- Overview
- Itinerary in Detail
- Gallery
Day 1: Arrival Vientiane
Day 2: Vientiane – Pakse – Boloven Plateau – Pakse
Day 3: Pakse – Wat Phou – Don Khong
Day 4: Don Khong – Khone Island – Pakse
Day 5: Pakse – Luang Prabang
Day 6: Luang Prabang
Day 7: Luang Prabang – Elephant Village – Kuangsi – Luong Prabang
Day 8: Mekong River – Pak Ou – Luong Prabang
Day 9: Luang Prabang – Departure
DAY 1 : ARRIVAL VIENTIANE (L/D)
On arrival, meet our guide and transfer to hotel for checking in. After lunch, visit Wat Sisaket, the oldest standing temple in Vientiane housing many important documents and treasures, including 6,840 Buddha images. Across the road, visit Ho Prakeo, home of the Emerald Buddha (Prakeo) and a museum with the most extensive collection of Buddhist artifacts in the country. Next is the opportunity to photograph and/or climb to the top for a panoramic view of the city at Patuxay (Victory Gate). The monument was modeled after the Arc de Triumph in Paris yet retains its Laotian identity with traditional decorative motifs. Visit That Luang (The Great Sacred Stupa) said to contain relics of the Lord Buddha and is the country’s most cherished religious monument. The largest Buddhist festival of the year is held here on the 12th month of the Buddhist calendar. Dinner with show at local restaurant in town. Overnight at hotel in Vientiane.
DAY 2: VIENTIANE – PAKSE – BOLOVEN PLATEAU – PAKSE (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. You will take an early morning flight to Pakse, where you will be met and driven to Saravana province via Tateng. The bubbling water and lush vegetation around Tad Fan waterfall make a spectacular view. You will make a stop on the way to observe the traditional local tea and coffee making activity and learn about life in the Boloven Plateau area. The cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops are common, and visitors are encouraged to venture off the beaten path and explore some of the lesser-known areas of the region. Upon arrival at Tad Lo waterfall, you will visit Alak, Nge and Katu villages. Return to Pakse. Lunch at local restaurants. Dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel in Pakse.
DAY 3: PAKSE – WAT PHOU – DON KHONG (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. 08:00 You will head for Khong Island and visit the pre-Angkoran ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia’s most dramatically situated temples. You will explore these Khmer ruins, perched atop a hill, and which are one of two Laos World Heritage sites recognized by UNESCO in 2001. This wonderful archeological site dates back to the 9th Century. Lunch in a local restaurant. You will make your way past some of the 4000 islands in the region on your way to Don Khong. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Don Khong.
DAY 4: DON KHONG – KHONE ISLAND – PAKSE (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. 08:00 You will enjoy a visit to the surrounding countryside and board a long tail boat as you explore sites on your way to Liphi waterfall or “the Corridor of the Devil”. You will see local fishermen at work before returning to the mainland at Ban Nakasang on your way to visit Khone Phapheng, the biggest waterfall in Southeast Asia. Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel in Pakse.
DAY 5: PAKSE – LUANG PRABANG (B/-/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Free on your own until transfer to Pakse Airport for your departing flight to Luang Prabang.
Arriving in Luang Prabang you will be welcomed by your guide who will take you to your hotel. Free time to discover the city on your own. Once the heart and soul of the ancient kingdom of Laos, Luang Prabang is now a designated World Heritage-listed site. The city is filled with ornate temples, French colonial architecture and has a truly magical feel about it. Lunch at local and dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang.
DAY 6: LUANG PRABANG (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. 08:00 You will visit the major sites including the National museum, the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Mai and Wat Xieng Thong. You will then climb up to the top of Phousi mountain for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa, as well as see a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong river. From there, you will go to explore the Night market, where you can find lovely crafts and handmade textiles sold by local and hill tribe people from the surrounding area. You will have a brief rest. Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang.
DAY 7: LUANG PRABANG – ELEPHANT VILLAGE – KUANGSI – LUONG PRABANG (B/L/-)
You have an optional early wake-up call to participate in giving food to hundreds of Buddhist monks returning from dawn prayers. Otherwise, take a stroll through the morning market. Then head back to the hotel for breakfast.
08:00 Proceed to the Elephant project and the “Elephant village” about 15km out of town and in the middle of a green, natural surrounding, settled on the banks of the Nam Khan river. Here you will be introduced to the protected Asian Elephants and go out for a scenic ride in the beautiful settings along the river. Enjoy the new perspective and the wonderful nature on this 1-hour elephant ride through which you support the rescue of our former logging elephants. A stunning landscape, tranquility and lush nature give you a relaxed stay on the back of the elephant. Lean back in your seat and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Get back to Luang Prabang. Then you will drive out of town 30 km to the beautiful Kuangsi waterfall, where you can swim, relax and softly trek to the top of the fall. Lunch at a local restaurant. On your way back, you’ll have a short stop at a Black Hmong village, where hill tribe handicrafts are sold as souvenirs to passing visitors. Once back in town, you will have the rest of the day free to indulge in an afternoon tea or coffee at one of the many stylish cafes and bars as you people-watch or plan some shopping. Dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang.
DAY 8: MEKONG RIVER – PAK OU – LUONG PRABANG (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. 08 :00 Take a Mekong riverboat trip to visit the famous and sacred Pak Ou
Buddha Caves, overlooking the confluence of the Mekong & Ou Rivers. The caves are home to many thousands of Buddha images that have been placed here by local people since the 16th Century. Lunch at a local restaurant. Next, you will return to Luang Prabang to visit the Por Sa paper handicraft and textile area at Ban Xang Khong. For the rest of the day you will be free to relax. Dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang.
DAY 9: LUANG PRABANG – DEPARTURE (B/-)
Breakfast at your hotel. Free on your own until transfer to the airport for the flight to your next destination.
