Duration: 6 days
Date: No fixed departure dates. You may go whenever you wish.
Start/End: Vientiane/Luang Prabang
Tour type: Classic
Tour Customizable: Absolutely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival – Vientiane
Day 2: Vientiane – Vang Vieng
Day 3: Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang
Day 4: Luang Prabang – Full day city tour
Day 5: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfall and Pak Ou Caves
Day 6: Luang Prabang – Departure
Day 1: Arrival – Vientiane
Upon arrival at Wattay International Airport, you will be met by your Local Guide and transferred to your hotel.
If time permitting (depending on your arrival time) your half day city tour enables you to see 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. Overnight in Vientiane.
Day 2: Vientiane – Vang Vieng ( B )
After an early breakfast we depart the capital for our journey northbound. Our drive will take approximately 4 hours passing through spectacular countryside before climbing into the mountains. There will be photo opportunities along the way and a stop at a colorful local market where various hill tribes come to trade goods and buy provisions.
We will arrive in the midst of the stunningly beautiful scenery of Vang Vieng in time for lunch at the Organic Farm where you can eat traditional Lao food and sample some roasted goat cheese and mulberry wine.
After lunch we will visit the famous Than Jang Cave, once used by local people as a hideout from Chinese invaders. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore Vang Vieng by foot or bicycle, take a boat ride up river or just relax by the pool at your hotel. Overnight in Vang Vieng.
Day 3: Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang ( B )
This morning we drive further into the mountains passing spectacular scenery and numerous hill tribe villages. We will have lunch at an altitude of approximately 1,300 meters above sea level surrounded by the endless mountain peaks of this remote region.
After lunch we continue on along Route 13 stopping for photo opportunities and arriving in Luang Prabang early evening. Overnight in Luang Prabang .
Day 4: Luang Prabang – Full day city tour (B )
After breakfast at hotel we will head off on bicycles to see some of the highlights of Luang Prabang including a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts from the Royal period in Luang Prabang. Cycling on, we will see 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 WatVisoun and the shrine of Wat Aham.
Afternoon we will visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures. You can enjoy a coffee at the center’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 be 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.
Day 5: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfall and Pak Ou Caves ( B )
This morning we drive to Kuang Si Waterfall stopping along 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 Kuang Si Falls 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 BBQ picnic lunch under 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.
Day 6: Luang Prabang – Departure( B )
This morning you have free time before being transferred to the airport for your departing flight. Trip concludes.
