Best of Laos 8 Days
Highlights: Houeixai-Pakbeng-Oudomxay-Nongkhiaw-Luang Prabang-Vang Vieng-Vientiane
Tour is started from: Houeixai
Tour is finished from: Vientiane
Tour duration: 8 Days/ 7 Nights
Price from: $425
Please note that: Prices will depend on travel date, hotel choice, room categories, numbers of people traveling and all our itineraries are flexible and can be altered to suit your requirements.
Full Itinerary
Brief Itinerary
Day 1. Houeixai – Pakbeng
Day 2. Pakbeng – Oudomxay – Nong Khiow
Day 3. Nong Khiow – Luang Prabang
Day 4. Luang Prabang – City Tours
Day 5. Luang Prabang – Vang Vieng
Day 6. Vang Vieng – Vientiane
Day 7. Vientiane – Lakxao
Day 8. Lakxao – Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1. Houay Xay – Pakbeng (River)
This morning you have an early morning departure for to the small town of Chiang Khong, the exit point from Thailand to Laos on the banks of the Mekong River.
After passing through Thai immigration you will cross the Mekong River to Houay Xay where your Lao guide will be waiting for you at the immigration point. Completing Laos border formalities you board your traditional slow boat boat for the trip down the Mekong River. The scenery along this part of the Mekong is argueably at its most beautiful. As your journey downriver you will stop at the Hmong of Ban Houay Lampen where you have the opportunity to explore the village and observe their traditional lifestyle.
Arriving at Pakbeng late afternoon you will check in to your hotel and enjoy a few drinks watching the sun set over the mountains and the Mekong.
Overnight in Pakbeng. (B)
Day 2. Pakbeng – Oudomxay – Nong Khiaw (Road)
This morning we pay an early visit to the morning market in Pakbeng before driving towards Oudomxay, the most mountainous area in Laos. The road conditions are are can be rough depending on the season, so it may be a bumpy journey. However many villages dot the hillsides and the undulating terrain makes this an interesting journey.
Oudomxay Province is home to a mixture of 23 ethnic minority groups. We make a few rest stops along the way, giving you the opportunity to see the ethnic minority groups such as Hmong, Khmu, Black Thai and Lue. The hill tribe people are unfailingly friendly, welcoming you with waving hands and smilling faces.
Passing through Oudomxay city we continue to Nong Khiaw perched on the narrow banks of the Nam Ou River, the surrounding mountain scenery is awe-inspiring.
Arriving late afternoon we check in to our hotel and your evening is free to explore or relax at the hotel.
Overnight in Nong Khiaw (B)
Day 3. Nong Khiow – Luang Prabang (River)
This morning we board our traditional boat for the journey downstream on the tranquil Ou River. Along the way we will stop off to visit villages and 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.
We then join the Mekong River and continue downstream to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang. This former royal capital with its gleaming temple roofs, fading colonial architecture and stunning mountain backdrop retains a unique charm rarely found in all of Asia.
Arriving late afternoon we check into our hotel and freshen up before climbing 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.
Decenting the mountain your will find yourself 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 hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Your evening is free to explore the market and sample some traditional Lao cruisine at one of the many restaurants the town has to offer.
Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)
Day 4. Luang Prabang – City Tours
This morning you have the option and opportunity to rise early and participate in the daily morning ritual of ‘Alms Giving’, you will experience saffron-clad monks collecting offerings or ‘Alms’ from faithful local residents. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the daily procession.
After breakfast back at your hotel we will head out to 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 Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham. From here we visit the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts from the Royal period in Luang Prabang.
Your afternoon and evening is free to treat yourself to a spa treatment or massage, explore the town by foot or bicycle or relax at the hotel.
Overnight in Luang prabang (B)
Day 5. Luang Prabang – Vang Vieng (Road)
This morning we have an early departure following Route 13 to Vang Vieng. Climbing into the mountains we pass through spectacular scenery and numerous hill tribe villages. We will 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 arriving in Vang Vieng mid afternoon.
After check in and time to freshen up we will head out to explore the stnning scenery and countryside around the town. We visit Tham Hoy Cave, a large cave that runs 7 kilometres under the surrounding limestone kryst-mountains and drop into some ethnic villages along the way.
On the way back to town we will visit the Organic Farm, where you can sample some roasted goat cheese and mulberry wine.
Arriving back at the hotel late afternoon your evening is free to explore the town and enjoy a few drinks along the riverfront as the sun sets over the mountians and the nam Song River.
Overnight in Vang Vieng (B)
Day 6. Vang Vieng – Vientiane (Road)
After breakfast wehave an easy 4 hour drive to the national capital of Vientiane. This charming city has interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, Soviet and American influences.
Following check in at your centrally located hotel and time to freshen up we head out on our afternoon city tour enabling you to see the major temples of Vientiane including the oldest, Wat Sisaket, with it’s 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.
Heading for the waterfront your evening is free to enjoy a few drinks watching the sunset over the Mekong River, explore the Night Market and take in some of the city’s nightlife.
Overnight in Vientiane (B)
Day 7. Vientiane – Lak Xao (Road)
After an early departure this morning we drive south along Route 13 before turning east towards the Vietnam border. Along the way we pass through lush farming land on the plains that follows the Mekong River and then as we climb into the mountians and through the Hinboun Valley the landscape changes dramatically making this an interesting journey. We stop along the way for photo opportunities particularly as we cross the Annimite range with it’s craggy mountain peaks.
Lak Xao is the access town for the Laos-Vietnam border and has a bit of a ‘wild west’ feel about it. We arrive late afternoon and after check in at our hotel will have time to stroll around town and browse the local market.
Overnight in Lak Xao (B)
Day 8. Lak Xao – Departure
This morning you will be transferred to the Laos-Vietnam border where your tip ends. (B)
Included in above prices:
- Private, Airconditioned Transport
- Boat trips as stated in the itinerary
- English speaking guide
- Admission fees to sites stated in the itinerary
- Meals: daily breakfast at hotel
- Gov’t taxs and service charges
- Luggage handling
- Drinking water
Exclusive of above prices:
- Accommodation on a twin shared basis (quote separately)
- Visas and Immigration fees on arrival
- Domestic airticket
- Int’l air tickets to/from Laos
- Travel and/or Medical Insurance
- Lunch or dinner unless stated in the itinerary
- Single room accommodation (quoted separately)
- Child or adult in triple share accommodation
- Foreign language guides other than English
- Peak Season or Special Events Surcharges
- Tip, drinks and other personal expenses