IMMERSION IN LAOS CULTURE & NATURE IN 18 DAYS

On arrival at the Luang Prabang airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel (early check-in upon availability) 

Situated in the centre of northern Laos, Luang Prabang is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding cultural, historic and architectural values and its harmonious relationship between the natural and built environment. 

There are no activities planned for today, so you may stroll around for the first impression of this ancient city. Overnight in Luang Prabang 

After breakfast, we visit the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts.   

Our next stop in the city is the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture.  

We then transfer to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails.  

You have the rest of the afternoon to refresh at the waterfalls. If you wish, we also see up close Asiatic bears at the Bear Rescue Centre along the jungle walk to the waterfall. 

Arriving back in town, 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. 

Transferring back to Luang Prabang, we ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River.  

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

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 departing at 8:30 am from your hotel, transfer to Nahm Dong park, which locates in Ban Xiengmouk, 10Km from city center. 

Arriving at the park, we will have a short welcome by the park manager before joining the morning activities here. 

We will first start with the Zipline flying over the jungle and the waterfalls admiring the amazing evergreen scenery. The zipline will take about 1 hour.  

Then we will walk back via the jungle trail crossing some flying bridges, small streams, and clear natural pools, where you can take a refresh splash if you wish so. 

The picnic lunch will be served at the viewpoint where you can spread your view over the region, including the view of mount Phousi in the city center. 

You can either spend the rest of the afternoon strolling around the park, relax by one of the huts at the camp, or enjoy the fresh cool clear natural pools. 

Free for the rest of the day for your own exploration. 

Overnight in Luang Prabang 

Heading out of the town, we take a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside. 

We will take the first stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make local rice wine. We then continue our boat trip to the atmospheric riverside town of Pakbeng. 

Continue further to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.  

The Mekong was once the only major transport route in the country, Pakbeng, being the halfway point on the Mekong River between Luang Prabang and Huayxay, developed as an overnight stop for many traders travelling along the river.  

This scenic and authentic river cruise has been described as a once in a lifetime experience. We will reside in Pakbeng overnight. 

For early risers visit the morning market where residents of the nearby villages and hill tribes gather to buy and exchange their goods. 

After breakfast, take a long boat and cross the river to reach the elephant camp located on the opposite side of the Lodge. 

Upon arrival you will get an introductory tour of the camp. Your guide will teach you about elephants and how this camp is trying to protect the animals while educating the visitors.  

Then you will participate in the elephant’s daily bath which lasts about 30 minutes. The camp’s pool is designed to allow all 8 elephants to bathe at the same time. 

After the elephant bath, you will attend the elephant show for 30 minutes. It will show you the strong relation that exists between an elephant and his mahout. 

Then, you will take the boat to return to the lodge to refresh. 

In the afternoon, you will leave for Muang La. On the way, you can observe the local rural life, local markets on the side of the road, clear views of corn and banana plantations and amazing views over the mountains. 

You will pass through the provincial capital, Oudomxay. Once a very sleepy town, this has become an important trading hub and shows the changes which are happening rapidly in the region.  

This makes the final leg of the journey, away from the busy town and into unspoiled nature, more exciting. The contrast also highlights just how special the experiences are in the remaining wilderness. 

Arrive at Muang La Resort in the late afternoon. Check in, relax and enjoy the views.  

Facilities include a spa, sauna and steam room (it does get cold in the evenings here, especially November – March).  

The resort is built next to a natural hot spring and they fill a small pool every evening with water from the hot spring.  

Evenings are a real treat here, with 5 course set menus combining Asian and European influences, to be enjoyed by candlelight with the sounds of nature. 

Dinner and overnight in Muang La Resort 

You are free to stroll around the town for your own exploration of the surrounding area. 

The dinner will be served at the resort. 

Overnight at Muang La Resort 

Today, we will say goodbye to Muang La, and drive to Nong Khiaw, a small beautiful town along the Nam Ou River.  

Along the way, we may visit the intriguing Pra Xing Kham Temple with its sacred Buddha image. The 400 years old legendary statue is said to have many supernatural powers and is widely worshipped among the faithful local Buddhists.  

Upon arrival in Nong Khiaw at mid-afternoon, we have time for a short walk to Tham Pha Thok, a limestone cave where villagers hide during the Indochina War.  

Overnight in Nong Khiaw 

We begin at 8am and start off by boarding a local long boat and head off upstream through some fantastic landscape before making our first stop of the day at a small riverside village. Here we take some time to look around and if during a weekday pay the local school a visit to see the charming children as they take part in their classes. 

After this we continue onwards to Tad Mork which is located close to the ethnic Khmu village of Ban Sop Kong, an hour trek from the river. At the waterfall we shall have time to swim and enjoy a picnic lunch. 

After enjoying our time at the waterfall, we head back to the river where we will cruise further upstream to visit Muang Ngoy, which sits nestled amongst some amazing scenery!  

This small town has long been famous amongst backpackers yet remains truly unspoilt! If there is time, we can stop for a drink at one of the riverside restaurants before the return journey down the river back to Nong Khiaw. 

We will head off down the river through a narrow gorge where we stop at another small but fascinating village. 

The estimated arrival time in Nong Khiaw is around sunset.  

Overnight in Nong Khiaw 

After breakfast, transfer to Muang Soune, which locates 65Km from the center in the north of Luang Prabang by the bank of Nam Ou River. 

12pm – 12:30pm: Arrival in the village area and river crossing with local ferry or pirogue. Introduction with the family. 

12:30pm – 1:30pm: Lunch time with family 

1:30pm – 2pm: Rest 

2pm – 5pm: Explore local activity in the village, visit the school,  visit the weavers who can tailor-make a local dress for you 😉 and other village artisans. 

5pm – 6pm: Bathe in the river or shower in the house 

6pm – 7pm: Baci ceremony 

Prepare dinner with Kham or enjoy a fresh beer Lao or a local drink with your hosts 

7:30pm – 9pm: Dinner with the family 

9pm till ….: Kham’s favorite after dinner activity is playing cards with her uncle. You are welcome to join, but beware… Kham and her uncle are very good! 

5am – 6am: Wake up early to prepare sticky rice for Monk’s offering later on. 

6am – 7am: Alms giving in the temple. 

7am – 8am: Breakfast with the family 

8am – 10am: Go with Kham and her uncle fishing on the Ou River and learn some new techniques. 

10am – 1pm: Hike to the rice fields and explore the rural life of farmers. Visit some family organic gardens on the way too. 

1pm – 2pm: Lunch time with the family 

2pm – 3pm: Free time to go around the village and purchase souvenirs if you wish 

3pm – 3:30pm: River crossing with local boat and departure to Luang Prabang 

5pm: Arrival at your hotel and end of the Homestay Experience. 

You have ample time in the morning to stroll around the town for your own exploration before taking the early afternoon train to Vang Vieng (1 hour train) 

Upon arrival, we still have time to visit the cave of Tham Jang, which was used in the early 19th century in defense against the Chinese invaders.  

From the cave, we can admire the panoramic view over the town of Vang Vieng and the nearby area whilst the sun is setting.  

Overnight in Vang Vieng 

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

Your tour starts 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 back to the train station to take the train to Vientiane (1 hour train). 

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in town. 

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. 

After breakfast, we take the flight to Pakse, the biggest city of the southern Laos. 

Upon arrival, we head east to Pakse and onto the Bolaven Plateau. The Bolaven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature and being located high above the Mekong Valley.  

Stop at a tea plantation, followed by a brief visit to Tad Fan Waterfall, a picturesque twin chute waterfall.  

We will also visit the local village at Ban Lak Sipchet, which makes iron knife; and Ban Lak Samsip, which makes bamboo basket. 

If time permits, we will also visit Tad Yeung and take some dip into the cool clear natural pool at the foot of the waterfall. 

Last stop is at a coffee plantation before arriving at your destination for the evening. Overnight in Bolaven Plateau 

After breakfast, visit Tha Teng colourful ethnic minority food market. Next explore a couple of fascinating minority villages, Ban Bong Neua, an Alak village that boasts a sacrificial altar, and Ban Kokphung, a Katu village where they keep coffins under their houses.  

In the afternoon visit Wat Phou, an ancient Khmer religious complex dating back to the 5th Century.  

Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Wat Phou is a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits amidst the rice fields and waterways of southern Laos, which was built by the rulers of the Khmer empire before the construction of Angkor Wat.  

The temple served as the most important economic and political centre of the region and still is one of the Lao people’s most revered temples. 

After your visit, we continue in to Champassak to see samples of French colonial architecture before driving to Done Khong where you have the rest of the day to relax or to explore the island. Overnight in Done Khong Island.

After breakfast, embark on a 1.5 hour long tail boat for venturing into the widest reach of the Mekong River, where during the dry season the waters recede and leave behind thousands of islets, giving this area a lovely name” Si Phan Done”.  

Upon arrival, explore the local peaceful villages of Ban Khone, where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with its locomotive.  

We continue to discover the 4000 islands area by tuktuk and visit the marvelous Liphi waterfall, also called the “Corridor of the Devil” one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking Lao border with Cambodia.  

Free for the rest of the day for your own exploration of the island. We recommend you take a bike for a ride around the island to see the local life and admire the sunset along the Mekong riverbank. 

Overnight in Khone Island. 

After breakfast, embark on a 1.5 hour long tail boat for venturing into the widest reach of the Mekong River, where during the dry season the waters recede and leave behind thousands of islets, giving this area a lovely name” Si Phan Done”.  

Upon arrival, explore the local peaceful villages of Ban Khone, where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with its locomotive.  

We continue to discover the 4000 islands area by tuktuk and visit the marvelous Liphi waterfall, also called the “Corridor of the Devil” one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking Lao border with Cambodia.  

We return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng, which is considered the largest waterfall by volume in South-East Asia 

Khone Phapheng is an impressive spot near the Lao-Cambodian border, set within an area which is teeming with wildlife, making this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos.  

Afterwards we drive back to Pakse. Overnight in Pakse 

After breakfast, we will transfer directly to Ubon Ratchathani (Thailand) via Chongmek Border to take the flight to Bangkok and connect to your departure flight back home. 

Note:  

+ Transfer time: 3 hours including border time. 

+ From Pakse, you can also take the flight to Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane, Luang Prabang, or Bangkok