Essential Laos with Pandaw Cruise
Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

This trip is perfect for both first time and return visitors to Laos, where you will visit this magical mountainous country's cultural highlights, as well as some truly hidden gems. The itinerary includes 10 nights aboard the charming RV Pandaw Laos cruise ship, which takes you around the seldom travelled northern regions of Thailand and Laos, where you will discover stunning scenery, forgotten hilltribes and magical cultural sites.

Highlights include:

• Spend the day with rescued elephants and visit hilltribe villages amidst waterfalls and steamy Thai jungle
• Cruise for 10 nights aboard the lovely RV Pandaw cruise ship
• Visit the Golden Triangle region where Laos, Thailand and Burma meet and visit a bustling border town market
• Visit the Pak Ou caves, stuffed to the brim with Buddha relics
• Explore the magical UNESCO town of Luang Prabang
• Visit forgotten French-colonial towns along the Nam Ou river
• Spend a few days discovering Vientiane

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include:

• International Flights (which can be omitted from your quotation if you prefer)
• Accommodation as described
• Privately guided tours and transfers
• Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences
• Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
• Meals as described
• 24 hour in-country backup whilst away
• Your own dedicated travel expert in the UK

For more on our pricing policy read here.

Day 1 – Depart the UK

Depart the UK.

Day 2 – Chiang Rai

You will be met by your guide at Chiang Mai airport and transferred to your hotel. After checking-in you will have the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 3 – Chiang Rai

Spend the day with rescued elephants close to Chiang Rai, and visit local ethnic minority villages to see how the locals live. If desired, you can also take an easy trek to a waterfall where you can take a quick dip!

Day 4 – Pandaw Cruise

You will check-in to your cabin and receive a welcome brief. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to relax as the boat cruises up to the border with Burma and Laos.

Day 5 – The Golden Triangle

Today you will travel by coach to the Golden Triangle area with its Opium Museum and if security permits, you can cross into Tachilek - the notorious Burma border town with its fascinating black market where you can buy literally anything! This probably the world’s best duty free area!

Day 6 – Pak Beng

Today as you cross into Laos, you will stop for a walk in the market town of Pak Beng, deep in the Laos jungle . You will then visit Pak Tha and take a trip up the Namtha River by traditional long-tail boat to visit a Khmu village.

Day 7 – Pak Ou

You will stop today to explore the incredible Buddhist sanctuaries that are the Pak Ou Caves. You will also enter the Nam Ou River today, with its spectacular cliff faces. Continue on river all day through rapids and deep pools.

Day 8 – Luang Prabang

Today you will reach the magical Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage town. Moored in the heart of the temple city, you will visit the many Buddhist temples, libraries and the Royal Palace. There is a buzzing night market and many delightful cafes and some quite good restaurants ashore.

Day 9 – Luang Prabang

Observe the morning alms giving as a thousand monks collect their daily meals from door to door. Then you go inland to explore the fascinating Hmong villages and swim in the deep jungle pools at the Khaung Si waterfall. Those interested will have the chance to do some gentle trekking along forest trails. The evening is at leisure to explore Luang Prabang by night, possibly visiting many of the craft studios, workshops and restaurants.

Day 10 – Tha Deua

Take a walk ashore at this important crossing point and visit local villages to see how the locals live in the countryside. The boat will the conntinue upstream into Sayabouri Province.

Day 11 – Pak Lai

Stroll around the charming French-colonial town of Pak Lai, with its many colonial buildings and a bustling local market. This town boasts the largest elephant festival in South East Asia, usually in February.

Day 12 – Ban Paklay

You will pass through a dramatic landscape of jungle and mountains today, where the river flows fast and wild. Amazing rock formations straddle the river banks, and the boat will moor here on the sand banks for the night. You will visit Ban Sanakham, an important border crossing between Laos and Thailand. It is here that you will enter the cultivated plains of Vientiane province.

Day 13 – Vientiane

This morning you will arrive in Vientiane. You will have the chance to explore this delightful French city and spend the evening in port to explore the many cafes and bistros in this charming little corner of L’Indochine.

Day 14 – Vientiane

Today you will disembark the RV Pandaw Laos and check into your hotel for your final night in Laos. You can explore the many cafes, bistros and handicraft stores on the bustling streets of Vientiane.

Day 15 – Fly Home

Transfer to the airport to catch your flight home.