Welcome to Laos!

Meet & greet: Upon arrival at airport you will be welcomed to Vietnam by your private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel. Early check-in at your hotel is subject to availability on arrival.

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Overnight in Luang Prabang at your selected hotel

After breakfast, visit this sacred city of temples with a visit to the National Museum (closed on Tue), the former Royal Palace housing a collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue and gifts from foreign dignitaries. Other must-see places include Wat Visoun, the 16^th century temple that served as a small museum for religious artifacts; Wat Xiengthong, the 16^th century temple said to be the most beautiful temple in town, epitomising all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture. Continue to visit Vat Phou and Vat Aham just next door which are framed by two large Banyan trees. Time permitting, visit the UXO Laos visitor centre, a museum explaining the devastation Laos suffered in the Second Indochina War and how nearly 40 years later death or injury from unexploded ordnance remains an everyday reality in several provinces.

If time permits, you will visit to Phousi Hill and climb the 328 steps to the summit which offers the finest panoramic view in the whole Luang Prabang, and is a wonderful place to watch the sunset.

Evening, attend Baci Ceremony arranged at a very traditional Laos house on stilt and guests can interact with home owner. This evening you will participate in a Baci ceremony, a Laotian tradition that predates Buddhism. Baci ceremonies are an integral part of Lao culture. Held to celebrate a special event, marriage, a homecoming, or a departure, they are based on an ancient belief that the human being is a union of 32 organs with the ‘Khuan’ (or soul) watching over each of them. The Baci ceremony re-aligns the “Khuan” and the body. Enjoy this traditional welcome, a village elder will wrap a white cotton thread around your wrist while chanting an invocation to strengthen the power of the blessing. In Laos, white is the colour of peace, good fortune and warmth.

Breakfast
Overnight in Luang Prabang at your selected hotel

You have the option to wake up before dawn to witness and participate in offering alms to hundreds of saffron-robed monks – an awe-inspiring sight for many travelers. Please tell your guide if you wish to make an offer so he/she can prepare some food for you. This early morning ritual dates back generations in Laos. Watch the town come to life in the morning and then return to hotel for breakfast
Note: With the Morning Alms Giving, if you do not wish to make an offering, please keep an appropriate distance and observe the ritual in silence. Dress appropriately – shoulder, chest and legs should be covered.

After breakfast, free at leisure OR you can opt to visit The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre OR Ock Pop Tok – Laos textiles workshop. Visit The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre is a non-profit museum and resource centre dedicated to the ethnic cultures of Laos. Its goal is to promote understanding, appreciation, and preservation of Laos’ ethnic cultures. An interaction with one of the directors is a great way to further your understanding of the varied lifestyles and traditions of Laos’ ethnic diversity. One of the director has a BA in Anthropology of Southeast Asia and also spent a significant amount of time in Lao rural villages conducting tourism surveys and developing community activities.

Alternatively, for those who are interested in Laos Textile, we will visit and enjoy a seminar on sericulture, natural dyes, weaving techniques, and symbolism in Lao textiles – the Ock Pop Tok. Many visitors to Lao are overwhelmed by the beauty and quantity of textiles. Our silk seminar answers some of the frequently asked questions regarding Lao textiles. Joanna Smith and Veo are experienced speakers, having lectured in Australia and Singapore. The talk takes place in a covered part of our workshop location on the banks of the Mekong. You will also enjoy cocktail at the Ock Pop Tok.

At around 14.00hrs depart your hotel for a river cruise on the Nagas Mekong cruise to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves which are located in the side of a limestone cliff, opposite of 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 centimetre to two meters in height. On the way back visit a typical Lao village and enjoy sunset as your cruise back to Luang Prabang with snack and cocktails arranged onboard Nagas Mekong cruise

Breakfast
Overnight in Luang Prabang at your selected hotel

After breakfast, check-out of the hotel and depart Luang Prabang for Muang La, and passing by Oudomxay Province, here we have a chance to visit the intriguing Pra Xack Kham Temple with its sacred Buddha image. The 400 years old legendary statue is said to have many supernatural powers, and is widely worshipped among the faithful local Buddhists. We stop in Muang La, famous for its natural hot springs for the night. No activities are planned for the rest of the day so you can stroll around the village or just relax at the riverside retreat enjoying a massage or sometime in the hot springs. Dinner is inclusive at the resort.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight in Muang La at your selected hotel

Today with a rural drive to meet Khor villages and Hmong, two communities typical of Laos. The track you will use is superb and offers an incredible climb up 1000m where you will have a memorable and unique point of view. You will visit first a beautiful village Ikhor totally isolated. This community from Yunnan and Tibet has remained extremely traditional. We join in after the Hmong village of Ban Tauser (45minutes walking). These ethnic group, originally high steppes of Tibet, you will discover their habits, the important place that keeps the animals (pigs, buffaloes…) in their lifestyle and care they provide. The path leading to the village completely isolated offers many viewpoints impressive. A few minutes from the villages is a viewpoint with 360 degree panorama on the region unique.

Back to the resort, the evening can be spent back at the resort relaxing in the natural hot springs, taking a traditional massage and enjoying the excellent local Lao cuisine in the restaurant.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight in Muang La at your selected hotel

This morning we drive to the riverside town of Muang Khua and board our local private boat for an unforgettable cruise down the Nam Ou River to Nong Kiau. This particular stretch offers stunning limestone karst scenery and remote villages, including Ban Sob Jaem – a Khmu and Hmong village that can only be accessed by boat. We stop en route for a quick visit at Muang Ngoi and the village surrounding.
Continue to explore a few sights en route before reaching our accommodation in Nong Kiau by late afternoon. Upon checking into your hotel, you have the option of taking a short bicycle ride to the picturesque local limestone caves nearby.
(Approximately 2-3hours driving, 5-6hours boating depending on stop on the way)

Breakfast, lunch
Overnight in Nong Kiau at your selected hotel

Boxed breakfast is required check-out of the hotel at 06.00am and take an overland driving from Nong Kiau to Luang Prabang, enjoying the lush green forests and landscape. Arrives back in Luang Prabang, transfer directly to the airport for your flight to Vientiane. (The journey today takes approximately 4-4.5hours including stops on the way)

Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel for checking in and the remainder of the day is free at leisure

Breakfast
Overnight in Vientiane at your selected hotel

This morning enjoy a half-day guided tour to discover the hidden charms of Vientiane, whose name means ‘the city of sandal wood’. Your tour begins at the serene Wat Sisaket, the only temple left intact after the Siamese (Thai) invasion in 1828. It is one of the most beautiful temples in the capital, and its breezy teak covered hallways are filled with thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Continue on to the nearby Wat Phra Keo. Used as a religious museum, Wat Phra Keo displays a collection of both Lao and Khmer works of art. Also nearby, is the Presidential Palace. Although you are not allowed to visit inside, it is a good glimpse into the town’s colonial past as this building formerly served as the French governor’s palace.

Continue to the Patuxay monument, Laos’ version of the Arc de Triomphe, where you can climb the stairs to the roof for sweeping panoramic views of the city. Next, your tour takes you to That Luang stupa, the holiest site in Laos. Constructed by King Setthethirat in the 16th century, the temple is resplendent as the sun is shines upon its towering golden spire. End your tour of the capital along the banks of the Mekong River. Stroll along the river, stop to enjoy a cold drink, or sample a snack from one of the many local food stalls.

Breakfast
Overnight in Vientiane at your selected hotel

Boxed breakfast is required, early morning check-out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for flight to Pakse.

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred by land (1 Hour) directly onto boat pier and then take the ferry (20 Minutes) to Don Daeng where the accommodation at La Folie lodge is located next to the ancient town of Champasak, known as Champa Kingdom and Wat Phou, another World Heritage Site in Laos, which became recognized by UNESCO in 2002.

Transfer to hotel for check-in or dropping off your luggage (Early check-in is NOT included & subject to hotel’s availability). The remainder of the day is free at leisure.

Breakfast
Overnight in Pakse at your selected hotel

After breakfast, depart our lodge to visit Pha Suam waterfall and to stroll around the ethnic minority villages of Lao Teung. Then, continue to visit the ruins of Wat Phu, the pre-Angkorian temple, 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 10^th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Here we also have a chance to visit some nearby Khmer temples and Buddhist shrines.

Breakfast
Overnight in Pakse at your selected hotel

After breakfast, enjoy a visit to the surrounding countryside by car, and then embark on a long tail boat tour at Hat Say Khoun boat pier of the Don Khone area 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 4,000 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. Then drive to visit Khone Phapheng waterfall, Khone Phapheng is considered the largest waterfall in South East Asia, known as Niagara of the east. Set within an area which is teeming with wildlife, making this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos.

Breakfast
Overnight in Pakse at your selected hotel

After breakfast, at around 10.00am check-out of the lodge and take 20-minute ferry ride to get to the pier. Upon arrival, transfer overland to cross Chong Mek border and straight to Ubon Ratchathani Airport for flight to Bangkok.

Upon arrival take shuttle minivan of Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport hotel to transfer to hotel for checking in.

Breakfast
Overnight at Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport hotel

After breakfast, at 12.00pm check-out of the hotel and take shuttle minivan of Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport hotel to transfer back to Suvarnabhumi airport for your departure flight to next destination or back to the UK.

Breakfast

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