• Begin the two-day cruise by boarding the Luang Say Cruise boat from Luang Prabang at 07:00 (please reach the pier no later than 06:45). Two stops will be made en route to Pakbeng. The first stop is 2 hours upstream from Luang Prabang at the Pak Ou Caves. Locally referred to as Tam Ting, these two caves are carved out of towering limestone cliffs and contain thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues. The Buddhas range in size from a few centimetres to the size of a human. The caves are also a destination for local pilgrimages.

• Make the second stop en route to Pakbeng to watch the processing of traditional rice alcohol.

• Afterwards, enjoy a delicious buffet lunch on board as the cruise continues further along the scenic Mekong River.

• Reach the town of Pakbeng late in the afternoon. Located halfway between Houay Xay and Luang Prabang, this small but dynamic town is lined with wooden houses along a steep street on the hillside. Depending on the river’s current, the boat may reach Pakbeng in time to catch a sunset over the river.

Dinner and overnight stay at Luang Say Lodge.

• Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before continuing the river cruise upstream. Optional: For early risers, there is an opportunity to visit the morning market where the nearby villagers and hill tribes come to buy and exchange their goods.

• Board the boat that departs at 07:30 for the second half of the cruise. One-stop is made at a small village to visit and admire the authentic rural life of hill tribe settlements (lunch is served on board).

For those interested to reach Houay Xay before 17:00, it is possible to proceed to Chiang Rai on the same day; the border transfer is included in the Luang Say Cruise package. Crossing the border from the Lao side to Chiang Khong is as per the client’s arrangement.