on board you are celebrating this evening with a local dancing performance and a traditional Lao Baci-friendship ceremony.

Overnight on board.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner 

In the early morning, you can observe the traditional giving of alms in the streets of Luang Prabang and explore the traditional morning market. After breakfast on board, you join a guided city tour, which includes the National Museum of Luang Prabang, situated in the former royal palace, and a local handicraft village. After having lunch onboard, you continue exploring the charming town of Luang Prabang. As Luang Prabang offers many opportunities for fine dining, tonight you are free to choose from the numerous offerings in town or along the Mekong River.

Overnight on board.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch (BL)

During breakfast, your cruise takes you upstream until your boutique ship stops at the famous Pak Ou Caves, within which thousands of small Buddha statues dwell. From there, you can go on a short jungle trek through the forest to a small riverside village and visit their distillery. Alternatively, you can reach the village comfortably by boat. Nearby you can see work elephants in action unless they are employed elsewhere at the time of your visit. In the afternoon, your ship continues cruising upstream towards Oudomxay Province.

Overnight on board.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner (BLD)

The river traffic thins out as you proceed upstream, and you can enjoy the fantastic landscapes surrounding you. You can relax on deck, in your comfortable cabin or in the lounge and soak up the sun as the gorgeous landscape becomes more and more spectacular: hills covered with tropical vegetation, awe-inspiring rock formations along the riverbanks, and a diverse array of rapid cur-rents and slow rivulets. The power of the mighty Mekong gives your cruise the feeling of a real ex-pedition.

Overnight on board.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner (BLD)

Today you relax on deck, enjoying astonishingly diverse landscapes and the tranquility of northern Laos—a real retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life back home. As you cruise along the green hills, you start heading toward the small village of Pak Tha. You can join a long-tail boat excursion on the Namtha River, which takes you to a nearby Khmu village, whose school has been supported by donations from Mekong River Cruises guests for many years. In the evening, you enjoy our famous Mekong River Cruises barbecue dinner in a beautiful riverside location.

Overnight on board.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner (BLD)

Enjoy your last breakfast onboard and say goodbye to your Laotian crew. Before noon you reach Ban Huay Xay and disembark your boutique ship. After visiting the temple and traditional market you will pass the Thailand–Laos border at Friendship Bridge before transferring to the airport or your local hotel at Chiang Rai city limits.

Overnight on board.

Meals included: breakfast (B)