Day 1: On arrival in Cai Be, boarding your charming wooden boat, the Mekong Queen to visit the colorful Cai Be floating market, one of the many well-known and the biggest floating markets in the western region of southern Vietnam, which was formed during the Nguyen Dynasty in the 19th century. The market is always busy, bearing all the characteristics of the local’s life in the Mekong region. All the goods are transported to the market by boats. The floating market lies in the Tien (Upper) river, and is divided into two parts: buying and selling places. Rafts and boats are anchored along the two sides of the river for kilometers. Traders live on the river and some link their lives with boats like their mobile houses for generations. The products are hung on a pole in front of the boat to attract customers and it is also easier for customers to see the products they want to buy from a far and no need to go from one boat to another to save their time.
After the Cai Be floating market, you will then continue the cruise to a local factory to visit and learn how pop rice, pop corn, rice paper and coconut candies are made. You also have an opportunity to taste these products, served with hot green tea. Returning to the Mekong Queen for a 50 minute cruise to Dong Hoa Hiep island and discover the beautiful and peaceful sceneries together with the typical life of the region along the Mekong river. Stops for visits and photos taken can be made during the excursion.
Taking a 10 minute walk through a local village and fruit gardens, you will be able to stop at a local family scaled Longan process factory, where you have another opportunity to take photo of and interact with the so friendly and hard working local people before coming to an old Mandarin house, built hundred years ago and it is where at least four generations of the family have been living. A so delicious Vietnamese lunch will be served by the owner, Mrs. Kiet. One of the highlights after lunch is to walk around the orchard to get to know what the main contribution to the economy of her family is based on.
Walking or taking a small rowing sampan back to the boat and continue to Mr. Ba Duc house, where you check into your home stay, then the balance of the day will be at leisure on your own or you can bike around the village for more discovery of the area before dinner. The family will be your host for this evening and tell you more about the typical life in the Mekong region. Another option is to go down the kitchen for part of the cooking class if you wish. Overnight is at Mr. Ba Duc’s homestay (Lunch, Dinner)
Day 2: After breakfast, you start walking on a small trail along the river to see the daily life of the locals, and visit the village market which is just held early in the morning for the so busy farmers to buy things for the day. The market is also a place where you can interact with and take photo of the locals. If desired, you can revisit the Cai Be floating market. Afterwards, you bid farewell to your hosts and take your boat trip to Vinh Long. Stop on the way to visit Mr. Tam Ho (No.8 Tiger) family and take a walk around his nursery garden to learn how the seedlings of several tropical fruit trees are grown in order to provide to almost all farmers in the area. You then continue the excursion to the handicraft village to visit a ceramic tile factory, a tofu and fish sauce factory, a blacksmith’s, a roof Thatcher’s and a rice husking factory which are all run by the local families and also one of the places where some local people can earn their living.
After lunch at Mr. Sau Giao’s home, return to the Mekong Queen for another 40 minutes to An Binh Island. An optional one hour cycling tour to visit the fruit gardens with stops a long the way for photos taken and visits can be made a long the way – an opportunity to interact with the local people, whose livelihood is on the river. You will then take a small rowing sampan for another 30 minute cruise to Mr. Mai Quoc Nam family, where you will check in your home stay. The balance of the day will be at leisure on your own or take a walk around the village yourselves for more discovery of the area before dinner. The family will be your host for this evening and tell you more about the typical life in the Mekong region. Another option is to go down the kitchen for part of the cooking class if you wish. Overnight is Mr. Mai Quoc Nam’s home (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
Day 3: After breakfast, you bid farewell to your hosts and take your Mekong Queen for a 2.5 hour ride to Sa Dec. Stop to visit the local floating houses where thousands of fishes are raised in the wooden boxes underneath in the natural water of the river and Tan Hoa Temple which was built hundreds of years ago by the locals. Continue cruising on the river for another one hour to Sadec, you will have a big chance to discover the beautiful landscapes and the typical life of the Mekong Delta along the way. On arrival, landing at the central market located right on the bank of the river. After saying goodbye to the crew, take a very short walk to experience yourself at an ancient house which was built in French colonial architecture. This is a house shot in a very famous movie called “ The Lovers “, based on a true love story of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, a rich Vietnamese-Chinese gentleman and Ms. Marguerite Duras. End of tour and board your own vehicle for a drive back to Saigon or Can Tho.
Price in USD per person: $295 USD/pax
* Including:
- 3 day cruise with the Mekong Queen.
- 2 nights Home-stay with daily simply breakfast
- Two lunches and two dinners (meal only, no drinks/water)
- Fresh & cold towels, fresh seasonal fruit, mineral water, hot green tea and coffee on board
- Bicycles with the local standard.
- Rowing Sampan and all entrance fees on tour.
- Private car, guide
*Excluding:
- Drinks/water at meals
- Other meals
- Travel Insurance.
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Other services not mentioned in the inclusion.
Tags: cruise mekong, cruises mekong, mekong cruise, mekong cruises, Mekong Tour, tourmekong
DAY 1: LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU – PAKBENG (L,D)
Upon leaving the town, we board Nava Mekong boat and cruise up on the Mekong River to Pakbeng, a lively village situated at the junction of the Mekong River and the small Nam Beng River. The Hmong and Thai ethnic people are frequently seen on the main street of Pakbeng and small vendors along the street sell local textiles and handicraft. Along the way, we visit the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves. These caves are crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes, all brought here by devoted villagers. O/N at Pakbeng Lodge.
DAY 2: PAKBENG – HOUEI XAY – CHIANG KHONG (B,L)
The morning market of Pakbeng also attracts a wide array of hill tribe people who converge from the outlying valleys and hillsides to sell their goods and buy provision. After an enjoyable walk around this congregation we re-embark on our boat for a trip towards Houei Xay, a border town close to the famous Golden Triangle. The pace is very relaxed, a perfect way to observe rural life close up. We stop over at Ban Houeilampen to visit the Hmong hill tripe people. They are very poor, but have an interesting culture and a colorful history. The trip ends arrival at Chiang Khong.
Price in USD per person: $535 USD/pax
Service includes
- Accommodation + ABF
- Meal 2Lunch, 1dinner
- English speaking guide
- Cruise 2days – 1Night
- Mineral water and cold towel
Service not includes:
- Transportation
- Other services not mentiones
Tags: cruise laos tour, cruise tour, cruises laos, cruises tours, laos cruise, laos cruise tour, laos cruises, tour cruise
Day 1: HOUEI SAY – PAKBENG (L, D)
Private Boat leave HoueiSay pier at 09h00 hrs for a cruise down the Mekong to Pakbeng. En route one stop is made to observe rural life along the Mekong and discover minorities, a buffet lunch on board. Arrive in Pakbeng before sunset and check-in at Pakbeng Lodge. Dinner
Day 2: PAKBENG – PAK OU – LUANG PRABANG (B, L)
Full breakfast at hotel. (Optional: walk to Pakbeng market, where people from the surrounding village of minorities exchange their goods). At 08h30 board the boat for the second leg of the cruise. A short stop is made to visit a hilltribe village where you can watch the traditional process of Lao whiskey production before having a buffet lunch on board. Continue to Pak Ou village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River, where you visit Tam Ting “Caves of a Thousand Buddha’s”. Arrive at Luang Prabang before sunset.
Price in USD per person: $535 USD/pax
Service includes
- Accommodation + ABF
- Meal 2Lunch, 1dinner
- English speaking guide
- Cruise 2days – 1Night
- Mineral water and cold towel
Service not includes:
- Transportation
- Other services not mentiones
Tags: boat laos cruise, cruise laos, lao cruise boat, laos cruise, laos tour, tour laos, tour laos cruise
Board our traditional junk-rigged schooner for a timeless escape into a tropical paradise.
PROGRAM A:
- From November 2008 to April 2009, departures every Saturday
- From May 2009 to September 2009, departures every Tuesday
Departures on Saturday twice a month in July and August 2009: 18TH & 25TH July’09 and 1ST & 8TH August’ 09
Day 1 (Saturday or Tuesday): Phuket – Phang Nga (D)
Transfer from hotel around noon to the embarkation pier, Suwan Macha departs from from Yacht Haven pier at 14:00 hrs. Set a course through the towering islands of Phang Nga Bay and a tour to the ever-popular James Bond Island. Back onboard, you will anchor in time for a postcard sunset. Dinner and over night on board Suwan Macha at anchor.
Day 2 (Sunday or Wednesday): Phang Nga – Krabi (B, L, D)
Enjoy breakfast on deck, then tour the unique Sea Gypsy Village and a spectacular ride amongst the mangroves and hidden lagoons. Spend the afternoon in the clear green waters of Krabi or take to a deserted white sand beach to enjoy your own private sun-bathing. Sunset is yours to enjoy on deck with a healthy dinner of tasty Thai specialties.
Day 3 (Monday or Thursday): Krabi – Phi Phi Island (B, L, D)
After breakfast, cruise the islands between Krabi and Phi Phi with more snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing before going ashore to explore Phi Phi Island. After dinner on board, sit back and enjoy the peacefulness of the night in a secluded bay.
Day 4 (Tuesday or Friday): Phi Phi – Phuket (B, L)
After breakfast onboard, travel to Phi Phi Lay and explore the Maya Bay Cave (made famous by the film The Beach). Then back ashore Phi Phi for lunch and cruise back to Phuket by Suwan Macha to Yacht Haven pier.
Transfer to hotel and arrive at 18:00 hrs.
PROGRAM B (reverse program):
- From November 2008 to April 2009, departures every Tuesday
- Departures on Tuesday twice a month in July and August 2009: 21ST & 28TH July’09 and 4TH & 11TH August’09
Transfer from hotel at approximately 7:15 to the embarkation pier at Ton Sai pier (Rasada pier), leave Phuket at 8h00 for Phi Phi Island via air-conditioned motor boat. Board Suwan Macha after lunch. At 13:00 take the cruise in reverse. Disembarking in Phuket at approximately 11:00 the next Friday, then transfer to hotel.
Price in USD per person: $885 USD/pax
PRICES INCLUDE:
· Join-in roundtrip transfer between hotel to pier in Phuket (SIC) and ferry (SIC) between Phuket to Phi Phi.
· 4 days cruise with stops and visits as mentioned in the program without guide.
· 3 nights accommodation on join-in basis in twin or double sharing cabin
· Meal plan as mentioned in the tour program.
· Coffee, tea & drinking water on board and during meals.
· Admission fee at visiting points as mentioned in the program.
· Services of qualified crews during the cruise.
· Group insurance
PRICES EXCLUDE:
· Other services not mentioned in package.
· Other drinks and meals not mentioned in package.
· Other personal expenses
REMARKS:
· For safety reasons and according to weather conditions, the program may be amended without prior notice.
· Departure is on Saturday or Tuesday
· Maximum number of passengers 10 persons (5 cabins)
Tags: cruise thailand, cruise tour, thailand boat, thailand cruise, thailand tour, tour cruise
Gaze out over the emerald waters and towering archipelago of Phang Nga Bay or Koh Samui, and sooner or later, you’ll set eyes on an elegant, red-sailed junk. As a long-standing icon of the region, the Suwan Macha sets a relaxed course around Phuket or around Koh Samui. Make your choice: Phuket, Phang Nga Bay, Krabi, and the Phi Phi Islands on one hand; Koh Samui, Koh Taen and the Archipelago of Ang Thong National Park on the other hand. A storybook setting for romantic adventure at sea.
Going on two decades, discerning travellers have relished the opportunity of making the Suwan Macha home for four days amidst the island paradises of southern Thailand. It’s pace and course has been refined over the years to provide the perfect balance of activity, relaxation and reflection.
On a voyage with no more than 10 guests, experiences remain uncluttered and personalised. A sense of discovery accompanies much of what you see and do with an emphasis on ease, comfort and choice.
The Suwan Macha Boat
The boat is a treasure in itself – an authentic junk with Siamese rigging. It blends western comfort with Oriental charm and provides spacious accommodation for up to 10 people and includes the following:
ท Modern safety equipment and lifejackets
ท Three double and two twin cabins, each with wall mounted fans and generous storage space.
ท Snorkelling gear and sunbathing / lounging mattresses.
ท CD player stereo, games and reading materials.
ท Motorized raft.
ท Three fully equipped ‘heads’, complete with western style toilets, basins and showers.
ท A fully-stocked bar
Access
Guests are picked up either from the airport or hotels in Phuket and shuttled to the Suwan Macha by private vehicle. Upon return to Phuket guests are shuttled by private vehicle to the destination of their choice.
Tags: cruise thailand, cruise tour, thailand boat, thailand cruise, thailand tour, tour cruise
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