5 Days Mekong River Cruise with Laos Hiking Adventure from Huayxay to Luang Prabang

The Slow Boat is a unique and rewarding cruise, perfect for exploring the exotic and beautiful scenery of the north in comfort. Cruising down the Mekong can be very relaxing. You will develop a sense of serenity being absorbed by the physical pull of the river and its surrounding lush green landscape. Gliding smoothly on the river you will soak up the slow paced atmosphere as we wave to the friendly, smiling locals we see on our way to Luang Prabang.

Day 01 Houeixai – Pakbeng (L)
This morning you board your traditional slow boat for the cruise downriver to the river town of Pakbeng. The scenery along this part of the Mekong is argueably at its most beautiful. As your journey downriver you will stop at some Hmong, Yao and Khmu ethnic minority villages and have the opportunity to observe their traditional lifestyle. Lunch is served on deck as we enjoy the slow paced cruise. Arriving at Pakbeng late afternoon you will check in to your bungalow and enjoy a few drinks watching the sunset over the mountains and the Mekong.
Overnight in Pakbeng.
Day 02 Pakbeng – Trekking (B)
Breakfast, we head for day activities, your guide will take you to villages by 7 Km north of Pakbeng town to visit the Khmu villages on a red-soil road, passing small forests, rice fields, some spectacular scenery and a rustic village with wooden bamboo houses. Stop along the way for photo ops of the local children and hard-working farmers in the field. On arrival at the home of a Khmu family at Ban kham village, take part in daily life, including some step of peeling rice by hand During your time in the village, your guide will introduce you to some traditional customs of the Khmu people and how difference between three biggest ethnic groups in Laos, back to town for lunch and afternoon, we visit temple at Wat Sichomjeng, Wat Kokkormingmoungkhoun.
Overnight in PakbengDay 03 Pakbeng – Oudomxay – Nam Kat Yolapa (B)
Early morning breakfast, we visit local market in Pakbeng observing the variety of local foodstuffs and products including dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, fish, vegetables and fruit. From there you are heading to Nam Kat Yolapa as today destination. Your journey distance approximately 150km and enroute stop visiting local Hmong, Kamu ethnic minority, pottery, handicraft villages at Ban Nyor. Arrival at Nam Kat Yolapa by sunset. Nam Kat Yolapa is one of the most diversity eco lodge hiding out at the deep jungle or rain forest. Here you are able to enjoy resort activities such as zipline, tree top house, canapé walk or trekking to villages (optional of choices which you can pay on side).
Overnight at Nam Kat Yolapa resort.

Day 04 Nam Kat Yolapa – Nong Khiaw (B)
Breakfast, heading southh to Nong Khiaw. Upon arrival, you board a small long tail motorboat on Nam Ou River heading upstream to glance the local life on the bank of rivers, back to little hillside town at Nong Khiaw, you able to enjoy spectacular view of limestone mountain kart and local life on both sides of river bank by sunset. Overnight at Nong Khiaw.

Day 05 Muang Ngoi – Luang Prabang (B)
This morning we take overland to UNESCO Heritage town of Luang Prabang, our driving distance approximately 150km. On the way, we drive to Ban Pak Ou and cross the Mekong by long tail boat visit Pak-Ou Caves, an ancient pilgrimage site and containing thousands of gold lacquered Buddha images left there over hundreds of years. Arriving in Luang Prabang around sunset we will transfer to your hotel. Your evening is free to explore the town or relax at your hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang