A Holistic & Mindfulness Mekong Experience

Each person should select their own type of donation from the list below (included in your package):

Basic Living – One should never be in need of the basics to live. This form of donation could include items such as food, water, gloves, blankets, soaps, personal hygiene products etc.

Health – This form of donation promotes general health. Items include medicines, fruits, health supplements, healthy drinks, super food, medicinal plants, herbs, fruit trees etc.

Purpose – This form of donation promotes purpose and achievements of long-term initiatives that are important to the community. Items could include building supplies, water systems, meditation halls, temple restorations etc.

Spiritual – This form of donation promotes the spirituality in individuals. Items could include flowers, candles, clothing for monks, Buddha statues, Buddhist drums, meditation cushions, chant books etc.

Should you wish to support the temple further with additional donations, please let us know.

Select one meditation practice per group from the list below:

Body Scan Meditation – This form of meditation practice helps you develop awareness of your bodily sensations, allowing you to identify areas of tension and to relieve them. This practice promotes a general feeling of calm and relaxation, helping you reduce stress, improve well-being, and relieving bodily aches and pains.

Sitting Meditation – A form of meditation practice that cultivates mindfulness through mindful sitting. You would find a reasonably comfortable and erect posture to sit in for 40-60 minutes and stay as still as possible in this position. While sitting, the objective is to watch the rise and fall of your belly as you breathe in and out, being highly aware and conscious of the movements of your body.

Breath of Fire Meditation – This is a form of Pranayama, a breathing practice used to stimulate Kundalini (energy and consciousness) and increase Prana (vital life force). This intense breathing practice requires you to take consecutive quick, short breaths and should be attempted with some care, especially with pregnant women, vertigo sufferers, and people with high blood pressure. The benefits of Breath of Fire practice include calming effects, detox, pain relief, core strengthening and emotional release.

Loving Kindness Meditation – Also known as Metta meditation, this practice stems from Buddhist traditions. The purpose of this meditation is to cultivate unconditional love and kindness towards all things, starting by the loving and acceptance of yourself, and then extending that to include all others, including your enemies.

Departure Time

Departure time is flexible and can be arranged for the hours between 0830 AM and 1000AM.

Meeting the Boat

We offer transfers to and from the boat and will pick you up directly at your hotel. Within city limits.

If you would like to make your own way to the boat, confirmation of dock will be provided at the time of your booking.

If staying within walking distance of the Mekong, we ask that you meet us on the Mekong. We will provide the location to the most convenient dock in relation to your hotel.

Bounmi Managing Director – Adele.

Cultural Considerations

Please ensure you are dressed appropriately and respectfully for entering any religious site in Laos. Villages have their own local temples, so kindly take note of this if you wish to pay them a visit.

Ladies should have their shoulders and knees covered. Men should also have their shoulders covered but knee shorts are acceptable.

It is polite to remove your shoes before entering any temple or local Lao home. Note: Your feet should never be used for pointing, especially in the direction of a monk or novice. It is also impolite to step over or through people sitting down.

When at temple and in the presence of a monk and/or elder, one should consider their body and head position, in relation to the monk(s) or elder(s) in the room. One should not stand directly above or pass over top another person’s head, especially a monk and/or elder. In general, it is best not to touch another person’s head if you don’t know them. Children included.

Visiting Local Sites of Interest

When visiting local villages and temples along the Mekong river, do be aware that oftentimes there are no paved pathways and you’re usually met with uneven ground and stairways. We ask each of our guests to please be aware of your own fitness level and to take this into consideration on your tour.

Responsible Tourism

We kindly ask our guests not to hand out money to children in the villages they visit. Should you wish to support any of the villages or temples that you come across, please let us know and we’ll be happy to advise on how to do that responsibly.

Seasons & Temperatures

Dry season is between Nov – Apr with average temperatures of 27°C. Rainy season is between May – Oct with average temperatures of 32°C.