12 DAYS | 11 NIGHTS
The Mekong is the soul of Laos. Along its banks, fishing villages, Buddhist temples, terraced rice fields, and limestone cliffs follow one another in timeless harmony. This 12-day tour follows the river from Luang Prabang to the Thai border (Huay Xai), with stops in preserved villages, sacred caves, and unforgettable panoramas. Asia Safari organizes every detail of your Mekong cruise.
The Mekong, from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai
Luang Prabang — The Cultural Starting Point
Luang Prabang is the natural starting point for a Mekong cruise. Three days to soak up the UNESCO heritage: golden temples, alms giving, the Royal Palace, and night markets.
The Pak Ou Caves
Located 25 km upstream from Luang Prabang, the Pak Ou Caves house thousands of Buddha statues offered by devotees over the centuries. An essential spiritual stop, accessible only by boat from the river.
Pak Beng — The Halfway Break
Pak Beng is the traditional stopover village for Mekong cruises. Perched on the heights above the river, it offers a spectacular sunset. Asia Safari selects the best accommodations in the village.
Huay Xai and the Thai Border
The terminus of the cruise, Huay Xai, is on the Thai border, facing Chiang Khong. From there, it is possible to continue to Thailand or return to Luang Prabang by domestic flight.
Your Questions About the Mekong Cruise
Is the Mekong cruise comfortable?
Slow boats are wooden vessels measuring 20-30 meters. Asia Safari selects operators offering the most comfortable boats. Premium cruises with private cabins are also available.
How long is the Luang Prabang – Huay Xai cruise?
By slow boat: 2 days with one night in Pak Beng. Asia Safari strongly recommends the slow boat to truly experience the Mekong.
Are there cruises with private cabins?
Yes. A few operators offer cruises with private cabins, a lounge, and a gourmet restaurant. Asia Safari can organize this premium option.
Is it possible to do the cruise in the other direction?
Yes. The cruise operates in both directions. Asia Safari can organize the tour according to your point of entry (Bangkok or Vientiane) and exit.
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TRIP
From Pak Beng Village to the Pak Ou Caves by Boat
Luang Prabang, the Former Royal Capital
Themed Day on Rice Production
Kuang Si Falls
Meeting the Elephants of MandaLao
The South, Pakse and its Colonial Quarter
Wat Phou Temple
Cruise from Champasak to the 4,000 Islands
Meeting the Mekong Dolphins
The Bolaven Plateau, its Coffee Plantations, and Waterfalls
The adventure starts here!
Stop: Chiang Rai
Greeting by your driver at Chiang Rai airport and transfer to your hotel.
Stopover: Pakbeng
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In Chiang Khong, the Friendship Bridge spans the Mekong and allows entry into Laos, where an English-speaking guide awaits you. Formalities and transfer to the port.
Embarkation on the Mekong, one of the most beautiful rivers in the world. Its banks come alive with the daily life of villagers. Lunch on board. Disembarkation in the small village of Pak Beng, a true commercial crossroads where goods transit to or from Vientiane, Thailand, Burma, or China. It is not uncommon to see a ship flying the Chinese flag. Check-in at your hotel and opportunity for a walk in the village.
Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.
Stops: Pak Ou Caves, Luang Prabang
Breakfast, Lunch
Departure for a second day of sailing on board your comfortable traditional vessel. Before reaching Luang Prabang, you will stop at the famous Pak Ou Caves, inside which numerous Buddha representations have been placed for centuries by faithful pilgrims.
Lunch on board. Around 5:00 PM, you will be taken to your hotel. Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.
Stage: Luang Prabang
Breakfast
This beautiful day begins at the first light of dawn: the monks leave their temples and cross the city to collect alms offered by the villagers. A colorful and silent spectacle not to be missed! Continue your morning walk at the market with its surprising handicraft products and through the narrow alleys of the old town: colonial houses and pockets of greenery dominated by palm trees.
You will visit the National Museum (former Royal Palace) of Luang Prabang and discover the city’s main temples at your own pace. Lunch at your leisure.
You will continue your visit of Luang Prabang while waiting for the sunset from Mount Phousi (300 steps), an effort rewarded by a breathtaking view of the city! The night market at the bottom of the stairs is an opportunity to bring back local handicraft treasures. Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay at your hotel.
Stopovers: Luang Prabang, Kuang Si Falls
Breakfast, Lunch
A day spent close to the daily life of the Lao people, centered on the theme of rice, the country’s staple food. Its production will no longer hold any secrets for you: grain selection, sowing, transplanting seedlings… all the way to the harvest. At each stage, you will learn to use the strength of a dear friend to every farmer: the water buffalo, an indispensable partner in the absence of modern tools.
After this fun experience, you will be invited to enjoy a picnic prepared by the Soum Noum restaurant and served at the foot of the magnificent turquoise-colored Kuang Si waterfalls. A short hike is possible to discover the terraced cascades. Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay at your hotel.
Stops: Luang Prabang
Breakfast, Lunch
The village of Xieng Lom is the site of a friendly encounter with a group of elephants from the MandaLao Elephant Camp. The elephant calves are cared for as part of a program aimed at quickly initiating them into independence. The youngest among them receive the utmost attention.
Travel within the estate is by boat on the Nam Khan River, the site of the bath in which it is possible to participate before starting a short trek in the jungle alongside your new friends. You quickly get caught up in the experience! Return through the rice fields and teak plantations.
Lunch on site, return to Luang Prabang in the early afternoon. Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay at your hotel.
Stops: Pakse
Breakfast
After your breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Pakse, the starting point for further adventures.
Free time to discover the city, an important commercial crossroads for the trade of wood, coffee, tea, and cardamom. Lunch at your leisure in a local restaurant. Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay at your hotel.
Stops: Pakse, Champasak
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, transfer by boat to Champasak, the new embarkation point for the Vat Phou, an old flat-bottomed teak transport vessel renovated into a 2-story boat. This cruise ship is now a beautiful floating hotel with 12 cabins, each with a shower room. Settle into your cabin before lunch is served on deck.
Discovering Vat Phou is the highlight of the afternoon. This most incredible archaeological site in Laos is the cradle of Khmer civilization. Built on a summit, this complex of temples is an earthly reproduction of paradise.
Return to the boat at nightfall, in time to admire the sunset from the upper deck. Dinner served on deck and overnight stay on the boat.
Stages: Champassak, 4000 Islands
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast before reaching the village of Huei Thamo, located a few minutes’ walk from the Oum Moung temple, protected by a thick forest. Head south towards the 4,000 Islands, the widest part of the Mekong since the Tibetan Plateau. The river splits into multiple channels separated by sandbanks and islands of various sizes.
Lunch on the restaurant deck, then a walk on the main island of Khong, its village Muang Khong, and the remains of the Laos-Cambodia railway built during the French presence.
Return on board. No noise (except for the bullfrogs), a cool breeze, magnificent landscapes, no one around… an ideal end of the world. Dinner and overnight stay on the boat.
Stops: 4,000 Islands, Pakse
Breakfast, Lunch
From the small village of Veuthong, a “long tail” pirogue provides the transfer to Khone Island, where you can discover the very rare Mekong dolphins capable of navigating the rapids and waterfalls that have always defeated humans. Visit this charming island where you can find some old French colonial buildings.
Lunch in a restaurant in the fishing village of Xieng Di before reaching, by bus, the Khone Phapheng Falls, the “Niagara” of the Far East, located on the border with Cambodia. Return to Pakse in the late afternoon. Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay at your hotel.
Stops: Pakse, Paksong, Bolaven Plateau
Breakfast
Sadly known for being one of the most heavily bombed areas during the Vietnam War, the Bolaven Plateau is famous for its cool climate and its impressive Tad Fane falls, as well as the Tad Yuang and Tad Pasuam waterfalls.
Many ethnic minorities have settled on its fertile volcanic soils planted with coffee, fruit, cardamom, and rattan. Visit and lunch at your leisure.
Stop at the local market in Paksong, the capital of Lao coffee and home to many Mon-Khmer minority groups. Return to Pakse in the late afternoon. Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay at your hotel.
Stop: Pakse
Breakfast
Free time before your transfer to Pakse airport.
Our selection of Hotels
Included
- Accommodation in a room for 2 people
- For each participant not sharing a room, add the individual supplement
- All meals mentioned (breakfast and/or lunch and/or dinner)
- All transfers mentioned, in private cars or air-conditioned minibuses
- All excursions mentioned in the program
- All entrance fees to sites
- The service of French-speaking guides for the different stages
- The guide: our quotation includes the salaries and travel expenses of a guide residing in Luang Prabang. If Luang Prabang guides are not available, we bring guides from Vientiane. This incurs an additional cost which will be communicated to you if applicable.
Excluded
- Domestic and international flights
- Drinks during meals and personal expenses
- Services not mentioned above
- Meals not mentioned above
- Bank or exchange fees related to payment for the trip
- Laotian visa fees (30 USD/person plus one passport photo). As a precaution, plan for 35 USD/person plus two passport photos)
- Your passport must be valid for 6 months after the exit date from the country
- Cancellation / assistance / repatriation and luggage insurance
- Tips
Personalized follow-up
Each client receives personalized follow-up:
- Your French-speaking Asia Safari advisor informs and assists you in your choices, targets your expectations before designing your trip
- From your arrival until your departure day, you benefit from Asia Safari assistance throughout the trip
- We are regularly in the field to ensure the reliability of our partners
- We invest in research and development to integrate novelty and originality into our offer
- We only employ experienced guides
Important
- The services, flights, and hotels offered are subject to availability at the time of booking
- Domestic or international flight schedules may be delayed or changed without prior notice
- Our prices are guaranteed by the payment of a 30% deposit of the total amount of your trip
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Why choose Asia Safari for your trip to Laos?
Asia Safari is not a generalist tour operator based in France. We have been on site, in Vientiane, for over 25 years. Our guides are Lao, our accommodations are hand-picked, and each itinerary is tailor-made. The result: a vibrant, fair trip, without unnecessary frills.
- Local French-speaking agency: we speak your language and know the country from the inside
- Zero intermediaries: you deal directly with the local team
- Truly tailor-made: no fixed catalog — each trip is unique
- 25+ years of experience: founded in 2002, Asia Safari assists hundreds of French-speaking travelers every year
How does our tailor-made service work?
1. You send us your request (dates, budget, desires, profile)
2. We build a proposal within 48 hours — day-by-day itinerary, accommodations, all-inclusive price
3. You refine it with us until the trip is perfect
4. We manage everything on site: guides, transport, hotels, activities
When to visit Laos?
The best period is October to April — dry season, pleasant temperatures. The rainy season (May to September) is also possible: lush landscapes and fewer tourists, but some roads can be difficult. Asia Safari advises you according to the region and type of trip.
Laos, the heart of your Indochina tour
Laos is often the surprise of a trip: uncrowded, authentic, with a quiet beauty. Asia Safari makes Laos much more than a stopover — we make it the central experience of your stay, before or after Vietnam, Cambodia, or Thailand.
Our most requested Indochina combinations
Laos + Cambodia: A classic — temples of Luang Prabang and Angkor Wat, Mekong and Tonlé Sap. 15 days minimum recommended.
Laos + Vietnam: Two contrasting countries — the calm of Laos and the energy of Vietnam. From Hanoi to Vientiane or vice versa.
Northern Laos + Yunnan: For travelers seeking originality — travel from Yunnan to Laos via the Laos-China railway (inaugurated 2021).
Grand Indochina Tour (40 days): Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand — a memorable trip for life.
Tips for preparing your multi-country tour
Visas: each country has its own rules — Asia Safari guides you through all procedures.
Ideal duration: allow a minimum of 12 to 15 days for a 2-country combination.
Seasons: seasons vary by country — we help you choose the best window.
Budget: prices vary greatly by country. Laos is cheaper than Vietnam or Thailand.
Our Story
Jean-Paul Duvergé arrived in Laos at the turn of the 2000s, fell in love with the country, and decided to stay. In 2002, he founded Asia Safari with a simple idea: to offer French-speaking travelers direct access to authentic Lao life, without the filter of large Parisian agencies. Since then, the agency has assisted thousands of travelers, built a network of trusted guides and partners, and refined its philosophy: rigorous tailor-made travel, serving authenticity.
What sets us apart
We are on site: Our team works from Vientiane. We know the roads, seasons, accommodations, guides — and what changed last week. No outdated brochures.
We speak your language: Asia Safari is a 100% French-speaking agency. All our communications, proposals, and guides speak French.
Zero intermediaries: You work directly with us. No central purchasing, no Parisian subcontractors. Fairer prices and higher service quality.
Tailor-made as our only model: We do not have standardized tours. Each trip is designed from scratch, according to your dates, budget, desires, and traveler profile.
Our commitment
Asia Safari actively supports responsible tourism in Laos: prioritizing local accommodations, tours that benefit village communities, respect for cultural and natural sites.
Laos in figures
Area: 236,800 km² | Population: approximately 7.5 million inhabitants | Capital: Vientiane | Official language: Lao | Religion: Theravada Buddhism (65% of the population) | Currency: Lao Kip (LAK) | Time zone: UTC+7
Laos must-sees
Luang Prabang: Former royal capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site, its golden temples, French colonial houses, and gentle way of life make it an undeniable favorite.
Vientiane: The human-sized capital — That Luang, Patuxai, and the banks of the Mekong are worth a visit.
Vang Vieng: Surrounded by limestone karsts, ideal for kayaking, caving, and hiking.
Southern Laos and 4000 Islands: Champassak, the Vat Phou temples (UNESCO), the Bolaven Plateau, and the Mekong islands.
Lao culture
Theravada Buddhism permeates all of Lao life. The alms giving (offerings to monks at dawn) in Luang Prabang is a daily ritual of great beauty. Lao festivals — Boun Pi Mai (Lao New Year in April), Boun Ok Phansa (Festival of Lights) — are exceptional times to travel.
Nature and biodiversity
Laos is 70% covered by forests. Its protected areas are home to rare species: Asian elephants, gibbons, sun bears. The rivers and plateaus offer natural settings of rare purity in Asia.
