The Magic of Laos - 2007:
The Upper Mekong River Cruise & Tour
The Lao People's Democratic Republic is located at the centre of the Mekong region, and is the only nation to share a border with all other countries in the region: Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and China.
Since the early '90s, while starting to encourage economic reform and private enterprise, Laos has also opened up to travel and is promoting itself as a new tourist destination. Travel to the country is therefore exciting and extremely rewarding.
The exotic, mountainous and heavily forested country is home to colourful hill tribes who retain much of their ancient culture and lifestyles. Laos is also a devoutly Buddhist country with an impressive number of temples and shrines dotting the landscape. The Mekong river is a central part of life in Laos, providing irrigation for the country's agriculture and a major means transport for both goods and people.
While the country is slowly emerging from the cocoon of its past isolationism, infrastructure and services remain for the most part at a fairly basic level. However, there are pockets of luxury and indulgence in the capital Vientiane and other major towns and cities including Luang Prabang, and newer and better operations are being developed all the time.
We maintain that a river cruise aboard the
RV Mekong Sun is the most enjoyable way to see Laos.
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Vietnam - Cambodia - Angkor Wat:
Mekong Delta Cruise & Tour
Discover the ancient cultures of Vietnam & Cambodia as you cruise the
fascinating Mekong River. Visit Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and take a 7
night cruise that ends with 3 glorious nights in Siem Reap - the city of
Angkor Wat Temples. Sail aboard the deluxe
MV Mekong Pandaw
or
MV Tonle Pandaw
built specifically for exploring the Mekong Delta. Full buffet breakfasts and lunches, as well as served dinners, feature Western and Asian cuisine. Our crew is a mix of Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Burmese nationals working together under a European Cruise Director. Their smiles and eager to please attitudes truly enhance this soft adventure on the Mekong River.
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Grand Burma:
Rangoon - Mandalay - Pagan - the Irrawaddy cruise
Burma (Myanmar) is a former British colony that in
1962 closed its doors to the world. Isolated, the culture and way of
life of this devoutly Buddhist country escaped the changes that affected
her South-East Asian neighbours. Even the most travelled of travellers
find themselves in a world that is beyond both experience and
imagination.
The Irrawaddy is of interest not only on account of its geographical
variety, and moving natural beauty, but because along its banks the main
vestiges of a millennium and a half of Burmese Buddhist civilisation are
dispersed. Burma is like Egypt in the respect that it is a country
dominated by a river. This is most convenient for the traveller, as both
ancient sites and centres of contemporary life and culture are situated
close to the river banks. In many instances the places we visit could
never be reached by land as there is no access by road. The river proves
the most logical and practical means of penetrating the real Burma (see
Pandaw IV deck plan)
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All meals, transfers, and sightseeing with English speaking guides are included as per itinerary below. Sit back and relax while your floating hotel takes you from one exciting port of call to another. Bon Voyage!
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1 (800) 578-7742, 1 (510) 784-8500,
lexcorp1@pacbell.net
