Anouvong, Golden Triangle Traverse (Upstream) ex Luang Prabang to Huay Xai
Cruise Line Heritage Line
Ship Anouvong
Destination Asian Rivers
Nights 3
Departure Date 02 Apr 2022
Description 3 Night Cruise sailing from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai aboard Anouvong.

Day 1
Get acquainted with the facilities on board as you embark on the upstream journey from Luang Prabang in the early morning. After a brief introduction to Anouvong, we meet Mr. Francis Engelmann, a writer and retired consultant to UNESCO on heritage preservation projects since 1994. Born in Paris in 1947, Mr. Engelmann has lived in Laos for over 20 years and knows its many facets like the back of his hand. In his presentation, Mr. Engelmann shares some of his expertise on the country’s rich cultural heritage, the turbulent history and the day-to-day life of Lao people.We arrive in the village of Muang Keo where you get the chance to observe local weavers honouring their timeworn traditional crafts. From Muang Keo, we take a short and easy trek to the famous Pak Ou Caves, located directly on the Mekong’s rocky shore and opposite the mouth of the Ou River. There are two spacious limestone grottoes which house approximately 4,000 sacred Buddhist statues and images ranging from mere centimetres up to 2m (7ft) in height.Once back to the ship we recharge for a little more adventurous action later in the afternoon (optional activity): Take a kayak and discover the peaceful, flowing river on your own and observe life on the shores from a different perspective. We make our way upstream during the late afternoon and find our overnight spot near a local village. You can relax on the sun deck or in the privacy of your room and take in the magnificent views of Laos’ countryside.

Day 2
Early birds are welcome to join our daily morning exercise class (Yoga or Tai Chi) on the terrace deck. After a relaxing practice to the stunning backdrop of rolling hills and the majestic river, breakfast is served. As we cruise along in the morning, our local expert hosts a lecture about Asian elephants, particularly the Laotian species, their cultural importance in the past and the current threats which have brought them to the brink of extinction. In the late afternoon, we arrive in the small town of Pakbeng. This riverside settlement is halfway between Luang Prabang and our final destination, Huay Xai. Many locals also stop here when they travel or transport goods between these two “hubs” on the upper Mekong. We visit a lovely hill-top temple with amazing views of the gently flowing Mekong below.We then have the chance to expand on the knowledge from our morning lecture when visiting an elephant preservation sanctuary. The elephants here used to work as logging elephants and can live in peace and safety here as they now lack the ability to survive in the wild. The sanctuary is designed under the aspects of ecotourism, and its management looks strongly after sustainable tourism while supporting this threatened species. Back on board, we continue cruising upstream with some scenic views before we stop for the night at a sandbank. After dinner, there is a famous Laotian “comedy” movie scheduled in our nightly “on-board cinema”. The movie, called “Chang” (Laotian for “elephant”), was shot not far away from our current location in 1927 and was made by the same producer as the first King Kong movie.

Day 3
Rise early to catch the sun’s first rays and join our Thai Chi or Yoga class on the terrace deck. Enjoy your breakfast as we cruise along. After breakfast, our morning lecture provides you with interesting insights and facts about Laotian culture of the diverse tribes living along the upper Mekong. In addition to the lecture, you are welcome to join an authentic Laotian cooking class to learn how to prepare some of the delightful and easy-to-make local foods. The rest of the morning is at your disposal as we sail through lush vegetation and gently rolling verdant hills. In the afternoon we arrive at Huay Palang village, home of the Khmu minority. The locals’ lifestyle here depends fully on the Mekong as a means of transportation and a primary food source. The village consists of approximately 85 families. Learn about the local art of weaving Bamboo mats, which you can try your hand at it if you like. Local households also produce their own alcohol by distilling rice to make the famous Lao whisky. We are sure you are curious to understand all the steps of the production process.As the sun sets over the Mekong River, we return to the boat for a farewell Baci Ceremony, held by the village elders and meant to send you off on safe travels after spending a final night aboard Anouvong.Our culinary team is pleased to spoil you on your last evening as our chefs have prepared some delectable dishes for dinner. Have a grand time together with your newly made friends and join our staff to celebrate this wonderful journey and dance the night away.

Day 4
The last sunrise aboard paired with a morning Thai Chi is the perfect way to commence your final day. Enjoy the sumptuous breakfast buffet afterwards as we voyage towards the Thai border and Huay Xai. The ship arrives this morning at the junction with the Nam Tha River, one of the Mekong’s major tributaries. The Nam Tha, which translates to “Green River”, begins near the Chinese border, 325 km to the northeast, and ends at this crossing with the Mekong. Kick back and relax or join our local handicraft workshop before lunchtime. We continue journeying over the last hours until we reach the final destination of Huay Xai (approximately 15:00 o’clock). After check-out, we assist you with border crossings (Laos and Thailand) before bidding you farewell in front of the Thai immigration office. (The process of passing through both immigrations can take up to one hour, please see details in our Dis-/embarkation guide).
Sailing Dates
  • 08 Mar 2021
  • 16 Mar 2021
  • 24 Mar 2021
  • 01 Apr 2021
  • 09 Apr 2021
  • 16 Jul 2021
  • 24 Jul 2021
  • 01 Aug 2021
  • 27 Aug 2021
  • 04 Sep 2021
  • 30 Sep 2021
  • 08 Oct 2021
  • 03 Nov 2021
  • 11 Nov 2021
  • 07 Dec 2021
  • 15 Dec 2021
  • 23 Dec 2021
  • 31 Dec 2021
  • 08 Jan 2022
  • 03 Feb 2022
  • 11 Feb 2022
  • 09 Mar 2022
  • 17 Mar 2022
  • 25 Mar 2022
  • 02 Apr 2022
  • 10 Apr 2022
Itinerary

Cruise Itinerary

DayDateActivityArriveDepart
1 02/04 Luang Prabang, Laos
1 02/04 Gaeng Hang Ngai, Laos
2 03/04 Pak Beng, Laos
3 04/04 Huay Palang, Laos
4 05/04 Huay Xai, Laos
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

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