Mysterious Laos

DAY 1 > BAN HOUEI XAI, BOAT TO PAKBENG

Pick up at Chiang Khong (Thailand border) and transfer to Houei xai (Laos border) to meet your Lao guide. Transfer to the boat pier, where you will start your cruise down the Mekong River to the small village of Pakbeng.  Stops are made along the way to explore rural life along the Mekong.  visit Ban Houeilanpan, a small village of H’Mong hill-tribe and also to visit Ban Koneteun, a village of Tai Leu ethnic group. Lunch is on board, arrive Pakbeng in late afternoon. Dinner is at your Lodge.

Accommodation:

What’s included: Transportation. Guide, entrance fee, dinner & accommodation.

DAY 2 > MEKONG RIVER CRUISE (B,L)

After breakfast, visit a local market where H’Mong and other ethnic minority people gather to trade their products. Continue on the second leg of your boat journey to Luang Prabang. On the way, stop to visit Ban Kock Aed, a small village of the Khmu hill-tribe. Lunch is served onboard. Make a stop at Pak Ou cave in the clift opposite the mouth of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist of two large caves, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimetres to two meters in height. Continue the short journey to Luang Prabang World Heritage City.

Accommodation:

Standard: 3* Hotel

Superior Class: 4* Hotel

First Class: 5* hotel

What’s included: Transportation, guide, bottle drinking water, entrance fee, breakfast, lunch & accommodation

DAY 3 > LUANG PRABANG (B,L)

Today you have the option to get up before dawn to participate in giving food to hundreds saffron robed monks passing by with their alms bowl. Your guide will prepare some food for you to offer alms if you wish. Giving alms to monks is an early morning ritual dating back for generations in Laos. Watch the town come to life in the morning and then return to hotel for breakfast.

Take a drive out of town and step into the tranquil world of Kuangsi waterfall, 30km south of the town. Stop en-route at the local market Talad Phosy to experience the local daily activities.  The waterfall in a national protected forest area and there is plenty of time to relax and swim in the clear, cool water. Return to Luang Prabang for a late lunch.

This afternoon take a tour around this sacred city of temples. Visit the National Museum (closed on Tuesday), the former Royal Palace which houses the collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue and gifts received from foreign dignitaries. Wat Visoun, Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple, which more than any other temple in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture; the private Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre (TAEC-closed on Monday) features ethnic clothing, household objects, religious artefacts and tools. A good chance to enhance your understanding of the lifestyles and traditions of Laos’ ethnic diversity.

Accommodation:

Standard: 3* Hotel

Superior Class: 4* Hotel

First Class: 5* hotel

What’s included: Transportation, guide, bottle drinking water, entrance fee, breakfast, lunch & accommodation

DAY 4 > LUANG PRABANG, XIENG KHOANG (PLAIN OF JARS) (B)

Breakfast at your hotel, today travel overland through magnificent karst mountains covered in dense jungle to reach Xieng Khoang; the province which is best-known for having been heavily bombed during Indochina War and of course the famous historic Plain of Jars.

Accommodation:

Standard: 3* Hotel

Superior Class: 4* Hotel

First Class: 5* hotel

What’s included: Transportation, guide, bottle drinking water, entrance fee, breakfast & accommodation

DAY 5 > XIENG KHOANG (PLAIN OF JARS) (B)

After breakfast, drive around 10km to the Plain of Jars, the archaeological spectacle of giant stone Jars, which date back at least 2000 years. The Plain of Jars, a plateau 50km wide scattered with over 300 stone jars. The 2,000 year-old jars range in size from 1 to 2.5 meters height, and although still something of a mystery are thought to have been used as funeral urns. Take a 1.5 hour drive to a district of Muang Kham, 51km from Xiengkhoang. Stop on the way to visit different villages of hill tribes such as Tai Dam, H’Mong, probably the best-known minority group in Laos. End the trip with a visit of MAG (Mine Advisory Group) at their camp. Learn about MAG’s current projects to create safe methods for the destruction of unexploded mines, which still plague the country. Return to your hotel.

Accommodation:

Standard: 3* Hotel

Superior Class: 4* Hotel

First Class: 5* hotel

What’s included: Transportation, guide, bottle drinking water, entrance fee, breakfast & accommodation

DAY 6 > XIENG KHOANG VIENTIANE (B) –

After breakfast, time is free to explore until your transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Vientiane the capital of Laos. On arrival at Wattay airport you will be met by your guide, and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Evening free.

Important note: Flights depart Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday only.

Accommodation:

Standard: 3* Hotel

Superior Class: 4* Hotel

First Class: 5* hotel

What’s included: Transportation, guide, bottle drinking water, entrance fee, breakfast & accommodation

DAY 7 > VIENTIANE (B)

A sightseeing tour of the city’s major historic sites where French colonial architecture sits next to gilded temples. During the tour you will visit religious museums of Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple that survived the Siamese war of 1828 with its cloister containing more than 8000 Buddha statues; Wat Ho Prakeo, containing a collection of Buddha statues, antiques and artefacts found in and around Vientiane; and Patouxay (Lao Arc de Triomphe), built quite recently in commemoration of those who died during the wars and it is today the landmark of Vientiane.

Accommodation:

Standard: 3* Hotel

Superior Class: 4* Hotel

First Class: 5* hotel

What’s included: Transportation, guide, bottle drinking water, entrance fee, breakfast & accommodation

DAY 8 > VIENTIANE – PAKSE – CHAMPASSAK – DON KHONG (B,L)

After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Pakse. On arrival, a short visit of Pakse town followed by a drive to Champassak. From here continue to Wat Phou, a pre-angkorian Khmer temple and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Return to Champasak for lunch, and see former royal mansions and samples of French colonial architecture. After lunch continue to Ban Kiet Ngong, a small Lao village where you will go for a 90min elephant ride through the forest (2 persons per elephant) and up to Mount Assa. Continue by road and ferry to Khong Island on the Mekong River, the biggest island in south Laos.

Accommodation:

Standard: 3* Hotel

Superior Class: 4* Hotel

First Class: 5* hotel

What’s included: Transportation, guide, bottle drinking water, entrance fee, breakfast, lunch & accommodation

DAY 9 > KHONG ISLAND – PAKSE (B,L)

After breakfast, take a local boat to the peaceful islands of Done Det and Done Khone, sites of the only railway ever built in Laos. This Railway was built at the end of the 19th century. After a stroll through the palm-fringed villages, continue to the southernmost part of Laos and the imposing Khone Papheng waterfalls, near the Cambodian border. Driving back to Pakse to spend the night.

Accommodation:

Standard: 3* Hotel

Superior Class: 4* Hotel

First Class: 5* hotel

What’s included: Transportation, guide, bottle drinking water, entrance fee, breakfast, lunch & accommodation

DAY 10 > PAKSE DEPARTURE (B)

After breakfast, morning free before your transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

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Although it is our intention to operate the itinerary as detailed in the proposal, we cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes made as a result of climatic conditions, alterations to flight schedules or other operational factors.