River & Rail - Journey Details

River and Rail
River Cruises
Luang Prabang

Description

Join our unique cruise on formerly inaccessible segments of South-East Asia's most exciting river! Enjoy visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Town Luang Prabang, stroll along colourful markets, get an insight into the traditional way of life of the Lao people, relax aboard your exclusive river vessel Mekong Sun and enjoy the unspoiled nature along the mighty Mekong.

Day 1 LUANG PRABANG: In the afternoon, you will embark on the Mekong Sun, a comfortable new Laotian cruise ship. (Check in is at 2:00 PM) This unique vessel is the first German-Laotian owned river ship with cabins on the upper Mekong. Settle into your accommodating cabin and unpack for a seven-day cruise. Begin with a walk up Phou Si-hill, which offers a spectacular sunset view over the Mekong as well as the Khan river and the surrounding mountains. In the evening, enjoy strolling along the Mekong promenade or visiting the colorful night market of the local Hmong minority. Enjoy the spacious decks, lounge on board and attend our welcome reception and dinner this evening. A selection of Asian and European food will be provided throughout the cruise. Overnight aboard the Mekong Sun.
Day 2 LUANG PRABANG: Breakfast on board. Today the ship stays in Luang Prabang, while you have the full day to get to know the beauties of this UNESCO World Heritage town. Apart from numerous temples, the atmosphere is enriched by neighboring French colonial architecture. As Luang Prabang offers many opportunities for fine dining, tonight you are free to choose from the numerous offerings in town or along the Mekong River. Overnight aboard the Mekong Sun.
Day 3 LUANG PRABANG & PAK OU: In the early morning you will able to observe the traditional giving of alms in the streets of Luang Prabang. Breakfast is on board. In the afternoon your spectacular cruise begins with the departure from Luang Prabang from where you will cruise north and visit a Laotian village. In the village you can observe how the local liqueur Lao-Lao is being distilled traditionally. After a short walk through the jungle you will explore the famous Pak Ou-caves, with thousands of small Buddha statues inside the caverns. The night is spent on a secluded river bank or sandbank. Enjoy the spacious decks, lounge on board and attend our welcome reception and dinner this evening. A selection of Asian and European food will be provided throughout the cruise. Overnight aboard the Mekong Sun.
Day 4 LAND OF THE THOUSAND ELEPHANTS: After breakfast on board you will go on an excursion by local slowboat up the Ou-River to visit rice paddies cultivated by the local Khmu minority. Before returning to the Mekong Sun, you will see working elephants in action near (unless they are busy with an off-site contract by the time of your visit). After reembarkation you will enjoy a few hours of cruising down the Mekong River amidst beautiful landscapes. Overnight aboard the Mekong Sun.
Day 5 WILD NATURE ALONG THE MIGHTY MEKONG: The ship will head south to the Mekong ferry crossing at Tha Deua, connecting Luang Prabang Province with the Sayaboury province. 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 ñ the wildest and possibly most exciting part of the Mekong ñ in a local Lao slowboat before returning back to the Mekong Sun) You will visit a local village school, which is supported by guests of the Mekong Sun. Enjoy the beautiful views and watch nature's wonders along the shores before you head north again and stop at a sandbank for the night. Overnight aboard the Mekong Sun.
Day 6 THA DEUA & LUANG PRABANG: 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 bus to visit the famous Kuang Si-waterfalls, some of the most remarkable waterfalls in Laos. On the way stroll through the small village of Tha Pan, where you can observe how the local communities live in norther Laos. In the afternoon you will return to Luang Prabang.
Day 7 LUANG PRABANG: Breakfast on board. Today the ship stays in Luang Prabang, while you can enjoy once again the wonderful town and the atmosphere in Luang Prabang. You have the day free to explore on your own. (For charter groups we can arrange an exciting program upon request) This last evening on board will be celebrated with a farewell dinner. Overnight aboard the Mekong Sun.
Day 8 LUANG PRABANG: After breakfast, check-out and disembark.

Built in Laos in 2006
2 decks with 11 classic cabins on the main deck (12 m≤), all facing out onto the water and with wide sliding windows with a French balcony providing a fantastic view of the passing landscapes
3 superior cabins, one in the bow of the main deck (20 m≤), two on the upper deck (21 m≤). The two cabins on the upper deck have their own small private balcony; the one in the bow has a superb panoramic view to the front
All cabins with en-suite shower/WC and air-conditioning
Large sun deck with bar service and restaurant/bar area
All guided offshore excursions and meals are included

The river vessel Mekong Sun is the most comfortable ship capable of mastering the wild sections of the upper Mekong. Between Vientiane, Luang Prabang and the Golden Triangle, the Mekong Sun is the only cabin cruiser available. Accommodation and service is top level and guests enjoy a very exclusive yet casual travelling experience, while they reside in comfortable cabins and behold previously inaccessible wonders of the Mekong. A selection of Asian and continental food is provided throughout the cruise. Special requirements can be catered for and wine, beer as well as spirituous beverages are available.

On the Mekong Sun there will be neither captainís dinner nor any entertaining games like bingo. Rather than that, guests will go on exciting offshore excursions and enjoy a programme with profound travel information in form of presentations, speeches and films on relevant topics. Among many others, the French Mekong Expedition of the 1860s, the daily life of a Buddhist novice or the plants and fruits of the Mekong region will be the subjects.

The exclusive river vessel Mekong Sun (built in 2006) enables you to go on a comfortable journey, which seemed impossible for ages: over 450 miles of travelling along fantastic river landscapes, passing by World Heritage Sites and aboriginal villages.The unique Mekong river cruises let you discover some of the last unknown regions of South-East Asia. Safe and comfortable travelling with only 28 guests on board of the exclusive river vessel Mekong Sun is guaranteed, while you watch the incredible landscapes of this partly untamed river pass by.