Cruise leisurely in the longest river of South East Asia on the Pak Ou boat. Dip into the daily life of locals in northern Laos, a part of the country where old traditions still prevail over modernity. Visit the limestone caves that turn into a sanctuary of thousands of Buddha statues and spend a night by Mekong in the traditional Lao style lodge.

Destination:	Luang Prabang, Laos
Activity:	Arts & Culture, Boat travel
Price:	start from $355 per person
Duration:	2 Days / 1 Night

Tour Rates* (Price/Person) in U.S. Dollars
Period	Single	Double	Triple	Group 4-6	Single Supplement
1 May 2011 – 30 Sep 2011	N/A	360	N/A	N/A	65
1 Oct 2011 – 31 Oct 2011	N/A	440	N/A	N/A	80
1 Nov 2011 – 30 Apr 2012	N/A	Please Contact Us	N/A	N/A	-
1 May 2012 – 30 Sep 2011	N/A	Please Contact Us	N/A	N/A	-

Rates include 7% VAT tax and 10% hotel service charge. Major credit cards accepted. No extra charge, no minimum

Note: Booking should be made at least 7 days in advance. The Triple rates are based on a twin sharing room with an extra bed for the third person.

Itinerary

Day 1 Houei Say – Pakbeng (Lunch, Dinner)

Board Pak-Ou boat at Houei Say pier at 9 am for immigration procedure; the pier is located near Laos immigration checkpoint across Mekhong River at Chiang Khong District, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. Cruise down the Mekong river to Pakbeng. En route several stops are made to observe rural life along the Mekong and discover minorities. Lunch on board. Arrive Pakbeng before sunset and check in Luangsay Lodge. Dinner on the terrace, overlooking the Mekong River.Note: Since the program starts early in the morning, we suggest you stay over night in Chiang Rai before boarding the boat the next morning.

Day 2 Pakbeng - Pak Ou - Luang Prabang (Breakfast, Lunch)

Full breakfast at Lodge. (optional : walk to Pakbeng market) 08:30 Hrs. Board Pak-Ou Boat for the second leg of the cruise. Picnic lunch on the river sand beach and short stop to discover the Hmong village. Continue to Pak-Ou village to visit Tham Ting caves of 1000 Buddhas. On the way to Luang Prabang brief stop to observe traditional process to obtain local rice alcohol. Arrive Luang Prabang before sunset.

Program Up

Day 1 Luang Prabang – Pak Ou – Pakbang (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

The LuangSay riverboat leaves Luang Prabang pier at 07h30 for a cruise up the Mekong to Pakbeng. A continental breakfast is served while the boat is cruising to Pak Ou Village, at the mouth of the Nam Ou River, where you will visit the Tam Ting “Caves of a Thousand Buddha’s”. Have a buffet lunch on board and stop at a hill tribe village where you can watch the traditional process of Lao whiskey production. Arrive at Pak Beng around sunset and check in at the LuangSay Lodge. Dinner on the terrace overlooking the Mekong River.

Day 2 Pakbeng – Houseisay (Breakfast, Lunch)

Full breakfast at the Lodge. At 07h00 board the boat for the second leg of the cruise. En route one stop is made to observe the rural life of the river tribes along the Mekong. There is a buffet lunch on board. Continue to HoueiSay where you will arrive before 17h00 (It is possible to proceed to Chiang Rai in the same day.)

Price Includes:

• 2 day cruise with stops and visits en route
• One night accommodation at Luang Say Lodge
• Meal plans as mentioned in the program
• Tours as mentioned in the program
• Entrance fee at Tam Ting and police fees along the trip
• Transfer from Lao immigration to pier in HoueiSai
• Assistance of English-speaking cruise escort during the cruise (no guide on board)

Price Excludes:

• Personal expense
• Other services not mentioned in the program
• Transfer to Houei Say pier and transfer from Luang Prabang pier to the hotel in Luang Prabang
• Ferry and immigration fees in HoueiSay
• Drinks during the trip, except bottled water (free supply)
• Laos Visa

Boat Schedule

• From Houeisay to Luang Prabang – From 1 November 2010 to 30 April 2011 and 1-31 October 2011, the cruise departs every Monday, Thursday and Friday. Every Sunday, the cruise departs with Pak Ou I. From 1 May 2011 to 30 September 2011, the cruise departs every Monday and Friday.
• From Luang Prabang to Houeisay – From 1 November 2010 to 30 April 2011 and 1-31 October 2011, the cruise departs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. From 1 May 2011 to 30 September 2011, the cruise departs every Wednesday and Saturday.

Note

• Laos Visa is required to enter Luang Prabang and other provinces in Laos. We suggest you apply for the Laos visa in your country (if available) or at the Laos consulate in Bangkok before arrival.

About the Package

River of life
To people living along Mekong, this river means more than just the longest river (2,700 miles) in South East Asia. It serves as the biggest source of food and natural resource for people in many parts of Indochina, ranging from Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia to Vietnam. The river, originates in Southern China, runs through several countries in South East Asia and forms part of international border between Burma-Laos, Laos-Thailand and Thailand-Cambodia. The water levels of the river are vital to the production of agricultural products, especially rice, for farmers in this region. If lucky, you may have a chance to see and taste a giant catfish, the world’s largest fresh water fish, which can be found only in this river.The best view of the countryside probably comes from a boat trip in the morning in which the scenes of misty lush green mountains standing astride the river are pleasant enough to keep your mind off predicament in life, at least for a while.

Blending with villagers
Even though Laos comprises 4 major ethno-linguistic groups with several tribes scattered in different parts of the country, the landlocked country has long enjoyed peace and harmony for centuries. Hmong, Pak-Ou and other small villages are located near the bank of Mekong between HoueiSay (Golden Triangle area) and Luang Prabang, the religious, ancient capital city. The boat trip opens an opportunity for visitors to browse through the way of life of locals at Pak-Ou and Hmong village and watch local merchants trading at Pakbeng market as the boat stops by for a brief visit.

The Caves of Buddha statues
A stop at the Tham Ting caves, set on a side of a cliff at the mouth of the Nam Ou River, will leave you bewildered by thousands of abandoned Buddha images in varied sizes and shapes placed together in limestone caves. A lower cave, which is lightened by sparkling lacquer on Buddha images, are easily accessible and convenient for visitors to explore the cave without any artificial light source. These Buddha images, though disfigured and damaged, are significant to Buddhist pilgrims, who journey from Luang Prabang and surrounding villages to bathe the Buddhas to gain merit during Lao New Year in April.

Whisky village
Once known as a stoneware jar producer, the villagers of Ban Xang Hai find distilling alcohol from sticky rice brings in higher income to their families. Pots of hooch can be found lining up on the beach awaiting transport up or down the river. A short observation at the production site will give you an idea why their in-house liquor becomes a popular flavor among local people who like to end their long working day with a nip of booze.

A touch of tranquility at LuangSay Lodge
Built on the bank of the Mekong with a backdrop of mountains is Luangsay Lodge. The small but comfortable lodge is decorated in traditional Lao style with several wooden pavilions separate from each other. Besides a comfortable bed and a wood cabinet, only an electric fan, a gas-filled lantern and a mosquito net are necessities in your room, a perfect way to experience simplicity and tranquility of life.