Vat Phou báturinn í Suður-Laos
Fyrir hundruðum ára klofnaði fornt veldi Laos, sem þá nefndist Lan Xang, upp í þrjú ríkið. Syðsta ríkið nefndist Champasak og á þess slóðum siglir Vat Phou báturinn í suðurhéruðum Laos. Báturinn er nefndur eftir hinu forna Phou hofi sem var reist af khmerum (kambódíubúum) nokkru fyrir uppbyggingu Angkor eða fyrir um 1000 árum. Þetta eru ævintýralegar slóðir sem bera merki horfinna menningarheima og ósnortinnar náttúru.
Oum Moung hofið hálf falið inní frumskóginum, víðir vellir Wat Phou hofsins, Fjögurþúsundeyjuósinn og Pha Pheng sem er stærsti foss Suð-Austur Asíu staðsett í kyrrlátri sveit Suður Laos er stórkostleg umgjörð rómantískrar og ævintýralegrar siglingar.
Þriggja daga sigling í þægilegum bát með afbragðs mat og veitingum er líklegast besta leiðin til að upplifa þetta svæði.
Cruise Down River:
From 01 May 08 to 31 Oct 08: departures every Saturday for cruise down and Tuesday for cruise up.
* no operation from 01 to 30 June for annual maintenance.
From 01 Nov 08 to 30 Apr 09: departures every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on a cruise down or cruise up.
From 01 May 09 to 31 Oct 09: departures every Saturday for cruise down and Tuesday for cruise up.
* no operation from 01 to 30 June for annual maintenance.
From Pakse to the "Niagara of the East", the discovery of one of the wonders of the world, the treasures of Khmer architecture.
Day 1: Pakse/Champassak/Vat Phou (L, D)
Early morning 10h30 departure from Pakse to Champassak, heading south aboard a local longtail riverboat, zigzagging through mild rapids and sand banks, arriving at Champassak in time for a riverside lunch, followed by a guided tour of the mysterious pre-Angkorian 10th century temple of Vat Phou, the boat's namesake. As dusk falls board the Vat Phou for a relaxing cruise down-river, enjoying the tropical sunset on the deck, dinner is served on board, while the boat docks for the night alongside a remote Laotian village.
Day 2: Huei Thamo / Oum Moung Temple / Khong Island (B, L, D)
Breakfast on board as we set sail for the village of Huei Thamo, only a few minutes walk away from the spectacular hidden forest temple of Oum Moung. Afterwards rejoin the boat for a cruise southwards and lunch on the deck, while we continue our leisurely sail further south to the wild paradise of the "4,000 islands", arrived in the afternoon closed to Khong Island (the birthplace of the President of the Peoples republic of Laos) at Ban Dua Tae, and visit this traditional Laotian Village where the traditional way of life has not changed in centuries. Back on board for quiet dinner, under the stars, serenaded by the songs of the buffalo toads.
Day 3: Ban Veuthong/ the "Niagara of the East/ Xieng Di/ Pakse (B, L)
Breakfast on the deck, while cruising to the small village of Ban Veuthong where we will board a small long-tail boat to Khone Island. After visit, take a long tail boat back to the main land for lunch amid the by-gone splendid of another age; colorful French colonial houses and an old customs post, alongside a stone quay. Take a minivan to amazingly scenic splendor of the Khong Pha Peng waterfall, "the Niagara of the East", close to the Cambodian border. Back to "civilization, for the two hours ride to Pakse, arriving in the afternoon, about 15h50.
Cruise Up River (the same tour but in reverse):
From 01 May 08 to 31 Oct 08: departures every Tuesday for cruise up (and Saturday cruise down).
* no operation from 01 to 30 June for annual maintenance.
From 01 Nov 08 to 30 Apr 09: departures every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on a cruise down or cruise up.
From 01 May 09 to 31 Oct 09: departures every Tuesday for cruise up (and Saturday cruise down).
* no operation from 01 to 30 June for annual maintenance.
From Pakse to the "Niagara of the East" the discovery of one of the wonders of the world, the treasures of Khmer architecture.
Day 1: Pakse/ Xieng Di / Khone Island (L, D)
On arrival at Pakse, drive to the spectacular roaring waterfalls of Khone Pha Pheng, the "Niagara of the East" and the fishing village of Xieng Di for lunch at local restaurant and where you will board a long tail boat for a visit to Khone Island. After visit, take long tail boat to the Khong Island village of Ban Veuthong, where you will board the waiting Vat Phou for a sunset cruise and dinner, docked riverside for the night.
Day 2: Khong Island / Oum Moung Temple / Huei Thamo (B, L, D)
Breakfast on board Vat Phou as we set sail to Ban Dua Tae, and visit this traditional Laotian Village after the visit we sail North, past the island of Don Xai, and into a myriad of islands of all shapes and sizes, the wild paradise of '4,000 islands.' Enjoy the lunch during cruising North to the island of Don Daeng, to visit the village of Huei Thamo and the mysterious Oum Moung forest temple, just a few minutes walk way. Dinner "Under the stars", aboard Vat Phou.
Day 3: Ban Wat Luang Kao / Vat Phou / Champassak / Pakse (B, L)
While enjoying breakfast on board, the Vat Phou continues its cruise to Ban Wat Luang Kao, where you will join a guided tour by bus to the tenth century pre-Angkorian temple of Vat Phou, after which you will return by bus to Champassak in time for lunch, and the final cruise to Pakse, with arrival in the afternoon.
