Luang Prabang Luxury Tour 9 days: Romantic Mekong River Cruise

On arrival at the Luang Prabang airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel. Situated in the centre of northern Laos, Luang Prabang is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding cultural, historic and architectural values and its harmonious relationship between the natural and built environment. You are free to stroll around the city for your own first impression of this ancient city. Overnight in Luang Prabang
 
Accommodation             : At the hotel in LuangPrabang
Meals                            : Breakfast

8:30 am:  Pick up by our English speaking guide from your hotel lobby
• Arrive at the Elephant Village Camp: Welcome greeting by our camp manager and participate in short briefing about elephants
• Ride your Elephant: From the Elephant Camp, enjoy the impressive experience of a 1 km bareback elephant ride! (1 person per elephant)
• Trek to Ban Huay Fai:  Enjoy a 4 km trek on foot through diverse landscape.  You will travel from our ‘old camp’ to the Khmu village of ban Huay Fai, where you can explore and discover and see how local Khmu people live. Your guide will explain about the house styles, customs, different ethnic groups and much more.
• Viewpoint: Walk around 1.5 km up the side of a steep incline where you will be greeted with a stunning view of the surrounding landscape. After which you will walk down through beautiful forest and see the different, natural fruits that grow in the forest.
• Lunch:  Dine in the forest surroundings with a picnic box lunch prepared just for you at our camp restaurant and served with drinking water (vegetarian options available). Lunch will be served next to a Hmong home and your guide will translate any questions you might have about their way of life.
• Trek to Ban Suan Dala:  Enjoy another 3 km trek on foot surrounded by unique tropical vegetation and different farmland. Your guide will explain about what people farm, including rubber trees, papaya, pineapples, mangos and more.
• Arrive at Ban Suan Dala: Finishing up in the village of Suan Dala, where you can explore and discover and see a real mixture of cultures including Lao, Hmong and Khmu. You may see a diverse range of different houses and society as these 3 ethnic groups coexist next to the beautiful Nam khan River.
• Boat trip back to camp:  Traverse the Nam Khan River in a traditional Lao long boat from Ban Suan Dala back to the Elephant Camp. You may see the traditional methods of net fishing and other various ways with which the local population use and enjoy the river.
• Depart: Transfer back to your Hotel in Luang Prabang between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm
 
Accommodation             : At the hotel in LuangPrabang
Meals                            : Breakfast, Lunch
 
 

Morning you have free time until we , transfer you to the pier to embark your comfortable boutique-cruise ship MV Mekong Sun for check-in at 1:30pm. This unique boutique vessel is a German-Laotian owned river ship with stylish cabins. Settle into your accommodating cabin and unpack for a six-day cruise. Begin this afternoon with a guided city tour with visits of the famous Wat Xieng Thong temple among others. Enjoy the spacious decks, lounge on board and attend our welcome reception this evening. A selection of Asian and European food will be provided throughout the cruise.
 
Accommodation             : On Mekong Sun cruise 
Meals                            : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 

In the early morning you will able to observe the traditional giving of alms in the streets of LuangPrabang. Breakfast is on board before your spectacular cruise begins with the departure from LuangPrabang southbound through beautiful scenery. The night is spent on a secluded river bank or sandbank.

Accommodation             : On Mekong Sun cruise 
Meals                            : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 
 

Further downstream you will discover some of the most remarkable, most impressive landscapes of this still-untamed river. The landscape becomes more and more spectacular: hills covered with tropical vegetation, awe-inspiring rock formations along the river banks, and a fascinating array of fast currents and slower river parts.

The power of the mighty Mekong will give your cruise the feeling of a real expedition (due to sudden drops in water level on some days, it may be necessary to make the afternoon excursion down south and upstream again – the wildest and possibly most exciting part of the Mekong – in a local Lao slow boat before returning back onboard).

You will visit a local village school, which is supported by guests of Mekong River Cruises. Enjoy the beautiful views and watch nature’s wonders along the shores before you head north again.
Overnight on board.

Accommodation             : On Mekong Sun cruise 
Meals                            : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 

After breakfast on board, enjoy the beautiful view and spot local fishermen onshore as you cruise upstream again. After a few hours of cruising up the river, you will stop and continue by local TukTuk-Trucks to visit the famous Kuang Si-waterfalls, some of the most remarkable waterfalls in Laos. After passing LuangPrabang you will stop again at a sand- or river bank for the night. This evening we enjoy our famous Mekong River Cruises BBQ dinner in a beautiful riverside location. Overnight on board.
 
Accommodation             : On Mekong Sun cruise 
Meals                            : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 
 

After breakfast on board you will explore the famous Pak Ou Caves, with thousands of small Buddha statues inside the caverns. After a short walk through the jungle (optional) you visit a Laotian village. In the village you can observe how the local liqueur Lao-Lao is being distilled traditionally. Before returning to your Mekong vessel, you will see elephants in action (unless they are busy with an offsite contract by the time of your visit). After re-embarkation you will enjoy a few hours of cruising the Mekong River amidst beautiful landscapes before reaching again LuangPrabang, where you enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

Enjoy a walk up Phou Si-hill e.g., which offers a spectacular sunset view over the Mekong as well as the Khan River and the surrounding mountains. In the evening, you can stroll along the Mekong promenade or visit the colorful night market of the local Hmong minority before celebrating this last evening on board with a farewell dinner with a traditional Lao Baci-friendship
ceremony. Overnight on board
 
Accommodation             : On Mekong Sun cruise 
Meals                            : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 

After breakfast you will say goodbye to your Laotian crew. Check-out and disembark (until 10am). From here transfer back to your hotel in LuangPrabang
 
Accommodation             : At the hotel in LuangPrabang
Meals                            : Breakfast
 
NOTE: Every river cruise on the upper Mekong is a pioneering experience and is subject to constantly changing river conditions, including floodwaters and shallows. Therefore please understand that we must reserve the right to alter the itinerary of this tour due to the logistical complexities involved. Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather and river conditions. For safety reasons and according to navigating conditions, these programs may be amended without previous notice
 

Today you have free time until we transfer you to the airport for your flight home. End of our service. Late check-out is excluded

Accommodation             : NA
Meals                            : Breakfast