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Crossing the Golden Triangle, Luang Prabang to Huay Xai in 4 days

Looking for a holiday with a change of scenery, relaxation, exclusivity and a wealth of cultural visits?

By Pierre VO your cruise expert
Main characteristics
Type of boat: traditional ship
Number of cabins: 10
Maximum capacity: 20 travelers

Cabs

Deluxe
Capacity: 2 Beds maximum
Deluxe cabins feature bay windows opening onto a French balcony.
Deluxe Executive
Capacity: 2 Beds maximum
Deluxe executive cabins are designed and equipped in the same way as staterooms, while offering a view from a higher floor, on the terrace.
Signature Suites
Capacity: 2 Beds maximum
The large suites are located at the front of the main deck, with their own lounge area and private balcony.
NB: The photos, information and visuals presented are not contractually binding. The indicated itinerary and program may be modified without prior notice for technical reasons (decision of the captain).

Sailing itineraries

Luang Prabang Ban Khok Phou
Our local partner welcomes our guests in the morning directly on the boat moored in Luang Prabang.... see+ Our team assists with check-in and takes care of your luggage, which we bring directly to your room. During check-in, familiarize yourself with the ship and settle into your cabin as we begin our journey. This morning, you will meet Mr. Francis Engelmann, who worked for UNESCO on heritage preservation projects and will sail with us for a few hours upstream to our next stop. Born in Paris in 1947, he has lived in Laos for over 20 years and knows Luang Prabang like the back of his hand. Join him for a fascinating presentation, in which he shares some of his expertise on the rich cultural heritage and fascinating history of the country and Luang Prabang. After arriving at the confluence of the Mekong and one of its largest tributaries, we offer an optional kayaking excursion on the Nam Ou River for guests who are looking for a little adventure. Climb aboard a kayak and paddle alone in total harmony with the peaceful waterway. Feel the river waters carry you downstream with almost no effort as you enjoy the natural beauty passing by. We then explore the famous Pak Ou Caves, located directly on the rocky coast of the Mekong River and opposite the mouth of the Ou River. There are two limestone caves that house around 4,000 sacred Buddhist statues and images ranging from a few centimeters to 2 m (7 feet) in height. We first arrive at the lower, impressive cave, then climb the stairs (around 200 steps) to the smaller chamber. At the cave, we meet a local "healer" from the nearby village. We take a short hike into the jungle while our local expert explains various interesting and amazing things about the flora and nature of this region. Upon arriving in the village, we can see houses with traditional weaving and the "art of local whiskey distilling." (Please note that a basic level of fitness is required for the approximately 45-minute hike, which is a relatively easy (but should be safe) descent with some uphill terrain. Guests may also skip the hike and return to the ship moored in front of the Pak Ou Caves.) The journey takes us further upstream under the golden evening sun. If we arrive in daylight, we have time to stroll through another gem of a local village. A mix of Lao Loum and Lao Theun (Laotians from the plains and the center) reside in this idyllic riverside village. Meanwhile, our culinary team is busy preparing a very special event for tonight. On a beautiful, peaceful sandbar nearby, our chefs invite us to a barbecue dinner. Some villagers join us to entertain us with traditional dance and music performances. Enjoy a wonderful time with new friends and soak up the truly unique atmosphere of dining on a small, secluded sandbar in the middle of Laos.  
Included activities: Visit the Pak Ou Caves, see+
Optional services: Kayaking on the Nam Ou River see+
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Ban Khok Phou khok Aek
Early birds are welcome to join the daily morning exercise class (Yoga or Tai Chi) on the terrace... see+ deck. We think there is no better backdrop than the stunning Mekong scenery to do some revitalizing morning exercises to start the day. As we cruise along in the morning, our local expert hosts a lecture with interesting insights and facts about Laotian culture of the diverse tribes living along the upper Mekong. We arrive at a very rural and utmost charming village inhabited by Khmu people. The village also has a small primary school for the few kids residing here remotely with their families. We take a leisurely walk into the surrounding neighborhood of the village. In the simple bamboo huts built on stilts and scattered across rice fields the local people today still perform all work manually which basically consists of processing agricultural products. Once back onboard the ship continues its slow meandering upriver. After lunch and in the afternoon we arrive at a secluded sandbank spot. The local ethnic Lao, Khmu and Hmong live in the tiny village of Kok Aek. These residents have committed themselves to the organic growth of vegetables, fruits, and herbs. At the riverside they have set up a little parcel of land as an organic garden, caringly maintained and enclosed by bamboo fences. Though these plots are unusable at certain times of the year due to flooding, the nutrient-rich Mekong irrigation promises bountiful annual harvests. As we get to know the villagers proudly displaying their gardening achievements, be sure to sample a local specialty, kai paen, which is made of dried freshwater “seaweed” topped with sesame and vegetables - so wholesomely unique and yummy! We stay overnight at this pleasant place. The village also has a little temple in which we can arrange an optionals meditation session (limited availability). After taking in a bit of ‘Zen’, dinner is served in Anouvong’s elegant De-Lagree Dining Hall. Afterwards you may like to while some time away in the lounge or join the cinema under the stars on the open terrace deck. The movie named “Chang” (Laotian for “elephant”), was shot in this region in 1927 and was made by the same producer as the first King Kong movie. Enjoy your night’s sleep mid-river in the middle of nowhere. 
Included activities: Visit to a rural village, see+
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
khok Aek Pak Beng
Wake up early to catch the sun’s first rays on the river which is always a magacial moment. Early... see+ birds are welcome to join the daily morning exercise on the terrace deck (Tai Chi or Yoga). After breakfast and during our way to Pakbeng, our local expert guide hosts a lecture about the Laotian elephants and their cultural importance in the past and their current situation which have brought them to the brink of extinction. A good and interesting preparation as tomorrow we will meet these fascinating animals in real. Enjoy the rest of the morning and your lunchtime while we sail along over mid-day. In the early afternoon, we arrive in the small town of Pakbeng. This riverside settlement is halfway between our embarkation at Huay Xai and Luang Prabang. Many locals also stop here when they travel or transport goods between these two “hubs” on the river. Opposite of the town – so to say on the port side of cruising direction – is the country’s most sustainably managed elephant sanctuary. If we arrive early enough, we may still see elephants freely walking along the shoreline and taking a morning bath. To expand your knowledge from our morning lecture about these majestic animals, we then visit the conservation sanctuary. All the elephants here used to work as logging elephants, and since they have ‘checked-in’ here, they have lived in peace and safety. One may ask why not let them live in the wild and enjoy the freedom of mother nature? After their time as working animals, they lack the ability to live and survive in the wild (there still exists very few wild elephants). The sanctuary is fully committed to the tenets of ecotourism and sustainability. We cross the river and have a look at the town of Pakbeng and drive up to a lovely hill-top temple. The locations allows for fantastic river views to the left and right of the zig-zagging Mekong river. Back on board, we cruise for some more hours. Lay back and take in the this absolutely amazing scenery or enjoy some downtime in our tucked away spa. We drop anchor at a protected area mid-river. Kick back with an aperitif on the open deck and get prepared for your last dinner on board. Our culinary team is pleased to spoil you with a gala and farewell dinner in al-fresco style on the terrace deck. Have a grand time together with newly made friends and soak in this truly unique atmosphere of sights and soothing sounds of nature. 
Included activities: Visit a riverside village, see+
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Pak Beng Huay Xai
Enjoy your last sunrise aboard with a morning excersice again. This morning you can take all the... see+ time for a long and relaxed brunch (which we can serve to you also on the the terrace deck) as we voyage along and towards the Thai-Lao border. Pre-lunch, the ship passes 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 enjoy these last quiet sailing hours as slowly the river scenery begins to open up bit. The river in this area is now wider, however our captain always has to watch out for rocks and stones or sandbanks in order to navigate safely - making the sailing an interesting one to observe from the open deck. After some hours the landscape and the river starts to change, becoming more mountainous and the river increasingly narrow. We also offer a Lao cooking class to learn how to prepare some of the tasty and easy-to-make snacks and local dishes. The rest of the cruising time until we reach Huay Xai (approximately 15:00 o’clock) is at your own liking. Upon arrival and check-out, we assist you with your luggage and we transfer you to the LaoThao boarder. We also help you with the border crossing before bidding you farewell on the Thai side in front of the immigration building. We thank you very much for cruising with Heritage Line on the upper Mekong in Laos and wish you a pleasant onward journey. 
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Included

The price includes
Visits and entrance fees as per program
All transfers from the boat to tourist sites
Transfer from meeting point to ship and vice versa
English speaking tour manager
Welcome drink
unlimited tea and coffee on board
Mineral water available
Passenger liability insurance
Internet on board (subject to cellular network signal)
Port tax
Fuel
Taxes
River pilots
A French-speaking guide
The activities included in the program
Meals included in the program
The price does not include
Tips for crew and guides
Visa fees
Private transfers
Personal expenses
Beverages other than those listed
Medical service
Spa
Activities not included in the program
Meals not included in the program
Optional services
Flights not included in the program are available on request
Activities and excursions on request see+

Activities

Visit the Pak Ou Caves
Included
Visit to a rural village
Included
Visit a riverside village
Included
Kayaking on the Nam Ou River
Not included

Information about the partner

Commercial history with Filovent

  • Filovent partner since 2024
  • Last booking with this partner in May 2025
  • 3 bookings with this partner
    • Pierre
    With Pierre your cruise expert

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