Day 1: Arrival – Luang Prabang
On arrival at Luang Prabang International Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
After check in and time to relax we will head out to see the city’s oldest temples, the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roof sweeping low to the ground representing classical Lao architecture, the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham. From there we 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.
Decenting the mountain your 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 hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Your evening is free to explore the market and sample some traditional Lao cruisine at one of the many restaurants the town has to offer. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)
Day 2: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou – Luang Prabang
After breakfast this morning we visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures. You can enjoy a coffee at the centre’s café before we make our way to the Mekong River to board our private boat for a pleasant and scenic cruise up on the Mekong River to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. These caves are an ancient pilgrimage site and contain thousands of gold lacquered Buddha images left there over hundreds of years.
Returning to Luang Prabang we disembark our boat and have the option of taking a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village famous for its hand weaving or returning to the hotel for free time to relax.
The rest of your afternoon and evening is free to explore Luang Prabang town, enjoy a few drinks along the riverfront or relax at the hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Khouangsi Waterfall
After breakfast we visit the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts from the Royal period in Luang Prabang.
From here we drive to Khouangsi Waterfall stopping along the way to visit the morning Phousi Market, this where all locals of Luang Prabang come to do their daily shopping. You will see a variety of local foodstuffs and products including dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, fish, vegetables and fruit, everything needed for daily life in Laos.
On arrival at the Khouangsi Waterfall you will have the opportunity to cool off with a refreshing swim in the topaz pools below the falls, walk along the forest trails and visit the Bear Sanctuary.
Arriving back in Luang Prabang mid afternoon you are free to treat yourself to a spa treatment or massage, relax at the hotel or head to the Night Market to do some shopping. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)
Day 4: Luang Prabang – Xieng Khouang (Road)
Today we depart early for a drive through spectacular scenery to Xieng Khuang Province, the home of the Plain of Jars. There are many stunning photo opportunities along the way and a couple of stops to explore hill tribe villages.
After check in at your hotel in Phonsavan there will be time to go for a wonder through town, visit the MAG Centre or chill out over a drink at the hotel. Overnight in Xiengkhuang (B)
Day 5: Xieng Khouang – Vang Vieng (Road)
We have an early start this morning as we head out to explore the Plain of Jars. We will be visiting Sites 1, 2 & 3 as well as taking a short trek to a Tai Dam and Lao Leum village along the way.
We leave Xieng Khouang for our scenic drive to Vang Vieng a small town nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River. Its stunning scenery and limestone outcrops provide perfect photo opportunities. Depending on road and traffic conditions, we will arrive at Vang Vieng by early evening. Overnight in Vang Vieng (B)
Day 6: Vang Vieng – Vientiane (Road)
This morning we start the day with a walk around the local market. From there we head to the Nam Song River for short rafting adventure. Ending on the other side of the river we explore the famous Tham Jang Cave, used by the locals as a defense against Chinese invaders in the 19th century.
Bidbing farewell to Vang Vieng we begin our 4 hour drive to Vientiane. Located on the banks of the Mekong River this capital conjures up exotic images, with a curious mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French influences.
After check in at your centrally located hotel your evening is free to explore the town, take a stroll along the waterfront or relax at your hotel. Overnight in Vientiane (B)
Day 7: Vientiane
You have a free morning to relax, explore the city on foot or bicycle or treat yourself to a spa treatment or massage.
This afternoon we we head out on our city tour enabling you to see the major highlight. 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.
Heading for the waterfront your evening is free to enjoy a few drinks watching the sunset over the Mekong River, explore the Night Market and take in some of the city’s nightlife. Overnight in Vientiane (B)
Day 8: Vientiane – Ban Na Hin (Road)
We depart early this morning for our drive to Khammouane Province. Along the way we can make several stops to stretch your legs and take some wonderful pictures of the breathtaking scenery.
Depending on road and traffic conditions we will arrive at Ban Na Hin, the gateway to Khong Lor Cave, by late afternoon.
On arrival we enjoy a short walk around this charming village, enabling us to understand a little more about their culture and lifestyle. Overnight in Ban Na Hin (B)
Day 9: Ban Na Hin – Khong Lor – Ban Na Hin
This morning we take the short drive to the amazing Khong Lor Cave. This cave was formed by the Hinboun River which flows 7.5km through the mountain range. We will take a local motorized canoe through the cave with it’s many limestone formations and 100m high cavern.
Returning to Ban Na Hin we stop along the way to explore That Mouang and That Namsanam Waterfalls. Overnight in Ban Na Hin (B)
Day 10: Ban Na Hin – Savanakhet – Pakse (Road)
Leaving Ban Na Hin this morning we venturing futher into southern Laos and the town of Pakse.
Along the way we stop for lunch at Sananakhet. This fast growing town has become an important trade center between Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. The centre of the town boasts many old French colonial buildings and has an old world charm about it.
We arrive in Pakse Town by late afternoon and have time to stroll around and catch our first glimpse of the town. Overnight in Pakse (B)
Day 11: Pakse –Tad Lo (Road)
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)
Day 12: Tad Lo – Champasak – Khong Islands
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 road and ferry boat to Don Khong where you have the rest of the day to explore the island by bicycle or relax over a few drinks as the sun sets over the Mekong. Overnight in Khong Island (B)
Day 13: Khong Islands – Done Det – Done Khone – Khong Islands (River+Road)
After breakfast this morning we board our long tail boat and cruise south through the 4000 islands region to Done Khone.
After checking in at our hotel we retrace the island’s French colonial-past at Ban Khone with it’s old colonial houses still standing and a glimpse the first Lao railway with its own locomotive. We also visit the beautiful Liphi waterfall, also known as the Samphamith or “Corridor of the Devil”, which forms a natural border between Lao and Cambodia.
Visiting Ban Hang Khone this afternoon we may even see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Dolphins at play. Overnight in Khong Islands (B)
Day 14: Khong Islands – Cambodia Border.
This morning we board a local boat to Ban Nakasung and take a short drive to the Laos– Cambodia border, stopping along the way to explore the breathtaking Khone Phapheng waterfall, South East Asia’s largest waterfall, also known as the Niagara of the East.
The trip ends after transfer to the Laos-Cambodia border at Veukham or Dong Kalor border crossing. (B)
Included in above prices:
· Accommodation in twin shared basis
· Private, Airconditioned Transport
· Boat trips as stated in the itinerary
· English speaking guide
· Admission fees to sites stated in the itinerary
· Meals: daily breakfast at hotel
· Gov’t taxs and service charges
· Luggage handling
· Drinking water
Exclusive of above prices:
· Visas and Immigration fees on arrival
· Domestic airticket
· Int’l air tickets to/from Laos
· Travel and/or Medical Insurance
· Lunch or dinner unless stated in the itinerary
· Single room accommodation (quoted separately)
· Child or adult in triple share accommodation
· Foreign language guides other than English
· Peak Season or Special Events Surcharges
· Tip, drinks and other personal expenses
