Explore the Mekong Between Laos & Thailand with Luang Say Cruises

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Jill and Viv on Luang Say Mekong Cruise

Explore the Mekong Between Laos & Thailand with Luang Say Cruises

WAVEJourney travels upstream from Luang Prabang, Laos to Chiang Khong, Thailand on a Luang Say Mekong River cruise over New Year’s 2013/2014.

WJ TESTED – CRUISE OVERVIEW

The dilemma? How to travel from Luang Prabang, Laos to Chiang Khong, Thailand! The solution? A two-day upstream Mekong River cruise with Luang Say Cruises.

After thoroughly exploring all possible transportation options (bus, flight, mini-van) for travel from Luang Prabang to Chiang Khong, only the 300-kilometer (200-mile) upstream cruise on the Mekong River came close to exciting us. As we LOVE to be on the water, we determined that twenty hours of slow cruising in an open-air boat would provide an opportunity to experience the muddy Mekong River in a very different way. Plus, the Luang Say itinerary cruised through a section of the river we had not previously explored (we had recently cruised the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia).

Jill and Luang Say Mekong Cruise Boat

New Year’s Eve 2013 found us boarding the Luang Say boat in Luang Prabang just as the sun was starting to rise. We had decided that the 2-day/1-night upstream cruise on the Mekong River would be both a relaxing and an exciting way to celebrate the close of the year and the start of a new one. We would be immersing ourselves into our own version of a National Geo-like documentary.

Small Ferry Boats Along The Mekong River in Laos.

Travelling in winter (dry season), the water level on the Mekong was quite low (it can be 20 meters higher in the rainy season), so we were able to see many of the huge rocks and boulders that typically lie hidden beneath the surface. We certainly appreciated the conscientious and skillful Captain that safely maneuvered the boat through whirlpools and incredibly strong currents along the entire route! The guides and most of the crew spoke English very well and some were also fluent in French.

Jill takes in the scenery along the river banks of the Mekong in Laos.

Most of our fellow passengers hailed from various European countries (Switzerland, Sweden, France and Germany) and mainly buried their heads in books or slept the hours away during the long hours of cruising. In contrast, we could not keep our eyes (or cameras) off the shifting scenery along the river. We were thoroughly and completely captivated during the entire journey by the remoteness of the area, ethnic people living in simple dwellings, as well as the drastic change of vegetation and landscape.

Khmu Villager in Laos

Remote, simple and rustic villages lined the banks of the Mekong with most of the structures made from bamboo and wood – some had corrugated iron roofs and most had satellite dishes. Young boys were out fishing along the banks and rat hunting – checking their rat traps from the day before. Women and children panned for gold in the shallow water along the river banks, or crouched down to wash clothes. Naked children played in the sand, while men could be seen fishing from narrow wooden dug-out boats – using long poles or handmade nets. Scruffy dogs, pigs, water buffalo and goats slept in the coolness of the damp sand; others bathed or quenched their thirst in the river. These scenes we witnessed along the river will most definitely be embedded for ever in our memories!

Gold panning along the Mekong River in Laos

LUANG SAY BOATS

• Open-air wooden boats made with a steel hull
• French and English speaking guide(s)
• Capacity of 40 people
• Seating is on benches with padded seats
• Two Western-style toilets
• Woolen ponchos available to borrow (especially handy in cooler weather)
• Life jackets on board
• Luggage stored below deck during the entire cruise and overnight stay at Luang Say Lodge
• Cruise itinerary: Travel between Huay Xai, Thailand and Luang Prabang, Laos (and vice versa)
  

  Luang Say Mekong Boat

DINING

• Complimentary water, tea and coffee available at all times during the cruise
• Continental breakfast served on the boat on Day 1
• Buffet lunch served on the boat on both days
• Beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks available for purchase on the boat
• Buffet dinner and buffet breakfast included at Luang Say Lodge in Pakbeng
  

  Lunch is Served on Luang Say Mekong Cruise

LUANG SAY LODGE IN PAKBENG

• Overnight stay is included in the itinerary of cruise
• Guests stay in rich teak, rosewood bungalows – some with views above the Mekong River
• Chalets have mosquito netting over beds
• Private indoor bathroom in each chalet – shower, sink, toilet
• The dining area and bar have views over the Mekong River
• Note: WIFI is only available in the dining/bar area
• Buffet dinner on day 1 at the lodge is included
• Buffet breakfast on day 2 at the lodge is included
  

  Bungalow at Luang Say Lodge

INCLUDED ACTIVITIES

• Guided visit to Pak Ou Caves near Luang Prabang
• Guided visit to Laos hill tribe village
• Guided visit to Khmu Village in Laos
  

  Villagers in Laos Selling Scarves

BOTTOM LINE

Slow travel gives a better perspective about lives of the locals and culture of an area. Twenty hours over two days, spent slowly cruising up the Mekong River through Laos and into Thailand, gave us an even greater appreciation of the people and their way of life. Luang Say Cruises provided a comfortable and informative journey along this section of the Mekong. We also found the trip rather fascinating towards the end of the cruise – Thailand was on one side of the boat and Laos on the other. It was easy to let our imagination run wild and envision ourselves as adventurers from another time, exploring the remote ethnic villages and navigating unchartered portions of the river. Before we knew it, our journey was complete, but we had witnessed a way of life so different from anything else we had seen before. The next dilemma? How to top this New Year’s adventure? The solution? That’s going to be difficult to find!

Jill Visits a Village Along the Mekong River in Laos

Note: Although WJ were guests of Luang Say Cruises  for a 2-day/1-night Luang Prabang to Huay Xai cruise, all opinions, reviews and commentary are our own. Read our full disclosure statement to see our review policy.

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