Vat Phou Mekong Cruise in Pakse #LAO712
LAO712 VAT PHOU MEKONG CRUISE IN PAKSE
SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!
Discover the Mekong to the wild paradise of the 4000 island on the "Vat Phou", a 34 meters long steel hull barge, converted in to a teak wood tropical floating hotel. All 12 cabins are nice furnished with twin bed and private bathrooms. The shaded lounge bar is on the upper deck and the restaurant, which offers Laotian, Asian and international cuisine is on the lower deck. This leisurely cruise offers a taste of river life gone by, but also beautiful landscapes, historical Khmer temples and ruins. Another highlight are the impressive and spectacular Khone Phapeng Falls. Group tour from/to Pakse. Departures from October to March every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, resp. during April - September every Tuesday and Saturday. No departures in June!
DAY 1 PAKSE - CHAMPASAK - VAT PHOU L/D
In the morning at time 09.30 meet at the Sinouk Coffee House, located in central Pakse. Transfer to the long tail river boat for your 2,5 hrs. journey to Champasak. Upon arrival the crew will help you to your cabins on board the Vat Phou boat. Then enjoy your lunch on deck, followed by a guided tour of the mysterious pre-Angkorian 10th century temple of Vat Phou, also the boat's namesake. Visit the museum at the ruins site and walk up to the highest temple to get the best views. As dusk falls, transfer back on board the Vat Phou boat for a relaxing cruise down river, enjoying the tropical sunset on the deck. Dinner is served on board, while the boat docks for the night alongside a remote Laotian village.
DAY 2 HUEI THAMO - OUM MUONG TEMPLE - KHONG ISLAND B/L/D
Take your breakfast on board as you set sail for the village of Huei Thamo, only a few minutes walk away from the spectacular hidden forest temple of Oum Moung. Afterwards rejoin the boat for a cruise southwards. Lunch is on the deck, while you continue the leisurely sail further south to the wild paradise of the 4000 islands. Late afternoon disembark from the boat to walk through Ban Deua Tai, a small Laotian village, where the traditional life has not changed in centuries. The day's cruise finishes at the most northern tip of Don Khong, the largest inhabited island in the river archipelago. Enjoy your tasty dinner and relax on board.
DAY 3 DON KHONE - KHONE PHAPHENG - PAKSE B/L
While you have your breakfast on the deck, the Vat Phou boat cruises?to the small village?of Ban Veuthong, where you will board a small long-tail boat to meander among the 4000 islands to Khone Island. Here you visit the old French railway and walk across the bridge, that links Khone with Det island. Then continue by boat back to the mainland for lunch at a small local restaurant in a fishing village on the banks of the Mekong River. Take a minivan to amazingly scenic splendor of the Khone Phapheng Falls, sometimes called "the Niagara of the east", located close to the Cambodian border. An approx. 2 hours drive will bring you back to Pakse with arrival by late afternoon. End of the tour.
REMARKS/FLEXIBILITY:
- Visa for Laos available on arrival at the Thai-Laotian border crossing Chong Mek (Ubon Ratchathani), but also at Pakse Airport and all other major border crossings and airports in Laos. This against a fee of US$ 30.-. (bring passport pictures with you!).
- Accommodation before and/or after the cruise in Pakse can be booked with us.
PRICE INCLUDES:
3 days/2 nights Vat Phou river cruise, all transfers and sightseeing as shown in the above itinerary, accommodation for 2 nights on board of the Vat Phou Boat incl. daily breakfast, English speaking cruise escort, 3x lunch and 2x dinner, drinking water, entrance fees as per program
NOT INCLUDED:
Visa for Laos, all drinks, tips and personal expenses
HOW TO GET TO PAKSE:
From/to Siem Raep (Cambodia) flights by Lao Airlines. From/to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) flights by Lao Airlines. Domestic flights from/to Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Savannakhet (Laos) by Lao Airlines. From/to Bangkok (Thailand) to/from Ubon Ratchathani flights by Thai Smile, Thai Air Asia, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air and then by overland transfer via border check point Chong Mek. All these flights and transfers can be booked with us.