3 DAYS, VAT PHOU CRUISE
Itineraries: 3 days/2 nights
Cruise Down River:
DAY 1: PAKSE/CHAMPASSAK/VAT PHOU
DAY 2: HUEI THAMO / OUM MOUNG TEMPLE / KHONG ISLAND
DAY 3: BAN VEUTHONG/ THE “NIAGARA OF THE EAST/ XIENG DI/ PAKSE
Cruise Up River (the same tour but in reverse):
DAY 1: XIENG DI / KHONE ISLAND
DAY 2: KHONG ISLAND / OUM MOUNG TEMPLE / HUEI THAMO
DAY 3: BAN WAT LUANG KAO / VAT PHOU / CHAMPASSAK
ITINERARY IN DETAILS:
Cruise Down River:
DAY 1: PAKSE/CHAMPASSAK/VAT PHOU
Early morning 10h30 a.m. departure from Pakse for Champassak, heading south aboard a local longtail riverboat, zigzagging through mild rapids and sand banks, arriving at Champassak in time for a riverside lunch, followed by a guided tour of the mysterious pre-Angkorian 10th century temple of Vat Phou, the boat’s namesake. As dusk falls board the Vat Phou for a relaxing cruise down-river, enjoying the tropical sunset on the deck, dinner is served on board, while the boat docks for the night alongside a remote Laotian village.
DAY 3: BAN VEUTHONG/ THE “NIAGARA OF THE EAST/ XIENG DI/ PAKSE
Breakfast on the deck, while cruising to the small village of Ban Veuthong where we will board a small long-tail boat to Khone Island. After visit, take a long tail boat back to the main land for lunch amid the by-gone splendid of another age; colorful French colonial houses and an old customs post, alongside a stone quay. Take a minivan to amazingly scenic splendor of the Khong Pha Peng waterfall, “the Niagara of the East“, close to the Cambodian border. Back to “civilization, for the two hours ride to Pakse, arriving in the afternoon, about 3:50 p.m.
Cruise Up River (the same tour but in reverse):
DAY 2: KHONG ISLAND / OUM MOUNG TEMPLE / HUEI THAMO
Breakfast on board Vat Phou as we set sail to Ban Dua Tae, and visit this traditional Laotian Village after the visit we sail North, past the island of Don Xai, and into a myriad of islands of all shapes and sizes, the wild paradise of ‘4,000 islands.’ Enjoy the lunch during cruising North to the island of Don Daeng, to visit the village of Huei Thamo and the mysterious Oum Moung forest temple, just a few minutes walk way. Dinner. “Under the stars”, aboard Vat Phou.