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Private Charter

Gypsy

This grass-roofed, two suite boat is possibly the most romantic and sumptuous vessel on the Mekong.

Overview

Constructed of local hard timber and capped with thatched roofs in the traditional style of the slow boats found in Laos, the intimate Gypsy Boat Mekong is an ultra-exclusive river vessel that invites you to discover the secrets of the upper Mekong in luxury.

Accommodating only four guests at a time, this chartered cruiser sails from Luang Prabang up the Mekong, stopping at villages and attractions along the way in accordance with your whims and wishes.

Only two suites

With only two, surprisingly spacious suites positioned on opposite ends of the 135-ft-long boat, Gypsy allows you to lose yourself utterly to the tranquil charms of the river. The suites have plush beds ‒ one with a king-size bed and the other with a pair of twins, making it ideal for older families or small groups.

High quality bed linens and en-suite bathrooms with showers, bathrobes, slippers, and hairdryers, as well as a mini-bars, iPod docking stations, Wi-Fi and air-conditioning bring the boat firmly into the 21st century, yet the overall ambiance calls to mind the glory days of river travel. Large windows flood these rooms with light, affording sublime views of exquisite landscapes, padi fields and mist-veiled mountains.

Life on board

The mid-ship shared spaces consist of a dining room, bar, and an open-air lounge with couches that are easy to sink into for an entire languid afternoon as you watch the spellbinding scenery drift by. Open decks and an alfresco platform at the bow presents the ultimate place to settle in and watch the changing scenery of the Mekong.

The interior design is stylish and homely, showcasing a soothing mix of contemporary and traditional finishes such as polished timber and carved wooden furniture, alongside bamboo daybeds, dark leather, and Thai silk recreating the romance of a glamorous bygone era.

Dining

Your on-board chef will serve up the most delicious local and international fare, which can be customized to suit your palate, and enjoyed in the dining room or alfresco. Meals feature locally-sourced produce cooked with Thai, Lao and French flavors, such as a bouillabaisse brimming with Mekong River fish and river prawns. You can even try your hand at Laotian cooking with an on-board cooking class.

Excursions

All of the excursions offered on the Gypsy Cruise Mekong are completely tailored to your interests and abilities. All are conceived to provide the best way to take in various villages and experiences along the river, including mountain biking through rural Laos, guided jungle treks to the karst formations of the Pak Ou caves, visits to the Lao and Hmong tribes at Khok-Ek, the village of Pak Beng, and the weaving workshops at Kamu village.

Visit ancient temples, sample the local firewater at a distillery, and enjoy cocktails and canapés beside a bonfire on a sandbank. Booked on an exclusive basis, Gypsy will become your very own vessel and the Mekong will be yours to explore, stopping as and when you wish to curate a voyage of discovery. The Gypsy is by far the most luxurious vessel in the water, but she’s not floating above the local culture. Rather, she is immersed in it.

Itineraries & Prices

All itineraries are subject to change due to seasonal weather conditions (and resultant variations in river and tributary water levels) affecting accessibility to locations. Thus navigation routes, times and excursions may need to be modified at the cruise captain’s or your guide's discretion.

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3-Day DOWN
4-Day UP

3 Day - Chiang Saen - Luang Prabang (Downstream)

Sample Itinerary
itinerary map

Embarkation

AM: Meet with Gypsy’s cruise at Chiang Saen and acquainted with the facilities onboard as you embark on the downstream journey from Chiang Saen in the early morning.

After a brief introduction to Gypsy, we cruise downstream to Pak Tha. Pak Tha sits where the Nam Tha river empties into the Mekong. This marks the point where the Mekong leaves its role as the Thailand-Laos border and travels solely to Laos.

PM: We have lunch on board, enjoying the scenery while the boat streaming down. At sunset, we arrive at Ban Pak Tha and will be spending the night here. A cocktail party with canapes is ready for you to enjoy with us as we soar in the glow of sunset. Our cruise will introduce to you the next day’s program. Dinner will be served on board, bars remain open until late.

Gypsy's 3-Day Chiang Saen to Luang Prabang Day One - Sunset
Location
Chiang Saen
Day
1 / 3

Ban Huay Palam, Ban Kook Eak

The boat sets off to Ban Huay Palam in the early morning. Breakfast is served on board. We arrive at Ban Huay Palam in the late morning and will visit the Khmu village, renowned for its weaving and scarf production. The Khmu is one of the largest ethnic groups based in northern Laos.

After the visit, we will head back to the boat to enjoy our lunch, while cruising towards Ban Kook Eak. We will be spending the night here. A cocktail party with canapes is ready for you to enjoy. Dinner on board, bars remain open until late.

Gypsy's 3-Day Chiang Saen to Luang Prabang Day Two - Sunbeds
Location
Upper Mekong
Day
2 / 3

Disembarkation

AM: In the morning, we cruise to Ban Baw while breakfast is served.

We continue our journey to the traditional Lao Loum village of Ban Baw, where you can see the traditional production process of Laos whiskey. For over 600 years the village has been inhabited by three different ethnicities: Lao Loum (the majority in Laos), Tai Lue, and Shan. The 180 residents live together in harmony as family, communicating in Lao rather than their native tongues. Over the years they have developed similar customs, wearing indistinguishable clothing and celebrating events such as weddings in the same fashion. and visit a local Laos whiskey maker.

PM: We go back on board for lunch, while the boat sails to Pak Ou Caves, one of the holiest sites in Laos, dating back more than thousands of years, carved into a cliffside at the meeting point of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers. We take a small boat to visit the caves. As you explore the cave, learn more about the Buddhas from your guide and hear how the cave has become an important place of pilgrimage for local Buddhists.

For our last stop, we arrive at Wat Dohn Kuhn and visit the temple.

We will disembark at 17:30 at Luang Prabang.

Gypsy's 3-Day Chiang Saen to Luang Prabang Day Three - Traditional Weaving
Location
Luang Prabang
Day
3 / 3
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4 Day - Luang Prabang - Chiang Saen (Upstream)

Sample Itinerary
itinerary map

Embarkation

AM: Meet with Gypsy’s cruise at Luang Prabang Ferry and acquainted with the facilities onboard as you embark on the upstream journey in the early morning. After a brief introduction to Gypsy, we cruise upstream to Ban Baw.

PM: In the afternoon, we visit the traditional Lao Loum village of Ban Baw, where you can see the traditional production process of Laos whiskey. For over 600 years the village has been inhabited by three different ethnicities: Lao Loum (the majority in Laos), Tai Lue, and Shan. The 180 residents live together in harmony as family, communicating in Lao rather than their native tongues. Over the years they have developed similar customs, wearing indistinguishable clothing and celebrating events such as weddings in the same fashion. and visit a local Laos whiskey maker.

Finally, we sail to Ban Kook Eak, a traditional Lu village where we will visit the Hmong communities and where we will moor for the night. A cocktail party with canapes is ready for you to enjoy with us as we soar in the glow of sunset. Our cruise will introduce to you the next day’s program. Dinner on board, bars remain open until late.

Gypsy's 4-Day Luang Prabang to Chiang Saen Day One - Local Pagoda
Location
Luang Prabang
Day
1 / 4

Pak Beng, Ban Pak Ngoi

AM: The boat sets off to Pak Beng in early morning. Breakfast is served on board.

PM: At noon, we arrive to the village of Pak Beng, where you have the option to visit the village with its strong Hmong identity and its iconic Sichomchaeng Temple, one of the oldest temples in the region built in 1560. Offering spectacular panoramic views of the Mekong and the town, it is worth a pleasant hike. Another option is to visit the elephant conservation center.

We will have lunch box ready on land, before heading back to the boat, and set sail to Ban Pak Ngoi. We will be spending our second night here while the boat moors for the night. A cocktail party with canapes is ready for you to enjoy. Dinner on board, bars remain open until late.

Gypsy's 4-Day Luang Prabang to Chiang Saen Day Two - Enjoying Sunset
Location
Upper Mekong
Day
2 / 4

Ban Huay Palam, Ban Pak Tha

AM: In the morning, the ship sets sail to Ban Huay Palam while we’re enjoying breakfast on board. We arrive at Ban Huay Palam in the late morning and will visit the Khmu village, renowned for its weaving and scarf production. The Khmu is one of the largest ethnic groups based in northern Laos.

Then we will come back to the boat and continue our cruise to Ban Pak Tha. Pak Tha sits where the Nam Tha river empties into the Mekong. This marks the point where the Mekong leaves its role as the Thailand-Laos border and travels solely to Laos.

PM: After a short excursion to the local village in Ban Pak Tha, we continue our journey, cruising to Ban Pak Oi. Lunch is served on board. We arrive at Ban Pak Oi in the evening. A cocktail party with canapes is ready for you to enjoy. Dinner on board, bars remain open until late.

Gypsy's 4-Day Luang Prabang to Chiang Saen Day Three - Monks
Location
Upper Mekong
Day
3 / 4

Disembarkation

AM: In the morning, we will cruise to Huay Sai to register the boat with Laos Immigration. Breakfast and lunch are served on board. Enjoy a serene cruise day with scenery, while we head to Chiang Saen.

PM: We will disembark at 18:00.

Gypsy's 4-Day Luang Prabang to Chiang Saen Day Four - Cuisine
Location
Chiang Saen
Day
4 / 4
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Accommodations

Social Areas

Deck
Living Area
Lounge
Relax
Corridor
Sitting area on the boat's deck
Roofed sitting area
Sitting area on under the roof
Bench by the boat's side

Suites & Cabins

Gypsy's Standard Cabin Gypsy's Standard Cabin Gypsy's Standard Cabin - Bathroom
2 Cabins

Standard Cabin

Guests
2
Size
Beds
Double / Twin

The gypsy standard cabins feature a floor-to-ceiling window that you can throw open and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery. Guests enjoy a variety of beverages and local beers stocked in the minibar. The room comes with a spacious closet for storage and a gorgeous bathroom.

Technical Information

Deck Plan

Features

  • Air conditioning
** Use of certain equipment at additional cost, ask for details
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