Lifetime Mekong River Cruise Tour From Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang – 6 Days

Destinations:
Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Chiang Khong Huay Xai Pakbeng Luang Prabang
Duration 6 Days
Tour Type Private Tour
Available Daily
Language English

Overview

Experience a lifetime Mekong River cruise tour from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang with scenic slow-boat journeys, village visits in Pakbeng, and Luang Prabang city exploration.

Tour Route Map

Tour Video

Lifetime Mekong River Cruise Tour From Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang

BRIEF ITNERARY:

DAY 1: PICK UP FROM CHIANG MAI – CHIANG RAI – CHIANG KHONG
DAY 2: DEPART FROM CHIANG KHONG – HUAY XAI – PAKBENG (B,L)
DAY 3: PAKBENG – LUANG PRABANG (B,L)
DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG CITY TOUR – KHOUANGSI FALLS (B)
Day 5: LUANG PRABANG –  FREE (B)
DAY 6: LUANG PRABANG – DEPARTURE(B) 

DAY 1: CHIANG MAI – CHIANG RAI – CHIANG KHONG (-/-/-)

A van will pick you up at 8 am from your hotel in Chiang Mai. On the way we stop to visit the hot spring, Wat Sang Kaew Photiyan, “Wat Rong Khun” or “White Temple”, see temporary art by Mr. Chalermchai Kositpipat in Chiang Rai and lunch over there. Then we travel to Chiang Khong in the afternoon and check in at your hotel in Chiang Khong.

Overnight in Chiang Khong

DAY 02: CHIANG KHONG – HUAY XAI – PAKBENG. (B, L)

The next day in the morning we have a van to pick you up at 7:15 am from the hotel to take you to the Thai and Lao border No.4 and cross to Huay Xai Laos (No guide).

On arrival, you will get through the border checkpoint to exit to Laos and right here, you’ll have to pay a little fee of 25 Thai Baht for the bus transfer from the checkpoint to the slow-boat pier (your own account).

DOWNSTREAM MEKONG RIVER CRUISE – 2 DAYS OF BOAT SERVICES

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

At 08:00am, the guests will meet our English-Speaking guide with a welcome sign at Houay Xay immigration office (Lao border). Our guide will assist customers to apply for the visa. Note: Visa on arrival cost 40USD per person or you can apply for Laos E-visa in advance (35USD per person)

After getting the VISA, guests will take a sharing transfer (minivan) to the slow boat pier to embark on the boat. During the morning, Quick lecture about Do’s and Don’ts in Laos and fun facts will be presented by our guide. Lao traditional Lunch set is served on board. Before reaching Pakbeng, we will stop to visit a traditional Kamu village (Ban Houa Phalam), a tiny cozy place which host about 90 families. Travelers will learn about rural lifestyle in a very remote area. The boat will arrive at Pakbeng before the night.

Overnight in your hotel in Pakbeng

Note:

We recommend to the travelers to be at Chiang Khong thai immigration border at before 07:30am to make sure to meet our guide in Lao side on time. If the travelers are already in Houay Xay, we will arrange pick up at their hotel between 08:30am and 09am. The boat will leave Houay Xay at latest at 09am

Mekong river cruise tour from thailand to laos
Mekong river cruise tour from thailand to laos

DAY 3: PAKBENG – LUANG PRABANG (B,L)

Cruise map | lifetime mekong river cruise tour from chiang mai to luang prabang - 6 days

The boat will leave Pakbeng at 08am. Enjoy the beautiful nature and jungle during your journey. In the morning, our guide and cooker will make a short demonstration on how to make some lao desserts and local drinks that travelers will eat later in the afternoon. First stop will be at Ban Baw village, a complex but harmonic mixed of three ethnicity: Lao Loun, Shan and Tai Lue.

Today the village is famous for its lao lao whiskey making. Right after the visit, a Lao traditional Lunch set is served on board. In the afternoon, the boat will stop for the second visit at the Pak Ou Caves (Tham Ting) and its over two thousands Buddha statues. It is one of the most important Pilgrimage place for lao people. After the visit, enjoy the homemade desserts and drinks made by our team and the travelers. The boat will arrive in Luang Prabang before 4:30pm.

Pick up at boat pier and transfer into hotel.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Mekong river laos | lifetime mekong river cruise tour from chiang mai to luang prabang - 6 days
Mekong river

DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG CITY + KUANG SI WATERFALL TOUR (B)

After breakfast, we visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace.  It displays a collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temples of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai

We then continue towards Khouangsi Waterfall, en route, we visit the local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Ban Ou, Laoloum and Ban Thapene, and then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall. Here you can take a dip in the inviting pools or walk along the forest trails surrounding the waterfall. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for silk hand weaving and for traditional Saa Paper making.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Wat xieng thong luang prabang | lifetime mekong river cruise tour from chiang mai to luang prabang - 6 days
Wat xieng thong luang prabang

Day 5: LUANG PRABANG – FREE DAY (B)

Breakfast at hotel

Today, you’ll be free on your own to explore hidden charms of Luang Prabang (No services)

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Kuang si waterfall | lifetime mekong river cruise tour from chiang mai to luang prabang - 6 days
Kuang si waterfall

DAY 6: LUANG PRABANG – DEPARTURE (B)

Breakfast at hotel

Today, you’ll be free on your own until transferred to airport for your onward flight home.

End of services.

Before You Travel

Notes and Pricing

Pricing Table

Valid from March 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027

Swipe horizontally to view all rates6 columns ›
Hotel Class1 Pax2 Pax3-6 Pax7-10 PaxSingle Supp.
3★$.1,427$.919$.825$.747$.258
3★ Plus$.1,642$.1,023$.929$.853$.332
4★$.1,673$.1,038$.944$.868-
* Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement applies for solo travelers.

What is included

Tour Inclusions
  • Guided Chiang Mai tour to Chiang Khong
  • Transfer from Chiang Khong Hotel to the border
  • Welcome at Lao immigration in Houay Xay + assistance to apply for the visa to Laos.
  • Transfer on a sharing minivan from Lao immigration office to slow boat Pier in Houay Xay for downstream and vice-versa for upstream program.
  • Crew service during the cruise.
  • Baggage handling during all the cruise.
  • Admission fees for visiting sites serviced by our English-speaking guide.
  • Lunch on board as mentioned in the program (except for charter boat).
  • Free flow of drinking bottled water, coffee & tea on the cruise
  • Accommodation in Chiang Khong and Pakbeng, Luang Prabang with breakfast
Tour Exclusions
  • Visa/immigration and/or overstay fees in Laos or in Thailand.
  • Personal insurance.
  • Beverages, personal expenses, and tips.
  • Other expenses not mentioned above.
Flights
  • International flights are not included unless stated.
  • Domestic flights can be arranged on request.
Hotel & Note

DESCRIPTION

CITY

HOTEL NAME – ROOM TYPE

3-Star Hotels

Chiang Khong

Teak Garden Riverfront Resort  – Garden View room

Pak Beng

Mekong Riverside Lodge – Standard room

Luang Prabang

Villa Chitdara – Deluxe room

3-Star Plus Hotels

Chiang Khong

Teak Garden Riverfront Resort – River View + Onsen

Pak Beng

Sanctuary Pakbeng Lodge  – Superior room

Luang Prabang

Villa Maydou – Heritage Deluxe room

4-Star Hotels

Chiang Khong

Teak Garden Riverfront Resort – River View with Bath Tub + Onsen

Pak Beng

Le Grand Pakbeng Resort – Mekong Villa

Luang Prabang

Sanctuary Luang Prabang – Superior

 
 
Mighty Mekong Cruise Expedition from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang 6-Day |
NOTE:
+ Surcharge for Chiang Khong Teak Garden Riverfront Hotel from 24 DEC 2026 – 05 JAN 2027
  • Garden View room: US$15 /room/night
  • River View room: US$18 /room/night
+ Surcharge for Villa Maydou Hotel – Luang Prabang from 21 DEC 2026 – 05 JAN 2027: US$68/room for 3nights
 
* CHILD POLICY
  • Free of charge for children under 6 years old.
  • Between 6 and 12 years old, we charge 50% of the normal rate.
  • Over 13 years old, full rate is applied.

To get more details on how this tour will be taken place on the field, please check at https://vietlongtravel.com/news/travel-guide/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-mekong-river-cruise-tour-from-chiang-mai-to-luang-prabang

2 thoughts on “Lifetime Mekong River Cruise Tour From Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang – 6 Days”

  1. Kristie Newey says:

    Hi what dates do you have available for this tour in early to mid Jan 2027 for 2 ppl? If you could give us the dates you have available and we can get flights around these. Thank you – Kristie

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