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Golden temples, river journeys and ancient ruins
Days 1 - 2 The Golden Triangle On arrival at Chiang Rai, you will be met and transferred to your resort in the heart of Thailand’s picturesque Golden Triangle region. The following day, visit the amazing Hall of Opium museum which is dedicated to the history of opium. Continue your exploration of the region this afternoon, with an optional elephant ride, a market visit or a guided walk to a local village. 2 nights – Anantara Golden Triangle Day 3 - Mekong River This morning you will cross the border from Thailand into Laos boarding the Luang Say boat for a wonderful cruise along the mighty Mekong River. Spend the night at a remote and simple lodge, soaking up the atmosphere before continuing on your river journey the following day. Stopping at villages which cannot be reached by road and at the temple caves at Pak Ou, you will reach Luang Prabang just before sunset. (For a truly romantic click TURQUOISE EXPERIENCES IN LAOS for details) 1 night – Luang Say Lodge Days 4-6 Prabang Discover the unhurried delights of Luang Prabang. Visit the exquisite Wat Xieng Thong with its gold leaf friezes and mosaic decorations and enjoy sunset from the top of Mount Phu Si which also affords some stunning views over the town itself. The nearby Kuang Si waterfalls are worth a visit on a free day. (To receive a traditional Lao blessing,
click TURQUOISE EXPERIENCES IN LAOS for details) 3 nights – Maison Souvannaphoum Days 7 - 8 Vientiane Fly to the tranquil capital Vientiane where you will explore highlights such as the temple of Wat Si Saket and the Patuxai monument. Don’t miss a Beer Lao overlooking the Mekong at sunset, before dining in one of Vientiane’s excellent restaurants. 2 nights – Settha Palace Days 9 - 10 Wat Phou Rice Barge Fly to Pakse and transfer directly to the Wat Phou Rice Barge. Cruising along this particularly beautiful stretch of the Mekong, you will visit the thousand year old ruins of Wat Phou itself and see breathtaking views over the two symmetrical palace structures on the flat plain below. During the cruise, you will also visit the wonderful Four Thousand Islands region, where you will find stunning waterfalls, rare Irrawaddy dolphins and a real ‘time stood still’ atmosphere. 2 nights – Wat Phou Rice Barge Day 11 Pakse On the third and final day of the cruise, you will return to Pakse and spend a night there. Accommodation is relatively basic in this small town. You may wish to spend part of the day exploring the nearby picturesque Bolaven Plateau, with its tumbling waterfalls, beautiful bio-diversity areas and famous coffee plantations. 1 night – Champa Residence Day 12 Bangkok Today you will cross the border into Thailand and on to Ubon from where there are regular flights to Bangkok. You may wish to finish your trip with some shopping in Bangkok or a stay at one of Thailand’s luxurious beach resorts. Alternatively, there are flights from Pakse to Siem Reap, if you wish to culminate this trip with a visit to the awe inspiring Angkor temple complex in Cambodia...
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