At the invitation of luxury river cruise operator Mekong Kingdom, I travelled to Laos to experience a cruise on their newest vessel, the Boheme. It traverses the Mekong River between the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang and Pak Lay, the closest port town to the capital of Vientiane.
In comparison to river cruises along the lower Mekong in Cambodia and Vietnam, those along the upper Mekong in Laos and sometimes, northern Thailand, tend to be under the radar. This is because unlike the lower part of the river which has a more stable flow, the upper Mekong experiences fluctuating water levels, in part due to the massive dams built upstream in China, making it a challenge to navigate a boat.
At the same time, Laos has long been one of the most underrated destinations in Southeast Asia. The charming, stupa dotted town of Luang Prabang is perhaps best known to travellers seeking a slice of the slow life. This is also where most of the country’s luxury hotels, including Amantaka, Avani+ and Rosewood Luang Prabang are located.
