Flight: TG574 Bangkok - Vientiane 19.35 - 20.45

Meet & greet: Upon arrival at Vientiane airport, you will be welcomed to Laos by a private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ansara (Savvy Room)

Transfer from your hotel to the jetty: This morning, you will be met at your hotel by representatives from Pandaw and transferred to the jetty to board a long-tail boat to take you upstream to your Pandaw vessel for your 10 night cruise.

Please note: The itinerary for this expedition is indicative only and subject to reconnaissance. As you travel to remote areas changes to the itinerary will inevitably occur. A flexible approach is required if you book this cruise.

Mekong River Cruise: Lunch and drinks will be served on your long-tail boat expedition by your Pandaw chef. Embark your Pandaw cruise in the afternoon and check-in to your cabin before enjoying a welcome briefing and drinks on-board. Overnight at Pak Lay.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the RV Laos Pandaw (Main Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Mekong River Cruise: Today you will cruise upstream on the Mekong, passing by lush jungle scenery and tiny riverside villages. There will be a morning presentation on-board with an introduction to the Laos language. Enjoy a short walk at Pha Laeb village and an afternoon walk at Ban Khok Fark, time permitting.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the RV Laos Pandaw (Main Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Mekong River Cruise: After breakfast, take a morning walk at Ban Pak Bor Khummu village before passing through the newly constructed Xayabouri Hydroelectric Dam, constructed as a joint project with China. Take a look at the workings of this somewhat controversial attraction whilst the Pandaw navigates the locks. Afternoon visit to Ban Na San village, a Hmong minority village. Return to the ship and continue upstream, mooring at the village of Ban Muang for the night.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the RV Laos Pandaw (Main Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Mekong River Cruise: Moor at the village of Ban Mouang Khai this morning and visit the dramatic Kuang Si waterfall, with an opportunity to swim. On the way back to the ship, stop at the Laos Buffalo Farm, a social enterprise utilizing the abundant buffalo in Laos. Arrive in the heart of the temple city of Luang Prabang mid-afternoon. Luang Prabang is a well-preserved world heritage site with many Buddhist temples and an interesting former royal palace. Here you can climb the 328 steps to Mount Phou Si Temple, where the best views of Luang Prabang can be found, followed by an orientation tour before returning to the ship. Moor overnight in central Luang Prabang.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the RV Laos Pandaw (Main Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Mekong River Cruise: Today you will explore the various handicrafts of Laos in more detail. Start with a visit to the bustling local morning market, the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, and the landmark temple of Wat Xieng Thong, celebrated for its sweeping roofs. After lunch on board, make your way to Ock Pop Tok, a social enterprise providing sustainable employment and training for the women of local weaving villages. Then continue for a stop at the historic Wat Mai temple. The day concludes on board with a traditional Baci ceremony and a graceful performance of the Pha Lak Pha Lam dance-drama.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the RV Laos Pandaw (Main Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Mekong River Cruise: Today is dedicated to immersive local traditions with a selection of hands-on workshops. The morning features an interactive cooking class and candle-making session, where you will learn to master authentic Lao dishes, enjoy the food you have cooked, and practice traditional candle-crafting. In the afternoon, travel by tuk-tuk to the Lao Living Land farm. Here, local community members guide you through the entire lifecycle of rice cultivation, from planting in the fields to preparing ready-to-eat rice, offering a wonderful opportunity to step into the paddies and try traditional farming techniques for yourself.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the RV Laos Pandaw (Main Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Mekong River Cruise: Your day begins before dawn with a short walking tour to witness the sacred and silent morning alms-giving ceremony (Tak Bat). After breakfast, visit Ban Xang Khong to see traditional paper making and silk weaving before casting off at midday. In the afternoon, transfer to a local boat to visit the traditional "Whisky Village" of Ban Xang Hai to see how local rice spirit is distilled. You then explore the extraordinary Pak Ou Buddha Caves, a sacred sanctuary filled with thousands of Buddha images left by pilgrims over centuries.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the RV Laos Pandaw (Main Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Mekong River Cruise: Today is spent sailing upstream along the Mekong with a morning walk through Ban Ton village. In the evening, moor alongside a sandbank for a special riverside barbecue and cocktail party. Light paper lanterns with the crew and enjoy the evening in a remote spot on the Mekong.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the RV Laos Pandaw (Main Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Mekong River Cruise: Laos is known as 'The land of a million elephants' and today you will visit a rescue sanctuary that is helping to preserve the elephants of Laos and provide a sustainable alternative employment for the Mahouts. Take an afternoon walk at Ban Pak Sith Khummu village.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the RV Laos Pandaw (Main Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Mekong River Cruise: Today you will continue cruising upstream towards the border with Thailand at Huay Say. You'll have time for a ship tour to see the inner workings of the vessel and a fruit carving demonstration from your talented Pandaw Chef. On arrival, pass through immigration and cross over into Thailand via the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge before rejoining the ship in the bustling and pretty Thai port town of Chiang Khong. This evening, enjoy a traditional Thai dance and farewell cocktails and dinner will be served on-board.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the RV Laos Pandaw (Main Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Journey from Chiang Khong to Chiang Rai: Disembark at around 8.30am this morning and say your farewells to the crew. After disembarking, you will be met by a private guide and driver, and transferred by road to Chiang Rai airport in time to check in for your flight. This will be a journey of around two hours.

Flight: TG2133 Chiang Rai - Bangkok 13.45 - 15.05

Private transfer to Hua Hin: On arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred to Hua Hin, the journey of approximately three hours. On arrival, check into your hotel and relax.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Centara Grand Beach Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

At leisure: These days are at leisure to relax by the beach and enjoy the hotel facilities, or explore more of the local area independently.

Accommodation: Stay these nights at the Centara Grand Beach Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: In the early evening, you will be transferred back to the airport in Bangkok where you will check in for the Thai Airways flight to London Heathrow.

Meals: Breakfast