LAOS: 8 DAYS DOWN THE MEKONG

8 days by boat from the Golden triangle to Luang Prabang

Highlights of the trip:
-ride a slow boat down the mytical river on the most preserved and wildest stretch of the Mekong. Lots of stops in villages along the river to observe the life: fishing, goldseeker, mahouts and elephants at work, smith, weaving, agriculture.

-meet the ethnic groups such as the Hmong, Khamu

-stay in a village specialized in training elephants used to pull logs. Elephant ride in the forest.

-stay a night in a mahout’s house.

-complete visit of the historical Luang Prabang, former royal capital of Laos on the UNESCO World heritage list.

-convenient access by flying from Bangkok to Chiang Rai (North Thailand) and back to Bangkok on Bangkok airways directly

 


  

 

  Day 1:

    flight Bangkok-Chiang Rai on Thai airways. Road to Chiang Khong, town on the Thailand-Lao border. Night at Houay Say (Laos) in a guest house.

 

 

  Day 2:

    HOUAY SAY-PAK BENG. Stop at Pak Tha, a fishing village at the mouth fo the Nam Tha river, tributary of the Mekong, where a French explorer, Francis Garnier, did a stop during his survey trip in 1870. He saw a temple bell still there. Stops in ethnic Hmong and Khamu villages. Night in a guest house.

 

 Day 3:

    PAK BENG-HONGSA. Boat to Tha suang, then pick-up truck by a dirt road to Hongsa, a village specialized in elephants raising and training. Home stay.

   
 

Day 4:

    HONGSA-PAK OU. Elephant ride around the forest and through paddy fields. Back to Tha suang, then boat to Pak Ou by the Nam Ou river and the Mekong. Visit of caves where 4000 Buddha images are kept. Night in Pak Ou in a guest house.

           
 

Day 5, 6 and 7:

    PAK OU-LUANG PRABANG. Visit of the ancient capital on the World Heritage list: temples of Vat Xieng Thong, Vat Mai, handicraft such as traditional paper making, pottery, brick making, silversmith, puppet master from the ex-royal palace, primary school, herbal steam bath and massage at the Lao Red Cross, walk by the Nam Khan river. Night in a guest house by the Mekong.

 


Day 8:

    after a stop at the fresh product market, day trip to Kuang Si falls in a magnificent lush forest. Bath and hike around. picnic close to the falls.

on the way to Kuang Si waterfalls

 

      
 

Day 9:

    shopping downtown before the flight to Bangkok (Bangkok airways)

            Vat Xieng Thong
 
CONDITIONS AND TARRIFS:

what is included:

-flight Bangkok-Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang-Bangkok.
-private boat down the Mekong.
-accomodation in guest house in double room.
-elephant ride.
-meals.
-entrance fees for the sites in Luang Prabang , Pak Ou caves etc…
-guided by myself (English, French speaking guide) or by an experienced English speaking Lao guide.

Not included: Lao visa, international airport taxes, drinks.

TARIFF : on the basis of 2 persons : 1300 € per person
  4 persons : 1100 € per person
  6 persons :   900 € per person