Notes

3D Vat Phou Cruise

The Vat Phou Mekong Cruise is a journey that starts and finishes in Pakse, with two separate itineraries. Both cruise itineraries visit the majestic UNESCO World Heritage Vat Phou ruins at Champassak, the mysterious Oum Muong ruins at Huei Thamo, the 4,000 Islands with its winding waterways, and the Pha Pheng waterfall on the Laos - Cambodia border.


From 01 Oct'10 to 30 Apr'11
Departures every Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday on a cruise down or cruise up river.

From 01 May'11 to 31 Oct'11
Departures every Saturday for cruise downriver and Tuesday for cruise upriver

CRUISE DOWNRIVER


Day 1: Pakse / Champassak / Vat Phou
After meeting at the Sinouk Coffee House in central Pakse at 9:30am, we transfer you to a longtail riverboat for your 2.5 hour journey to Champassak.  Upon arrival at the Vat Phou boat, we help you to your cabins to unpack then serve lunch on deck.  The highlight of the afternoon is the Vat Phou ruins - the majestic pre-Angkorian 10th century temple complex and boat's namesake. You have time to visit the museum at the ruins site, walk up to the highest temple and take as many photos as you would like.  As dusk falls, we transfer you back to  the Vat Phou boat for a chance to enjoy 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
Breakfast is on board as we set sail for the village of Huei Thamo. This is a small village a few minutes walk away from the mysterious hidden forest temple of Oum Muong. Afterwards we rejoin the boat to continue our cruise southwards.  Lunch is on the deck, while leisurely sailing closer to the wild paradise of the "4,000 Islands" Late afternoon we disembark from the boat to walk through Ban Deua Tia, a small Laotian Village where the traditional way of life has not changed in centuries. Our day's cruise finishes at the most northern tip of Don Khong, the largest inhabited island in the river archipelego.  After dinner, the evening is yours to relax and enjoy.
  
Day 3: Don Khone / Pha Pheng Waterfall / Pakse
While you breakfast on the deck, the Vat Phou boat cruises the Mekong to the small village of Ban Veuthong, where you board a small boat to meander among the 4,000 Islands to Khone Island. You will visit the old French railway and walk across the bridge that links Khone and Det Islands.  We continue on the boat back to the mainland for lunch at a local restaurant in a small fishing village, Xieng Di, on the banks of the Mekong.  A bus transfers you to the historically significant Pha Pheng waterfall, "the Niagara of the East", close to the Cambodian border. We then bring you back to Pakse for the end of the cruise experience, arriving around 4.00pm. 



CRUISE UPRIVER (the same tour but in reverse): 


Day 1: Pakse / Pha Pheng Waterfall / Khone Island
After meeting at the Sinouk Coffee House in central Pakse at 9:30am, you will board a bus to travel Route 13 to the historically significant Pha Pheng waterfalls, the "Niagara of the East". You will then be driven to the fishing village of Xieng Di for lunch at local restaurant.  After lunch, you board small boats for a visit to Khone Island to see the old French railway and walk the bridge that links Khone and Det Islands. The boat drop you at the Khong Island village of Ban Veuthong, where you will board the waiting Vat Phou boat for a sunset cruise and dinner on the Mekong river, docking riverside for the night.
  
Day 2:  Khong Island / Oum Muong Temple / Huei Thamo
Breakfast is on board the Vat Phou boat as we set sail to Ban Deua Tia.  You willl walk through this small Village, seeing centuries old traditions still being used.   The Vat Phou boat then continues to cruise north on the Mekong, past the island of Don Xai, and many other small islets in the river archipelego.  After lunch, you visit the village of Huei Thamo and the mysterious Oum Muong forest temple, just a few minutes walk way.  Dinner aboard Vat Phou then you have the rest of the evening to relax and enjoy the silence.
  
Day 3: Vat Phou / Champassak / Pakse
While enjoying breakfast on board, the Vat Phou continues its Mekong cruise to Champassak. The highlight this morning is the Vat Phou ruins - the majestic pre-Angkorian 10th century temple complex and boat's namesake. You have time to visit the museum at the ruins site, walk up to the highest temple and take as many photos as you would like. We return you to the boat for your final lunch on board.  A small boat will then take you back to Pakse, arriving around 4.00pm.

Departures:

• 01 November to end of April: Departures every Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday on a cruise down or cruise up
• 01 May to end of October: Departures every Saturday for cruise down and Tuesday for cruise up
• No operation from 01 June to 30 June 2010.

Prices 2011-2012 (in USD)

No operation during June

PRICES INCLUDE:
 

• 3 days cruise with stops and visits as mentioned in the program with English speaking guide.
 
• 2 nights accommodation on board.
 
• Meal plan as mentioned in the tour program.
 
• Coffee, tea & drinking water on board and during meals.
 
• Admission fee at visiting points as mentioned in the program.
 
• Services of qualified crews during the cruise.
 
• Group insurance.   

PRICES EXCLUDE:


• Visa approval and fees for Laos.

• Transfer from hotel / airport to pier in Pakxe or v.v.

• Other drinks and meals not mentioned in package.

• Immigration fees
• Personal Insurance
• Other personal expenses.

4D Mekong Islands cruise

PAKSE – WAT PHOU – DON KHONG – 4000 ISLANDS – KHONE PHAPHENG FALLS – PAKSE


DAY 1: WELCOME TO SOUTHERN LAOS! [-/-/D]
Pick up from Pakse airport or your hotel in town ready for boarding in the afternoon (after 2pm) where you will be welcomed by the ever-friendly Lao crew with a cocktail. You will start your cruise experience with the departure southwards. When the sun has set and the Mekong Islands is moored safely at the river bank you will get a chance to learn more about Laos and her people, as well asthe nearly 5,000 km long Mekong river. with presentations and lectures held by the cruise director. During the next 3 days days,  you canindulge in Southeast Asian delicacies dining on board or enjoying an atmospheric barbecue on the riverbank.

DAY 2: UNESCO-WORLD HERITAGE AND NATURE DELIGHT [B/L/D]
After cruising leisurely further downriver, you will stop to go on a shore excursion to the impressive pre-Angkorian temple complex of Wat Phou, relics of the great Khmer empire the ruled over the region from the 8th to 13th centuries. 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 mostinspiring archaeological tour destinations of Laos. Returning aboard your can lean back and enjoy the beautiful sunsets from your cabin or from the sundeck while cruising deeper into the so-called region of the 4,000 Islands (Si Pan Don).

DAY 3: THE 4000 ISLANDS [B/L/D]
Here in the deep south of the country the Mekong has itswidest expansion of up to 16 km during the annual highwater period.Over thousands of years, nature created a landscape that seems almost surreal with thousands of islands appearing in the river bed when thehigh water declines annually. Some of these islands are bigger with a magnitude of a few square kilometres; other uninhabited ones are only a few square meters wide. Today you will go on an excursion partly by river cruise, local slow boat and bus to explore this remote nature escapes, and you will also see the mighty Khone waterfalls, the biggest falls in Asia. In the evening enjoy our farewell dinner aboard.

DAY 4: RETURN TO PAKSE[B/-/-]
Breakfast is served on board before disembarking for your return to Pakse by bus. (No flights earlier than 11:30 from Pakse or 14:30 from Ubon Ratchatani will be possible. If you plan an earlier flight, we’ll be happy to arrange an extra hotel night in Pakse for you.) A short city tour of Pakse can be arranged for those spending an extra night or leaving late afternoon/evening.* 

* This cruise is also operated in the opposite direction starting with the city tour (arrivals up until 12 noon) and the bus transfer to embark the Mekong Islands down south on day 1. The same program will then be conducted from south to north. On day 4, no flights earlier than 11:30 from Pakse or 14:30 from Ubon will be possible. If you plan an earlier flight, we’ll be happy to add an extra hotel night in Pakse to your itinerary. A short excursion to the village of Sapai to get to know Lao textile manufacturing can be arranged for those spending an extra night or leaving late afternoon/evening.

Notes

6D Mekong Islands Roundtrip

Cruise Route: PAKSE – WAT PHOU – DON KHONG – 4000 ISLANDS – KHONE PHAPHENG FALLS – PAKSE

Day 1: Welcome to Southern Laos! [-/L/D]
In Pakse, a representative will be waiting for you at the airport or pick you up in your hotel in town. At boarding this afternoon (Check in is at 12am), your ever-friendly Laotian crew welcomes you with a cocktail. After having visited your cabins you will start a short city tour with your local guide. Visiting the former king’s palace (today a hotel) as well as strolling around the Mekong Promenade where Mekong and Se Done River meets are a must.
In the afternoon you will start your cruise experience with the departure southwards. 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. During the next days, indulge in Southeast Asian delicacies for dinner on board or an atmospheric barbecue on the riverbank.

Day 2: UNESCO-World Heritage and nature delights [B/L/D]
After cruising leisurely further downriver you will stop 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.

Day 3: The 4000 Islands [B/L/D]
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 kilometres; other uninhabited ones are only a few square meters wide. Today you will go on an excursion partly by river cruise, local slow boat and bus to explore this remote nature escape and you will also see the mighty Khone waterfalls, the biggest falls in Asia. In the evening enjoy our farewell dinner aboard.

Day 5 and 6: Laos, Land of the Elephants [B/L/D]
While you are enjoying breakfast on board, the captain will veer back towards Pakse. On the way you will stop to visit a school in a village near by the riverside which is been beneficiated by Mekong Islands. Hopefully you can have a glance on the most famous animal of the region – the elephant. If you want to you can optionally try a ride on an elephants back near Phou Asa. On the sixth day your boat will arrive Pakse again and the afternoon you are free to enjoy the amenities of the boat or stroll around Pakse. In the evening you will have dinner with a wonderful view over the city.

Day 6: Return to Pakse [B/-/-]
Breakfast is served in the morning, before you disembark for transfer to Hotel or airport in Pakse.

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