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Laos River Cruises

From £194 per person*
Luang Say Mekong River Cruise
Overview | 2 Day / 1 Night | 3 Day, 2 Night | Luang Say Boats

The Luang Say Mekong River Cruise is a two day, one night, or three day two night river cruise between the Golden Triangle and the ancient city of Luang Prabang, a World Heritage site.

The Mekong River is rich in legend linking seven Asian nations from Tibet to the South China Sea. Perhaps the most mythical of Mekong experiences is a slow-boat river journey through Northern Laos, a timeless land still rich in exotic mysteries waiting to be discovered.

The Luang Say Cruise is a journey through remote mountainous stretches of the Mekong River between the northern Thai border at Houeisay and the old royal city of Luang Prabang, Laos - in a style fit for a king.

Established in the 14th Century, Luang Prabang sits majestically on the banks of the Mekong River. This charming and much sought-after city was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1995 and is considered one of Asia's best preserved ancient capitals. To wander its quiet, timeless lanes is to enter a living museum of life, architecture and serenity.

Gliding effortlessly across currents and along pristine forests, the Luang Say boat is a purpose-built 34 metre luxury river barge, a stylish replica of the journey craft famous to these waters. Long scenic stretches of breezy, sun soaked river cruising are punctuated by visits to river-side hilltribe villages and the magical Tham Thing Caves of a Thousand Buddhas.

In between the two days on the river, the Luang Say Lodge at Pakbeng, Laos offers a charming and serene riverside stay, a perfect romantic interlude in this unspoiled wilderness setting.  If taking the three day option, you can also spend a night at the Kamu Lodge.

HOW THE LUANG SAY CRUISE BENEFITS THE LOCAL PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

1. LuangSay Lodge has hired a dance teacher to teach Khamu and Hmong people tribal dancing, and dances are now performed regularly for Luang Say guests. The Lodge also supports the financing of local musical instruments. Dancers and musicians are now able to earn their living without sacrificing their culture and traditions, as LuangSay was able to revive these old traditions for them which had been lost from the Pakbeng area.

2. Our LuangSay Cruises stop in local Mekong riverside villages on each day or the cruise, supporting the local communities by buying their handicrafts. Luaang Say also helps the village schools and temples with donations, and aids the villagers to clear litter and other debris from their paths.

3. Pakbeng has no proper water supply system or sewerage system in place, everything from the guesthouses tends to get put straight into the Mekong River. The LuangSay Lodgel however, has installed its own sewerage system to prevent this happening, and has built its own water supply from mountain streams, adding additional pipes so that local villages in the area can use the same water system.

4. All bottles, cans and plastics that are used at the Lodge are recycled.

5. Many of the vegetables at the LuangSay Lodge are organically grown in the lodge's own garden, using fertiliser from its own compost bin.

6. The opening of the Lodge gave employment to 37 villagers and tribal people and wages earned at the Lodge are three to four hundred percent higher than the local standard. Villagers around the Lodge are encouraged to grow fruits and vegetables and raise livestock, and their produce is purchased by the Lodge.

7. In Ban Houay Xeng Kham village, a very poor Khamu village close to the Lodge, Luang Say has helped to build a small school and supply the school with books to help the children with their education.

8. The riverbank across from the LuangSay Lodge has been denuded by logging. Luang Say is presently applying for permission from the Sayabouli Province officials to replant teak trees on this land.

E N Q U I R E » Need more information about the Luang Say Mekong River Cruise? Enquire with a Symbiosis travel specialist today.
* NOTE. Prices indicated on this website are shown as a guideline only and may be subject to currency fluctuations, banking fees and other changes outside our control. Pricing information is available in other currencies.

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