Cruise the mighty Mekong from Thailand to templestudded Luang Prabang. Visit small weaving villages and picnic beside idyllic turquoise waterfalls. Shop the markets of Vientiane and dine on delicious Lao specialties. Then head south of Pakse along the Mekong to Big and Little Khone Islands on the border with Cambodia, where you can bike, see dolphins, gaze at an old French railway, marvel at the largest waterfalls in Asia, and explore the ruins of ancient Khmer temples.

A flight to Chiang Rai, a tour of the Golden Triangle, a cruise up the Mekong with stops at tiny villages, and a visit to the Pak Ou Caves, this is your romantic introduction to Laos and Luang Prabang. In Luang Prabang, explore the palaces and countryside, stopping at several textile villages and shops along the way. Your final stop is the capital, Vientiane, where you can focus on the textiles and weavings as well as explore the market, temples, and city itself.

Sit down with the Hmong, Akha, Lahu, Lisu, and other people in the tiny villages of Thailand and Laos. Learn how they live, celebrate their festivals, and raise their families. Explore their markets and visit their temples. Travel through the famous Golden Triangle, Doi Mai Salong, and Chiang Mai. Roam the exotic cities of Luang Prabang and Vientiane in Laos, as well as the surrounding hill tribes and communities. This is one of the few trips that is off the main road, and yet includes stunning hotels along the way.