The Mekong is the artery of life in Laos: a trading route, a source of food and water, and a social center for the settlements along its banks. Known locally as The Mother of Waters, the Mekong river has been venerated and worshiped for thousands of years.
The Vat Phou Cruises offer a fantastic opportunity to discover the splendor of the Mekong River and the Vat Phou temple on a delightful three-day voyage aboard a luxurious floating hotel.
Since 1999, our custom built river cruiser has traveled on the Mekong in Laos between Pakse, Champasak and Don Khong Island.
The boat is appointed with everything for your comfort, safety and enjoyment.
Our boat staff and guide are always available to help you with any need you may have during your cruise on the Mekong
3 Days - 2 Nights : Down River
Day 1: PAKSE - CHAMPASAK - VAT PHOU
PAKSE
– Departing 09h30 – 10h00 – After meeting at the Sinouk Coffee House in central Pakse at 9:30am, we transfer you to our cruise boat via long tail riverboat, for your 2.5 hour journey to Champassak.
CHAMPASAK / LUNCH
– 12h30 – Upon boarding at the Vat Phou boat, we help you to your cabins to unpack, before serving lunch on deck. All meals are included on the Vat Phou Mekong cruise and our galley produces the finest of Laotian, Vietnamese and Thai dishes, lovingly prepared and beautifully presented.
VAT PHOU TEMPLE
– 14h30 – The highlight of the afternoon is the Vat Phou ruins – the majestic pre-Angkorian 10th century temple complex and our boat’s namesake. You have time to visit the museum at the ruins site, walk up to the highest temple and take as many photos as you would like.
SUNSET CRUISE
– 17h00 – As dusk falls, we transfer you 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 alongside a remote Laotian village.
Day 2: HUEI THAMO > OUM MUONG TEMPLE > KHONG ISLAND
TOMO VILLAGE
– Departing 07h00 – 10h30 – Breakfast is on board as we set sail for the village of Tomo. This is a small village a few minutes walk away from the mysterious hidden forest temple of Oum Muong. Afterwards we rejoin the boat to continue our cruise southwards.
CRUISE / LUNCH
– 12h30 – Lunch is on the deck, while we leisurely sail closer to the wild paradise known as the 4,000 Islands All meals are included on the Vat Phou Mekong cruise and the galley produces the finest of Laotian, Vietnamese and Thai dishes, lovingly prepared and beautifully presented.
BAN DEUA TIA / KHONG ISLAND
– 16h30 – Late afternoon we disembark from the boat to walk through Ban Deua Tia, a small Laotian Village where the traditional way of life has not changed in centuries, you will also visit the local school and share some time with the students. Our day’s cruise finishes at the most northern tip of Don Khong, the largest inhabited island in the river archipelago. After dinner, the evening is yours to relax and enjoy.
Day 3: DON KHONE > PHA PHENG WATERFALL > PAKSE
DON KHONE
– Departing 7h00 – While you have breakfast on the deck, the Vat Phou boat cruises down the Mekong to the small village of Ban Veuthong, where you board a small boat to meander among the 4,000 Islands to Khone Island. You will visit the old French railway, the French colonial house and walk across the bridge that links Khone and Det Islands.
LUNCH – 12h00 – Enjoy a lunch at a local restaurant on Don Khone Island along the banks of the river.
PHAPHENG WATERFALL / PAKSE
– 13h00-16h30 – This afternoon you will visit the Khone PhaPheng waterfalls, the “Niagara of the East”. After your visit to Phapheng waterfall you will be transferred back to Pakse by bus where the tour will end.
3 Days - 2 Nights Upriver
DAY 1: PAKSE > PHAPHENG WATERFALL > KHONE ISLAND
PAKSE
– Departing 09h30 – 10h00 – After meeting at the Sinouk Coffee House in central Pakse at 9:30am, you will board a bus to travel Route 13 to the historically significant PhaPheng waterfalls.
PHAPHENG WATERFALL / LUNCH
– 12h00 – Visit the Khong PhaPheng waterfalls, the “Niagara of the East”. You will then be driven by bus to the Nakasang pier, you board a small wooden boat, which will take you to Don Khone Island for lunch at local restaurant on the banks of the river.
DON KHONE
– 14h00 – You will visit the old French railway, the French colonial house and walk across the bridge that links Khone and Det Islands.
KHONG ISLAND > SUNSET CRUISES > DINNER
– 17h00 – After this fascinating glimpse into the not so distant past, your small wooden boat continues cruising among the 4,000 Islands to the Vat-Phou boat at Ban Dong Veuthong in Don Khong Island.
At 17:30 pm, check into your cabin while the boat sets off. Enjoy dinner onboard as the sun is setting. We will dock riverside for the night.
DAY 2: KHONG ISLAND > HUEI THAMO > OUM MUONG TEMPLE
BAN DEUA TIA / KHONG ISLAND
– Departing 07h00 – Breakfast is on board the Vat Phou boat as we set sail to Ban Deua Tia. You will walk through this small village, seeing centuries old traditions still being used. You will also visit the school and share some time with the local students.
The Vat Phou boat then continues to cruise north on the Mekong, past the island of Don Xai, and many other small islets in the river archipelago.
CRUISE / LUNCH
– 12h00 – Lunch is on the deck, while we leisurely sail up the Mekong River. All meals are included on the Vat Phou Mekong cruise and the galley produces the finest of Laotian, Vietnamese and Thai dishes, lovingly prepared and beautifully presented.
TOMO VILLAGE
– 16h00 – Late afternoon we disembark from the boat to walk through the village of Tomo and the mysterious Oum Muong forest temple, just a few minutes walk way. Dinner is aboard Vat Phou, then you have the rest of the evening to relax and enjoy the silene.
DAY 3: VAT PHOU > CHAMPASAK > PAKSE
VAT PHOU TEMPLE
– Departing 7h00 – While enjoying breakfast on board, the Vat Phou continues its Mekong cruise to Champassak. The highlight this morning is the Vat Phou ruins – the majestic pre-Angkorian 10th century temple complex and our boat’s namesake.
LUNCH – 12h00 – After your visit of Vat Phou temple, you return to the boat for one last meal as we cruise to our final desination.
CHAMPASAK / PAKSE
– 13h00-16h00 – A long-tail boat will return you to Pakse, arriving around 4.00pm in the afternoon. This is the end of your cruise, and the beginning of whatever is next on your itinerary.
(There is a possibility to connect with the flight from Ubon Ratchathani to Bangkok the same evening).
