Laos: The Upper Mekong with Thailand’s Golden Triangle
A Unique Journey Beyond Expectations
Chiang Mai- Chiang Rai- Huay Xai - Luang Prabang
14 days / 13 Nights
PRIVATE JOURNEY CREATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR ASIAN ODYSSEYS
Pre Tour Oct 20-23, 2025
Bangkok
The Sukhothai Bangkok Hotel
23 Oct 2025 – 26 Oct 2025
Chiang Mai
Rachamankha Hotel
26 Oct 2025 – 29 Oct 2025
Chiang Rai
Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort
29 Oct 2025 – 01 Nov 2025
Huay Xai – Luang Prabang
Heritage Line Anouvong Cruise
01 Nov 2025 – 04 Nov 2025
Luang Prabang
3 Nagas Luang Prabang - MGallery
04 Nov 2025
Luang Prabang Departure
Post Tour: Nov 4-7
Seoul or Angkor Wat extension TBA
EXPLORING THE WONDERS OF NORTHERN THAILAND AND THE UPPER MEKONG, LAOS
- OCTOBER 23-NOVEMBER 1, 2025
Day 1 - Thursday 23 Oct 2025: Chiang Mai Airport Arrival via Flights (Own Tickets) – Private Transfer to Your Hotel
Upon arrival at Chiang Mai Airport, you will be met by your guide. Private transfer from the airport to city hotel.
- Rachamankha Hotel/ Superior Room
Day 2 - Friday 24 Oct 2025: Natural Dye Demonstration and Introduction To Lao-Tai Textiles – Half Day. Afternoon “Chiang Mai City Lifestyle & Doi Suthep”
In 1988, art historian Patricia Cheesman was inspired to revitalize the Thai art of handmade complex weaving and intricate patterning to create unique textiles. By training young weavers and supporting master weavers, she has helped to elevate a sense of community, conserve a 2,000-year-old tradition, and promote fair trade ethics.
09.00am Meet your guide at hotel lobby and drive to Studio Naenna at the base of Doi Suthep Mountain and see a natural dye demonstration in by founder Patricia Cheesman or daughter Lamorna, followed by a talk on Lao-Tai textiles covering the different community styles and identifying textiles of the ethnic groups in each community. Visit the two on-site galleries, one featuring a large variety of high-quality silk and cotton garments, and The Patricia Cheesman Gallery displaying exquisite interior design textiles and antiques from Patricia’s private collection. The experience includes a mid-morning coffee break.
After lunch at local restaurant, continue to Doi Suthep Mountain, to enjoy the spectacular views of Northern Thailand as you head past mountains and forests, towards Wat Phra That, one of Northern Thailand’s most sacred temples. Founded in 1383 AD, the temple is reached by climbing 309 steps or if you prefer, a tram is available as well. The climb up is rewarded with a superb panoramic view over the city. Back to the city center we will visit to a vibrant food and flower market where local Thais do their shopping. Continue to Wat Suan Dok, final resting place for the ashes of former kings of Chiang Mai and the Royal Family. After tour, return to your hotel.
Day 3 - Saturday 25 Oct 2025: Full Day Doi Inthnon & Red Karen Tour
08.00am Meet tour guide at hotel lobby and depart “the bustle of Chiang Mai” on a drive to the cooler climate of Doi Inthanon National Park. Highlights of the park include Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand at 2,565m (8,415ft), and the beautiful scenery, evergreen forests, and dwarf rhododendron groves. The area is home to nearly 400 bird species, many from North Asia, including mountain hawks and Eurasian woodcocks, making it a haven for birdwatcher. The summit is also home to the shrine of Chao Intha Wichayanon, the former prince of Chiang Mai. Bring a jacket as temperatures drop the higher up the mountain you go. On the way there or back, visit a hill tribe village, the largest hill tribe group in Thailand. Make a stop at the Wachiratharn Waterfall, some 750m (2,460ft) above sea level, and the twin chedi built by the Thai Air Force in honour of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit.
Lunch at local restaurant, and return to Chiang Mai in the late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Rachamankha Hotel/ Superior Room
Day 4 - Sunday 26 Oct 2025: Private Transfer to Chiang Rai –Chiang Rai Highlights
09.00am Meet your guide at hotel lobby and transfer to Chiang Rai with visits to famous temples in Chiang Rai. Between the White Temple, the Black House and the Blue Temple, Chiang Rai is definitely the city of colorful temples
First, visit Wat Rong Khun (The White Temple), which is different from any other temple in Thailand. In contrast to the ancient temples, this temple was built in 1997 and was designed using white glass. While travelling through the city, observe the influence of the city’s Chinese ethnic minorities. Lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, quick visit at Chiang Rai Blue Temple or Wat Rong Seua Ten. It is a new temple, still partially under construction, while its main hall is now completed. Its magnificent blue interior greets us with a large white Buddha that marks the spirits. The paintings are reminiscent of the style of the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun). The great standing Buddha, also white, is also superb.
After tour, transfer to Golden Triangle area, check-in your hotel
Explore the enchanting world of elephants at Asia’s premier Elephant Camp, as you set out on a once in a lifetime journey with Anantara Golden Triangle’s ultimate Discovery Experience.
Perched on a ridge overlooking the hills of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, and the convergence of the Ruak and Mekong Rivers, the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort opens a window to breathtaking nature. The resort’s famed on-site elephant camp, designed as a traditional mahout village, offers guests unique opportunities, such as learning to command their very own elephant through specialist mahout training courses. Designed to present the resort’s most popular local and international flavours, and to accentuate the overall guest experience, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort’s new Discovery Package invites you to stay in our luxurious rooms and suites, complete with gourmet dining, unforgettable destination experiences and additional privileges.
GOLDEN TRIANGLE LUXURY EXPLORER PACKAGE:
- Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner inclusive of non-alcoholic beverages to be enjoyed at Sala Mae Nam Restaurant, Elephant Bar & Opium Terrace as well as in-room dining
- In-room minibar, refreshed daily, with a selection of spirits, beers, soft drinks and snacks
- Internet Access throughout resort
- Admission to the Hall of Opium museum (one time per person per stay)
- One unforgettable activity for every night stayed
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Anantara Golden Triangle/ Deluxe Room
https://www.anantara.com/en/golden-triangle-chiang-rai/rooms/deluxe-three-country-view-room
Day 5, 6- Monday 27-Tuesday 28 Oct 2025: Anantara Golden Triangle
GOLDEN TRIANGLE LUXURY EXPLORER PACKAGE:
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Anantara Golden Triangle/ Deluxe Room
Day 7 - Wednesday 29 Oct 2025: Private Transfer to Chiang Khong/ Huay Xai border – Heritage Line Anouvong Cruise Embarkation (Shared Cruise; Private Cabin) – Huay Xai – Kang Hang Yai
06.45am Meet your guide at hotel lobby and transfer to Chiang Khong, Thailand-Laos border
Known in Laos as the “Mae Nam Khong” (“Mother of Water”), the upper Mekong meanders through fascinating riverine scenes, filled with views of captivating and unchanged local life in various settings.
Savor this four day and three-night river voyage between the Thai-Lao border and Luang Prabang, known as the famous Golden Triangle. The journey offers insights into Laos’ most captivating landscapes and remote local life and culture paired with interesting and delightful onboard activities
In the morning, Heritage Line welcomes guests at the Lao immigration office. After passengers gather, where we board a longtail boat for our transfer cruise to the ship Heritage Line ‘Anouvong’ .
We arrive the ship Heritage Line Anouvong around 5pm and check in to your cabin. Refresh yourself in the comfort of your stateroom before we invite you to a ship and safety briefing. Enjoy a drink at the bar and a multi-course dinner in the restaurant. If you like, you can consider joining our nightly cinema in the lounge showing every evening another interesting movie.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Heritage Line Anouvong/ Deluxe Cabin (4 cabins available)
https://heritage-line.com/ship/anouvong/accommodation/#deluxe
Day 8 - Thursday 30 Oct 2025: Kang Hang Yai - Khok Luang - Khok Phou
Embrace the early morning as the river bathes in the sun's initial rays, offering an open invitation to partake in our daily yoga class whilst we are sailing downstream to our first stop.
After breakfast, our morning sojourn leads us to a picturesque village Khok Luang, inhabited by the Khum people. Simplicity defines this locale, with bamboo huts elevated on stilts amidst vast rice fields. In this serene setting, we may encounter an elderly couple, children on their way to school, or a multigenerational family deeply rooted in the land, sustaining their livelihood through manual agriculture. Peel back the layers of their daily existence, observing their way of life, and engage in insightful conversations to garner a profound understanding of their unique experiences.
We head back to the ship continue our sailing whilst lunch is served.
Our next stop is the truly charming, small village of Khok Phou. It lays a short walk above an impressive sandbank and is captivating 200-year-old village. Inhabited predominantly by the ethnic Lao, this is a very nice hamlet with a nice square to observe the afternoon life unfolding. The highlight is the traditional Baci ceremony, a heartfelt Laotian ritual led by local elders, bestowing blessings upon your journey. If time permits, ascend to a small temple, where you can meet the local monk and novices, providing an opportunity for serene moments of meditation.
We remain moored at this nice spot. Join us at the lounge for a sunset cocktail and mingle with fellow passengers before heading to dinner. After dinner, feel free to join us again in the lounge for a screening of "Chiang" (Laotian for "elephant"). This cinematic gem, filmed in this very region in 1927 and produced by the visionary behind the first King Kong movie, sets the mood for our next day’s adventure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Heritage Line Anouvong/ Deluxe Cabin
Day 9 - Friday 31 Oct 2025: Khok Phou - Pak Ou - Ban Mueng Kay
Wake up early to do some yoga exercise again before you move to breakfast. We are on the way to one of the most spectacular caves in Asia.
Nestled along the rocky shore of the Mekong, there are two grottoes sheltering approximately 4,000 sacred Buddhist statues and images. By tender boat we reach to the entrance of the cave in the bottom and walk up some stairs to the lower cave. This is the most impressive and easily accessible. After the cave visit, Heritage Line offers two optional choices to choose from: Join in for an adventurous kayak tour along the serene Nam Ou River or a visit of the nearby village of Ban Muang Keo, known for traditional silk weaving and Lao whisky distillation. We also meet in this village a local “medicine man” (if time and availability permit) who explains the traditional ways of treatments using mother nature as a natural pharmacy.
Back on board, we enjoy our lunch as the boats sails further downstream. During the afternoon sailing we offer a presentation unravelling the intricate history of the Golden Triangle, exploring its complexities of colonialism, opium, conflicts, and the roles played by Burma, Thailand, Laos, Britain, China. The Golden Triangle, where Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos meet, extends far into each country. The name "Golden Triangle" was originally invented by the CIA referring to this area.
We are mooring overnight at a sandbank where we invite you to a farewell dinner on-shore…on the sandbank! Enjoy your last night with your fellow passengers and our crew who are eager to entertain you with a local dance performance. Feel free to dance with them!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Heritage Line Anouvong/ Deluxe Cabin
Day 10 - Saturday 01 Nov 2025: Ban Mueng Kay - Luang Prabang
On your last day of your journey, we offer you two more highlights. After an enjoyable breakfast, we set out by minivan to visit a local elephant site: an elephant sanctuary and orphanage. You have the chance to meet very closely one of the finest local creatures in Laos. Laotian mahouts taking care of former logging elephants that have found a new home and receive a lot of TLC there. We will have a morning walk with the elephants along the riverbank and small path winding the bordering rainforest. The elephants love to bath in the river and the mahouts explain more about this unique Laotian creature.
We continue our morning trip and travel with the minivans to the next highlight in Laos, the nearby cascading Kuang Si waterfalls. Famed for its beauty and with its rushing turquoise waters, it is an amazing natural park allowing for a leisurely walk to marvel at Mother Nature's creativity. You can also refresh yourself with a swim in the shallow pools of water at the waterfall’s base.
Afterwards we return to the ship and have lunch onboard whilst Anouvong is making its way now to Luang Prabang, the final destination of this cruise. We arrive at Luang Prabang around 03.00pm. Upon check-out, we help you with your luggage and the crew will bid you farewell at the pier in the town center.
Meet your guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
3 Nagas Luang Prabang - MGallery/ Deluxe Room https://www.3-nagas.com/accommodation/deluxe-room/
Day 11 - Sunday 02 Nov 2025: Full Day Luang Prabang City Tour
Located at the confluence of the Mekong River and the Nam Khan (Khan River), UNESCO-protected Luang Prabang is a beautiful mix of gilded wats, saffron-clad monks, faded Indochinese villas and beautiful river scenery.
08.00am Meet your guide at hotel lobby and spend a full day exploring some of the highlights of this incredibly picturesque town. First, drive to the center of town and stop at the bottom of Phou Si Hill. Climb the 328 steps to the top for wonderful views over the town and nearby mountain ranges. Drive past outstanding examples of the fusion of Lao traditional architecture and colonial-era villas on the way to a morning coffee or tea at the colonial-style French bakery Le Banneton or at the Viewpoint Café, located right at the peninsula where the Nam Khan and Mekong River meet. Continue with visits to some of the main Buddhist temples including Wat Xieng Thong, a 16th century temple which epitomizes the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture, and Wat Khili, home to the archives of Laos Buddhism.
After lunch, continue on to the Royal Palace, which is now a National Museum housing precious artefacts that belonged to the Royal Family. Afterwards, enjoy a stroll around the shops and cafes of the old town with the guide available to help with bargaining. After tour, return to your hotel, located in the center of this small town.
Meals: Breakfast, Morning snack
3 Nagas Luang Prabang - MGallery/ Deluxe Room
Day 12 - Monday 03 Nov 2025: Luang Prabang Alms Giving (Early Morning)
Royal Ballet Theatre Performance (Private Transfer; Join-in Activities)
The morning alms round (called “Tak Bat” in Lao) is a living Buddhist tradition for the people of Luang Prabang and dates back generations.
Wake up before dawn to witness and participate in offering alms to a procession of hundreds of saffron-robed monks in the early morning light, truly a spiritual occasion! If you wish to make an offering, please inform your guide a day in advance so that a gift of alms can be prepared. After the almsgiving, watch the town come to life during a visit to the bustling morning market before returning to your hotel in time for breakfast.
Free day at leisure or join the optional tour
1. Full Day Tour “A Taste of Laos” Cooking Class (Private Transfer, Join-in Activities) 08.30am Meet your guide at hotel lobby and transfer to the cooking class venue
Lao cuisine is centered on fresh ingredients with almost no processed foods. Spend an enjoyable day exploring the vibrant flavors of Lao food. Start with a visit to Phou Si Market and learn from a local culinary expert about typical Laotian products. Transfer to a picturesque lakeside pavilion and discover the “spirit” of Lao food and Lao food preparation customs. Work with fresh ingredients and get acquainted with some intriguing and unfamiliar flavors. Create your own varieties of jeow (the fundamental Lao spicy dipping sauce), the popular mok pa (fish steamed with herbs in banana leaves), lemongrass stuffed with chicken and herbs, orlarm (Luang Prabang’s eggplant-based specialty), and a traditional dessert. Enjoy the fruits of your labor for lunch and take your recipes home to surprise family and friends with your newfound Lao cooking talents!
2. Photography Tour: work with a professional photographer to enhance your phot skills while exploring "hidden Luang Prabang."
Meet your guide and transfer to Luang Prabang’s Royal Ballet Theatre
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 3 Nagas Luang Prabang - MGallery/ Deluxe Room
Day 13 - Tuesday 04 Nov 2025: Luang Prabang Departure via #Flight Information TBA (Own ticket). Or, continue onward to the post tour extension to Seoul or Angkor Wat. Details to follow.
Meet your guide at hotel lobby and transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
Meals: Breakfast,
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CONTACT ASIAN ODYSSEYS AT: [email protected] for details and pricing.
