Morning after breakfast, we will visit the local market to discover the local products. After that we visit the world-famous Wat Phra Kaew where the Emerald Buddha image was once enshrined. Move on to Wat Phra Singha where one of Thailand’s most beautiful Buddha images is now enshrined. Then short drive from Chiang Rai City to Black House. Baan Dam (Black House) is the unique creation of national artist, Thawan Duchanee. Part art studio, part museum, part home, Baan Dam is an eclectic mix of traditional northern Thai buildings interspersed with some outlandish modern designs. Lunch on your own and afternoon we will take on our boat cruise on Mae Kok River from Chiang Rai to Karen village, visit to the Karen Long-neck Village, where you’ll experience the unique customs of the Karen people, watch elephants or feed them. After that you will take 1 hour elephant trekking. Transfer back to Chiang Rai.

Overnight stay in Chiang Rai.

Today we begin the exploration of this province, the northernmost of Thailand, starting from the famous Golden Triangle, the point where the borders of Myanmar (ancient Burma), Thailand and Laos meet. It is located 9 kilometers north of Chiang Saen, along the road along the Mekong River. Sop Ruak is where the Mekong River (Lao border) meets the Ruak River (Burma border). In the past, the Golden Triangle was the world's main source of drug trafficking due to its privileged location, connected to opioid-producing countries. Today it is a renowned tourist attraction. The visit includes Wat Phra That Pu Khao which offers a wonderful view of the Golden Triangle, the Mekong River, and the forested mountains. Two large multi-headed Naga serpents at the bottom of the staircase protect the temple. We continue with the Opium Museum. The museum exhibits and educates visitors about the production of opium and its use in the lives of the hill tribal people, from the visit we can learn a lot about the history of opium since it developed in this infamous locality. In the afternoon visit Mae Sai, a border town, with a large market located along the border with Myanmar (formerly Burma), where you can find absolutely everything. As we head towards the hotel, we stop to visit the Yao and Akha ethnic minorities, settled in the Mae Chan district.

Then we travel to Chiang Khong in the afternoon and check in at your hotel in Chiang Khong.

Overnight in Chiang Khong.

• From October to March: Departure every: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• From April to September: Departure every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

07:30: After breakfast, pick up by driver (no guide) and drive to Chiang Khong border, a district in the northeastern part of Chiang Rai to Houayxay check point.

After you pass by Thailand Immigration, take shuttle bus from Thailand side to Laos side (the bus ticket costs 40 Bath per person and 45 Bath for each luggage, and this cost not included, so please pay directly there).

After passing through Laos immigration, you will cross the Mekong River to Houayxay in Laos where your Lao guide will be waiting for you at the immigration point. After completing border formalities, you board a ready traditional boat for the trip down the Mekong River. Serene, timeless Laos is one of Asia's most unvisited, unchanged countries. This once-powerful kingdom known as Lane Xang (Million Elephants) was founded in the 14th century with the help of the Khmers, and it went on to become one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia until its demise in the late 19th century. Bisected and bordered by the Mekong River, omnipresent symbol of Indochina, Laos today is an amalgam of cultural influences, Theravada Buddhism, animism, France, and the socialist ideal. It is a peaceful place, and the legendary hospitality, resilience and friendliness of the Lao people is much in evidence. Laos is Old Asia preserved. As your journey downriver you will stop at some tribal minority villages such as the Hmong, Yao and Khmu.

Overnight in Pakbeng.

Join Slow boat tours:

Breakfast, as you sail downriver as a second leg, you will pass areas of un-spoilt forest with little villages along the riverbanks and perhaps the odd elephant or two with his mahout. You visit a fishing village and a rice winemaking village and perhaps even taste some of the infamous beverage known as Lao Rice wine. You also visit the Pak-Ou caves, where thousands of Buddha statues are stored. You arrive in Luang Prabang around sunset and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession.

AM: Visit Phosi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables, and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional handicrafts, and today we will visit the villages of Ban Ouay and Ban Thapene and the weaving village of Ban Phanom which are populated by Lao ethnic minority groups. We spend time at the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest paths.

PM: We spend the rest of this day touring the Lao capital, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai. We continue seeing Luang Prabang with the temple of Wat Xieng Thong, a magnificent piece of architecture, which nestles at the meeting of the Mekong and the Nam Khan River. The temple structures are decorated in various ways with gilded stuccoes as well as doorways and the main sim has a marvelous 'tree life' mosaic pattern on an outer wall. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as viewing a beautiful and panoramic sunset over the ancient and once royal city and the Mekong River. Then, we stroll around the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of textiles made by the local and the hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Free till pick up by driver and transfer to Luang Prabang International airport for departure to next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.