Few other journeys in the world offer such a delicious combination of history and environmental ambience as a boat trip down the Mekong in Laos. The ancient land is full of stories and the traditional villages close to the river imbue one with a sense of history. Serving as a life force for centuries, the river is never far away from an important reference from the past, including monumental temples or a communities seemingly untouched by the hand of modernism. Romantic, meditative and insightful, a cruise on the Mekong is quite often the highlight of a trip to Southeast Asia.

At some 3,000m in length, the Mekong starts its magnificent journey in the Tibetan Plateau, continuing down through China and then passing through Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Aboard a boat, the dynamic scenery unfolds slowly before you. With each bend in the river or change in light from the filtering greenery, a new vista unfurls. Limestone mountains stand guard proudly over the river, while a symphony of birds chatter somewhere in the distance, occasionally swooping down to catch their feed from the river.

The area is home to a diverse set of flora and fauna, and a good camera or set of binoculars is essential to fully record all that is seen. Indeed, many visitors spend much of their time on the spacious deck snapping photos to make their friends and families jealous. ON cruises such as those offered by Vat Phou, the experience is heightened by the superior service of the onboard crew. Helpful and informative, they provide a human face to the whole experience and a local link to everything that is seen. Drinks and traditional Laos foods, as well as other regional dishes, are available on the fully refurbished boat.

Each passing village brings with it smiling faces and friendly waves. The people of Laos have a reputation for their tranquil nature, and it’s evident both on board and in the local villages. Indeed, this nature is infectious and it’s little wonder that so many passengers aboard these cruises and find themselves smiling and enjoying themselves more. The remote location and unchanged, natural and historical environs all act as a tonic for the soul, invigorating and calming at the same time.

Original source http://www.vatphou.com/mekong_river_trips.html

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