Northern Thailand & Laos

At a prearranged time, you will meet with your guide and transfer to your hotel outside Chiang Rai, located in the Golden Triangle, the meeting point of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. This scenic road transfer passes through Northern Thailand’s rolling landscapes, with a journey time of approximately six hours.

En route, you’ll stop to visit Wat Rong Khun, an elaborate temple which is altogether different from any other in Northern Thailand since it was built in 1997 and constructed using white glass, a striking contrast to the region’s ancient religious structures.

During your stay at the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, you will have access to a wealth of benefits as part of the Golden Triangle Luxury Explorer Package.

These include:

A ticket to the Opium Museum (once per person).

One activity per person for each night stayed, choosing from: Elephant Camp Experience, Golden Triangle Excursions, Spice Spoons Cooking Class, 60-minute spa treatment, 60-minute private yoga and 60-minute private Pilates.


Accommodation: Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort (or alternative hotel of equal standard).

In the morning, you will meet with your guide and transfer to Thailand’s border with Laos, a journey of approximately 1.5 hours.

At the border, you will be assisted through the immigration process of both countries by a representative from Heritage Line and thereafter escorted to your luxurious cruising vessel for your three-night cruise down the fabled Mekong River towards the ancient Lao city of Luang Prabang.

Cruise itineraries will differ depending on the season.

For those travelling between July and October, you will be welcomed on board and shown to your cabin before the Anouvong embarks on her journey downriver. As the ship heads towards the first stop, an expert guide will host a compelling lecture about the intricate cultural tapestry of Laos’ diverse ethnic groups that live along the Mekong River. The ship will soon reach the confluence of the Mekong and one of its major tributaries before dropping anchor at a modern village whose 800 residents belong to the Tai Lu ethnic group, who span Laos, China, Myanmar and Vietnam. At the village, you’ll gather for a traditional Baci ceremony, a Lao ritual whereby local elders (perhaps monks also) will bless your journey. The Anouvong will then continue drifting downstream, reaching the overnight mooring spot at Huay Ting. Here, you can enjoy a delicious cocktail as the sun sets followed by a sumptuous dinner, the breathtaking Mekong scenery forming a captivating backdrop as you dine.

For those travelling between November and April, your Mekong voyage will commence with a ride aboard a traditional longtail boat that will take you to the Anouvong by Heritage Line. Passing through some of the astounding Upper Mekong scenery, this transfer will last for approximately eight hours. During the cruise aboard the longtail boat, you can enjoy lunch and snacks, with the option for neck and shoulder massages also available. As you journey downstream, the team onboard will provide insight into the cultures and landscapes that surround the Mekong River and the Lao hinterland. Arriving at the Anouvong, you will board the vessel and check into your cabin. This will be followed by a safety briefing and a multi-course dinner in the ship’s restaurant. Should you wish, you can then join a nightly cinema experience in the ship’s comfortable lounge.


Accommodation: Heritage Line Cruises - Anouvong.

Those travelling between July and October can begin the morning with an optional yoga session as the Anouvong journeys towards to a picturesque village inhabited by the Khum people. This simple village comprises rustic bamboo huts raised on stilts that sit amid vast and verdant rice fields. Meet either an elderly couple or a multigenerational family whose lives are deeply rooted in the land, learning about their livelihood of manual agriculture. Afterwards, you’ll head back to the Anouvong for a replenishing lunch before continuing to the charming village of Khok Phou, a 200-year-old settlement inhabited mainly by ethnic Lao people. Here you can observe daily life in rural Laos and peel back the layers of the villagers’ existence alongside the Mekong River. Return to the ship for lunch as it resumes its meandering route downriver, eventually docking overnight near the village of Khok Phou, which sits perched above an expansive sandbank. Inhabited mainly by the ethnic Lao people, you can wander through the village to observe local life. If time permits, you can walk up to a small temple to meet a local monk who will guide you through the basics of meditation. The evening unfolds with a refreshing cocktail followed by dinner as the rubescent sky gives way to the ink-black night of the tropics.

For those travelling between November and April, begin the day with a mindful yoga session on the terrace as the ship makes its way to one of the most spectacular cave systems in Asia. Nestled along the banks of the Mekong River, the Pak Ou Caves comprise two mystical grottoes which house more than 4,000 sacred Buddhist statues and images. After exploring the caves, you have a choice of two enthralling excursions: a kayaking adventure along the serene Nam Ou River or a visit to the nearby village of Ban Muang Keo, renowned for its traditional silk weaving and Lao whisky distillation. In the village, you can meet a local medicine man who will explain the ways in which mother nature can act as a natural pharmacy. Back on board, enjoy lunch as the boat continues downstream towards Luang Prabang. In the afternoon, you can join a fascinating presentation that unravels the complex history of the Golden Triangle, learning about the region’s colonialism, opium production, conflicts and the roles played by Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Laos, Britain and China. The place where Myanmar, Thailand and Laos meet, the name “Golden Triangle” was coined by the CIA when they operated in the area. The ship will then moor overnight, and you can enjoy an onshore dinner followed by a traditional local dance performance.


Accommodation: Heritage Line Cruises – Anouvong.

A generations-old Buddhist tradition in Luang Prabang, the morning alms (“Tak Bat” in Lao) is an integral fabric of the city’s culture and its close-knit community. Wake up before dawn to witness a steady stream of saffron-robed monks progressing through the city streets, with residents lining the pavements to hand out alms (gifts). If you wish to make an offering yourself, inform your guide a day in advance so that a gift of alms can be prepared. After the almsgiving ceremony, the town will burst into life, making it an opportunistic time to explore the bustling morning market.

With architecture that combines influences from both East and West, Luang Prabang is a truly charming city brimming with culture. Enjoy a stimulating presentation on some of the various preservation projects and initiatives designed to help preserve the city’s cultural heritage and identity, followed by a walking tour to some of the city’s architectural centrepieces. You’ll meet Francis Engelmann, a writer and consultant to UNESCO on heritage preservation projects since 1994. Born in Paris in 1947, he has lived in Laos for over 20 years, dedicating his life to preserving its unique identity. Listen as he shared some of his expertise regarding Laos’ cultural heritage as well as providing insight into the history of Laos and its people. The walking tour will see you walk through the city’s small streets and alleys to observe the rural lifestyle practised by Luang Prabang’s warm and inviting residents, maintained over centuries. If time permits, you will be able to stop by a local home and meet some local Lao people for a glimpse into their daily lives in this laidback town.

Baci ceremonies are an integral fabric of Lao culture and are held to celebrate special events like marriages or a homecoming. The ceremony is believed by Lao people to realign the kwan (soul), which watches over the body. During the ceremony, a village elder will wrap a white cotton thread around your wrist while chanting an invocation to strengthen the power of the blessing. In Laos, the colour white is a symbol of peace, good fortune and health. Experience an authentic part of Lao culture during the Baci ceremony, which will take place in a local family’s humble home and see you come away enlightened by one of Laos’ most unique, traditional and ancient practises.


Accommodation: Rosewood Luang Prabang (or alternative hotel of equal standard).

At a prearranged time, you will meet with your guide and transfer to the airport, arriving in perfect time for your departing flight.