FAMILY TRIP TO COUNTRY OF MILLION ELEPHANTS IN 12 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. 

Tips:  

+ You can also visit Sinouk Coffee Pavilion to discover the Lao coffee, stroll around the mini coffee gallery, view the in-house coffee roaster and try a cup of delicious and unique coffee or tea. Discuss with our guide about this. Entrance fee and extra coffee/drinks are payable on spot. 

+ There is also the chance to visit Ban Hom, where you can visit the farmers working on the field and learn about the rural local life. Just 12Km from the old quarter! 

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 Laos coffee or sample some delicious Lao sweets. 

Transfer back to your hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Vientiane 

We leave the capital early for our journey northbound to Ban Thaheua via the highway Vientiane – Vang Vieng. 

We will see some breathtaking scenery enroute as we pass through spectacular countryside towards the mountainous region.  

We will arrive in Ban Thaheua around noon. 

In the afternoon, we will have a 2-hour kayaking around Nam Ngum Lake to explore some islets, and local fishing villages. Kayaking is easy and fun, requiring no special skills. We will stop at Huay Samom village, chatting with the host family, and learning about the weaving techniques. 

We are then free to stroll around the resort or the nearby area for our own exploration. 

Overnight in Ban Thaheua 

Optional: Wake up early today, you never want to miss the serene sunrise over the peaceful lake. Our guide will escort you to the nearby area to watch the local villagers preparing for their busy day. 

After breakfast, we start the cycling tour exploring the nearby villages & the famous Nam Ngum dam. 

We will first pass through the local primary school, which is livelier during school time.  

We then set off toward Nam Ngum dam through the small village roads whilst admiring the life of local villagers. 

Stop at one of the villages to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. Relax and talk with the villagers about their daily life. 

We will also make another stop at the viewpoint to enjoy the panoramic view of the surrounding area. 

We have ample time to relax at the dam before cycling back to the resort. 

If time permits, we will stop at another village to watch the rooster fighting in around 30 minutes. 

Arrive back at the resort around noon time. 

In the afternoon we will transfer directly to Vang Vieng. 

Check in your hotel upon arrival and feel free to stroll around the town for your own exploration. 

Overnight in Vang Vieng 

The limestone cliffs and valleys surrounding the resort complex of Vang Vieng are home to numerous caves and caverns.  

The most famous of these caves is Tham Jang, which was used by the local people as a refuge from Chinese invaders 200 years ago.  

Your tour continues by crossing the Nam Song River for a short drive to Tham Pou Kham (Golden Crab Cave). After passing through a small entrance hole, you descend 100 meters into the ground.  

You have ample time to visit Blue Lagoon, which is a great spot to relax and cool off before transferring to the train station to take the afternoon express train to Luang Prabang. 

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in town. 

Overnight in Luang Prabang 

After breakfast, you will first visit Royal Palace Museum, which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family.  

We then embark on a leisure cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.   

Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine.  

On arrival back in the city, we will visit the old Wat Sene and the nearby magnificent Wat Xiengthong a superb piece of Lao temple architecture, which presents a sweeping two-tiered roof and ornate mosaics including a beautiful ‘tree of life ‘glass montage on the rear temple wall.   

If time permits, we will drive out of the city to visit Ban Xangkhong, the Thai Lue village, which is famous for its arts and crafts. We also visit the nearby village of Ban Xienglek specializing in making the traditional Saa paper.  

You can either get to the nearby village to join a pétanque game with the local team. 

Late afternoon, we will make a stop at Wat Prabath to admire the sunset; this is the ideal place to catch the last beauty of the day.  

The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by locals and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.  

Overnight in Luang Prabang 

Tip: If you are fond of various ethnic cultures, you can visit Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (closed on Monday).  

Wake up as the sun rises, we will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, which dates to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temple to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets. 

We then visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice, to vegetable, to fish, or chicken.  

After breakfast at the hotel, we ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the Mekong River.  

If time permits, we will visit UXO Visitor Center (closed on Saturday, and Sunday), where you can find the documentation about the secret war in Laos. 

Then, transfer to the Buffalo Dairy Farm on the way to Kuang Si waterfalls, which offers the fun and interesting experience for the kids. 

We arrive at the beautiful Kuang Si, which is the biggest waterfall in the Luang Prabang area with three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop into spectacular azure pools before flowing downstream. The pools also make great swimming holes and are very popular with both tourists and locals. 

There is also the chance to walk to the nearby village of Ban Thapene, and explore the hidden waterfalls, which are rarely visited by other tourists. 

If you wish, take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers. 

On the way back to Luang Prabang, we will take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, set serenely close to the Mekong, this beautiful, traditionally styled workshop, where weavers, spinners and batik makers produce top-quality fabrics, offers free tours every half-hour. This is also one of the best spots to admire the sunset in Luang Prabang 

Transfer back to your hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang 

Today, we will visit the Namkhan Ecolodge and have a morning learn about their organic farm tour to learn more about organic farming, including insect repellents, the importance of plants and trees and how the animals integrate with the green cycle agricultural practice. 

The afternoon is your own free time to explore the ecolodge by yourselves. There are plenty of activities on spots such as kayaking, Yoga class, or bamboo weaving class. For the kids, we recommend a 1.5-hour horseback riding class including 15-minutes pony ride.  

There is also an inviting swimming pool if you just want to relax and cool off. 

Check further information with our guide or the lodge. 

Overnight at Namkhan Ecolodge. 

10:00 AM: Departure from your hotel or guest house in Luang Prabang 

10:40 AM: Arrive in Ban Lae. Settle in your house 

11:15 AM: Visit the local school. 

12:00 PM: Lunch in the house. Relax 

2:00 PM-3:00 PM: Have a walk with the locals in their gardens. Explore the river with a local boat. Have a look at the traditional charcoal oven. Enjoy a swim in the river. 

5:00 PM: Back to the house, shower time 

6:00 PM: Visit a neighbor who will teach you Kaen (traditional music instrument) 

7:00 PM: Before having dinner, we will join a special Baci Ceremony with at the house of the host. 

Time to sleep. 

5:30 AM: Time to wake up. 

6:00 AM: Alms giving in the village temple. Back to the house 

8:00 AM: Breakfast 

9:00 AM: Morning fishing in the Nam Xuang River 

Experience local handicraft traditional techniques by the locals such as: 

– Bamboo weaving 

– Silk weaving 

– Fishing net-making 

11:00 AM: Departure time 

11:30 AM: Arrival in Luang Prabang and drop-off at your next hotel or guesthouse 

The afternoon is free for your last-minute shopping around the various shops in the city old quarter. 

Overnight in Luang Prabang 

+ Pick-up: 2.5 hours before the flight 

You are free to stroll around the town for your own exploration before taking the departure flight