Life doesn’t get much better than when you find yourself floating along a waterway, surrounded by wonderful people and not a care in the world. Add to that some extra perks like Champagne high tea, luxuriously appointed suites and an onboard chef and you have the ultimate river journey; one envisaged and offered by Mekong Kingdoms’ new two-cabin river cruiser, Gypsy.
Two or three-night journeys from the Laotian capital of Luang Prabang to Thailand’s Golden Triangle via the languid Mekong river can be as active or indolent as you like, with the option to remain aboard Gypsy and practice yoga, take Laotian language or cooking lessons, or simply enjoy the vessel’s confortable lounge and sun decks; or set off on more active pursuits. Explore the jungle on foot with a local guide; take a mountain bike to explore local villages; check out an elephant camp or the karst formations of the Pak Ou caves; or sample a little Laos whisky at a local tasting session. If it all sounds a little exhausting, the prospect of a couple of nights in a top-end hotel at either end of the journey ought to help you nod off to a good night’s sleep accompanied by the gentle flow of the Mekong.