The Vietnamese plant the rice, the Cambodians watch the rice, and the Lao listen to the rice grow…
The above saying, attributed to the French during colonial times, probably best sums most visitors’ impressions of Lao people and of their differences with their neighbours. Lao people are renowned for their laid-back nature and generally live a much slower paced way of life than those in surrounding countries. In Laos the very relaxed attitude and ‘baw pen nyang’ (no problems – it’ll be ok) approach is enchanting but may also take a little time for some foreigners to adapt to.
Day 01: Arrival - Luang Prabang (-/L/D)
Upon arrival at the airport, you are met and transferred to the hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. After a short rest, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai; we then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore Street Night Market, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Luang Prahang overview
Day 02: Luang Prabang - Pakou Caves - Ban Xang Hai (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represent the classical architecture of Luang Prabang temple. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the distillation of local rice wine. On return, we take a short drive to Ban Xang Khong and Ban Xienglek, well known for its hand made of Jute Sar paper. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Pakou Caves
Ban Xang Hai
Day 03: Luang Prabang - Kuang si Waterfalls (B/L/D)
This morning you may want to wake up early and participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black Alms-giving bowls being given offerings from the local people, including the ubiquitous sticky rice. Breakfast, you will visit the morning Phosi Market where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit the Ban Ouay, Hmong Hill tribe, Ban Ou, Lowland Lao and Ban Thapene of Khmu village. Continue driving to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or walk along the forest paths, return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Phanom, a well known weaving village, return to the city by late evening for observing the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang .
Kwang si waterfalls
Day 04: Luang Phrabang - Xieng Khouang - Plain of Jars (B/L/D)
Breakfast, we visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign, and the Central Market are not to be missed. After visiting these sights. Today, we are driving 306KM overland on up Hill Mountain with splendid natural scenery to Xiengkhouang, where was devastated by American bombing between 1964 and 1973. Upon arrival, we transfer out to visit the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are littered all over the plateau. If time permits, we are seeing the old capital of Muang Khoun [if time permits] and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe people. They have an interesting local culture and a colorful history. Overnight in Phonsavanh.
Xieng Khouang
Plain of Jars
Day 05: Xiengkhuoang - Vientiane (B/L/D)
Breakfast, visit Central Market, and then free at leisure by own discovery for you to further explore the town before we catch a flight back to Vientiane. After checking into hotel, [if time permits] we continue our sightseeing tour of Vientiane surrounding; visit the impressive Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge and the Buddha Park, a display of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures created by mystical monk on parkland located by the Mekong River. A view of the Atacular sunset over the Mekong River is perfect way to finish the day. Overnight in Vientiane.
Day 06: Vientiane - City Tours (B/L/D)
Breakfast, AM: you are met to continue exploring Vientiane capital city, we start to visit the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.
Afternoon, continue to visit the rest of Vientiane by walk, visit Wat Ong Tue, Wat Inpeng and Wat Haisok. Then we pass by the major shopping area continuing to the Vientiane Central Market of Talad Sao and Talad Kouadin where the major goods display; including fresh food, household, textiles, gold, silver and ancient souvenir varied display and return to Mekong Riverside and late evening. By late afternoon observing sunset by Mekong. Overnight in Vientiane.
Vientiane
Day 07: Vientiane - Pakse - Don khone (B/L/D)
Breakfast, we take an early flight to Pakse. On arrival, we drive on the National Road No. 13th south to Champassak and visit the ruins of Wat Phou, which is well known as the most important Hindu sanctuary of the Khmer Empire between 9th –13th centuries. Here is also a chance to visit some nearby Khmer temples and Buddhist shrines, after a shortstop visit, we continue to Done Khone Island by long tail local boat. Overnight in Don Khone Island.
Day 08: Donkhone - Surrounding (B/L/D)
Early morning breakfast, we explore the local villages of Ban Khone, where the old French colonial buildings and its retrace the old colonial past with seeing the first Lao railway with its locomotive. We continue discover the area of 4000 islands by our leisurely boat to visit one of the most beautiful waterfalls of marking the end of Lao boundary to Cambodia call Liphi waterfall, known as the Samphamith. If we have luck, we may be seen the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone. Return to Ban Nakasang and drive to famous waterfalls of Khone Phapeng. The largest waterfall in South East Asia, known as Niagara of the east. Overnight in Don Khone Island.
Donkhone
Day 09: Donkhone - Tadlo – Pakse (B/L/D)
Upon leaving Done Khone Island, we continue our journey towards Tadlo, through Boloven plateau where famous tea and coffee plantation and other lush vegetation and red surface of basaltic soil are incredible all along the way. En route, there are some opportunities to explore a part of Boloven plateau and visit some hill villages of the Katu, Alak and Nge ethnic minority people, return to Pakse by late evening. Overnight in Pakse.
Tadlo
Day 10: Pakse - Departure (B/L/D)
Breakfast; there is a free time for your own exploration of Pakse Town before catching either flight to Siem Reap-Cambodia or overland exit the Chongmek International checkpoint to Ubon Rathani Thailand.
Upon leaving Done Khone Island, we continue our journey towards Tadlo, through Boloven plateau where famous tea and coffee plantation and other lush vegetation and red surface of basaltic soil are incredible all along the way. En route, there are some opportunities to explore a part of Boloven plateau and visit some hill villages of the Katu, Alak and Nge ethnic minority people, return to Pakse by late evening. Overnight in Pakse.