Cruising the mighty Mekong River aboard a restored teak wood vessel is one of the most enjoyable and inspiring trips you can make in the South East Asia region. Specifically fitted boats like the Vat Phou and Pak Ou boats bring to mind a bygone era, but also have all the facilities and comforts you would expect of a modern hotel. This guarantees a memorable, relaxed cruise.

The scenery changes continually along the Mekong and on a cruise there are ample opportunities to moor by the bank and wander through quaint villages to get a feel for the local way of life. The natural flow of life follows the river's course, an essential supplier in Laos that has long been used as a trading route, not to mention an important water and food source for thousands of people and a home for the hundreds of traditional communities that rely on the river for survival.

The Mekong River has been treated as sacred centuries by the cultures that live close to it. The mystique is hard to ignore as board the vessel and set sail on its vast waters. Remote surroundings add to the joy of the trip, while you enjoy luxuries and modern amenities such as air conditioning in the cabins, open-air decks furnished with loungers and a fine meals served at the on-board restaurant, constantly connected with the dramatic views. Courteous, well trained staff and crew make sure your needs are met with relaxed efficiency and safety is always a priority, which leaves you to kick back and enjoy the cruise. You can relax with a good book on the deck, take photos of the spectacular surroundings or head ashore to explore the villages and natural beauty along the river's banks with a trained guide.

Special moments on any Mekong river tour in Laos include a visit to ancient ruins like Vat Phu and Oum Muong, where stone temple ruins offer insights into the region's ancient civilisations and peoples. You can also experience the simple, yet rewarding lifestyle enjoyed by the Mekong's inhabitants. Villages like Ban Deua Tia, a 200 year old community, still to thrive on fishing, farming and the production of rice whiskey, which the villagers distill themselves and sell to passing traders.

The best river cruises generally begin either in the heritage city of Luang Prabang or in Pakse. The former is a delightful combination of French colonial architecture and Laos spiritual retreat. The streets are lined with restored buildings,while on every corner in the Old Town, ancient golden temples continue to train monks and the quaint markets attract colourful hill tribe folk from the countryside.

Pakse is more of a market town and has been developing fast thanks to support from foreign agencies. It is also a good base for side trips to traditional ethnic villages, as well as a trek to the dramatic Bolaven Plateau, which is some 600 metres above sea level and well known for its kind climate and fine coffee.

With such an appealing range of attractions and sights, Mekong river trips in Laos offer a unique and supremely enjoyable holiday. By involving the villagers directly, they not only give visitors a fascination glimpse of rural life, but also provide local people with a much needed source of income, but without destroying their way of life.

Mekong cruises provide a chance to escape from the world, but can also be educational, healthy and rewarding. The river offers a great way to discover part of the world that few people knew about until quite recently.