Full Itinerary

Day 1.  Arrival – Luang Prabang

Day 2.  Luang Prabang – Pakou – Luang Prabang

Day 3.  Luang Prabang – Khouangsi Waterfalls – Hill Tribe Tour

Day 4.  Luang Prabang – Vientiane

Day 5.  Vientiane – Pakse – Champassak – Wat Phou (Wat Phou Cruise)

Day 6.  Huei Thamo – Oum Moung Temple – Khong Island (Wat Phou Cruise)

Day 7. Ban Veuthong – the “Niagara of the East – Xieng Di – Pakse (Wat Phou Cruise)

Day 8. Pakse – Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival – Luang Prabang

On arrival at Luang Prabang International Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

After check in and time to freshen up 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.

Wat Aham

Royal Palace Museum

Late afternoon 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 sample some traditional Lao cruisine at one of the many restaurants the town has to offer.

Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Day 2. Luang Prabang – Pakou – Luang Prabang

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. 

Pak Ou Caves

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.

The evening is free to explore the town, enjoy a drink as you watch the sunset over the Mekong or relax at the hotel.

Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Day 3. Luang Prabang – Kuang Sii Waterfalls

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.

Kuang Sii Waterfall

Phousi Market

After breakfast back at your hotel we drive to Kuang Sii Waterfall stopping along the way to visit the morning Phousi Market, this where all locals of Luang Prabang come to do their daily shopping. You will see a variety of local foodstuffs and products including dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, fish, vegetables and fruit, everything needed for daily life in Laos.

On arrival at the Kuang Sii Falls you will have the opportunity to cool off with a refreshing swim in the topaz pools below the falls, walk along the forest trails and visit the Bear Sanctuary.

Arriving back in Luang Prabang mid afternoon you are free to treat yourself to a spa treatment or massage, relax at the hotel or head to the Night Market to do some shopping.

Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Day 4. Luang Prabang – Vientiane (Flight)

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.

Patuxay Monument

That Luang Stupa

From here we transfer to the airport for our short flight to Vientiane. 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 – Pakse – Vat Phou Cruise (Flight)

You have an early start this morning with a 6.30am flight to Pakse.

On arrival you’ll be met and transferred to the Vat Phou Cruise boat, once on board we head south, arriving at Champassak in time for a riverside lunch, followed by a guided tour of the mysterious pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Phou, the boat’s namesake.

Vat Phou Cruise

Wat Phou

As dusk falls, we board the Vat Phou for a relaxing cruise down-river, enjoying the tropical sunset on the deck. Dinner is served on board while the boat docks for the night alongside a remote Laotian village.

Overnight on board the Vat Phou (B, L, D)

Day 6:  Vat Phou Cruise (Huei Thamo – Oum Moung Temple – Khong Island)

After a leisurely breakfast on board, we set sail for the village of Huei Thamo, only a few minutes walk away from the spectacular and ancient forest temple of Oum Moung.

Huei Thamo

Oum Moung

Rejoining the boat we cruise south to the ‘4000 islands’ region, while enjoying lunch on the deck. Arrivng mid afternoon at Ban Dua Tae, a traditional Lao village, you will have the opportunity to explore and observe the traditional daily life of the village.

As the sun sets over the Mekong you will return to the boat and enjoy a quiet dinner on board serenaded by the songs of the buffalo toads.

Overnight on board Wat Phou Cruise (B, L, D) 

Day 7: Vat Phou Cruise (Veuthong – the “Niagara of the East – Xieng Di) – Pakse

Today we will enjoy breakfast on the upper deck, while cruising to the small village of Ban Veuthong, where we will board a small longtail boat for a short journey to Khong Island, the largest island in the 4,000 islands region. 

Khong Island

Ban Veuthong

After visiting the island we return to the mainland for lunch amid the bygone splendor of another age, colorful French colonial houses and an old customs post alongside a stone quay.

Following lunch we jump in minivans for our drive to the encaptivating, scenic splendor of the Khone Phapeng waterfall, “the Niagara of the East“, close to the Cambodian border. Return to Pakse by road we will arrive late afternoon.

Overnight in Pakse (B,L)

Day 8. Pakse – Departure

After breakfast, we will shall bid farewell and transfer you to the airport or Thai border. (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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