Jour 1. One day cruise on the Mekong River (../L/D)
After an overnight in Chiang Rai or in one of the hotels nearby, you will be transferred in the early morning, on the Thai-Lao ; you will ideally arrive around 8:30 am.
Here starts your 5d/4n journey. Your guide will meet you at the Lao immigration office, with a vehicle, and you will be transferred to the small peer of Huay Xay. A traditional boat awaits you for a full day cruise on the Mekong.
Your goal is to reach Pakbeng, a small town along the river. Along the way you will make a few stops in villages of ethnic minorities living in near-autarky because of their distance from any urban center.
Lunch will be served on board.
You will arrive in the late afternoon at Pakbeng, and will be installed at your hotel, located along the Mekong River, overlooking the river. From there, you will admire the sunset on the jungle and the Mekong River
Dinner at the hotel
Overnight in Pakbeng Lodge***
Day 2. Elephants - Pakbeng - Nam Kat Yorla Pa (B/L/D)
After breakfast, you will visit the Pakbeng Lodge’s elephant camp. This area is well known to host the last wild elephants in Laos. From the camp, you can watch them evolve, bathing, and can have an hour’s ride if you wish.
Back to hotel for lunch.
Early afternoon, an air-conditioned minivan and privatized will drive you to Oudomxay (about 4 hours drive) by a mountainous road where you can stop to visit some ethnic minority villages.
Dinner at Nam Kat Yorla Pa
Overnight in Nam Kat Yorla Pa Resort****
Day 3. Activities at Nam Kat Yorla Pa Resort (B/.../D)
The protected forest surrounding Nam Kat Yorla Pa is a sanctuary in itself where a myriad of native flora and fauna thrives.
Many activities are provided on site: treks zipline, cooking class, waterfall abseiling.
Dinner at Nam Kat Yorla Pa Resort
Overnight at Nam Kat Yorla Pa Resort****
Day 4. Oudomxay - Muang Khoua - Cruise the Nam OuRiver - Nong Khiaw (B/L/...)
In the morning, after breakfast, take the road (2h30 drive) to reach the small village of Muang Khoua, located along the Nam Ou River. From there, take a traditional and privatized boat, that will get you down the river. This part of Laos is one of the most beautiful area, with untouched jungle scenery, karst mountains, and small traditional fishing villages.
Lunch on board or in a local restaurant in Muang Ngoi
Stop at the dam, and 10-min transfer by boat to Sopcham, a beautiful small village in one of the bends of the river, overlooking a karst peak. This small village has specialized in weaving silk and offers 100% handicraft products. You will then make another stop in Muang Ngoi Kao, a village known to be a good start for trekking.
After 1 additional hour cruise, you will arrive in Nong Khiaw, a small village where the bridge overlooking the river provides access to the north-eastern Laos.
Dinner at your own in Nong Khiaw
Overnight in Nong Kiau Riverside*** or Mandala Ou***
Day 5. Nong Khiaw - Luang Prabang (B/.../...)
In the morning after breakfast, you can visit the caves in the limestone rock, that served as the local government’s headquarters for 12 years (during "the secret war").
It will then be time to drive to Luang Prabang (3:30 transport). Along the way you will make a short visit to see the typical village of Ban Nagnane inhabited by the Thai Lu ethnic minority. This village specialized in weaving cotton and indigo dye.
Lunch at your own.
Before arriving in Luang Prabang (if enough time), you can visit the sacred caves of Pak Ou. You will cross the Mekong River by local small boat before discovering hundreds of representation of Buddha, mostly made in wood and in stone.
If enough time, you will then stop just before Luang prabang to visit 2 weaving villages, specialized in silk and in Saa paper products (made from the bark of the mulberry tree.)
You will then arrived in Luang Prabang, where you will be transferred at your hotel.
End of the journey.
Selected hotels:
- in Pakbeng : Sanctuary Pakbeng Lodge***
- in Oudomxay : Nam Kat Yorlapa Resort****
- in Nong Khiaw : Nong Kiau Riverside*** or Mandala Ou***
Optional (with supplement) :
- Transfer from your hotel in Chiang Rai to the Thai-Lao border
- 1 hour elephant ride in the jungle in Pakbeng
- 1 day trek around Muang La
- 1 day journey in 4x4 to discover some remote areas around Muang La
- 1 day bicycle to discover villages surrounding Muang La Resort
