EXPLORATION OF VIENTIANE & CENTRAL REGION IN 8 DAYS

Upon arrival at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, transfer to your hotel in town (early check-in upon availability). 

From its sleepy tuk-tuk drivers to its location on the right bank of the lumbering, lazy Mekong, this former French trading post is languid to say the least.  

Indeed, despite being the capital and largest city of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, there’s not a whole lot to do in Vientiane. But that is also, quite honestly, its selling point. 

There is no activity planned for today, so you can stroll around the town for your own exploration. 

Overnight in Vientiane 

In the morning, we will first visit Wat Si Muang, which is very famous for its supernatural power.  

After that drive to Buddha Park which takes around 45 minutes away. Also known as Xieng Khuan, this unusual park is filled with over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues. 

We then visit Lao Disable Women Development Center, which assist disable women to cope with their disability and advocate for their rights. Spend time watching the video and learn about the effort to earn their daily living. You can support them by buying some small handicrafts at the shop. 

Start the afternoon with a visit to That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. Constructed by King Setthathirat in the 16th century, the temple is resplendent as the sun shines upon its towering golden spire.  

Then, enjoy a panoramic view over the city as you climb the stairs to the top of Patuxai, Vientiane’s own “Arc de Triomphe”.  

Continue down Lane Xang Avenue the serene Wat Sisaket, the only temple left intact after the Siamese (Thai) invasion in 1828.  

Continue to the nearby Wat Phra Keo.  Used as a religious museum, Wat Phra Keo displays a collection of both Lao and Khmer works of art.  

End your tour of the capital along the banks of the Mekong River as the sun begins to set. Stroll along the river, stop to enjoy a cold drink, or sample a snack from one of the many local food stalls.   

Overnight in Vientiane. 

Our tuk tuk driver (also our guide) will pick you up at your hotel after breakfast, and take you to an organic rice, fish and vegetable farm on the outskirts of Vientiane.  

Run by a Lao non-government organization using traditional Lao farming methods, this is the perfect place to try your hand at rice farming.  

The friendly farmers will show you how to get your feet wet planting rice seedlings (during rainy season), or if it’s harvest season then cut and thresh your own rice for lunch!  

Do a spot of fishing, collect fresh duck eggs, learn about organic fertilizer and how it is made, and harvest fresh seasonal organic vegetables and bamboo (if in season). 

Once you’ve finished in the field, you’ll cook up a traditional Lao lunch with the days’ produce. Learn how to cook sticky rice and make papaya salad and sit down to enjoy a picnic-style lunch and a well-earned rest. 

On the way back into town, we’ll take you to a local fresh food market to check out the amazing diversity of Lao food. Stop for a while in the market for a traditional Lao coffee or sample some delicious Lao sweets. 

Transfer back to your hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Vientiane 

An early morning departure at 7:30am for the National Park at Phou Khao Khuay, the closest national protected area to Vientiane.  

You arrive in the village of Ban Hatkhay at around 9:30am where you will be joined by two local guides with your freshly made Lao picnic.  

The easy trek begins at Pha Say with its stunning view across a 40m deep gorge and the dense jungle.  

You follow narrow, shaded trails and discover the different types of forest in the park: semi-deciduous, tropical and bamboo – extraordinary, unspoilt habitats.  

You have the chance to learn about the medicinal uses of the forest plants and the other plant types that abound in the forest. You take your picnic lunch in a dry riverbed (depending on the season). 

Your afternoon continues with a pleasant stroll to the waterfall at Tad Say before making your return to the village. You may be lucky and see some of the colorful butterflies and birds that live in the forest. 

After that, we will return to Ban Hatkhay and hop on the minivan to transfer directly to Paksan. 

After breakfast, we will transfer to Ban Konglor. Along the way, it is interesting to have a quick stop at Wat Prabath Phonsane (‘Temple of the footprint of Buddha’). 

You will then leave the highway and enter the Phou Hin Poun NPA (National Protected Area). The scenery will become much more spectacular, featuring limestone karsts, forests and rice paddies.  

From leaving the highway to reaching your destination will take approximately 2 hours. 

On arrival in the small town of Ban Kong Lor you will check in, freshen up and then head out to explore the famous Kong Lor Caves. 

You will be given life jackets and head torches before a short walk around the main entrance of the cave.  

Upon entering the cave, you will board a long tail boat which will take you through the length of this spectacular cave along an underground section of the Hin Boun River – a length of 7.5km before you see daylight again! 

The river flows all year and reveals vast formations of stalactites and stalagmites, which you will explore partly on foot whilst inside the cave. In places the cave is up to 90m wide and 100m high.  

The cave is still used by local villagers as an access route to the region beyond. It is far quicker than climbing over the mountains which this cave cuts through! 

Once out on the other side you can stop for refreshments and walk to local villages, enjoying the scenery and observing a simple way of life (discuss with your guide how far you would like to walk). 

Return by boat, travelling ‘downstream’ through the cave, to Ban Kong Lor. 

Overnight in Ban Kong Lor 

For early risers we recommend a walk around to explore the villages as they wake up and prepare for the day.  

We will take a short drive to the beautiful village Tha Lang in Nakai District. 

The rest of the afternoon is free for your own exploration. You can choose to stroll along the river to admire the sunset, or go fishing on the lake, which is created by the Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Dam (extra charge) 

For the overnight place, you have 2 options. For the ones who like partying, Sabaidee Guesthouse will be the solid choice. If not, Phousi Thalang will give you a quiet and peaceful atmosphere to enjoy your night. 

Wake up early, you will prepare for your own breakfast with the help of Sabaidee Guesthouse owner. 

After that we depart for Thakhek, the capital town of Khammouane Province. Along the way, we will make a short stop to visit Nam Theun 2 Visitor Center, where we can have some information of this Hydropower project.  

We then continue driving for about 02 hours to the village of Ban Nakhang Xang, to meet the village guide, who leads the trek. 

Trek through secondary forest, while the guide points out forest products that provide the local people with significant food resources. The trail passes through a cave that exits into a striking valley surrounded by towering cliffs and forest.  

The picnic lunch will be served wherever you feel hungry, we recommend to have it at Tham Hip, which offers a great panoramic view over the area. 

In the afternoon, continue the trail, following the shoreline of Nong Thao Lake, where trekkers can see local fishermen at work.  

At Tham Nong Paseum Cave, the adventurous can swim into the 400-metre-long cavern and explore its dramatic stalactites and stalagmites. 

We then continue walking, and climb a bamboo stairway to the Buddha Cave, which was rediscovered in April 2004. The cave contains 229 bronze Buddhas that are said to be over 300 years old. 

Late afternoon, we will drive to Thakhek to spend the night. 

You have ample time to stroll around the town of Thakhek before continuing to your next destination. 

From Thakhek, you have these below options: 

1. Go back to Vientiane and continue your trip to Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and northern Laos.
2. Transfer to Pakse and continue to explore the Southern Laos
3. Transfer to Nakhon Phanom in Thailand to explore Thailand or take the flight to Bangkok to connect with your departure flight to another destination.
4. Transfer to Vietnam via Dansavanh Border or Naphao Border to explore Vietnam.