A Slice of Serenity
Emily R. - Australia
RV Sabaidee Pandaw Cruise 14 Nights (Upstream)
Destination: Vientiane, Pak Lai, Ban Park Bo Village, Ban Muoang Khai Village, Luang Prabang, Pak Ou Caves, Pak Beng, Ban Hoayxai, Golden Triangle, Ban Dom Moon, Sob Luoy, Guan Lei, Jinghong
Departure date of itinerary: Contact us for details
Highlights of Itinerary
- Explore stunning Vientiane with French-influenced monuments
- Visit bustling local markets and join in the elephant festival
- Immerse in the peaceful villages and the majestic Khaung Si waterfall
- Experience cultural activities in the ancient city of Luang Prabang
- Visit Hall of Opium for reminder of harmful effects of opium
- Admire Jinghong City with its unique cultural interference
RV Sabaidee Pandaw Cruise 14 Nights (Upstream)
PLEASE NOTE: The following itinerary is just an indication of what you can expect on the cruise and subject to change. With the journey to remote land like this, there may be inevitable element that force the cruise to change the plan.
Check-in the cruise at 12:30 PM and you will be welcome by the reception followed by a hearty lunch before your shore excursion this afternoon.
Visit the gorgeous French-influenced city with the first stop to the golden Pha That Luang Stupa then Sisaket Temple, the Phatouxay Monument, the President’s Hall and Wat Prakeo Temple.
Enjoy dinner on board.
Today, resume the journey upstream through the seemingly endless greenery of the remote Laos. Enjoy the morning lecture on the language of Laos and afternoon will be spent with the chef to learn the way of efficient cooking of the locals. We reach Xanakham before midnight.
Morning will be leisure sailing as afternoon approaches, leave the ship for a trip to Pak Lai – the French administrative town – to see the busy local markets and of course colonial structures. The town is also famous for the elephant festival.
Morning hiking trip to a Khamo tribal village, an ordinary village so you can experience this humbling experience. We will pass the Xanyaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant.
Today begins with a trip to Hmong village – Ban Mouang Khai as we sail upstream. The afternoon will be reserved for a visit to the to Khaung Si Waterfalls with the aquamarine pools with shockingly blue color due to the minerals. Make a stop at the butterfly garden nearby if you wish. Return back on board as we reach the UNESCO Heritage Town – Luang Prabang with its charming colonial buildings, quaint cafés and restaurants.
After breakfast, leave the ship and take on the tuk tuk ride to the unchanging town of Luang Prabang. Visit many Buddhist buildings in town coupled with a museum and library. The afternoon will be for your own exploration of the town. The evening, there will be a traditional Laos dance show on the open lounge area on the upper deck. Spend the night on board near Luang Prabang.
Wake up extra early today to catch the daily alms giving ceremony that takes places on the streets of Luang Prabang. Observe the lines of dozens of monks walk slowly around the city and receiving donations from the townsfolks. Return back on board for breakfast, then depart from the ship once again by a local boat to the immense Pak Ou Caves with their thousands of Buddha Images. Enjoy a cocktail by the riverbank in the evening before the journey resume upstream to Ban Bo.
After breakfast, travel to a typical Village of Khamo ethnic. Return back on board after as the ship continues towards Pak Sit.
Enjoy a slow stroll in Khamo Village in the morning and make the way back to the ship as we reach the border of Laos and Thailand. Toward the end of the afternoon, we will enjoy a lake afternoon walk to a village in Huay Xay.
After breakfast, take a border crossing trip to the Tachilek – some call it the smuggler city of Burma – where you can find some “special” market and the Tachilek Shwedagon Pagoda.
After lunch, we visit to the Hall of Opium in the Golden Triangle. The place used to be infamous for being the major traffic point of opium. Numerous Thai organizations guided by the Royal Project and Doi Tung Development have contributed their effort to the decades-long battle against the illegal trade. The Hall of Opium was built as a reminder for everyone about the harmfulness of drugs through history and scientific evidences.
Near the end of the day, we visit the Buddha Statue by the river to watch the sunset as well as the border forks of the three country – Laos, Thailand, Myanmar.
We leave the Golden Triangle and advance on the Mekong River. This part is especially narrow and has faster current compared to the relative quiet part of the journey before. An afternoon hike to the Pok Lok Village before going back on board to join in a talk by the guide about the ethnics of the region.
This morning, we visit the Ban Pak Keo village and its residents. Take a leisure stroll up to a small hill where a pagoda perched by the top and enjoy an elevated view over the old Mekong River.
Afternoon stop at Sob Luoy Port in Ban Na Kor Village to spend the night. Near the evening, canapés and cocktails will be provided for a relaxing social opportunity on the sundeck as the passengers are entertained by the local folktales and ceremony.
The early morning, we say farewell to the crew and the ship. Take the speedboat ride through the shallow water to cross the border to China and reach Guan Lei Port in the morning. Then, you can have the morning hike for your own exploration before you pass the immigration. We will reach Jinghong today to spend the night in a 4-star hotel.
Jinghong a Chinese city founded by Tai King Phanya Coeng. The culture here is especially diverse due to the influences of the Thai, Burmese and Chinese mixed residents.
The morning will be spent in the intriguing Tropical Plant Institute and for your amazement as you enter this garden of over 13,000 plants species and 35 exhibits. Next on the schedule is the Manting Park with the longest history of over thirteen decades in Xishuangbanna. Used to be a Dai Imperial Garden, this park can provide you the knowledge of the Dai’s people. Some also call Manting Park “Chunhuan Park” which bear the meaning of the place of relief for the minds and soul of all earthly burdens.
The final evening, witness the cultural show in Maxmumbani. Here, you can admire dancers from 38 different ethnic groups showing off their skills and traditions to convey the story and history of the country through the elaborative moves.
Overnight in a hotel.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport or your hotel in Jing Hong.
What's included
Entrance fees
Guide services (English language)
Gratuities to crew
Main meals
Local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes
Transfers from Vientiane/hotel to ship in Vientiane (if any, as stated in itinerary) v.v.
Transfers from Jinghong airport/hotel to ship in Jinghong.
International flights
Port dues (if levied)
Laundry
All visa costs
Fuel surcharges (see terms and conditions)
All beverages except local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes
Tips to tour guides, local guides, bus drivers, boat operators and cyclo drivers.
