Insights into enchanting Laos

Sa-bai-dee! Welcome to Luang Prabang the ancient capital of Laos!

The UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos, maybe in Indochina.

Met and greeted at the airport and transfer to hotel for check in (check in time is 14.00)
Remainder of the day is to relax or wander around exploring the laidback town at your own pace.
Overnight in hotel in Luang Prabang.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Hotel in luang prabang

Get up early if you wish to join and enjoy the special scene of Luang Prabang: Morning alms giving. You may love to sit along with locals by the road side and offer food to monks who are in yellow robe walking slowly in line with bowls in their hand.

After breakfast, take a bicycle/green tuk tuck tour to sightseeing the ancient Luang Prabang with visits to some featured sights of the town including: Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa with the rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao; Wat Aham and Wat Sene Temple; the most photographed temple in Luang Prabang - Wat Xiang Thong, with its roof sweeping low to the ground, representing the classical Luang Prabang style; the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, with a huge collections of Laos historical and cultural artifacts; the Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief.

Late afternoon, take a climb up to the top of Phousi Mountain for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. Night Market, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Summary of inclusions

green tuk tuk

Sightseeing luang prabang

Breakfast

Hotel in luang prabang

After breakfast, get to the pier and board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River along a beautiful landscapes of the tranquil countryside to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves which is crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes, a holy place for Laos pilgrims.
Along the cruise forth and back, you will also make some stops to explore traditional local villages such as Ban Xanghai where you can see and learn about the distillation of local rice wine, the Ban Xang Khong and Ban Xienglek, well known for traditional silk weaving and handmade flower paper.
Remainder of the day is at your leisure to wander around the old quarter of Luang Prabang, sightseeing the colonial area with beautiful colonial architecture.
Optional Laos cooking class is available at your disposal.
Evening is free at your own pace. Overnight in hotel in Luang Prabang.

Summary of inclusions

Boat cruise mekong river

holy Pak ou cave explore

traditional villages visit

Breakfast

Hotel in luang prabang

After breakfast, take a drive out to the Kuang Si waterfall, a jade of Luang Prabang area. Along the way you will make stop to visit to local hill tribe villages of Hmong and Khmu to learn more about Laos’s culture colors and diversity.
At the Kuang Si Waterfall Park, you will have a visit to the Kuang Si Bear Rescue Sanctuary where you can find great information about Asian sun and moon bears and the Free the Bears Protection Program.

Considered the most beautiful masterpiece of nature in Luang Prabang and the whole country of Laos, from the level of 60 meters high, the vibrant water of Kuang Si tumbles down, cascading over limestone tiers creating a series of wonderful turquoise natural swimming pools. The harmony between the white falls, crystal blue color ponds, fascinating travertine patterns and the green of lush tropical jungle surrounding makes make the place a dreaming picturesque landscape. 
The wonderful activity here is absolutely to take a swim in the turquoise ponds and let the torrents shower your body. You can also take a hike along jungle trail up to the top where the stream feeding into the falls to get a great overview of the stunning water patchwork below. 

Enjoy your time exploring and swimming in crystal clear water.
Back to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon and evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

kuang si falls explore

Breakfast

Hotel in luang prabang

After breakfast, depart Luang Prabang for Xieng Khouang which is home to the famous archeological site of Plain of Jars.
This long drive provides us with chance to enjoy the spectacular mountains and rural landscapes of Laos. Along the way you will make several stops for photos of nature beauties, local village visits and local interaction.  Stop on the way at some high viewpoints to complete the beauty of nature.
Check in hotel upon arrival in Phonsavan, the provincial capital of Xiang Khouang province then enjoy a trip to Muang Khoun, once the royal seat of the minor kingdom of Muang Phuan dated back from 16 century, heavily ruined by bombs during the American War.
Explore the remains of the place including the unique sitting giant Buddha standing over columns of the Wat Pia Wat as well of some old pagodas that lies in ruins. There is also an old 30m stupa constructed in the Lan Xang/Lanna period. Then visit That Foun Pagoda and That Chonphet pagoda before returning to Phonsavan.
Overnight in hotel in Phonsavan.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Sightseeing xiang khouang

Breakfast

Hotel in phonsavan

After breakfast, spend our time to explore the famous archeological site Plain of Jars a mysterious and ancient site that contain over 300 huge stone jars apparently carved out of solid rock are scattered around the plateau.
The jars vary in size from 1 to 3.25 meters high and weigh up to six tons each. There are several different theories as to the purpose of the jars, which are estimated to be 2,500 to 3,000 years old. Their true origin remains a mystery. It seems that they were carved into boulders. Several researches lead by the French archaeologist Madeleine Colani in the 1930’s suggested that they could be old graves, but to this day they remain an enigma.
Your trip will enable you to visit the sites N 1 and also discover some local villages where you can observe local village life.
Later, embark on our drive along scenic road to Vang Vieng.

Lies on the Nam Song river bank with the most notable feature of surrounding karst landscape, Vang Vieng is known for its natural beauties that is unchanged overs centuries. This place is also home to many of Laos’s ethnic groups including Kmou, Hmong…with their typical culture and tradition. This tranquil town is rapidly developed with the advent of tourist, but the beautiful scenery with a mixture of quiet water and limestone outcrops is unchanged for century.

Check in hotel and the rest of the day is free at your own pace.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Plain of jars discovery

Breakfast

Hotel in

After breakfast, start your sightseeing day with a walk around bustling local market then take an enjoyable long tail boat ride along the Nam Song River and visit to the cave of Tham Jang, a beautiful cave with lots of stalagmites and stalactites and was used as a hideout for the locals during the war.
Also you will spend some time to visit to the local village of Ban Huai Ngai, a very pleasant community where you can explore the different local lifestyle.
Depart Vang Vieng for our drive southwards along rural landscapes to Vientiane.
On the way, you will make some stops to sightsee and interact with locals, including a visit to the traditional salt making village of Ban Keun where you learn the way Laos people make their salt.

Arrive in Vientiane in the late afternoon. Evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

nam song river boat ride

tham jang cave explore

village visit

Breakfast

Private vehicle

Hotel in vientiane

Today you will spend full day to explore highlights of the Vientiane capital city.
Start the tour with visit to the oldest temple of Wat Sisaket that houses thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph.
In the afternoon, continue to explore the rest of mystical Vientiane with visits to the Wat Ong Tue, Wat Inpeng, Wat Haisok and the Buddha Park, a display of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures created by mystical monk on parkland located by the Mekong River.
Enjoy the spectacular sunset over the Mekong. Evening is free at your own pace.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Sightseeing vientiane

Breakfast

Hotel in vientiane

After breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive along spectacular natural sceneries to Na Hin village, in the Khammouane province, which is a beautiful place lies between the two National Bio Reserves: Nam Kading to the North and Phu Hin Bun (Phou Hin Poun) to the south. This place offers most beautiful mountain view point in southern part of Laos and is also the gateway to explore the Kong Lor cave and the Tad Namsanam waterfall.
Several stops will be made en route for photos at Rock View Point and visiting to local villages.
Overnight in hotel/guest house in Ban Na Hin.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Sightseeing en route

Breakfast

Hotel/guest house in ban na hin

Breakfast at the hotel and get transferred to the miraculous Kong Lor Cave with stop en route for a short walk to visit the That Mouang and Tad Nams Waterfall.
Cited as one of Southeast Asia's geological wonders, Tham Kong Lor or Kong Lor Cave is a natural tunnel in Phu Hin Bun National Park that has a total length about 7 km and wide and as high as 300 feet in parts, formed by the running water of Hin Boun River thru the lime stone mountains.

Embark on a small boat for an impressive cruise excursion through the main cave to the valley beyond with stops to for sightseeing and taking pictures of the stalagmites and stalactite formations.
In the afternoon, road to Nakai, on the road you will stop at the Thalang Village, your arrival in Nakai, check in at your hotel.
REMARK: The region of Nakai is very authentic, do not hesitate to walk around this village to discover the very beautiful landscapes and the river.

Summary of inclusions

Boat ride

tham kong lor cave

Breakfast

Private vehicle

Hotel in nakai

After your breakfast, take a drive to Pakse passing lush plantations, hills, forests and villages. The ride today is a bit long but worth with lots of interesting stops for photos and local interaction.  Continue to the Boloven Plateau which is home to several hill tribes, some of them still practicing Stone Age culture. The deep contrast of verdant greens and red surface of basaltic soil is incredible all along the way.
Visit the the stunning Tad Fane Waterfall which plunges down from the height of 120 meters off a cliff surrounded by the dramatic jungles then take a pleasant walk through coffee plantation (or drive) to the Tad Yuang Waterfall, another beautiful sight in the plateau.  
Transfer back to Pakse in the late afternoon and remainder of the day is at your leisure.
Overnight in hotel in Pakse.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

sightseeing en route

Bolaven pleateau & waterfalls visit

Breakfast

Hotel in pakse

After breakfast, transfer by road to Wat Phou. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Wat Phou is a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that built amidst the spectacular natural setting of southern Laos. The temple was built by the rulers of the Khmer empire before the construction of Angkor Wat.

Continue on to Khong Island, the biggest island in south Laos and the start of the 4000 Islands Region. Called “Siphandon in Lao language, this area is where the Mekong stretches over 14km wide and has thousands of islands between those the river flows and runs between cascades and rapids.
Check in hotel and rest of the afternoon you spend time to explore Ban Khong village and Wat Phrang Keo temple.

Overnight in hotel in Don Khong.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

wat phou explore

Breakfast

Hotel in dong khong

After breakfast in your hotel, transfer to Ban Nakasang village where you will take a boat to explore the landscapes of the 4000 Islands area.
This is the area where the Mekong River at its widest – up to 12 km wide during the rainy season. When dry season comes and water retreat, many small islands emerge up and that is why the area is named.

Upon arrival in Don Khone island, visit to impressive Liphi waterfalls which sounds can be heard from far away. This is the southernmost part of Laos and very close to Cambodian border. Also you will have a chance to discover colonial vestiges, including an old railway, which was built by the French in 1897 in order to bypass the powerful rapids that disrupt the navigation along the Mekong River. Then cruise back to Ban Nakasang village and transfer to visit Khone Phapheng waterfall - the largest in South East Asia, also known as the 'Niagara of the east'.

Summary of inclusions

Boat cruise 4000 islands

waterfalls visit

Breakfast

Private vehicle

Hotel in pakse

Breakfast is at the hotel.
Free at leisure until check out time.
Get a private transfer to the airport for flight home or to onward destination.
Safe travel and see you again!

Summary of inclusions

Private airport transfer

Breakfast