BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival – Luang Prabang
Day 2: Luang Prabang – full day city tour
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfall and Pak Ou Caves
Day 4: Luang Prabang – Pakse – Wat Phu – 4000
Day 5: 4000 Islands and surrounding
Day 6: 4000 Islands – Pakse – Departure
Day 1: Arrival – Luang Prabang (D)
Upon arrival at the airport, we will be met and transferred to our hotel in Luang Prabang city center. The rest of the day is at leisure. Tonight we will enjoy our welcome dinner at a fine local reataurant in town. Overnight in LuangPrabang.
Day 2: Luang Prabang – Full day city tour (B)
In the morning, we will meet our guide at the hotel and start our tour with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong. Then we visit the impressive stupa of WatVisoun and the shrine of Wat Aham.
In the afternoon, we visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures before we head out of town to see the weaving villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek. After that, we return to the city to visit to Wat Mai. Before ending our day tour, we climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River.
In the evening, we are free to explore the famous Night by our own.
Note: the Royal Palace Museum is closed on Tuesdays. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfall and Pak Ou Caves (B)
Today, we visit the morning Phousi Market and ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, Khmu villages. After short rest at Khmu villages, we visit Khuang Si Waterfall where we can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails.
In the afternoon, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we disembark the boat to visit traditional villages, and continue taking a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village famous for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 4: Luang Prabang – Pakse – Wat Phu – 4000 Islands (B)
After breakfast, we transfer to our airport to take our flight to Pakse. On arrival, we meet tour guide and driver and head south to Champassak and to visit the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia’s most dramatically situated temples. We have time to explore these intriguing Khmer ruins, which are perched at the base of Mount Phu Kao.
In the afternoon, we continue our journey by long tail boat to Si Phan Done where we will have the rest of the day to relax or to explore the island. Overnight in Si Phan Done area.
Day 5: 4000 Islands and surrounding (B)
After an early morning breakfast, we head south by road and boat to Done Khone. Here we begin by re-tracing the French colonial-past at Ban Khone, where some old colonial houses still stand and glimpse the first Lao railway with its own locomotive. We continue our exploration of the area of the 4000 islands by boat and visit the beautiful Liphi waterfall, also known as the Samphamith, which forms a natural border between Lao and Cambodia. We return to Ban Nakasang and drive to the famous waterfall of Khone Phapeng – the largest waterfall in South East Asia, also known as the ‘Niagara of the east’. Overnight in Si Phan Done area.
Day 6: 4000 Islands – Pakse – Departure (B)
Today our awaiting vehicle will transfer us back to the Pakse airport for our departure flight. Trip ends.
