Overview

An excellent value private tour covering all the highlights of Laos on this adventurous tour which is an overland journey through Laos. The trip starts in the ancient city of Luang Prabang, then ventures south to the mysterious Plain of Jars, an archaeological site dating back over 2000 years. Continue south to Vientiane, the Lao capital and a former French Indochina trading post. Our next drive south to the little-visited Khammouane Province to see the legendary Kong Lor Cave, a spectacular 7km long cavern with a navigable river running through its length, and explore the birdwatching paradise of Na Hin Forest. The penultimate leg of the trip is the mysterious pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Phou and end trip by relaxing 3 night stay on one of laid-back island in the 4000 Islands region of the Mekong River.

We have an extensive selection of suggested Lao tours for you to browse through below. The tours have been given styles, and you can search for ones that match your interests and preferred departure month using the tour finder. If you can’t see one that fits the bill, or would like to amend any of these tours, please let us know and we can plan a bespoke tour of Laos based on your personal requirements.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Luang Prabang - Arrival (Flight information to be advised/ Clients’ own ticket)

Welcome to Luang Prabang/Laos!

On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang was the royal capital of the former Lane Xang Kingdom, with its gleaming temple roofs, colonial architecture and stunning mountain backdrop retains a unique charm rarely found in all Asia

Hightlights: Arrival and welcome
None
Overnight in Luang Prabang at your selected hotel

Today we continue seeing Luang Prabang with the temple of Wat Xieng Thong, a magnificent piece of architecture, which nestles at the meeting of the Mekong and the Nam Khan River. The temple structures are decorated in various ways with gilded stuccoes as well as doorways and the main sim has a marvelous ‘tree life’ mosaic pattern on an outer wall. We embark on a boat for a leisurely trip on the Mekong River, stopping en route at Ban Xang Hai to see the production of and to sample the local rice wine. Upon leaving this village we pass through stunning mountain landscape to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. These two linked caves are crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes, all brought there by devout villagers. After the river trip we drive towards Ban Phanom, a small village known for its hand weaving.

Breakfast
Overnight in Luang Prabang at your selected hotel

Morning guided tour of Luang Prabang: The exploration of Luang Prabang would be not complete with a visit to the National Museum (close Tuesday) at the former Royal Palace. This interesting structure displays a lovely collection of treasures and artefacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. Here is plenty to see, some of which are the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham and Wat Mai with five tiered roofs.

Afternoon guided tour of Khouang Si waterfall: Heading out of town we drive southbound passing some verdant and rugged scenery on our way to visiting some hill tribe people at Ban Lao Soung and Ban Ou. Here we take a walk to the beautiful Khouang Si waterfalls, where water tumbles over multi-tiered limestone formations into cool and crystal clear pools, ideal for anyone seeking an enjoyable escape when the heat becomes unbearable. These waterfalls are a paradise setting surrounded by lush forest. We return to Luang Prabang by later afternoon, we a climb to Phousi Hill to enjoy a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River. There are 329 steps leading us on zigzag way past various temples to the sacred, gilded stupa of Wat Phousi at the summit. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Breakfast 
Overnight in Luang Prabang at your selected hotel

Today we leave this charming town and drive to Xieng Khouang, an area once devastated by American bombings between 1964 and 1973. These back roads are a great way to explore the real Laos. We see very few other travelers, mostly rural dwellers who are just as interested in finding out about our lives as we are of theirs. The drive is very long, but we can make many stops at our pleasure, to stretch our legs and take some wonderful photographs. In the afternoon there will be time to see the old capital of Muang Khoun Province and its’ nearby villages

Breakfast
Overnight in Xieng Khouang at your selected hotel

The “Plan of Jars” is an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are scattered all over a plateau. These huge jars are supposedly over 2,000 years old, but most of archaeologists still question their purpose. We have time today to explore the site and some nearby villages, populated by the Hmong hill tribe and Tai Dam people; they are very poor but possess a vibrant local culture and an interesting history. We leave Xieng Khouang for our scenic drive to Vang Vieng, a small and tranquil town, which is nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River. Its stunning scenery with a mixture of quiet water and limestone outcrops remains unspoiled, despite recent developments with the advent of tourism. Depending on road and traffic conditions, we will arrive at Vang Vieng by late afternoon.

Breakfast
Overnight in Vang Vieng at your selected hotel

An impressive way to start our day is a walk around the bustling central market. Heading out of town we cross Namsong River to Tham Jang the limestone cliffs and valleys surrounding the resort complex of Vang Vieng are home to numerous caves and caverns. The most famous in Vang Vieng is the cave of Tham Jang, which was used in the early 19th century in defense against the Chinese invaders. We also cross the river to Ban Huai Ngai, a very pleasant village where we can explore the different local lifestyles. We bid farewell to this dream-like town and drive to Vientiane Capital. Located on the banks of the Mekong River. This capital conjures up exotic images, with a curious mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French influences.

Breakfast
Overnight in Vientiane at your selected hotel

Our full day sightseeing tour of Vientiane commences with a visit to Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple standing in Vientiane. This amazing structure features remarkable frescoes and Buddha statues. The following sight is the former royal temple of Haw Pha Kaew, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit the imposing Patouxai Monument well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe before continuing to the great sacred structure and symbol of Laos, That Luang Stupa. We head out of town to see the Buddha Park, a scattered enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, near the Friendship Bridge. There are approximately 200 religious images dating back over 500 years, which were created by a mysterious monk spreading his philosophy on life and revealing his ideas about the universe. Observing the spectacular view of over the Mekong River at sunset from one of the riverside bars is a perfect way to finish the day.

Breakfast
Overnight in Vientiane at your selected hotel

We depart early for our drive towards Khammouane province. Along the way we can make several stops to stretch your legs and take some wonderful pictures of the breathtaking scenery of Lao Countryside. Depending on road and traffic conditions, we will arrive at Ban Tiou, the gateway to Khong Lor Cave, by mid or late afternoon. On arrival wee enjoy a short walk around this charming village, enabling us to understand a little more about their culture and lifestyle.

Breakfast
Overnight in Khammouane at your selected hotel

The amazing cave of Khong Lor is 7.5km long and was formed by the Hin Boun River, which flows though the cave all year round. Today we take a short drive to Khong Lor Cave, stopping en route for at Ban Tiou for a walk to That Mouang and That Namsanam Waterfalls. Here we embark on a small boat for an impressive excursion through the main cave to the valley beyond, stopping to observe the stalactite formations. The cave is still used by local villages as an access route.

Breakfast & Lunch
Overnight in Khammouane at your selected hotel

We leave Ban Na Hin and continue venturing in southern Laos, next stop being Pakse, the capital city of the south. Along the way we make stop at Sananakhet. This fast growing town has become an important trade center between Vietnam and Laos. There is not much to see in this town but it is a necessary stop for lunch. We arrive in Pakse Town by evening and have time to stroll around and catch our first glimpse of the town.

Breakfast
Overnight in Pakse at your selected hotel

The next destination of our trip will be Tadlo. On our way we pass many lush plantations, hills, forests and villages. Part of our pleasure of travelling in this region is to observe the beautiful countryside and meet local people. We stop over at some of the nearby villages, home of the Kato hilltribe group. The hill tribe people are unfailingly friendly; welcoming you with waving hands and smilling faces. These ethnic minorities still retain their age and old cultural traditions and are recognisably distinct from each other by their dress. We continue our journey through the Paksong and Boloven Plateau. The Boloven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. Rivers run off this high plateau in all directions and then plunge out to lush forests along in a series of spectacular surging waterfalls. The scenery around Tad Fan waterfall is spectacular with twin waterfalls plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by flourishing vegetation. A trip to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that can be seen en route. This trip gives visitors the chance to venture off the beaten track and to discover some of the lesser-known areas of Laos, exploring the wild beauty of this southern region.

Breakfast
Overnight in Tadlo/Salavan at your selected hotel

The views of stumbling water and lush vegetation around the waterfalls are nothing short of spectacular. We leave this lovely destination and drive back to Pakse and enjoy a leisurely trip to the former royal capital of Champasak, our base for exploring the 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. Wat Phu is one of the Lao World Heritage sites recognized by UNESCO in 2001, this wonderful archeological site of Khmer civilization dates back to the 9th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. A festival of this site is held yearly during the full moon in February and attracts numerous pilgrims from all over southern Laos. We continue our journey by motorboat to Don Khong, the largest island in the South Mekong river region known as the 4000 islands, one of the most scenic areas in Laos. We drive to Ban Muang then crossing Mekong to Done Deang for the night

Breakfast
Overnight on Done Daeng island at your selected hotel

After breakfast is free at leisure on your own account, guide and driver are on your disposal in Done Deang Island, you may take hotel bikes to cycle around the island with guide (no extra charge)

Breakfast
Overnight on Done Daeng island at your selected hotel

Heading out of town we embark on a long tail boat for venturing into the widest reach of the Mekong River, where during the dry season the waters recede and leave behind thousands of islets, giving this area a lovely name” Si Phan Done”. We explore the local peaceful villages of Ban Khone, where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with it’s locomotive. We continue discover the 4000 islands area by boat at our leisure to visit the marvelous Liphi waterfall, also called the “Corridor of the Devil” one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking the end of Lao border to Cambodia. If we are lucky, we may even see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone.

Afterward, we board a boat to Ban Nakasung and take a short drive to the Lao – Cambodia border, en route we visit the breathtaking Khone Phapheng waterfall, the South East Asia’s biggest waterfall, known as the Niagara of the East. We then return to Pakse City in late evening for the night

Breakfast & Dinner
Overnight in Pakse at your selected hotel

Morning at leisure: This morning is at leisure in Pakse to explore independently and hunt for souvenirs. You will have to check out of your room at noon time and then be transferred to the airport for your departure flight home. **note: check out time at your hotel is at 12:00pm

Breakfast
End of services

Start/Finish

  • Luang Prabang
  • Pakse

Duration

15 days – 14 nights

Traveling dates: 

Year round and best time from December to September of next year

Price from

US$7,789

included/excluded costs

Places visited

Luang Prabang, Xieng Khouang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Khammouane Champasak/ Pakse

Recommended Hotels

Hotels in Laos recommended by TONLE Journeys

Included costs:

Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast as mentioned per program
All private transfers and transportation on tour
Sightseeing with 01 Escort English speaking guide throughout the itinerary from Luang Prabang until – Pakse
Entrance fees & boat cruise as per program
Meals as indicated in the program
Have 2 bottles of mineral water per pax per tour day

 Excluded costs:

 Other services and airfares are not mentioned in the program and the inclusion column
  Visa stamping fee      
  Air-tickets: PKZ-BKK (Economy class and included airport taxes)
  International airport taxes
  Overweight luggage
  Travel insurance
  Gratuities/ Tipping
  Personal expenses
  Early check-in or late check-out at all hotels