ITINERARY:
DAY 1: VIENTIAN ARRIVAL (-/LUNCH/-)
On arrival in the Laos capital of Vientiane, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Vientiane is a charming and fascinating capital with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences.
You are seeing the major temples of Vientiane including the oldest, Wat Sisaket, with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit the national icon of Laos, That Luang Stupa, stopping along the way to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph, from there you visit COPE Center. The COPE was created in response to the need to provide UXO survivors with the care and support they required, namely by way of orthotic and prosthetic devices. This museum was set after in 1997 to help covering the victim during Indochina war.
Heading for the waterfront your evening is free to enjoy a few drinks watching the sunset over the Mekong River, explore the Night Market and take in some of the city’s nightlife. Overnight in Vientiane.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, English speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals, Accommodation.
DAY 2: VIENTIANE – FLY TO XIENG KHOUANG (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
This morning we transfer to the airport to board our short flight to Xieng Khouang. Upon arrival we will check in to our hotel and then begin our tour of the Plain of Jars.
We will be visiting Sites 1, 2 & 3 as well as taking a short trek to a Tai Dam and Lao Leum village along the way.
Following lunch we drive on to explore the old capital of Muang Khoun and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hilltribe and Tai Dam people. Overnight in Xiengkhuang.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, English speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals, Accommodation.
DAY 3: XIENG KHOUANG – LUANG PRABANG BY LAND ( BREAKFAST / LUNCH/-)
Today we will pay an early morning visit to the Phonsavan Central Market, an interesting market where different hilltribe people come to barter and exchange merchandise.
Leaving Phonsavan we head towards Luang Prabang, stopping along the way to see the 200 year old Buddha images at Thampra. We drive on through the spectacular scenery of the Xieng Khouang Province with it’s many stunning photo opportunities and stopping a couple of times to explore hill tribe villages.
The journey will take us through the mountainous northern regions of Laos until we reach the World Heritage town of Luang Prabang in the early evening. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, English speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals, Accommodation.
DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG – KHOUANG SI WATERFALL - PAK OU CAVES (BREAKFAST/ LUNCH/-)
This morning you have the option and opportunity to rise early and participate in the daily morning ritual of Alms Giving, you will experience saffron-clad monks collecting offerings or ‘Alms’ from faithful local residents. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the daily procession.
After breakfast back at the hotel we begin our journey to Khouangsi Waterfall stoppingalong the way to visit the morning Phousi Market, this where all locals of Luang Prabang come to do their daily shopping. You will see a variety of local foodstuffs and products including dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, fish, vegetables and fruit, everything needed for daily life in Laos.
On arrival at the Khouangsi Waterfall you will have the opportunity to cool off with a refreshing swim in the topaz pools below the falls, walk along the forest trails and visit the Bear Sanctuary. You will also enjoy a picnic lunch below the falls.
Upon return to Luang Prabang we board our private boat for a pleasant and scenic cruise up on the Mekong River to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. These caves are an ancient pilgrimage site and contain thousands of gold lacquered Buddha images left there over hundreds of years.
Returning to Luang Prabang we disembark our boat and have the option of taking a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village famous for its hand weaving or returning to the hotel for free time to relax. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, English speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals, Accommodation.
DAY 5: LUANG PRABANG CITY TOUR (BREAKFAST/ LUNCH/-)
This morning after breakfast we head off on car to begin our city tour with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts from the Royal period in Luang Prabang. Cycling on, we are seeing the city’s oldest temples, the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roof sweeping low to the ground, representing classical Lao architecture, the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham.
After relaxing at your hotel to let you lunch settle we will pay a late afternoon visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’many ethnic cultures. You can enjoy a coffee at the centre’s café if you chose before our climb to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred gilded stupa and to enjoy the panoramic view of the city and the sun setting over the Mekong River. Descending the mountain your will find yourself in the midst of the famous Luang Prabang Night Market, where you can find a unique selection of handmade textiles and handicrafts locally made by both ethnic Lao and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Inclusion: Vehicle with A.C, English speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals, Accommodation.
DAY 6: LUANG PRABANG - DEPARTURE (BREAKFAST/-/-)
This morning is free until your transfer to airport for departure.
