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Day 1: Welcome to Southern Laos (D)
In Pakse your
ever-friendly Laotian crew awaits you at boarding with a welcome
cocktail (Check in is after 2pm). During a guided city walk you
will explore Pakse itself, the capital of Champasak province.
Among others this first excursion includes a visit of the main
temple Wat Luang with its adjoining convent school as well as a
stroll along the Mekong River promenade. Afterwards you will
start your cruise experience with the departure northwards to
the village Sapai were you will get to know more about the local
textile weaving art (During the driest months of the year
the water level of the Mekong River can drop significantly so
that this excursion may have to be organized overland by bus
instead by boat).
Day 2 – 4: UNESCO-World Heritage and nature delights (B,L,D)
After cruising
downriver you will stop further south to go on a shore excursion
to the impressive temple complex of Wat Phou, relics of the
great Khmer empire reining the region from the 8th to
13th century. This UNESCO World Heritage site is
located at the foot of the 1,500 m high Kao Mountain. With its
mystical atmosphere these ruins are among the most inspiring
archaeological tour destinations of Laos. Returning aboard your
can lean back and enjoy the beautiful sunsets from your cabin or
the sundeck while cruising deeper into the so called region of
the 4,000 Islands. Here in the deep south of the country the
Mekong has its widest expansion of up to 16 km during the annual
high water period. In thousands of years nature created a
landscape that seems almost surreal with thousands of islands
appearing in the river bed when the high water declines
annually. Some of theses islands are bigger with a magnitude of
a few square kilometers; other uninhabited ones are only a few
square meters wide. With a bit of luck you may spot some of the
rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins when they are hunting in the
evening. During your cruise in this remote nature escape you
will also see the mighty Khone waterfalls, the biggest falls in
Asia. When the sun has set and your cruise vessel is moored
safely at the river shore you will get to know more about Laos
and its people as well as the nearly 5,000 km long Mekong river
during exciting presentations and lectures held by your cruise
director. Enjoy Southeast Asian delicacies for dinner on board
or an atmospheric barbecue on the riverbank.
Day 5: Return to Pakse
Breakfast is
served in the morning while you cruise leisurely upstream again
towards Pakse, where your unique cruise ends with
disembarkation. (B)
7-day
cruise itinerary: Get to know Southern Laos comprehensively (B,L,D)
During this
unique 7-day river cruise you will get an even deeper inside of
Southern Lao culture and nature life. Your comprehensive program
includes additional encounters with the locals in their
villages, excursions to little-known temples, elephant riding
through the jungle as well as a day trip to the plateau of
Bolaven. From this 1,000 m high plateau you can enjoy fantastic
panoramic views of the surrounding plains. The pleasant climate
is perfect for the cultivation of the delicious coffee Lao.
Before returning to your cruise vessel Mekong Islands in the
late afternoon you will witness the steep fall of the Tad Fane
twin-waterfalls, with 120 m one of the deepest waterfalls in
Laos. (2x BLD)
NOTE:
Every river
cruise in Southern Laos is a pioneering experience and is
subject to constantly changing river conditions, including
floodwaters and shallows. Therefore please understand that we
must reserve the right to alter the itinerary of this tour due
to the logistical complexities involved. Small deviations in the
tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather,
local authorities and river and/or road conditions. For safety
reasons and according to navigating conditions, these programs
may be amended without previous notice. |
