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I'm not sure about recounting old trips here, but a comment made on another thread reminded me of this part of a month long trip through SE Asia I did 2 years ago. That's far too long to do here, so I thought I'd just recount the Mekong Cruise part, which stands out as one of the best things I have ever done, and its a nice compact trip, easily do-able ex Australia in 5 days.
Now, I am most definitely not a cruise person - big or small vessels. I like doing stuff when away, not just 'relaxing'. but my friends really wanted to do this, so I went along. Loved it! Even survived being out of wi fi contact for most of the time. :shock:
I'm writing this because I'd like readers to really consider this cruise. Shouldn't be disappointed: Vat Phou
We travelled from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Pakse, Laos via Lao Air ATR 72. Now, I specified to the Travel Agent "Absolutely no 'dodgy air' ", but there was no choice at all, so this was going to be a white knuckle affair for me. Now, a Lao Air ATR 72 did crash into the Mekong at Pakse a year later, killing 49 including I think 6 Australians, so maybe my apprehension was well placed.
But the 1 hour flight was fine. We left Siem Reap half an hour early (there were no forecast of this - they just called for boarding early!). The plane seemed near new and was only half full.
Overnight at the Pakse Hotel. Not bad, but the beds were incredibly hard. Nice open-air rooftop restaurant.
And so to the cruise.
We were met in the town and taken with our luggage to the waterside, where we got on an approx. 20 seater motorized longboat for a 1 hour trip to where the cruise boat was. Our bags went ahead.
We then met the cruise boat and what a wonderful sight it was:
I think it had a capacity of 24, in 12 twin cabins on the lower deck (from memory). Each cabin had an en-suite with shower (tiny, but functional) and was air-conditioned at night. There's a dining room at the rear lower deck, where the evening meals were taken, also the kitchens and staff accommodation. On our cruise I think there were only about 9 pax in total (5 x Aussies in our party, 2 x French, 2 X English), with possibly 15 staff. The staff went around in slippers and were superb in absolutely every regard!
The highlight of the boat is the upper deck, which was 2/3 for pax relaxation, the rest being wheelhouse, loos and of course the bar.
The rear deck was where breakfasts and lunches were served. Can't beat fresh fruits, croissants etc on that deck, in the cool of the morning, watching the world glide by!
And if you are the type of person who finds it hard to relax, just take a gander at this disgraceful sight:
Now, I am most definitely not a cruise person - big or small vessels. I like doing stuff when away, not just 'relaxing'. but my friends really wanted to do this, so I went along. Loved it! Even survived being out of wi fi contact for most of the time. :shock:
I'm writing this because I'd like readers to really consider this cruise. Shouldn't be disappointed: Vat Phou
We travelled from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Pakse, Laos via Lao Air ATR 72. Now, I specified to the Travel Agent "Absolutely no 'dodgy air' ", but there was no choice at all, so this was going to be a white knuckle affair for me. Now, a Lao Air ATR 72 did crash into the Mekong at Pakse a year later, killing 49 including I think 6 Australians, so maybe my apprehension was well placed.
But the 1 hour flight was fine. We left Siem Reap half an hour early (there were no forecast of this - they just called for boarding early!). The plane seemed near new and was only half full.
Overnight at the Pakse Hotel. Not bad, but the beds were incredibly hard. Nice open-air rooftop restaurant.
And so to the cruise.
We were met in the town and taken with our luggage to the waterside, where we got on an approx. 20 seater motorized longboat for a 1 hour trip to where the cruise boat was. Our bags went ahead.
We then met the cruise boat and what a wonderful sight it was:
I think it had a capacity of 24, in 12 twin cabins on the lower deck (from memory). Each cabin had an en-suite with shower (tiny, but functional) and was air-conditioned at night. There's a dining room at the rear lower deck, where the evening meals were taken, also the kitchens and staff accommodation. On our cruise I think there were only about 9 pax in total (5 x Aussies in our party, 2 x French, 2 X English), with possibly 15 staff. The staff went around in slippers and were superb in absolutely every regard!
The highlight of the boat is the upper deck, which was 2/3 for pax relaxation, the rest being wheelhouse, loos and of course the bar.
The rear deck was where breakfasts and lunches were served. Can't beat fresh fruits, croissants etc on that deck, in the cool of the morning, watching the world glide by!
And if you are the type of person who finds it hard to relax, just take a gander at this disgraceful sight:
