HONEYMOON IN LUANG PRABANG IN 8 DAYS

On arrival at the Luang Prabang airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel. 

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. 

After a soft rest, you may want to stroll around for the first impression of this ancient city.  

Late afternoon, join a private Baci ceremony at a local family. The Baci ceremony as a traditional ritual of the Lao people expresses the spirituality of the country and is a highly memorable experience and a deep insight into Laos culture for the participants. 

Dinner will be served after that for you to share with the host family, that gives you the best start of Laos culture exploration. 

Overnight in Luang Prabang 

Note: Sunset & Dinner with Bounmi Cruise  

After breakfast, our guide will take you on an in-depth walking tour of the city.  

The walk is oriented towards the lesser-known parts of the town including charming lanes showing the more traditional atmosphere of the heritage town.  

Along the way, we will see the four different types of buildings categorized by UNESCO.  

The first one is the traditional Lao house which is made from tropical hardwood or bamboo and built on stilts. 

The second is a half wood and half cement house built after the arrival of the French.  

The third is the traditional French colonial building that are like those found in Vietnam and Cambodia.  

The last form of architecture you will see is the old Chinese shop houses that were built to be used for both commercial and residential purposes. 

In the afternoon, we will visit some famous attractions inside the city center including the oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture.  

We then continue with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts.  

We then join a romantic sunset cruise along the Mekong River. Relax on board with drinks and snacks as you enjoy panoramic views of the sunset dancing across the horizon, painting the sky with vibrant shades of orange, purple, red, and pink. Take in the breathtaking landscapes and the unique sights and sounds of life on the river as we cruise past local villages preparing for nightfall. 

The dinner will then be served on a boat on the way back to town. 

Overnight in Luang Prabang 

Breakfast at the hotel, we will first embark on the leisurely cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, a 16th century cave monastery filled with thousands of Buddha images, which locates 25 Kilometers North of Luang Prabang in the limestone cliffs overlooking the Mekong River.   

En route, you will stop at Ban Muang Keo, a well-known village for its traditional Lao rice whisky distilling. You will arrive back in Luang Prabang. 

we will take the boat downstream the Mekong River to Ban Chan Village, where we will learn more about pottery making techniques and have your hands-on experience making your own souvenirs. 

Back to Luang Prabang, we continue the cruise further to Ban Chan pottery village. 

Here, we will have a short tour to learn more about the history of the village. On our walk through the village, we will visit the pottery center, a traditional kiln as well as the brick factory. 

After that, create your own unique souvenir from clay and learn traditional Lao pottery techniques. We will deliver your finished fired pottery souvenir within 3-7 Days* to your hotel. (*Firing process depends on weather conditions) 

After that, enjoy Lao traditional meal from local ingredients on a beautiful patio. 

We then take the boat back to Luang Prabang. 

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

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 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 directly to 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 is 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. 

After visiting Kuang Si waterfalls, you can visit the nearby Butterflies Park, where you can enjoy afternoon tea with homemade cookies whilst relaxing inside the green peaceful garden full of colorful butterflies. 

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.   

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

After picking you up from town or your hotel we will leave Luang Prabang around 08:30 for the nearby village of Xieng Lom. Upon arrival you are invited to have coffee or tea as your guide for the day provides an in-depth introduction to elephant behavior and the ways we should interact with them. 

A quick boat ride across the Nam Khan River will deliver you to the waiting elephants. You will be introduced to your new friends and feed them some special treats – a sure way to begin an instant friendship. 

Enjoy observing elephants from the riverbank as Mahouts wash them in the Nam Khan River. You can experience elephants washing, swimming and playing in the water. Please note this is voluntary activity for the elephants and Mandalao does not force them to get in the water. (On cold days the elephants are less likely to want to get wet.) 

After 2 hours crossing through a beautiful stretch of traditional Lao gardens you will arrive at the jungle-covered Huay Nok stream. As you walk alongside the elephants and crisscross through the cool water you will experience a profound sense of understanding, respect, and caring for these amazing animals. As you prepare to start your walk back to MandaLao, you will bid farewell to your new friends with more treats and goodbye hugs. 

When you get back to MandaLao, you will head to the restaurant and enjoy a delicious fresh Laos meal made from our own organically grown produce. There you can relax, kick-back, and process the day’s experiences on the veranda overlooking the river and misty mountains. 

Following lunch, you have ample time to stroll around the camp before walking to the nearby charming Chateau Orientale, a sanctuary in which to unwind and relax both body & soul. In a setting along a picturesque riverside location, you will find this ancient oriental hermitage in the middle of the Laotian jungle. 

Overnight at Chateau Orientale. 

You are free to stroll around the resort for your own exploration. There are plenty of activities on spots such as kayaking, cycling, or trekking. Check with us in advance to pre-arrange the activities that you want to have. 

Overnight at Chateau Orientale 

You are free to stroll around the resort for your own exploration. There are plenty of activities on spots such as kayaking, cycling, or trekking. Check with us in advance to pre-arrange the activities that you want to have. 

Overnight at Chateau Orientale 

+ Pick-up: 3.5 hours before the flight 

Free to stroll around the lodge before transferring back to Luang Prabang Airport to take the departure flight.