2 Days Luang Say Cruise | Downriver
2 Days Luang Say Cruise
| Downriver
Moving over the Mekong River in a chilled, romantic way from Thailand to Luang Prabang
WHY THIS TOUR?
Laos’ intensity may not come from its bustling cities, its fabulous nightlife and its fast-moving infrastructure and for that, the country comes with unique attributes, simply incomparable with other Asian destinations. It is here in this land-locked country where the wealth of its natural richness takes centre stage, designed and created along the Mekong River and meandering further into smaller rivers further inlands. The magic of its mountain ranges with small villages scattered along the river banks have formed the main ‘highway’ for excellent cruising options from the Thai – Lao border to UNESCO protected Luang Prabang.
An established name on this route is the Luang Say Cruise offering an exceptional display from the comfort of your wooden vessel of the country’s natural splendour. Whether you opt for a 2 days / 1 night up or downstream cruise, you wholeheartedly agree that Laos is just unique and unforgettable as seen from its waterways.
TRAIL ITINERARY
DAY 1
Chiang Khong, Thailand – Houayxay – Pak Beng [L, D]
The Luang Say team welcomes you at the Laos border side of Houayxay as they take care of your luggage. (NB in case customers choose to stay in Houayxay itself, the Luang Say team welcomes you at your overnight address in this Laotian border town). The excellent location on the other side of the Thailand border makes it a safe departing haven for your next 2 days of cruising to Luang Prabang. On board, standard amenities are provided alongside a great crew of local Laotians, eager to show you their country with tales, explanations and memorable photo moments.
Our first stop of the day at around 10:30am will be at one of the local villages along the Mekong. The residents of this small town have used the Mekong and its content not only as a source of income but also as one of their means to navigate from one side of the river to another. The authentic charm of Laos is well preserved here and will give guests a great insight into the lives of Laotians, living away from the main town.
As your captain continues to put his compass needled in the direction of our overnight address, the on-board crew is ready to serve you lunch on board. When in Laos, it is almost compulsory to try out the local cuisine and this lunch is certainly worth the stamp of approval.
Making its way across the Mekong, it is nature that rules here. Magnificent mountain ranges form the back ground of this often untouched part of Laos with jungle and an occasional fisherman passing you by. At the end of the afternoon (around 16:00 hrs), we reach Pakbeng where we disembark, check in at a local resort and enjoy the scenery from the resort premises. Its open-air terrace is a fabulous spot to watch the stunning scenery in comfort.
DAY 2
Pak Beng – Luang Prabang [B, L]
Right after breakfast, the team at your Pakbeng overnight address assist you with loading the luggage back on board before saying goodbye to you. With the morning sun slowly peeking above the mountains and shining its golden rays through the jungle foliage on the surface of the Mekong, we head toward our final destination – Luang Prabang.
Seeing Laos in the best possible way is meeting its people, its customs and making use of natural sources to make local delicacies or impressive handicraft. The myriad of hill tribes in this area have made their living just like that – using that what Mother Nature supplies and turning this into everyday goods. The village of Baw is an excellent example of how local Lao whiskey is made and with its wonderful setting against the granite cliffs; this has made a memorable stop for many guests.
Varied, flavourful and always based on fresh ingredients; Lunch on day 2 of your cruise again will see the hospitable crew on board the Luang Say creating a delicious collection of dishes, Laotian style. A small buffet set-up allows you to indulge in new culinary surprises.The Pak Ou caves are probably one of the most recognisable sights along the whole stretch of the Mekong River. Thousands of Buddha images await you when disembarking, named after the Ou River that flows nearby. A religious site that is not only high on guests’ bucket list when nearby Luang Prabang. Locals from around the region often pay respect to this immense collection of statues that resemble the Lord Buddha. A scenic boat ride from Luang Prabang, these images and figurines are assembled by the locals and pilgrims over decades and continue to grow year on year.
Unfortunately, the cruise comes to an end when we reach the main ferry pier at Luang Prabang at approximately 5pm. It is time to thank the skipper and his crew for showing you their country from their precious wooden vessel as you continue with your Laotian explorations, using Luang Prabang as your base.
