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Cruise along the scenic banks of the Mekong River in southern Laos with a 3 day/2 night cruise. The Vat Phou cruise boat boasts 12 cabins, all with air-conditioning and private bathrooms, also owning open and shaded decks, a restaurant and a bar.

The cruise will introduce you to some breathtaking points of call such as the UNESCO World Heritage Vat Phou ruins at Champassak, the 4,000 islands, the Pha Pheng waterfall on the Laos and Cambodian border and the Oum Muong ruins.
If you are seeking a comfortable journey along the Mekong while appreciating the surrounding colorful culture of this fascinating part of the world, the luxury Vat Phou Cruises is the best choice in Lao. If you ever dreamt of cruising down the Mekong River, do it with style – do it with Vat Phou Cruises.

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CRUISE 3 DAYS & 2 NIGHTS – Down River

DAY 1

HUAY XAI > VILLAGE > PAKBENG

As an option into this 2 day – 1 night cruise on the Mekong,
the Luang Say Mekong cruise proposes as well a 3 day – 2 nights
accommodation program together with the Kamu Lodge

HUAY XAI (Houei Sai)

– Departure 9h30 –

Within the Mekong region, the capital of the Lao province of Bokèo, Huay Xai is an important border crossing point with neighboring Chiang Khong, Thailand and was thus chosen as the ideal departing port for the cruise.

TRADITIONAL LAOS VILLAGE

– 10h30 –

After one-hour journeying along the river, the boat stops at a traditional village. This is a chance to observe rural life along the Mekong and witness the daily life of ethnic minorities and their talented craftsmanship.

LUNCH

– 12h30 –

Lunch is served on board in a buffet style with a main course from Laos’ main culinary delights as well as a choice of fish and meat dishes.

PAKBENG

– Arrival: 16h00 –

The river cruise arrives at Luang Say Lodge near Pakbeng before sunset, giving plenty of time to refresh, enjoy the scenery of the river and admire the surrounding nature.
A Laotian dinner is served on the open air terrace overlooking the Mekong River.

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CRUISE 3 DAYS & 2 NIGHTS – Down River

DAY 2

PAKBENG > BAW VILLAGE > KAMU LODGE

SECOND DAY OF THE CRUISE

– DEPARTURE: 8h00 –

The cruise departs for another day of nature discovery along the legendary river with two stops planned along the way to Luang Prabang.

TRADITIONAL LAOS VILLAGE

– 10h30 –

A few hours into the day after enjoying the sights of granite cliffs and sparkling sandy shores, the river boat makes a stop to visit the hill tribe village of Baw, where you can watch the traditional process of making Lao whiskey.

LUNCH

– 12h30 –

Lunch is served on board in a buffet style with a main course from Laos’ cuisine. A different choice of fish and meat dishes than on the first day is prepared for a greater culinary experience.

KAMU LODGE

– Arrival: 14h30 –

Arrives at Kamu Lodge, in the afternoon, you can participate in a variety of activities; visiting Kamu village, archery contest, rice planting and harvesting, traditional fishing and gold panning (January to June). Dinner in a set menu and you stay an overnight at Kamu Lodge.

CRUISE 3 DAYS & 2 NIGHTS – Down River

DAY 3

KAMU LODGE > PAK OU > LUANG PRABANG

KAMU LODGE

– 08h00 –

Early morning, you can plough, harvest or mill rice with the villagers. The rest of the morning is at leisure to enjoy the optional activities offered at the lodge. Experience a traditional Kamu Massage in a hut overlooking the Mekong river.

CHECK OUT & LUNCH

– 12h00 –

Check out is 12:00 noon. Lunch is served at the Kamu Lodge restaurant where you can enjoy the local flavors of Laos cuisine with a selection of meat and fish dishes as well as fresh produce grown in the organic garden. The boat will depart after lunch cruising downstream.

CAVES OF THOUSAND BUDDHAS

– 15h00 –

Opposite the mouth of the Nam Ou River, near Pak Ou village, the cruise stops to visit the Tam Thing cave. Translated as Rock Cave, it is famous for housing over 2,500 Buddha statues of all sizes and for being a place of pilgrimage for locals.

LUANG PRABANG

– 16h30 –

Following a day along the wide Mekong river, with beautiful sceneries of mountains, wild nature, local life and delicious food, the cruise arrives at Luang Prabang, the former imperial capital of Laos.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

1 OCTOBER – 31 MARCH

All cruises depart every Monday, Thursday & Friday.

01 APRIL – 30 SEPTEMBER

All cruises depart every Monday & Friday.
* No cruises operation in June.

PRICE INCLUDE

– Transfer from Laos’s immigration to the pier in Houayxay.
– 3 days cruises with stops and visits en route.
– 2 nights accommodation at the Luang Say Lodge and Kamu Lodge .
– Meal plan as mentioned in the program (3 lunches, 2 Dinners, 2 breakfasts).
– Coffee, tea & drinking water on board and during meals.
– Admission fee at visiting points as mentioned in the program.
– Service of qualified crews during the cruise.

PRICE EXCLUDE

– Transfer from pier to hotel in Luang Prabang.
– Shuttle boats from Chiang Klong to Houay Xai.
– Immigration fees in Houayxay.
– Soft and Alcoholic Drinks during the trip.
– Visa approval and fees for Laos Services in Luang Prabang.
– Personal insurance Other personal expenses.

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Huay Xai (Houei Sai)

The Luang Say boat leaves Houei Sai pier at 9.30am (please be at Lao immigration office no later than 8.30) for a cruise down the Mekong River to Pakbeng.

After completing Thai immigration formalities, our Luang Say representative will help you get a shuttle bus to cross the bridge and go to Lao immigration.

Our Luangsay staff in Houei Say (Houayxay) will then welcome you to Laos and help with Lao immigration formalities.

(You can check the frequently asked questions for more specific details)

We will then transfer everyone to the Luangsay cruise boat, which is parked at the slow boat pier in Houei Say (about 1 kilometer out of the town center). Every slow boat docks here from huge dirty Chinese cargo boats, to small cross-river ferries, to long low-slung Lao passenger boats and many more.

The Luang Say boat leaves Houei Sai pier at 9.30am (please be at Lao immigration office no later than 8.30) for a cruise down the Mekong River to Pakbeng.

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TRADITIONAL LAOS VILLAGE

A few hours from Houei Say (Thai Border), we will stop and visit the ethnic village, Ban Gon Dturn. At this point in the Mekong there are a number of shallow rapids, the Lao words for which (Gon Dturn) give its meaning to the villages name. The inhabitants are Tai Lue tribe people, who originally came from the Yunnan area of China around 300 years ago, fleeing persecution. They can now be found in the northern Lao provinces of Bokeo, Luang Nam Tha, Phongsaly, Luang Prabang and Sayabouly. The Tai Lue traditionally live in the valleys and low, flat lands. There are 180 households in this village, encompassing 850 people.

Houses in a Tai Lue village are traditionally on stilts, and the ground under the houses is used to store tools, firewood and weaving. Upstairs consists of a large balcony used as a living room and guest bedroom. The inside of the house is not divided into smaller rooms, but remains as one large dormitory style sleeping quarters, with an area for cooking in one corner. The houses have small windows and a twin-peaked roof. They face the river as this is considered to be good luck.

Agriculture forms the main occupation of the men in the village, whether tending rice fields or planting other crops. Produce not required for village consumption is sold to merchants who pass by on the river. Tai Lue women specialise in weaving, much of the cotton and indigo dyes they use are cultivated in the village itself. Silk is imported from other provinces. They too sell their cloth to the passing boat traders. It is also the women responsibility to look after the family. Nearby villages in the region trade products with each other and communicate news, through regular visits.

Men wear blue or black clothing, and a scarf on their head. Their bodies are often covered with tattoos. These important designs are for personal protection from spirits and natural afflictions and are considered very manly and attractive to Tai Lue women. The women wear a Lao style sinh, or long skirt, usually made by the women who wear them.

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TRADITIONAL LAOS VILLAGE - BAW Village

“Baw village” is located on the Mekong River between Luang Prabang and Pakbeng. Ban Baw is a very old village. For over 600 years the village has held three different ethnicities: Lao Loum (the ethnic majority in Laos), Tai Lue and Shan, but these days the majority are Lao Loum. The population of 450 live in 45 house holds.

Shan people came to Ban Baw as refugees from Burma. Since arriving in Laos, many of the Shan people have left via the Mekong River to Thailand. Those that remained have learnt to integrate with the Lao and their customs, believing currently in a mix of Buddhism and Animism (spirit worship). Nowadays, the three tribes live together in harmony as family and have developed similar customs to each other, wearing indistinguishable clothing and celebrating events such as weddings in the same fashion.

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KAMU LODGE

Kamu Lodge is an Eco lodge surrounded by lush tropical vegetation in the heart of the Lao jungle, a perfect hideaway for people who want to get away from it all. It’s a lodge where guests feel quickly at home, in comfortable mosquito free tents, where they receive personal attention and where the individual still matters.
It’s more than just a Lodge, it’s a lifestyle based on the premise that contact with nature is essential to relieve stress, to rejuvenate and to rediscover a sense of self. Primitive paths throughout the area provide visitors with a dramatic experience under a jungle canopy. Rare amphibians, birds, butterflies, tropical flowers and plants provide Eco tourists with many delights!
Firmly committed to the sustainability of the environment and its denizens, Kamu Lodge brings together man an nature under the open skies, By providing employment to the local ethnic Kamu people living near the lodge, we ensure their livelihood and existence in this sometimes harsh environment. By utilizing some of the revenue gained from guests, Kamu Lodge has set aside a fund to provide basic education for the village’s children.

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CAVES OF THOUSAND BUDDHAS

Twenty five kilometres away from Luang Prabang, opposite the mouth of the Nam Ou River, are the Pak Ou caves. There are two caves Tham Thing (the lower cave) and Tham Phoum (the upper cave).

These caves contain thousands of Buddha images and are of great religious importance to the Theravada Buddhists in Laos. These caves were converted into Buddhist temples in the 15th century and are used as a site for old Buddha images that can no longer be venerated in a temple, either because they are damaged or the temple they were displayed in has been destroyed.

At Laos New Year, pilgrimages of Lao people go by boat to the caves and perform the washing ceremony of all the old Buddha images. Previously this was performed by the King and members of the Royal Family but now is performed by the Governor of Luang Prabang and local families.

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LUANG PRABANG

Luang Prabang is the cultural and religious capital of Laos, and was also the Royal capital until 1975 when the Pathet Lao forced King Sisavang Vatthana to abdicate. During the time of the Lan Xang kingdom, between 13-16th centuries, Luang Prabang was also the administrative capital of Laos instead of Vientiane.

Luang Prabang is now the only city in Laos where ethnic Lao people make up the majority rather than Chinese, Vietnamese or Thai.

In 1995, UNESCO made Luang Prabang a world heritage city to try and preserve the old French Indo-Chinese architecture. This move has also helped preserve the ancient traditions and trades which make Laos unique.

It is possible to watch people making sa (mulberry bark) paper, silver jewellery and plates, rattan baskets, wood carvings and textiles in many small shops all through the little alleyways and laneways of Luang Prabang.

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