Full Itinerary

Brief Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival – Pakse – Khong Islands

Day 2. Khong Islands-Elephant ride at Phou Asa-Pakse

Day 3. Pakse – Boloven Plateau – Tadlo waterfall

Day 4. Tadlo waterfall – Pakse – Vientiane

Day 5. Vientiane – Luang Prabang

Day 6. Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves

Day 7. Luang Prabang – Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival – Pakse – Khong Islands

On arrival at Pakse airport you will be met and transferred directly to the Mekong River to board a traditional boat for a 2 hour cruise to Champassak.  Disembarking at this town wharf we will continue by road to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Wat Phou, one of Southeast Asia’s most dramatically situated mountain top temples. We have time to explore these intriguing Khmer ruins, which are perched at the base of Mount Phu Kao. 

Wat Phou

Oup Mong

This afternoon we continue by road south into the 4000 islands area of southern Laos where the Mekong flows into Camboodia. This area is also home to the rare Irrawaddy Dolphin. Along the way we will explore the ancient ruins of Oup Mong, a Khmer temple at Ban Houay Tomo.

Reaching the pier at Ban Nakasang late afternon we board a long tail motorboat for the short journey to the peaceful Don Khone Island.

Overnight on Don Khone Island (B)

Day 2. Khong Island – Phou Asa – Pakse

After an early morning breakfast, we explore Khone Island. Here we begin by re-tracing the French colonial-past at Ban Khone, where some old colonial houses still stand and you glimpse the first Lao railway with its own locomotive. If we have luck we may catch a glimpse of the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Dolphin at Ban Hang Khone.  We continue our exploration of the area visit the beautiful Liphi waterfall, also known as the Samphamith, which forms a natural border between Lao and Cambodia.

Liphi waterfall

elephant riding

We return to Ban Nakasang and drive to the famous waterfall of Khone Phapeng – the largest waterfall in South East Asia, also known as the ‘Niagara of the East’.

This afternoon as we drive north towards Pakse and stopping at Phou Asa to visit the vestiges of a temple dating back to the 18^th century. Depending on time and availability, we may get a chance to experience elephant riding along the dense forest paths. Reach Pakse before sunset you will be transferred to your hotel.

Overnight in Pakse (B)

Day 3. Pakse – Boloven Plateau – Tad Lo waterfall

After breakfast we head for the refreshing mountain climate on the Bolevan Plateau.  The area is famous for its many waterfalls and we will visit two of the best, Tad Fan, with it’s impressive twin falls cascading over 100 metres to the valley floor below and Tad Ngeuan, with it’s prisitine pools for taking a refreshing dip and coffee shop and plantation where you can sample some real Lao coffee. 

Tad Fan

Tad Ngeuan

Along the way you will see the rich soils of the region being cultivated for coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops before we arrive at Tad Lo, home to another scenic waterfall and numerous ethnic minority groups. We visit the villages of Alak, Nge, and Katu before overnighting in Tad Lo.

Overnight in Tad Lo (B)

Day 4. Tadlo waterfall – Pakse – Vientiane (Flight)

After an early morning departure we drive to Pakse to board our flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to our centrally located hotel.

Patuxay Monument

Tadlo waterfall

Your afternoon city tour enables 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 5. Vientiane – Luang Prabang

This morning we transfer to the airport for a short flight to Luang Prabang. After checking into your hotel we 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. 

Wat Xiengthong

Luang Prabang Night Market

From there we 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. 

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 smaple some traditional Lao cruisine at one of the many restaurants the town has to offer.

Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Day 6. Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves

This morning we visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures. You can enjoy a coffee at the centre’s café if you chose before we head for the Mekong River and 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. 

Arts and Ethnology Centre

Ban Phanom

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.

Your afternoon is free to treat yourself a spa treatment or massage, go exploring or do some shopping or relax at your hotel.

Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Day 7. Luang Prabang – Departure

After breakfast we take a stroll through the Dalat Sao or morning market, full of local foodstuffs from the farms and jungles surrounding Luang Prabang. From here it is a short walk to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts from the Royal period in Luang Prabang.

Dalat Sao

Royal Palace Museum

We then transfer to the airport for your departure flight(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

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