|
Day 1: Vientiane /
or Bangkok - Nong Kai (L,D)
Your cruise director
and friendly crew await you this afternoon (after 2pm) with a
warm welcome upon embarkation near the town of Nong Khai. (Nong
Khai can be reached by a short flight or by train from Bangkok
to Udon Thani (UTH) as well as onland with a transfer from the
Lao capitol of Vientiane across the friendship bridge. Upon
request we will be happy to arrange transfers accordingly.)
Attend our welcome reception and enjoy Southeast Asian
specialties served during your dinner menu on board. Overnight
onboard your river vessel.
Day 2 : Nong Khai
(B/L/D)
Breakfast is served on
board. In the morning we will take you on a excursion to the
historical park of Phu Prabat, impressed with natural rocks
shaped almost mushroom like. Phu Phrabat has also been a sacred
place for centuries and has recently enlisted to become a UNESCO
world heritage site. From a temple close by you can enjoy one of
the most impressive Mekong-views along the river in this region.
Upon returning aboard your cruise experience begins. Lunch is
served aboard while cruising leisurely in a few hours from the
small town of Sri Chiangmai downriver towards Nong Khai. In the
evening you can stroll along the river promenade or bargain at
the colorful Indochina market in town. Dinner and overnight
aboard your cruise vessel.
Day 3 : Nong
Khai (B/L/D)
In the morning, a
guided tour will get you acquainted with the bizarre, yet
interesting Buddhist-Hindu sculpture park. Upon your return
aboard your cruise experience continues. Along both sides of the
quiet river banks you may spot every once in a while small
golden temple spires, while a presentation on tropical fruits
grown in this region provides with possibly surprising insight
benefits used in traditional local medicine. This cruise caters
especially to those travelers who fancy discovery tours and an
authentic Asia more than a fixed cruise schedule without having
to miss the comfort and atmosphere of a Boutique river cruise
ship such as the Mekong Explorer. At night your vessel is moored
at a secluded sandbank or at a small village pier. After dinner,
a documentary shows the river flow of the Mekong from the
Tibetan highlands all the way to the South China Sea. Overnight
onboard your river vessel.
Day : 4-5 Nong Khai
-North-East Thailand - Pak Khading (B/L/D)
While enjoying your
breakfast on board you will reach the starting point for your
next shore excursion. A short drive brings you to an impressive
cliff monastery, which stands seven levels high above local rice
paddies. Western visitors are welcomed very seldom – just like
most of the times during your entire tour. On the fifth day you
will go on a short and easy trek (approx. 1 hour) through the
tropical environment of Phu Wua National Park. In the afternoon
you will cross the river into Laos (as the next immigration
office is several driving hours away Mekong River Cruises
arranges for a special permit by the provincial Lao government
that their guests can enter Laos today without having to pass
immigration). Continue to the small village of Pak Khading where
we join a long-tail boat for a trip up the Nam Khading River to
visit a remote village. Returning back to Thailand and your
cruise vessel; continue your cruise further south. Overnight
onboard your river vessel.
Day 6 : Pak Khading
- Nakhon Phanom (B/L/D)
In this region
picturesque karst-mountains pass by on the Lao side of the
river. After a few hours cruise along the mighty Mekong – “the
mother of all waters” as the locals call the river here – you
will reach the provincial town of Nakhon Phanom. You will get
acquainted with the town during a short city tour on a motor-rikscha/TukTuk
or by foot. The governor’s palace was formerly the residence of
the Thai kings while visiting this part of the country, today it
serves as a local museum. In the late 1920s Ho Chi Minh planned
and organized the Vietnamese communist movement from his exile
in Nakhon Phanom. Your will visit the house where he lived
during these years. In Nakhon Phanom we recommend to join your
tour guide to have a drink in a local bar – menus with latin
characters will probably be not available anywhere, though.
Overnight onboard your river vessel.
Day 7 : Pak Khading
- Thakhek - two worlds apart yet so close (B/L/D)
This morning you will
cross the river into Laos (see below for visa requirements for
Laos). In the town of Thakhek you will find many remaining
buildings from the French colonial era. Once planned to become
the capitol of Laos under French rule, today’s Thakhek is a
typical charming and sleepy Lao provincial town that you get
acquainted with during a guided stroll. In the surroundings of
the city
at
the
foot
of a karst mountain panorama a Buddhist-grotto was
discovered only a few years ago in 2004 and will also be part of
your visit. After returning back to Thailand you will reach the
holy pilgrim center of That Phanom. Legend has it that Buddha
himself came here to command that after his death one of his
breastbones be treasured in That Phanom as a reliquary. The
devoutness of the local pilgrims which you will notice during
your visit of the temple and its Buddhist mural-walls and well
kept garden is quite impressive. At night you will celebrate
your farewell dinner together with your crew and captain!
Overnight onboard your river vessel.
Day 8 : That Phanom
- Pakse (B/-)
After breakfast you
will disembark and leave with your entire luggage. cross the
Mekong Bridge into Southern Laos, pick up and transfer by
private car to Pakse . En route we stop to visit the town of
Savannkhet, famous for its French Colonial buildings and also
the sacred stupa of That Inhang. End of service after the
arrival in Pakse
|
