BEST OF LAOS

BEST OF LAOS

BRIEFING AND TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

DETAILED TOUR ITINERARY 

Day 1
LUANG PRABANG ARRIVAL

Meet your guide on arrival, transfer and check-in to your hotel. During the drive your guide will provide an introduction to Luang Prabang, answer any questions you have, and make arrangements for the following day. Enjoy free time for the remainder of the first day.

Nestled in a mountain valley at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers is the enchanting World Heritage town and former royal capital of Luang Prabang. It’s a magical and captivating place with stunning colonial architecture, ornate monasteries and colourful markets. Rise early to witness the ancient dawn ritual of saffron robed monks collecting alms, discover the hundreds of Buddha sculptures in Pak Ou Caves, see the spectacular Kuang Si Waterfall and climb Phou Si hill to watch the sun sink slowly behind the Mekong River.

Luang Prabang has many great cafes and restaurants and also night food stalls which emerge at dusk. Ask your guide for personal recommendations.

Included meals: None
Accommodation in LUANG PRABANG

Day 2
LUANG PRABANG – CITY VISIT & PAK OU CAVE

After breakfast we visit the quaint Royal Palace Museum, which gives a good overview of the local history.  We also visit the country’s most historic and enchanting temple Wat Xiengthong, with its roof sweeping low to the ground, representing the classical LuangPrabang style, we board a private boat for a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside. Our first stop is the village of Ban Muangkeo where we start a short trek to reach the mysterious caves of Pak Ou, two caves set in a limestone cliff facing the Mekong River crammed with thousands Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes.

We then return to Luang Prabang by boat, stopping at the weaving and textile villages of Ban Xangkhongand Ban Nongxai.

We arrive back in LuangPrabangby mid afternoon where you have the option to climb Mount Phousi which offers a spectacular view over Luang Prabang and the Mekong River.

Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation in LUANG PRABANG

Day 3
LUANG PRABANG – TAK BAT – KUANG SI WATERFALL

You can discuss with your guide for an optional early morning start (5.30am) to witness and partake in the daily morning ritual of ‘Tak Bat’ or giving alms to the monks.  This is a unique ritual still followed by the locals in Luang Prabang.  We can also visit the local fresh market to see how the locals shop, before returning to your hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, we visit the Ock Pop Tock, a silk weaving centre. Here you will be given a guided tour and the silk weaving process will be explained. We then drive out of the town where you have the option of stopping to visit Khmu, Hmong and Lao Loum villages, representing the main ethnic groups of Laos. This then takes us to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the turquoise pool or walk along the forest trails. Next to the falls is a Bear Rescue Centre, that does a great job in protecting and rehabilitating the rare Asiatic Black Bear. We then return to Luang Prabang by lunch time.

Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation in LUANG PRABANG

Day 4
LUANG PRABANG > FLY TO VIENTIANE & VISIT BUDDHA PARK

Depending on your departure flight, you may have free time at leisure, before being transferred to the airport for your flight.

Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and driver. We then drive southeast of the city to the Buddha Park, built in 1958 by Luang Pu, a yogi-priest shaman. The park is a fanciful garden full of Buddhist and Hindu religious sculptures which appear to be centuries old. They include statues of Shiva, Krishna, Buddha and many other deities. Of particular interest is a giant pumpkin shaped concrete monument, with three levels joined by interior stairways. The three levels are said to represent hell, earth and heaven. The cement statues are ornate and many are bizarre in design. Return to town and transfer to hotel for your rest of time at leisure.

Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation in VIENTIANE

Day 5
VIENTIANE – HIGHLIGHTS CITY VISIT

 Today city tour, begins with the oldest wat in Vientiane, Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which now serves as a museum of arts and antiques.  We then travel up Lanexang Avenue you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxai Monument, which resembles its Parisian inspiration, the Arc de Triomphe.  The climb to the top offers great views over Vientiane. We continue onwards down Rue Singha 23 to Laos’ National icon, and most important religious building, the golden stupa of That Luang.  The final visit of the day will be the excellent COPE exhibition centre, highlighting a much overlooked aspect of Laos and a major problem many of the local people face on a day to day basis in the form of unexploded ordnance as a result of heavy bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War area.  We then return to your hotel.

In the afternoon visit the weaving home-studio of Mrs Carol Cassidy, an American textiles expert who arrived in Vientiane in 1989 as part of a United Nations project to promote traditional weaving. Carol was so impressed by the quality and diversity of weaving throughout Laos that she set up the Lao Textiles Studio in Vientiane. Today the studio employs over forty local weavers who create naturally dyed and woven silk pieces reflecting traditional Lao designs. Learn about the weaving techniques or make a purchase at the gift shop to help support the cause.

Note: Carol Cassidy is closed on Saturday-afternoon and on Sunday

Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation in VIENTIANE

Day 6
VIENTIANE > FLY TO PAKSE – WAT PHOU – CHAMPASAK

Depending on your departure flight, you may have free time at leisure, before being transferred to the airport for your flight.

Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and driver, we then transfer in 30 minute to Champasak where we continue by car to Wat Phou, an ancient Khmer religious complex dating back to the 5^th Century.  This dramatically sited temple is one of the highlights of any trip to Laos. We then transfer back to the historical town of Champasak where you have the rest of the day at leisure.

Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation in CHAMPASAK

Day 7
CHAMPASAK – 4000 ISLAND TOUR

After an early morning breakfast, we transfer south to Ban Hatsaikhone, where we board a local private boat for a boat tour of the 4000 Islands. We reach the picturesque island of Don Khone by lunchtime, and in the afternoon explore the island by bicycle, tracing the route of an old abandoned railway and admiring some of the old French Colonial buildings, and the beautiful Liphi Waterfall. We then return to our boat and head back to the mainland, visiting the spectacular Khone Phapheng Falls, one of the largest and most powerful waterfalls in Southeast Asia.

In the late afternoon, we drive back to Champasak, arriving there by early evening.

Included meals: Breakfast
Accommodation in CHAMPASAK

Day 8
CHAMPASAK – PAKSE DEPARTURE

Depending on your departure flight, you may have free time at leisure, before being transferred to Pakse airport for your flight.

Included meals: Breakfast

TOUR PRICE(S):

Standard 3*    : from US $ 1,207
Superior 4*     : from US $ 1,454
Deluxe 5*        : from US $ 1,780

* Prices are based on twin/ double share for group of at least 02 passengers travelling together and depend on availability and season.

All our itineraries can be customised. For questions or further information, Enquire Now!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION