RV Laos Pandaw Cruise

Upon arrival at the airport, our driver will be there waiting for you and will take you to your hotel.

Head out with your local guide for a day-long tour around Laos' capital, which has a French colonial vibe. Check out Talat Sao, the morning market in Vientiane, and visit famous spots like Wat Sisaket, Haw Phra Kaew, and Patuxai, which is like the Arc of Triumph in Paris.

After eating lunch at a local spot, we'll go a bit outside the city to see one of Laos' more unusual sights - the Xieng Khuan Buddha Park.

Leave your hotel, our driver will pick you up at 08:00 AM to head to your RV Laos Pandaw ship.

Hop on a local long-tail boat to meet our ship further up the river. Our chef and bar staff will give you lunch and drinks on the boat.

Embark the ship in the afternoon, where we'll have a quick meeting to say hello and offer welcome drinks.

We'll moor at Pak Lay for the night.

Sail up the Mekong River, going by green jungle views and small villages by the river. In the morning, after a quick walk at Pha Laeb village, we'll learn about the Lao language.

If we have enough time, we'll also take a walk in the afternoon at Ban Khok Fark.

Take a morning walk at Ban Pak Bor Khmu village, then we'll go through the Xayabouri Hydroelectric Dam. We'll get a close-up look at how this big dam works, even though some people have mixed feelings about it, as we go through the water locks.

In the afternoon, we'll stop by Ban Na San village, where the Hmong minority community lives.

In the morning, we'll stop at Ban Mouang Khai village and check out the amazing Kuang Si Waterfall. On our way back to the ship, we'll visit the Laos Buffalo Farm, which is a project that makes good use of the many buffaloes in Laos.

In the mid-afternoon, we'll get to the middle of Luang Prabang, a city full of temples. There's a lively night market here, along with lots of great cafes and local places to eat.

During happy hour on the upper deck, we'll have a traditional Laos Baci ceremony and some dancing. We will moor in the center of Luang Prabang for the night.

Today, we're diving into the different crafts made in Laos. First up is Ock Pop Tok, a project that helps local women from weaving villages get jobs and training. Next, we'll visit TAEC (Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre) to learn about Laos musical instruments.

After having lunch on the ship, we'll sail to Ban Chan and see how pottery is made at a local workshop.

We'll end the day with a boat ride on the Mekong River next to Luang Prabang as the sunset, and then moor in the middle of town for the night.

In the early morning, we'll take a walk to see people giving food to the many monks who walk through the city. After breakfast, we'll check out the morning market and then hop on tuk tuk for a tour around this special city that's known for its old temples, libraries, and the Royal Palace.

You'll have the afternoon free to wander around and soak up the special vibe of Luang Prabang.

Spend the morning relaxing in Luang Prabang before we start sailing upriver at noon.

In the afternoon, we'll take a local boat to see the Pak Ou Caves, a special place for Buddhists set against amazing limestone cliffs. We'll also check out how they make local Laos whisky in the Whisky Village and look at some handmade crafts you can buy.

We'll spend the day sailing up the Mekong River and take a morning walk through Ban Ton village.

In the evening, we'll park next to a sandbank for a special barbecue and cocktails by the river. We'll light paper lanterns with the crew and have a dance in a quiet spot in Laos.

Laos is often called "The land of a million elephants" and today we're going to a place that helps preserve Laos' elephants. They also give new jobs to Mahouts, who used to train and ride these amazing animals.

In the afternoon, we'll take a walk around Ban Pak Sith Khmu village.

Today, we're finishing the last part of our trip, sailing up to Huay Xai. We'll cross into Thailand using the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge and then meet back up with our ship in Chiang Khong. Take a tour of the RV Laos Pandaw ship and watch a fruit carving show by our chef.

For our last night, we'll have goodbye cocktails and watch a traditional Thai dance on the ship.

Disembark the ship after breakfast around 08:30 AM in Chiang Khong. When you arrive in Chiang Khong, our local guide will meet you, pick you up, and take you to Mae Chan Mountain and your resort for the night.

It's about a 90-minute drive.

After breakfast, we'll head to Chiang Saen, a small town by the Mekong River. This place is dotted with old ruins from the Chiang Saen Kingdom that started in 1325, including old temples, Buddha statues, and the remains of the city walls. Then, we'll go see the Golden Triangle, where the Ruak River meets the Mekong River, marking the spot where Thailand, Burma, and Laos all meet. Our next stop is the Hall of Opium, set up to teach people about the dangers of opium with a fun exhibit that covers its 5,000-year history up to today's drug problems.

We'll have lunch at a local spot, then drive up to see the Doi Tung Royal Project, Hall of Inspiration, and Mae Fah Luang Garden. The Doi Tung Royal Project was started by the mother of Thailand's King Rama IX to help local communities in Chiang Rai live better lives.

Have breakfast at your hotel, then we'll visit Ban Lorcha, a village of the Akha hill tribe. Next, we're off to Doi Ang Khang National Park, known for its cool weather all year, especially from December to January. We'll see the Doi Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station, where they grow and study plants like flowers, fruit trees, and vegetables, supported by Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX).

After lunch at a local spot, we'll meet the Muser Hill tribe in Ban Khob Dong village, who believe in ghosts and souls and live simply. Then, we'll go to Ban Nor Lae village on the border with Burma, home to the No Lae people from Myanmar, who speak their own language and follow Buddhism. Lastly, we'll visit Baan Khun near the Agricultural Station, a small community of people such as Burmese, Hwa, and Thai Yai, who run shops and restaurants.

After breakfast, we'll head to the Mae Tang area outside the city to see a traditional Lisu Village. A Lisu guide will walk you through the village, showing us everyday life there. We might even get to meet the village Shaman and hear about his traditional and spiritual healing ways.

In the afternoon we'll go to the Araksa Tea Garden and plantation. A local guide and a tea picker will teach you how to pick tea leaves right. At the roasting spot, they'll show us how to make tea by hand, from rolling to drying the leaves. You'll learn about how tea plants are grown and taken care of from our guide.

Today, you can relax and do your own thing until it's time to check out at noon. We'll then take you to catch your next flight or train, depending on what you've chosen for getting to your next stop.

It's only about a 15-20 minute ride from Rachamankha to Chiang Mai Airport.

Our guide will pick you up from Chiang Mai Airport and take you to the Rachamankha. Chiang Mai, known as Thailand's "Rose of the North," is a place full of culture and nature, with lots of different people, plenty of things to see, and friendly folks.

After breakfast, we'll head out to the Mae Tang area just outside the city to check out a traditional Lisu Village. A guide from the Lisu tribe will walk you around the village, showing us what daily life is like there. We might even get to meet the village Shaman and hear about his traditional and spiritual healing ways.

In the afternoon, we're off to the Araksa Tea Garden and plantation. A local guide and one of the tea pickers will take you to the tea plants and teach you how to pick tea leaves. Over at the place where they roast the tea, they'll show you how to make tea the old-fashioned way, from squishing to drying the leaves. Our guide will fill you in on how they grow and take care of the tea plants from when they're just little sprouts.

After breakfast, we'll leave the hotel and head to Doi Ang Khang National Park. It's nice and cool there all year, especially from December to January. We'll check out the Doi Angkhang Royal Agricultural Station where they grow and study different plants, fruits, and veggies, all supported by Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX).

After lunch at a local spot, we'll meet the Muser Hill tribe in Ban Khob Dong village. They believe in ghosts and live a simple life. Next, we'll visit Ban Nor Lae village on the border with Burma, home to the No Lae people from Myanmar who moved here about 15 years ago. They have their own language and follow Buddhism. Then, we'll go to Baan Khun near the Agricultural Station, a small place with people such as Burmese, Hwa, and Thai Yai, who run shops and eateries.

In the late afternoon, we'll head to Mae Chan and check into your hotel.

Have breakfast at your hotel, then we'll visit Ban Lorcha, a village of the Akha hill tribe. This village project started in the 1990s to make sure everyone in the village benefits from visitors.

After eating lunch at a local restaurant, we'll go up the hill to see the Doi Tung Royal Project, Hall of Inspiration, and Mae Fah Luang Garden. The Doi Tung Royal Project was started by the mother of Thailand's King Rama IX to help local communities in Chiang Rai.

After breakfast and checking out, we'll head to Chiang Saen, a small town at the Mekong River crossroads. Here, you'll find ancient ruins from the Chiang Saen Kingdom, dating back to 1325, with old temples, Buddha statues, and city walls. Then, we'll go see the Golden Triangle, where the Ruak River meets the Mekong, marking the spot where Thailand, Burma, and Laos meet. We'll also stop by the Hall of Opium, a museum set up to teach about the dangers of opium with a fun exhibit that covers its history and the problems with drug use today.

We'll have lunch at a local restaurant, then move on to Chiang Khong to get on the RV Laos Pandaw Cruise. You'll board the ship by 04:00 PM and be greeted with welcome drinks on the deck, along with traditional Thai dancing.

Go through the border checks between Thailand and Laos and get back on the ship. We'll start sailing down the stunning Upper Mekong River. In the morning, there's a talk about the Lao language.

After lunch, if we have time, we'll take a walk around Pak Sith to see the sights.

In the morning, we'll take a stroll through Ban Luang Tong, a village in the lowlands. Laos is often called the "land of a million elephants".

After lunch, we're going to visit a sanctuary that's all about saving these majestic animals and giving their trainers, known as Mahouts.

In the evening, we'll stop at a sandbank by the river for a special barbecue and cocktail party. We'll light up paper lanterns with the ship's crew and have a dance out in the quiet of the Laos countryside.

Today, we're going to learn about the Khmu minority group and see how they live in remote areas.

In the morning, we're visiting Ban Pak Bor village, where both Lao and Khmu folks live. We'll get a chance to buy local crafts made by them.

In the afternoon, we'll take a stroll through the Khmu village of Yoi Hai to get a closer look at their daily life.

Keep sailing down the river to Pak Ou. We'll take a local boat to see the Pak Ou Caves, which are special because they're full of Buddhist statues and set in amazing limestone cliffs. We'll also visit the Whisky Village to see how they make local Laos whisky and have a chance to buy some local crafts.

Then, we'll head into Luang Prabang, a city known for its history and beauty, and listed as a World Heritage Site.

We'll moor in the middle of Luang Prabang for the night.

Today, we're diving into the crafts of Laos. We'll kick things off with a climb up 228 steps to the Phousi temple for top-notch views of Luang Prabang.

After lunch on the ship, we'll check out Ock Pop Tok, a project that helps local women from weaving villages get jobs and learn new skills. Next, we're off to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos' musical instruments.

To wrap up the day, we'll have cocktails during a traditional Baci ceremony on the ship, showcasing some of the instruments we learned about earlier.

Early in the morning, we'll take a walk to see locals giving food to the many monks who walk through the city.

After breakfast, we'll visit the morning market and then hop on the tuk for a tour around this special city, known for its old temples, libraries, and the Royal Palace.

In the afternoon, you are free to wander around and soak in the special vibe of Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, we'll head downstream to Ban Chan and join in a pottery-making session at a local workshop.

After lunch, we'll dock at Ban Mouang Khai and drive out to the Kuang Si Waterfall to see its stunning jungle pools, where you can take a dip in the clear water. Next, we'll visit the Laos Buffalo Farm, a project that makes good use of Laos' many buffaloes, before getting back on the ship.

We'll then enjoy a cruise at sunset and stay the night at Ban Na San.

In the morning, we'll take a stroll through the Ban Na San Hmong Village. Later, we'll go through the Xayabouri Hydroelectric Dam, getting a close-up view of how it works.

In the afternoon, we'll have a walk around Ban Khok Fark and then stay put for the night.

In the morning, we'll check out Ban Pak Yun, a village where different minority groups live together. Then, we head off to Pak Lay, our last stop.

In the afternoon, take a look around your Pandaw ship and watch a fruit carving show on the top deck. To wrap up the day, we'll have goodbye cocktails and dinner in the evening.

Disembark at 08:30 AM and hop on a local long-tail boat for a trip down the river to Vientiane. Your Pandaw chef and the bar team will make sure you have lunch and drinks on the boat. You'll get to Vientiane around 05:30 PM.

After you get off the boat, you'll head to your hotel to check in.

Head out with our local guide for a day-long tour around Vientiane, the capital of Laos that's full of French colonial history. Check out the Talat Sao morning market, Wat Sisaket temple, Haw Phra Kaew, and Patuxai, a victory gate that looks a lot like Paris's Arc of Triumph.

After lunch at a local spot, we'll take a short trip outside the city to see Xieng Khuan Buddha Park, one of the more unusual sights in Laos.

After you check out from your hotel, our driver will take you to the airport for your next flight.

We'll pick you up from any airport or city hotel in Chiang Rai (2 hours drive) or Chiang Mai (6 hours drive).

You'll get lunch at Ban Rai Sabaidee Farm and then we'll take you on a guided tour of the Golden Triangle and the famous Hall of Opium.

Embark by 04:00 PM to enjoy some welcome drinks on the sundeck while watching traditional Thai dancing.

Go through the border checks between Thailand and Laos and get back on the ship. We'll start sailing down the stunning Upper Mekong River. In the morning, there's a talk about the Lao language.

After lunch, if we have time, we'll take a walk around Pak Sith to see the sights.

In the morning, we'll take a stroll through Ban Luang Tong, a village in the lowlands. Laos is often called the "land of a million elephants".

After lunch, we're going to visit a sanctuary that's all about saving these majestic animals and giving their trainers, known as Mahouts.

In the evening, we'll stop at a sandbank by the river for a special barbecue and cocktail party. We'll light up paper lanterns with the ship's crew and have a dance out in the quiet of the Laos countryside.

Today, we're going to learn about the Khmu minority group and see how they live in remote areas.

In the morning, we're visiting Ban Pak Bor village, where both Lao and Khmu folks live. We'll get a chance to buy local crafts made by them.

In the afternoon, we'll take a stroll through the Khmu village of Yoi Hai to get a closer look at their daily life.

Keep sailing down the river to Pak Ou. We'll take a local boat to see the Pak Ou Caves, which are special because they're full of Buddhist statues and set in amazing limestone cliffs. We'll also visit the Whisky Village to see how they make local Laos whisky and have a chance to buy some local crafts.

Then, we'll head into Luang Prabang, a city known for its history and beauty, and listed as a World Heritage Site.

We'll moor in the middle of Luang Prabang for the night.

Today, we're diving into the crafts of Laos. We'll kick things off with a climb up 228 steps to the Phousi temple for top-notch views of Luang Prabang.

After lunch on the ship, we'll check out Ock Pop Tok, a project that helps local women from weaving villages get jobs and learn new skills. Next, we're off to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos' musical instruments.

To wrap up the day, we'll have cocktails during a traditional Baci ceremony on the ship, showcasing some of the instruments we learned about earlier.

Early in the morning, we'll take a walk to see locals giving food to the many monks who walk through the city.

After breakfast, we'll visit the morning market and then hop on the tuk for a tour around this special city, known for its old temples, libraries, and the Royal Palace.

In the afternoon, you are free to wander around and soak in the special vibe of Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, we'll head downstream to Ban Chan and join in a pottery-making session at a local workshop.

After lunch, we'll dock at Ban Mouang Khai and drive out to the Kuang Si Waterfall to see its stunning jungle pools, where you can take a dip in the clear water. Next, we'll visit the Laos Buffalo Farm, a project that makes good use of Laos' many buffaloes, before getting back on the ship.

We'll then enjoy a cruise at sunset and stay the night at Ban Na San.

In the morning, we'll take a stroll through the Ban Na San Hmong Village. Later, we'll go through the Xayabouri Hydroelectric Dam, getting a close-up view of how it works.

In the afternoon, we'll have a walk around Ban Khok Fark and then stay put for the night.

In the morning, we'll check out Ban Pak Yun, a village where different minority groups live together. Then, we head off to Pak Lay, our last stop.

In the afternoon, take a look around your Pandaw ship and watch a fruit carving show on the top deck. To wrap up the day, we'll have goodbye cocktails and dinner in the evening.

Disembark at 08:30 AM and hop on a local long-tail boat for a trip down the river to Vientiane. We'll serve lunch and drinks on the boat, prepared by your Pandaw chef and crew.

We'll get to Vientiane around 05:30 PM and drop you off at your hotel or the Vientiane airport.

Leave your hotel, our driver will pick you up at 08:00 AM to head to your RV Laos Pandaw ship.

Hop on a local long-tail boat to meet our ship further up the river. Our chef and bar staff will give you lunch and drinks on the boat.

Embark the ship in the afternoon, where we'll have a quick meeting to say hello and offer welcome drinks.

We'll moor at Pak Lay for the night.

Sail up the Mekong River, going by green jungle views and small villages by the river. In the morning, after a quick walk at Pha Laeb village, we'll learn about the Lao language.

If we have enough time, we'll also take a walk in the afternoon at Ban Khok Fark.

Take a morning walk at Ban Pak Bor Khmu village, then we'll go through the Xayabouri Hydroelectric Dam. We'll get a close-up look at how this big dam works, even though some people have mixed feelings about it, as we go through the water locks.

In the afternoon, we'll stop by Ban Na San village, where the Hmong minority community lives.

In the morning, we'll stop at Ban Mouang Khai village and check out the amazing Kuang Si Waterfall. On our way back to the ship, we'll visit the Laos Buffalo Farm, which is a project that makes good use of the many buffaloes in Laos.

In the mid-afternoon, we'll get to the middle of Luang Prabang, a city full of temples. There's a lively night market here, along with lots of great cafes and local places to eat.

During happy hour on the upper deck, we'll have a traditional Laos Baci ceremony and some dancing. We will moor in the center of Luang Prabang for the night.

Today, we're diving into the different crafts made in Laos. First up is Ock Pop Tok, a project that helps local women from weaving villages get jobs and training. Next, we'll visit TAEC (Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre) to learn about Laos musical instruments.

After having lunch on the ship, we'll sail to Ban Chan and see how pottery is made at a local workshop.

We'll end the day with a boat ride on the Mekong River next to Luang Prabang as the sunset, and then moor in the middle of town for the night.

In the early morning, we'll take a walk to see people giving food to the many monks who walk through the city. After breakfast, we'll check out the morning market and then hop on tuk tuk for a tour around this special city that's known for its old temples, libraries, and the Royal Palace.

You'll have the afternoon free to wander around and soak up the special vibe of Luang Prabang.

Spend the morning relaxing in Luang Prabang before we start sailing upriver at noon.

In the afternoon, we'll take a local boat to see the Pak Ou Caves, a special place for Buddhists set against amazing limestone cliffs. We'll also check out how they make local Laos whisky in the Whisky Village and look at some handmade crafts you can buy.

We'll spend the day sailing up the Mekong River and take a morning walk through Ban Ton village.

In the evening, we'll park next to a sandbank for a special barbecue and cocktails by the river. We'll light paper lanterns with the crew and have a dance in a quiet spot in Laos.

Laos is often called "The land of a million elephants" and today we're going to a place that helps preserve Laos' elephants. They also give new jobs to Mahouts, who used to train and ride these amazing animals.

In the afternoon, we'll take a walk around Ban Pak Sith Khmu village.

Today, we're finishing the last part of our trip, sailing up to Huay Xai. We'll cross into Thailand using the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge and then meet back up with our ship in Chiang Khong. Take a tour of the RV Laos Pandaw ship and watch a fruit carving show by our chef.

For our last night, we'll have goodbye cocktails and watch a traditional Thai dance on the ship.

Get off the boat by 08:30 AM in Chiang Khong and we'll take you as a group to your hotel or the airport. On the way, we'll stop by the Golden Triangle and check out the Hall of Opium.

After that, we'll head to the airport or city hotels in Chiang Rai (about a 2-hour drive) and Chiang Mai (about a 6-hour drive).