Mekong Kingdoms has unveiled a new fleet of five cruise ships, spanning a flagship sailing between Luang Prabang and Chiang Khong/Chiang Rai to a “floating lounge” for charter.
The fleet’s flagship, the 13-all-suite Bohème, accommodates up to 26 pax on two- and three-night cruises between Luang Prabang in Laos and Chiang Khong /Chiang Rai in Thailand, starting from US$1,300. The ship features a royal suite and 12 deluxe suites (with air-con, en-suite bathroom & private balcony), an expansive sundeck, lounge, wine cellar and spa.
Gypsy is an ultra-exclusive two-cabin cruiser, which takes up to four pax on a highly-customisable journey from Luang Prabang. The all-inclusive cruise costs US$3,500 a night for three/four pax or US$2,500 for one/two pax.
A third member of the fleet is the 40m-long Monsoon shuttle, which takes guests on a full-day tour of Luang Prabang’s temples, through the Mekong River to Pak Ou Caves, or a sunset cruise. Prices start from US$48 per person inclusive of cocktail canapés and non-alcoholic beverages.
Catering to partygoers, families, or couples, Play is a 42m-long lounge ship and water limo-for-hire featuring an open sundeck, lounge bar, TV and sound system and air-conditioned private room with a bar. The ship can host half or full-day private excursions on the Mekong River, with prices staring from US$750 for 15 pax on a four-hour trip.
And for private explorations for two, Mekong Kingdoms has the Nomad, offering a champagne sunset cruise priced from US$165.
Budget customers can easily explore Alberobello, with its conical “Trulli’ buildings in southern Italy; pull over and bask in the laidback atmosphere of Monteverde in Costa Rica, surrounded by cloud forest or even take a pit-stop to wander around the picturesque village of Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds, England.
Regularly voted as one of the prettiest villages in England, Bourton-on-the-Water is quintessentially British, with its quaint, stone-built buildings and the small bridges which cross the River Windrush. Stretch your legs for a stroll around the village or sample some of the sweet treats in one of the many traditional tea rooms which line the streets. Renting a car means one can easily travel around and discover the surrounding Cotswolds towns and villages, known in England as an ‘area of outstanding natural beauty’.
In complete contrast, Budget drivers can journey on the winding road to Monteverde which is perched high up on Costa Rica’s continental divide. The village itself is filled with restaurants and artisan craft shops, but the real beauty lies in the surrounding coffee plantations and cloud forests which is home to an abundance of wildlife, including monkeys and colourful birdlife. Monteverde is only accessible by road, so hiring a car is the best way to access this remote Costa Rican village.
With the windows rolled down, explore the pretty region of Puglia in southern Italy, making a stop in Alberobello. Alberobello is most famous for its unusual white-washed houses with cone-shaped roofs, known as Trulli houses which are made from dry stone. Here, one can easily park the Budget car at Largo Martellotta and go on foot, following the steps to the main square, known as Piazza del Popolo, and be rewarded with fabulous views over the entire quirky village. After exploring the sights, refuel on typical Italian cooking in one of the many authentic trattorias. The cuisine is sure to delight!
