We got up at 7:00 in the morning. We have breakfast in the restaurant on the left side of the Guest. They put a whole baguette for each of us and local coffee, it's a bit weak but it was delicious.
Huay Xai pier
Huay Xai pier
At 9 o'clock we are brought to the pier. The boat is made of wood, with seats of two in two rows, the seats are of bus but they are not anchored to the ground. You have to take off your shoes to get in. It has no windows, when it rains you get out some rolled up plastic as a blind. We bought two baguettes for the trip for 20,000 LAK.
Mekong River
Mekong River
Interior of the boat
At the pier we are many people. We know a family from Avila, Manuela, Elena and Porfirio, great travellers.
The boat finally leaves at 12! 3 hours waiting. We start, the landscape is great, the banks are impressive, jungle and mountain, you can see small villages. Our boat acts as a bus and stops in the villages loading and unloading goods and people.
Mekong River
The Mekong is a river that makes a natural border between Thailand and Laos. The banks are steep, the vegetation is very dense. You can also see crops on steep slopes. You see fishermen on the bank with small canoes. The houses look like straw and bamboo huts. We make a stop and the children run to sell us refreshments and food.
Mekong River
Children selling food
Mekong River
Mekong River
Mekong River
Six hours of breathtaking scenery, an area of rapids. Huge wooden boats go along the river.
Finally we arrive at Pak Beng. It's a small village with brick houses. A main street full of stalls and restaurants that leads to the river. We go up it together with Avila's family and take accommodation in BKC Villa 2. We have a common terrace with incredible views of the river and the jungle. The double room with bathroom is clean and spacious although the windows are not very airtight and you can hear quite a lot of noise. We have a beerlao on the terrace.
Pak Beng
Pak Beng
Pak Beng
Pak Beng
We have dinner in a nearby restaurant, noodles with beef, fish and glutinous rice.
Back on the terrace for another while until we got tired.
Breakfast: eggs, ham, baguette, tomato and lettuce 50.000 LAK per pax.
Accommodation: BKC Villa 2, 50.000 LAK double room with bathroom.
Boat for the next two days on the Mekong: 500.000 LAK.
Dinner: 50.000 LAK.
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