Full Itinerary

Brief Itinerary

Day 1.  Arrival – Chiang Rai

Day 2.  Chiangrai- HoueiSay -Pakbeng (Cruise down operates Monday, Thursday & Friday)

Day 3.  Pakbeng – Luang Prabang

Day 4.  Luang Prabang – City Tours

Day 5.  Luang Prabang – Khouangsi Waterfall

Day 6.  Luang Prabang – Vientiane

Day 7.  Vientiane – City Tours

Day 8.  Vientiane – Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival – Chiang Rai

chiangrai Airport – Thailand

White Temple

One you arrive at Chiang Rai airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After check in we will visit Wat Rung Kung or the “White Temple” as it is known locally. This temle is privately owned and has fascinating architecture and adornments expressing something of the owner’s personal beliefs and interpretation of Buddhism.

Overnight in Chiang Rai (B)

Day 2. Chiangrai- Houay Xay -Pakbeng (Cruise downriver operates Monday, Thursday & Friday)

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.

Luang Say Lodge

Pakbeng

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 Laung Say 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 some Hmong, Yao and Khmu ethnic minority villages and have the opportunity to observe their traditional lifestyle.

Arriving at pakbeng late afternoon you will check in to your bungalow and enjoy a few drinks watching the sun set over the mountains and the Mekong.

Overnight in Luang Say Lodge (B, L, D)

Day 3. Pakbeng – Luang Prabang

This morning we continue downstream pass areas of un-spoilt forest with little villages along the riverbanks and perhaps the odd elephant or two with his mahout. You will visit a fishing village and a rice winemaking village and perhaps even taste some of the infamous beverage known locally as Lao Lao.

Pak-Ou Caves

Buddha Park

We will pull over for a visit to Pak-Ou Caves, an ancient pilgrimage site and containing thousands of gold lacquered Buddha images left there over hundreds of years.

Arriving in Luang Prabang around sunset we will transfer to your hotel. Your evening is free to explore the town or relax at your hotel.

Overnight in Luang Prabang (B, L)

Day 4. Luang Prabang – City Tours

After breakfast 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 Xiengthong

Wat Visoun

You have free afternoon to treat yourself to a spa treatment or massage, go shopping or relax at the hotel.

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 5. Luang Prabang – Khouangsi Waterfall

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.

Phousi Market

KuangSii Falls

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 6. Luang Prabang – Vientiane (road)

This morning after breakfast we head south for the capital city of Vientiane. The drive takes us through stunning mountain scenery and many ethnic villages along the way. We will stop for lunch at Phou Khoun with panoramic views from this mountain top restaurant.

Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng

Driving on to the town of Vang Vieng we stop briefly to admire the majestic limestone kryst-mountain emerging from the fields on the other side of the Nam Song River that flows alongside the town.

We arrive in Vientiane early evening and following check in at your centrally located hotel you are free to explore the town or relax at the hotel.

Overnight in Vientiane (B)

Day 7. Vientiane – City Tours

This morning we begin our city tour with a visit to the city’s main local market, Dalat Sao, full of the sights, sounds and smells of a bussling Lao market. From there we visit 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.

This afternoon visit Carol Cassidy’s Lao Textiles Studio, an American who has done much to advance the Lao weaving tradition and provide employment and income for Lao women.

Patuxay Monument

vientiane City Tour

From there we 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 8. Vientiane – Departure

This morning is free until transfer to the hotel 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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