2 Days on the Mekong: Slow Boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang (Shompoo Cruise)

We took the two-day slow boat down the Mekong from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang with Shompoo Cruise — overnighting in the riverside town of Pak Beng along the way. It's one of the classic journeys through northern Laos: a traditional wooden boat winding past jungle-covered mountains, fishing villages, and daily life on the river. Along the route we stopped at a Khamu village, sampled lao-lao rice whiskey, and visited the Pak Ou Caves — a sacred cave shrine holding thousands of Buddha statues — before arriving into the UNESCO town of Luang Prabang. If you're weighing the cramped public boat against something more comfortable, Shompoo runs a smaller, well-kept boat with meals cooked onboard and an English-speaking guide. We had a great trip with them — no affiliation, just a genuine recommendation. 🚤 Shompoo Cruise: shompoo-cruise.com 📍 Huay Xai → Pak Beng → Luang Prabang, Laos #Laos #Mekong #SlowBoat #LuangPrabang #ShompooCruise #travel