Cruise the Splendors of Laos, from Chiang Rai to Vientiane

Discovering the Golden Triangle, this mythical region straddling Thailand, Laos and Burma, naturally leads to the Mekong which demarcates its border. This path taken by the minorities of Laos in search of a refuge for those whom history has forced into exile, is the one you will travel aboard the modern and comfortable R/V Sabaidee Pandaw. Through the mountains dotted with rice fields, tea fields and this opium which earned it a sulphurous reputation, you will encounter an astonishing ethnic diversity: a mixture of costumes, architectures, crafts and flavors. Among the jewels of this region, Luang Prabang, located on the banks of the Mekong, exudes a religious and serene atmosphere with its temples, its monks, its green vegetation and its colorful architecture. While sailing on the river, other wonders are offered to travelers: the magnificent turquoise terraced waterfalls of Kuang Si, the typical and welcoming villages at the bend of a meander, as well as Vientiane, the capital of this marvelous country that is Laos.

Regions / Countries: France Thailand Laos
Boat: Sabaidee Pandaw
Dates: Feb 21, 2025
Duration: 14 Days / 13 Nights
Tags: City Mainland port Popular Romantic Nightlife Village Town Secluded

The price includes

Paris/Chiang Rai and Vientiane/Paris flights on regular economy class flights with stopovers (Thai Airways, Air France, Bangkok Airlines or Laos Airlines)
Air taxes (€450) vary and are subject to change
All transfers mentioned in the program
Accommodation on board R/V Sabaidee Pandaw in the chosen category
Accommodation in a double room (1 night) in a 4-star hotel (local standards) in Chiang Rai
Accommodation in a double room (2 nights) in a 4* hotel (local standards) in Vientiane in 2025
Full board from lunch on day 2 to lunch on day 13
Beverages on board R/V Sabaidee Pandaw: mineral water, soft drinks, beer and local spirits, tea and coffee
Drinks during meals on land: mineral water (50cl/pers.), tea or coffee
All visits and entrances to the sites mentioned in the program with a local French-speaking guide
Flight attendant service charges
The services of a French-speaking cruise director – guide

The price does not include

• Drinks other than those mentioned
• Tips for guides and drivers (USD 50 per person recommended)
• Travel insurance
• Visa and costs of obtaining it (€85 to date for French nationals)
• Possibility of business class flights: contact us
Supplement for departure cities other than Paris or Brussels: contact us

Minimum number of participants

Optional excursions

Discovery of Chiang Rai (maximum 28 people per group)
Visit to the Opium Museum (maximum 28 people per group)
Discovery of a village of the Khmu ethnic group (maximum 28 people per group)
Discovery of the Pak Ou caves (maximum 28 people per group)
Discovery of Luang Prabang (maximum 28 people per group)
Continuation of the visit of Luang Prabang (maximum 28 people per group)
Discovery of Kuangsi Falls (maximum 28 people per group)
Walk in a village on the banks of the Mekong (maximum 28 people per group)
Walk in the village of Ban Pha Leab (maximum 28 people per group)
Discovery of Pak Lai (maximum 28 people per group)
Discovery of Vientiane (maximum 28 people per group)
Visit to Xieng Khuan Park and Si Muang Temple (maximum 28 people per group)

Language: French-speaking (in some cases, a guide may be able to provide translations when a French-speaking guide is not available)

Formalities

Passport valid for 6 months after the return date and Laotian visa for French nationals.

Health formalities

Up-to-date DTP recommended.

The boat

This small vessel with only 14 cabins was designed in 2018 to sail the waters of the Upper Mekong between Laos and Thailand.
The R/V Sabaidee Pandaw combines privacy and comfort to offer a unique experience of a region with still little-known borders.

Boat characteristics

• Length: 45 m
• Width: 9.5 m
• Draft: 1.40 m
• Capacity: 28 passengers
• Crew: 12 members Cabins: 14 spread over 2 decks
• Electric current: 220 v
• Currency on board: euro, US dollar, Laotian kip, credit card
• Construction: 2018

Important note

The port of call times are given for information purposes only and have no contractual value. The Captain of the ship is the only one authorized to define the navigation conditions and has the power to interrupt a cruise, to modify its itinerary and the ports of call for reasons of force majeure, weather (fog, storm, insufficient or excessive rise in water levels, in particular) or for safety requirements of the Travelers or the ship.

Accommodation

[{"day":["2"],"name":"4* hotel local standards "}]

Highlights

Mekong, and Vientiane, the capital of Laos
Visit to sacred places of Buddhism
Meetings with the inhabitants of the river and discovery of traditional ceremonies