Vientiane & Vat Phou Cruise Guided Tour

Vientiane - Pakse - Mekong River Cruise

Duration

7 days

Tour Type

Private

Price From

£1,620 pp

Overview: Vientiane & Vat Phou Cruise Tour

Discover the serene beauty, fascinating history, and laid-back atmosphere of Southern Laos on this immersive 7-day guided tour with Emperor Tours. Journey through a region where life remains blissfully unhurried, with architectural heirlooms, ancient temples, traditional villages, and the tropical landscapes of the Mekong creating a fascinating insight into Laos’ history, culture, and way of life.

Tour Highlights:

Explore Vientiane’s historic landmarks, including Wat Sisaket, Wat Phra Kaew, Phra That Luang, and Patousay
Visit Buddha Park and Talad Sao Central Market to experience two of Vientiane’s distinctive attractions
Discover the ancient Vat Phou ruins, a magnificent pre-Angkorian temple complex dating back to the 10th century
Cruise along the Mekong and experience the spectacular landscapes surrounding the 4,000 Islands
Visit the hidden forest temple of Oum Muong and the traditional village of Ban Deua Tia
Explore Khone Island, including its old French railway and colonial heritage, before visiting the spectacular Pha Pheng Waterfall

The Vientiane & Vat Phou Cruise tour offers a fascinating insight into Laos, combining its rich history, distinctive culture, and relaxed way of life in one memorable journey.

Day 1 - UK Departure

Day 1 - Depart UK

Depart the UK with international economy flight to Vientiane, Laos.

Day 2 - Arrival in Vientiane

Arrival at Chiang Rai Airport and transfer to the hotel to check in. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 - Vientiane

Today we’ll be exploring some of the highlights of Vientiane. First, visit Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple in the city, and home to thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Next, visit Wat Phra Kaew, the former royal temple that housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image, and Phra That Luang, which represents a lotus bud and is used as a symbol of the Lao nation. We will also visit Patousay, Vientiane’s very own Arc of Triumph. Get the feel of true local life with a visit to Talad Sao, the Central Market of Vientiane.

Afternoon, we visit one of Laos’s slightly stranger attractions – the Buddha Park. Built in 1958 this riverside park is the site of a large collection of Buddhist and Hindu Sculptures. En route, take a look at the impressive Friendship Bridge and the National Cultural Park.

NOTE: Instead of the Buddha Park, a visit to (1) the weaving village of Ban Nong Buathong, or (2) the forest temple Wat Sok Pa Luang can be arranged.

Day 4 - Vientiane - Pakse

Day 4 - Vientiane to Pakse

Today we take a flight to Pakse, the capital of Champasak Province and transportation hub for the whole of southern Laos. We’ll be met upon arrival and driven to the hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at own leisure.

Day 5 - Pakse / Champasak / Vat Phou

Check out and transfer to Sinouk Coffee House for the meeting between 9:00 and 9:30. Next, we will be transferred to a long-tail boat for a 2.5-hour journey to the Vat Phou cruise boat in Champasak. Upon arrival, we’ll be welcome on board with a drink followed by lunch. The highlight of the afternoon is the Vat Phou ruins – the majestic pre-Angkorian 10th century temple complex and our boat’s namesake. As dusk falls, we’ll be driven 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 at Ban Muang village.

Day 6 - Huei Thamo / Oum Muong Temple / Khong Island

The boat undocks at 6:00 AM and continues downstream. Around 10:30, we leave the boat to visit Huei Thamo village and the mysterious hidden forest temple of Oum Muong. The temple was built in the 9th century in dedication to Rudani, a consort of Shiva, and named for the stream running behind. The most predominant feature of the ruins is the unusual lingam with four faces at the tip. We return to the boat for lunch while it gets closer to the paradisaical wilderness known as the 4,000 Islands. Late afternoon we disembark again and walk through Ban Deua Tia, a small Laotian village where the traditional way of life has not changed over centuries. The cruising today finishes at the most northern tip of Don Khong, the largest inhabited island in the river archipelago.

Day 7 - Don Khone / Pha Pheng Waterfall / Pakse

Day 7 - Luang Prabang to Xieng Khouang

Enjoy breakfast while the boat heads to the small village of Ban Veuthong. Upon arrival, we board a small boat to meander among the 4,000 Islands to Khone Island. Visit the old French railway, the French colonial house and walk across the bridge that links Khone and Det Islands. Enjoy a lunch at a local restaurant on Don Khone Island. After the visit to Khone Pha Pheng, the ‘Niagara of the East’, we will be transferred back to Pakse by bus. The trip ends around 16:00 in the city centre*.

*From here you have the choice to continue your stay in Pakse or transfer to Palse International Airport for flights to Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Siem Reap or Veukham.