Whether it’s for trekking, cycling, kayaking, ziplining or a family homestay, a visit to northern Laos is for many the highlight of their trip. Dotted about are unfettered, dense forests still home to tigers, gibbons and a cornucopia of animals, with a well-established ecotourism infrastructure to take you into their very heart. Your journey begins with traditional slowboat flows on Mighty Mekong River and explore the real life of ethnic minority tribe villages to the well-known UNESCO Heritage town of Luang Prabang.
Day 1: Arrival – Houexai – Pakbeng
After passing through immigration, you will cross the Mekong River to HoueiSay in Laos where your Lao guide will be waiting for you at the immigration point. Your local slow boat leaves Houay Xai pier at 09:00hrs for a leisurely cruise down the Mekong to Pakbeng. En route you will make a stop where you will have the opportunity to observe rural life in a remote ethnic minority village.
Your local lunch will be served onboard as you continue on downstream, arriving in Pakbeng before sunset. Overnight in Pakbeng. (B)
Day 2: Pakbeng – Nam Kat Yo La Pa
We leave Pakbeng and drive towards Oudomxay, the most mountainous area in Laos. The road conditions are good. Oudomxay province is residence to a mixture of 23 ethnic minority groups. We make a few rest stops along the way, which gives you the opportunity to see the ethnic minority groups of Hmong, Khmu, Black Thai and Lu; Hmong hill tribe people at Ban Songja and Ban Jarong. The hill tribe people are unfailingly friendly; welcoming you with waving hands and smiling faces. On arrival at Oudomxay city, we head out the town for 17 km to Nam Kat Yola Pa Resort. The rest of the day to relax and have a swim at your resort. (B, L, D)
Day 3. Nam Kat Yo La Pa – Cycling – Zip-Lining
We start a day tour by Green bus to information center and introduce by camp manager before Cycling from information Centre 5 km – Trekking 900 m through the forest and through Kua Ou Bridge to Namkat waterfall. Zip-Lining (18 lines) through Namkat waterfall and the rainforest along the namkat river. Overnight at Overnight in Nam Kat Resort. (B, L, D)
Day 4. Nam Kat Yo La Pa – Nong Khiaw
Leisure at resort in the morning and we then get back on the road, this time heading south to Nong Khaiw. Nong Khiow is a remote village situated by the banks of the river, across a dramatic valley. The surrounding mountainous scenery is stunning. We arrive in Nong Khiaw by late afternoon. Overnight in Nong Khiaw. (B, L)
Day 5: Nong Khaiw – Morning Boat Trip – Muang Ngoi
This morning we take a boat up to Muang Ngoi, a picturesque little fishing village 1 hour upstream from Nong Khiaw. We then trek to the Tham Kang, where according to local legend, a Naga resides to the rear. We then continue through rice paddy fields onto the Lao Loum village of Ban Na, which is only accessible by foot, so retains much of its original character. After lunch, our last stop is the Thai Daeng village of Huay Sen, before we trek back to Muang Ngoi, through a mixture of forest and paddy field scenery. Before boarding the boat back to Nong Khiaw, you may wish to do as the locals do and bathe in the Nam Ou. We return to Nong Khiaw by early evening. Overnight in Nong Khiaw. (B, L)
Day 6: Nong Khaiw – Pak Ou Cave – Luang Prabang
This morning we have time for a short walk to Tham Pha Thok, a limestone cave where villagers hid during the Indochina War. The caves offer a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside.
Today we begin our drive south to Luang Prabang, enjoying the lush green forests and landscape. We will be able to stop off at a few villages and admire the breathtaking limestone karst scenery. Along the way we stop and cross by boat to visit the mysterious caves of Pak Ou, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims. Late afternoon we arrive at Luang Prabang for overnight. (B)
Day 7: City Tour – Khuang Si Waterfall
After breakfast at hotel, we visit the city’s oldest temples, the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roof sweeping low to the ground, representing classical Lao architecture. We visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts and Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures.
After Lunch, we drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest paths (on the way, we visit villages of different minorities Laotian Ethnic Identification (Ban Quay, Ban Ou). There’s also an opportunity to visit the bear sanctuary nearby, run by Free The Bears Fund Inc. From there we will climb to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred gilded stupa and to enjoy the panoramic view of the city and the sun setting over the Mekong River.
You will find yourself in the midst of the famous Luang Prabang Night Market, where you can find a unique selection of handmade textiles and handicrafts locally made by both ethnic Lao and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)
Day 8: Luang Prabang – Vang Vieng
This morning we have an early departure following Route 13 to Vang Vieng. Climbing into the mountains we pass through spectacular scenery and numerous hill tribe villages. We will lunch at an altitude of approximately 1,300 meters above sea level surrounded by the endless mountain peaks of this remote region. After lunch we continue on along Route 13 arriving in Vang Vieng midafternoon.
After check in and time to freshen up we board our boat for a relaxing trip on the Nam Song River, exploring the breathtaking mountain landscape and stopping to explore the famous Tham Jang Cave, used in the early 19th century in defense against the Chinese invaders. Overnight in Vang Vieng (B)
Day 9: Vang Vieng – Vientiane
This morning we drive 4 hours to the national capital of Vientiane, a charming city with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, Soviet and American influences. Upon arrival in Vientiane, we transfer to centrally located hotel. You are free at leisure discover your own. Overnight in Vientiane. (B)
Day 10: Vientiane – City Tour – Departure
[Depending on your arrival time]. This morning. You are seeing the major temples of Vientiane including the oldest,
Wat Sisaket, with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of
Wat Prakeo, which housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit the national icon of Laos,
That Luang Stupa, stopping along the way to take some pictures of the imposing
Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph, from there you visit
COPE Center. The COPE was created in response to the need to provide
UXO survivors with the care and support they required, namely by way of orthotic and prosthetic devices. This museum was set after in 1997 to help covering the victim during Indochina war. We transfer you to airport (B)
