The 10-cabin RV Laos Pandaw started its winter season cruises last week, travelling from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang on the Upper Mekong.

The elegant riverboat navigates the Upper Mekong between Huay Xai on the Laos side of the Mekong River and Luang Prabang, the UNESCO World Heritage city, where it stops for three nights before resuming its journey to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. The cruise lasts for 10 nights and is available in both directions, upstream and downstream.

The first group of travellers to join the Upper Mekong cruise this season began their trip by private coach from Chiang Mai, the biggest city in Northern Thailand, covering a distance of about 270 km from the Mekong River in Chiang Rai province, where they boarded RV Laos Pandaw.

“Last week, we celebrated the start of our cruise season on the Upper Mekong between Thailand and Laos with the departure of the 10-cabin RV Laos Pandaw. Purser Mr Say greeted a full complement of Pandaw members after they arrived from Chiang Mai with a special traditional Thai classical show and welcome drinks,” Pandaw’s cruise team said.

The 10-night cruise takes passengers across the border into Laos along the Mekong River, where they visit rural Laotian villages, the Buddhist shrine of Pak Ou and the Mekong Elephant Park, a certified elephant rescue centre.

RV Laso Pandaw moors in the UNESCO Heritage City of Luang Prabang for three nights and then continues downstream to Vientiane, the Lao capital, where guests can discover the city or extend their holiday in Laos or neighbouring Thailand.

There are only a few cabins left for bookings during the peak 2023/24 season.

To book visit pandaw.com, email information@pandaw.com