This unforgettable journey through central and southern Laos starts from the Lao Capital city of Vientiane situated on the banks of Mekong River. The journey south takes us through stunning limestone karst scenery to the mysterious, 7 km long, Kong Lor Cave. Journey on by boat through some of the most spectacular gorges found in Southeast Asia. The Bolevan Plateau is well known for its cooler climate, coffee and tea plantations and stunning waterfalls. Cross the Mekong River by ferry to visit the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia’s most dramatically situated mountain top temples. Khone Phapheng is considered the largest waterfall by volume in South East Asia. All these sites and more will leave you with enduring memories of your vist to Laos.
Day1. Arrival – Vientiane
Upon arrival at Wattay International Airport, you will be met by your Local Guide and transferred to your hotel.
Time permitting (depending on your arrival time). 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. Overnight in Vientiane (B)
Day2. Vientiane – Prabaht Ponsan – Hin Boun
You will be picked up from your Vientiane Hotel this morning and travel south along Highway 13. En route we stop at Prabaht Ponsan, an Ancient stupa dating back to the 15th Century. It is also home to the ‘Budhha’s footprint’, discovered in 1933 and now an important religious site in Laos.
Following lunch we continue on into Khammoune Province and climbing into the mountains we will stop at Khoun Kham View Point overlooking breathtaking views over the valley below. Reaching Ban Naphouak and then Sala Hinboun with it’s stunning limestone karst scenery we will reach your accommodation at Hin Boun Resort in the late afternoon. You have the evening free to relax and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area. Overnight at Hin Boun (B, L)
Day3. Hin Boun – Kong Lor Cave
After breakfast we board our boat for the journey upriver to Kong Lor village, where you will have time to explore before boarding a smaller boat and venturing into the famous Kong Lor Cave. Navigating through the 7km cave with it’s rock formations and spectacular 100m high cavern you will emerge on the remote side of the cave for a picnic lunch and short trekking option.
We return to Hin Boun before sunset. Overnight at Hin Boun (B, L)
Day4. Hin Boun – Thakek
Following an early breakfast we set off to Ban Naphouak to board our boat for the journey south through some of the most spectacular gorges found in Southeast Asia. Along the way we stop for lunch at a picturesque Lao Loum village where we transfer to road transport and arrive in Thakek by late afternoon. Overnight in Thakek (B,L)
Day5. Thakek – Buddha Cave
Departing Thakek by tuk-tuk we follow the old French railway track that was destined for Vietnam but was never finished. Continuing through impressive scenery, you arrive in Ban Nakhang Xang and meet your village guides who will escort you on your trek.
Passing through secondary forest your guide will point out forest products that form an important part of local people’s food resources. Going through a cave, you enter a striking valley with towering cliffs and forests. The trail follows the shoreline of Nong Thao Lake where you can see local fishermen at work.
On arrival at Tham Nong Paseum cave more adventurous swimmers can explore the cave. The cave is 400 metres long and contains dramatic stalactites and stalagmites. Back in daylight, the trip continues onto Khammouane’s famous Buddha cave for a traditional Lao lunch of Mekong fish, sticky rice and spicy papaya salad.
After lunch we visit Tham Pa Fa or Buddha cave, which was rediscovered in April 2004. The cave contains 229 bronze Buddha images that are said to be over 300 years old! Time permitting you will also be able to travel by local canoe into the water cave below.
Your guide will escort you back to the village following a different route through the forest, and you will return to Thakek in the late afternoon. Overnight in Thakek (B, L)
Day6. Thakek – Savannakhet – Pakse
This morning we are back on the road heading south to Pakse. En route we stop to visit the town of Savannakhet, famous for its French Colonial buildings and the sacred stupa of That Inhang. We have ample time to explore the town before reaching Pakse in the early evening. Overnight in Pakse (B)
Day7. Pakse – Tad Lo
This morning we head for the refreshing mountain climate on the Bolevan Plateau. The area is famous for its many waterfalls and we will visit two of the best, Tad Fan, with it’s impressive twin falls cascading over 100 metres to the valley floor below and Tad Ngeuan, with it’s prisitine pools for taking a refreshing dip and coffee shop and plantation where you can sample some real Lao coffee.
Along the way you will see the rich soils of the region being cultivated for coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops before we arrive at Tad Lo, home to another scenic waterfall and numerous ethnic minority groups. We visit the villages of Alak, Nge, and Katu before overnighting in Tad Lo.
Overnight in Tad Lo (B)
Day8. Tad Lo – Pakse – Wat Phou – Don Daeng
After an early breakfast, we head down the montains towards Champasak and the 4000 islands area. Passing through Pakse town we cross the Mekong River by ferry to visit the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia’s most dramatically situated mountain top temples.
Following lunch we continue our journey by car and ferry to Don Daeng Island with it’s pristine beaches and laidback island lifestyle. Your eveing is free to explore the island or relax with a drink and watch the sunset over the Mekong River. Overnight on Don Daeng (B)
Day9. Done Daeng – Khong Islands – Surrounding
Following breakfast we enjoy a visit to the surrounding countryside embarking on a long tail boat tour of the Don Khone area visiting the remnamts of the French colonial era and Liphi Waterfall or “the Corridor of the Devil”.
We return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng, considered the largest waterfall by volume in South East Asia. Overnight on Don Daeng (B)
Day10. Don Daeng – Pakse – Departure
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your departing flight (B)
