Imagine staying in an authentic treehouse for a night! With this unique vacation, you can.
Northern Thailand to Laos via the Mekong
This 8-day tour takes you from northeastern Thailand down the Mekong River to one of the cultural centres of Laos.
Your Laos and Thailand tour ends in Luang Prabang, at the meeting point of the Mekong and Khan Rivers. The Laotian city boasts a charming blend of French colonial architecture and bustling modern growth. It was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. A city tour will get you acquainted with Luang Prabang’s 33 wats and village-like atmosphere. In the morning, witness the Tak Bat, when saffron-robed monks silently collect alms throughout the city. Then visit the open-air Morning Market before heading to the surrounding jungles to see the magnificent Kuang Si Waterfalls and the Bear Rescue Centre, where scientists strive to protect dwindling Laotian black bear populations.
This Thailand and Laos vacation takes you off the beaten track to appreciate the spiritual power of the region.
Your Thailand vacation begins in Chiang Rai, in the northwestern corner of the country. This mountainous city used to be a capital of the independent Lanna Kingdom until the sixteenth century, but eventually was incorporated into Thailand. As a cultural and religious centre, Chiang Rai boasts gorgeous architecture and quaint atmosphere. The city is not as popular as Bangkok or nearby Chiang Mai, so you’ll feel like you’re getting a taste of authentic Thailand far from the tourist crowds as you explore it. Tour the temples of Wat Phra Singh and Wat Phra That Chedi Luang during the day before heading to the Night Bazaar when the sun falls, perusing its artisan stalls and sampling north Thai cuisine in its 40 restaurants. No trip to Chiang Rai is complete without checking out Wat Rong Khun, a bizarre, whitewashed temple designed by famous artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. Its monochromatic palette and elaborate dragon scaling makes it one of the most unique buildings you’ll ever lay eyes on, even if it won’t be completed for almost 100 years.
After exploring Chiang Rai, head into Laos via Huay Xai, sitting on the Mekong River on the Laotian side of the border. This town acts as a connector between the two countries. It’s the site of the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge as well as the Gibbon Experience, an ecotourism centre dedicated to preserving the surrounding jungle and educating locals and tourists alike. From Huay Xai, you can head to the surrounding jungle to visit Ban Toop, a Hmong hill tribe village, as well as ride ziplines in Nam Kan National Park. From Huay Xai, board a riverboat and cruise down the Mekong, through Pak Beng and the surrounding river villages.
Contact me to learn more about this and other unique holiday destinations!
P. ‘Buffy’ Robblee
Independent Professional Travel Consultant
(37 Years Travel Experience)
Phone: 226-626-5749
Toll Free: 844-313-6350
Email: travelwithbuffy@gmail.com
Website: http://www.buffyrobblee.thetravelagentnextdoor.com/
TICO#:50021282
