From China to Vietnam, the Mekong River is the lifeblood of Southeast Asia and offers a glimpse into the long history and diverse cultures of the region. The Mekong is the 12th longest river in the world and flows through six countries: China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. This luxurious journey follows the Mekong from its delta in Vietnam, through Cambodia and up to the boarder area of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos, known as the Golden Triangle. See daily life come alive as you pass traditional villages, experience glorious sunsets, and learn about the activities, history, and cultures along this amazing river. If you are looking for the very best holidays to Cambodia and Laos, look no further!

Journey up the Mekong – Tour Highlights

Saigon – Siem Reap – Pakse – Luang Prabang –  Golden Triangle

• Take a skiff (speedboat) deployed from Aqua Mekong cruise to reach rarely visited islands in the Mekong Delta

• Explore the wonders of the Angkor Archaeological Park

• Cruise the waterways of the 4000 islands in southern Laos

• Wander the characterful streets of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO heritage site

• Cruise the upper reaches of The Mekong with the luxurious two cabin Gypsy Cruise

Day 1 – Arrival in Saigon

Upon your arrival at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your local English-speaking guide. Travel by private car to your hotel for check-in (from 2 pm). You are free for the rest of the day.

Overnight at the hotel

Meals: None

Hotel: Park Hyatt Saigon (Park Suite)

Day 2 – Visit the tumultuous capital of the South – Saigon After Dark

In the morning visit Saigon’s main historical sites. The central post office, whose metal structure was designed by Gustave Eiffel. Notre-Dame Cathedral, constructed from red bricks and resembling Notre-Dame in Paris. The Reunification Palace and Dong Khoi Street. This afternoon is free.

This Saigon night tour is part night excursion, part street food adventure. Experience Saigon nightlife the way locals do, all from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter. To start off this Saigon night tour, enjoy drinks at our Vespa-themed café, Café Zoom. Throughout the night, try a variety of food and drinks at two local restaurants and samplings of Saigon’s best authentic local food. Zoom past the famous must-see sights of Ho Chi Minh City while navigating the bustling traffic. Visit a Vietnamese-style coffee shop with a special live music bar and then wrap up the evening at an exciting music bar where the new generation of Vietnamese unwind and flaunt their unique styles.

Guests ride pillion behind their drivers to enjoy and experience authentic Vietnamese nightlife. This tour includes free flowing drinks and all you can eat, so come with an appetite! Dinner is included.

Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Park Hyatt Saigon (Park Suite)

Day 3 – Ho Chi Minh – My Tho

Aqua Mekong representatives will transfer you by air-conditioned coach from Park Hyatt to My Tho dock where you are welcomed aboard the Aqua Mekong vessel. Settle into your floating retreat, with its window wall offering and endlessly captivating panorama. Enjoy these private Mekong moments on your California king bed, terrace or daybed. Those looking for the very best holidays to Cambodia and Laos should always choose Aqua Mekong for the Cambodia cruise. The skiffs that are deployed from Aqua Mekong are unique and allow you to reach seldom visited islands in the Mekong that no other vessels can reach.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, all drinks

Cruise: Aqua Mekong (Aqua Mekong Design Suite with Balcony)

Day 4 – Binh Thanh/sa Dec – My An Hung

Begin the day at Binh Thanh mat weaving village or opt to visit Sa Dec. Peruse the vibrant market and see the famous house of Marguerite Duras’ legendary lover, Mr. Huynh Thuy Le. In the afternoon, visit a typical Mekong Delta village called My An Hung where you will walk through verdant plantations. You are invited to a local’s home to taste local fruits while hearing traditional folk songs performed by villagers followed by a unique unicorn dance. A 17-kilometer cycling option is also available.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, all drinks

Cruise: Aqua Mekong (Aqua Mekong Design Suite with Balcony)

Day 5 – Chau Doc – Vinh Xuong –ka’om Samnor Border

Travel by skiff along Bassac Canal to Chau Doc floating market then head off by van to Long Son Pagoda atop Sam Mountain. Ask the monks about their age-old Buddhist practices. Return via the bustling morning market. Optional 18 kilometres bike ride on Long Khanh Island or take a rickshaw ride to Tan Chau Market with the chef. After lunch, relax by the pool, try traditional Khmer massage or learn to cook Mekong inspired dishes while you cross the border into Cambodia.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, all drinks

Cruise: Aqua Mekong (Aqua Mekong Design Suite with Balcony)

Day 6 – Koh Oknha Tey – Preah Prosop

Admire dexterous Khmer artisans dyeing and weaving kroma, the ubiquitous item no Khmer lives without. Explore the riverbank on two wheels if you wish, past Buddhist temples and thatch houses perched on spindly wooden stilts while white oxen wade just offshore. After lunch, board the marine-grade aluminum skiffs and head towards the tamarind trees of Preah Prosop, a remote village little changed over several lifetimes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, all drinks

Cruise: Aqua Mekong (Aqua Mekong Design Suite with Balcony)

Day 7 – Phnom Penh

Explore the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh by motorized tuk-tuk.  You will visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum of Cambodia, home to the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. For those who wish, you have the option of visiting the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide and the Killing Field or shopping at the Russian Market. Four night guests disembark in Phnom Penh.

Enjoy custom sundowners like  Salted Watermelon Crush with Thai basil. Celebrate the onward journey towards the heart of this mighty river with a Khmer Apsara performance, an indigenous tradition memorialized on the temple walls at Angkor Wat.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, all drinks

Cruise: Aqua Mekong (Aqua Mekong Design Suite with Balcony)

Day 8: Koh Chen – Kampong Prasat

In the silversmith village of Koh Chen, watch artisans producing the magnificent silverware favored by Khmer royalty. Continue to Udong, the royal capital from the 17-19th centuries. Learn about a uniquely challenging Buddhist practice at the Vipassana Dhura Mandala, a meditation center. In the afternoon, a walking tour of Kampong Prasat offers a close up perspective on local lives and their riverside environment.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, all drinks

Cruise: Aqua Mekong (Aqua Mekong Design Suite with Balcony)

Day 9 – Chhnok Tru – Moat Khla

Continue exploring the remote communities around the Tonle Sap Lake, designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1997. In Chhnok Tru, you “slide” into an ice factory and learn from locals what it’s like to live in a town where schools, churches, pagodas, and even the karaoke bar and police station all float. After lunch, visit the floating village of Moat Khla, accessible only by water, and attend a Buddhist blessing ceremony.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, all drinks

Cruise: Aqua Mekong (Aqua Mekong Design Suite with Balcony)

Day 10 – Prek Toal – Siem Reap

Set off by skiff into the 22,000-hectare Prek Toal Core Bird Reserve, one of the largest freshwater bodies in Asia. It is also the last refuge in Southeast Asia for large waterbirds like the spot-billed pelicans, milky stork, black-headed ibis and the elusive masked finfoot. Disembarkation and meet your local guide. You will then be transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is free. Overnight at the hotel.
Note: All cruise itineraries are subject to change, due to weather and river conditions.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Shinta Mani Angkor – Bensley Collection (Private Pool Villa)

Day 11 – Ta Prohm – Angkor Thom – Pinic lunch at a secret temple – Angkor Wat

Holidays to Cambodia and Laos are never complete without a thorough exploration of the Angkor Archaeological Park. This morning, get up early in order to be immersed in the beauty of Ta Prohm which opens from 7.30AM. Ta Prohm has been partially engulfed by the jungle which makes for an atmospheric temple experience. Later enter majestic stone door and enter Angkor Thom called “the big city”. Within Angkor Thom is the Bayon Temple. Admire this amazing edifice which is surrounded by 54 towers, each of them adorned with 4 faces.

After visiting the Bayon temple, you will travel to the Baphuon, a temple mountain built in the 11th century, whose restoration, lead by French architects ended not so long ago. Later you visit the Terrace of the Elephants. With a length of 350 meters the terrace was used for royal audiences and public ceremonies. Continue to the Terrace of the Leper King which is covered by magnificent Apsara sculptures.

You will then head to a secret temple for lunch. The Secret Temple is situated in the Angkor Complex area and can be reached by car, tuk tuk or bicycle. On the way to the temple, you will pass rice fields, small villages and see smiling children, who will no doubt wave and excitedly shout “hello”! This quiet and quaint location is off the beaten track and a fantastic place to take a break from exploring the Angkor complex.

Finally,  this afternoon visit the most famous temple, Angkor Wat. This architectural achievement is also artistic. Admire with wonder the tall structure but also the detailed bas-reliefs all over it.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: Shinta Mani Angkor – Bensley Collection (Private Pool Villa)

Day 12 – Siem Reap – Pakse  – Don Daeng Island

At the right time, you will be transferred with your local guide to the airport for your short flight to Pakse in South Laos.

From Pakse airport, drive to the Bolaven Plateau. The Bolaven Plateau was formed by an ancient volcano and is famous for its coffee and tea plantations. It is home to a number of tribal villages, some of them still practicing Stone Age cultures by using extremely primitive agricultural tools and conducting frequent spiritual ceremonies. Begin with a visit to the Tad Fane waterfalls. Beyond the waterfall stretches the extensive jungle of Dong Hua Sao from where the perfectly synchronized twin falls originate and drop down a 200 metre deep gorge.

Continue to the Tad Champi and Tad Yeung waterfalls, which drop an impressive 42 meters and are surrounded by lush vegetation. After visiting these impressive waterfalls, head to a tea and coffee plantation and learn why the Bolaven Plateau is an ideal area for these plantations. Transfer back to Pakse and continue to the pier for your boat transfer to Don Daeng Island, and La Folie Lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: La Folie Lodge* (Mekong View Room)

*Note that although this is a luxury tour there are no top end luxury accommodations in southern Laos. La Folie Lodge is however very charming with great river views, food and service. If you would prefer luxury accommodation throughout your holidays to Cambodia and Laos, you can fly direct Siem Reap to Luang Prabang.

Day 13 – Don Daeng Island

After breakfast, drive to Wat Phou, located in the heart of Champasak, and the former Royal Capital of the Champa Kingdom. The pre-Angkorian Wat Phou temple was built between the 6th and 13th century and is situated on a hillside offering spectacular views of the surrounding plains and the Mekong River. The temple received World Heritage status from UNESCO in 2002.

Stroll through old Champasak Town and have lunch before you head back to Don Daeng Island.

Afternoon is at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: La Folie Lodge* (Mekong View Room)

Day 14 – Don Daeng Island

After breakfast, we set off to explore the  4000 islands. The Si Phan Don (meaning 4000 Islands) is an island archipelago located in the Mekong River. The principal islands of Si Phan Don are Don Khong (the largest), and Don Det and Don Khone.

Cross the Mekong by small boat to Ban Muang pier. From here, drive 1.5 hours overland in your private minivan towards the Cambodian border. The first stop is the pier at Ban Nakasang where you board a small boat to cruise to Don Khone Island. Here, you can hop on a tuk tuk or bicycle and visit the remnants of the French colonial area, including an old pier, a railway station, a former French hospital building and the maritime office.

Enjoy lunch on the island in the afternoon visit Liphi waterfalls, nicknamed the “Corridor of the Devil“. Local daredevils put fish traps at the bottom of the falls to catch fresh fish each day.

If time permits, you can choose between two activities.

Option 1:

The area is home to a rare fresh water dolphin species and if you are lucky you might even spot the Irrawaddy dolphin during a short boat cruise.

Option 2:

Return back to the mainland and visit the Khone Phapheng waterfalls. The falls are the main reason why the Mekong River is not navigable into China. The majestic sight of the falls is a highlight for many on their holidays to Cambodia and Laos, covering an impressive 10 km stretch of the Mekong.

Return to the Ban Nakasang and transfer overland 1.5 hrs to the boat that will take you back to Don Daeng Island and La Folie Lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: La Folie Lodge* (Mekong View Room)

Day 15 – Don Daeng Island – Pakse – Luang Prabang

After breakfast, enjoy your morning at leisure until the transfer to Pakse airport for your short flight to Luang Prabang.

Upon arrival to Luang Prabang airport you are met and transferred to your hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy your resort.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Rosewood Luang Prabang (Riverside Suite)

Day 16 – Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must see for most travellers on their holidays to Cambodia and Laos. This beautiful town was the royal capital and seat of government for the Kingdom of Laos until the revolution of 1975. The main part of the city consists of four main roads crisscrossing a peninsula between the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers.

Depart from the hotel at 08:30 and explore the city on foot. Visit the open-air Morning Market in the old town. There are only a few large grocery stores in Luang Prabang. Food is still produced by small farming families and villages and brought to Luang Prabang from the surrounding rural areas.  Your guide will explain the common vegetables and fruits that are in season and will pick up some snacks for later.

A short walk from the market is Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham (“New Monastery”), National Museum (Royal Palace) and Hor Phra Bang. After the museum, continue to Heuan Chan Luang Prabang for a short activity and learn how to make Banana Leaf and Flower.

After lunch, continue to Wat Street and visit Wat Sene, Wat Sop Sickharam, Wat Sibounheuang and Wat Xieng Thong.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Rosewood Luang Prabang (Riverside Suite)

Day 17 – Luang Prabang

Free day for self exploration of charming Luang Prabang.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Rosewood Luang Prabang (Riverside Suite)

Day 18 – Luang Prabang – Ban Had Tue

This morning you will meet your Mekong Kingdoms representative. Board your private two cabin vessel. Gypsy is an ultra-exclusive river vessel that lets you discover the secrets of the Upper Mekong in luxury. Wood and thatch blend seamlessly with the verdant surrounds. Ultimate comfort and exquisite amenities await in your cabin, while an on-board chef serves up the most delicious local and international fare. The upper reaches of the Mekong are quite narrow and daily life can easily be seen on the river banks as you pass by on your holidays to Cambodia and Laos.

After a safety briefing, set sail upstream and visit Ban Xang Hai village. Also known as Whisky Village,  the village draws visitors with its special strong whisky produced from rice which is sometimes fermented and sold in bottles. A short while later stop at the Pak Ou Caves. Packed with over 4,000 Buddha icons, the caves are set in a dramatic limestone cliff at the point where the Mekong joins the Nam Ou River.

Enjoy lunch on board as your cruise upstream towards Ban Had Tue where you moor overnight. Enjoy sunset cocktails followed by a BBQ dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, all drinks

Cruise: Gypsy Cruise Private Charter

Day 19 – Ban Had Tue –  Pak Nguey

Enjoy breakfast this morning as you cruise to Ban Baw. Here you explore a Khmu minority village on the banks of the Mekong. Back on board you sail towards Pakbeng while enjoying lunch. Explore the small town of Pakbeng by taxi. The remainder of the afternoon  is spent watching the beautiful scenery pass by and children playing in the river as you head to your overnight mooring at Pak Nguy. Canapes and cocktails at sunset before dinner onboard.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, all drinks

Cruise: Gypsy Cruise Private Charter

Day 20 – Pak Nguey – Ban Houay Surk

This first stop this morning is Ban Keang Leah village. This is a Khmu minority village. Later you enjoy lunch as you cruise towards Ban Houay Nor Khom, a Mong minority village. The final stop is Ban Houay Surk where a special Baci ceremony awaits. Baci is a specific ceremony in Laos which has been practiced for hundreds of years. The term commonly used is “Sou Khuan” which means “spirit enhancing or spirit calling”. The ceremony involves the tying of white cotton strings around a person’s wrists. Moor here tonight and enjoy a delicious dinner in ambient surroundings. Enjoy one last South East Asian sunset as you reflect on your holidays to Cambodia and Laos.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, all drinks

Cruise: Gypsy Cruise Private Charter

Day 21 – Ban Houay Surk –  Golden Triangle

This morning we cruise to the Thai/ Laos boarder at Houay Sai. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant on the Laos side before crossing the river to Thailand at Chiang Khong around 1.30pm

If you would like to extend your holidays to Cambodia and Laos further you can easily add some time in Thailand . You may wish to spend some time in the Golden Triangle area, either at Anantara Golden Triangle or Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle. Alternatively you could transfer  approximately one hour to Chiang Rai  airport and fly home, or fly to Phuket or Krabi for some time at a beautiful beach resort such as Pimalai Koh Lanta.

Note: If you are looking for a similar journey at less cost you could consider Pandaw, Jahan or Jayavarman Cruise to Siem Reap and the Luang Say Cruise from Luang Prabang to the Golden Triangle