Tour of Laos's characters and legacies

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 airport transfer

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.

Back to hotel for breakfast.
Later, you will 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, you 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.

Evening is at your leisure. Overnight in hotel in Luang Prabang.

Summary of inclusions

bicycle ride

Sightseeing luang prabang

Breakfast

Hotel in luang prabang

After breakfast, get to the pier and board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes.
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

Mekong River cruise

Pak ou cave explore

traditional villages visit

Breakfast

Hotel in luang prabang

After breakfast, you will take a drive 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. Overnight in hotel in Luang Prabang.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

hill tribe villages visit

kuang si falls discovery

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 Xieng Khouang.

Evening is at your leisure. Overnight in hotel in Xieng Khouang.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Sightseeing xiang khouang

Breakfast

Hotel in xiang khouang

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 3 sites and also discover some local villages where you can observe local village life.
Get transfer to the airport for afternoon flight to Vientiane, the capital city of Laos.
Airport pick up and transfer to hotel for check in.
Evening is free at your leisure. Overnight in hotel in Vientiane.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Plain of jars discovery

Breakfast

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 Wat Sisaket with 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.

The afternoon you 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. Overnight in hotel in Vientiane.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Sightseeing vientiane

Breakfast

Hotel in vientiane

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