Mekong Cruise & Pak Ou Caves (H01)

• Two options to visit Pak Ou Cave and Whiskey Village in the morning (upstream) and in the afternoon (downstream)
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Lunch at Manifa Elephant Camp
• Accompanied by an English-speaking guide
• Upgrade to private tour possible

Morning tour: We will pick you up at your accommodation between 8:00 to 8:30. Go straight to the pier for the departure of the longtail boat trip and embark on the mighty Mekong. Enjoy the many views from the water, witness rural Laos, pass by local villages, fishermen, and children and soak up the scenes of daily life by the river.

Beyond the high-speed railroad bridge on the outskirts of town, the landscape is lush with nature. In the first little over an hour, the boat makes its first short stop at the Ban Xang Hai, also known as the Whisky Village. Here you see the process of making Lao Lao, the country’s beloved rice whiskey, and taste the fresh local delights. Why not pick up a couple of bottles for later?

The boat will take you slowly along the Mekong River to Pak Ou Caves. We arrive at a small boat landing dock where stairs lead you straight to the cave. These limestone caves have been places of worship for thousands of years, and Buddhist statues and idols have filled these natural caves. Hear legends and stories about the caves from your guide and explore the caves.

After visiting the caves, the boat will enter the Ou River to see the spectacular limestone cliffs. Then a 30-minute boat ride down the Mekong River will take us to Manifa elephant camp for lunch. Enjoy a buffet lunch at the restaurant with a view of the Mekong River and free-roaming elephants. Around 2:00-2:30, return to Luang Prabang by minivan.

Afternoon tour: Pick up from your hotel at around 12:00 -13:00 and then head to Manifa Elephant Camp by minivan. Lunch will be served there. Take a boat to the caves. After visiting the caves, the tour is the opposite of the morning tour. We will go down the Mekong River, stopping at villages along the way, and enjoy a sunset cruise to Luang Prabang. Tour ends at 6.00 pm.