Mekong Cruise

Vat Phou Cruise (3 Days/ 2 Nights)

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.

Package Includes

Down River Itinerary

DAY 1: Pakse - Champassak - Vat Phou After meeting at the Sinouk Coffee House in central Pakse at 9:30am, you transfer onto a longtail riverboat for your 2.5 hour journey to Champassak. Upon arrival at the Vat Phou boat, you are shown to your cabins to unpack and have 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, you transfer 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 the boat sets 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 you rejoin the boat to continue the cruise southwards. Lunch is on the deck, while leisurely sailing closer to the wild paradise of the "4,000 Islands" Late afternoon you 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. The 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 eat 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. Then 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. The cruise then finally brings you back to Pakse for the end of the cruise experience, arriving around 5.00-5.30 pm.

Up River Itinerary

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 5.00-5.30 pm.

Cruise scheduled departures: - From 1 October 2014 to 30 April and 1-31 October Departures every Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday on a cruise down or cruise up - From 1 May to 30 Sep Departures every Saturday and Tuesday *No operation in June for maintenance

Package Policies

• Prices are on a per person basis and are inclusive of all the local taxes (including without limitation the VAT rate of 10 percent) and other service charges
• If the cancellation is made 45 to 30 days prior to cruise departure, Mekong Cruises shall charge the cancellation fee at the rate of 50% of the total Package prices. If the cancellation is made 29 to 8 days prior to cruise departure, Mekong Cruises shall charge the cancellation fee at the rate of 75% of total Package prices. If the cancellation is made less than 8 days prior to cruise departure or the passenger does not show on the cruise departure, Mekong Cruises shall charge the cancellation fee at the rate of 100% of total Package prices
• Mekong Cruises is not obliged to provide other vehicles such as speed boat, local boat or van to their cruise for any late arrival passengers. A passenger shall be liable for any incurred costs caused by late arrival to departure of the cruise and shall not be entitled to claim for any damages or compensation whatsoever from Mekong Cruises
• Mekong Cruises provides safety boxes at Luang Say lodge’s office and at Vat Phou Cruise Manager’s cabin. It is agreed that Mekong Cruises has no responsibility or liability for loss of valuables or items at any kind of the passenger left in the room/cabin

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