Laos South to North Discovery – 11 Days / 10 Nights

DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN VIENTIANE

Upon arrival at Vientiane Airport, your guide and driver will warmly welcome you and escort you to your hotel for check-in.

Take the rest of the day to relax and enjoy your first taste of Laos’s peaceful capital.
Overnight in Vientiane.

DAY 02: VIENTIANE CITY TOUR (B)

After breakfast, begin your exploration with Wat Sisaket, the oldest surviving temple in Vientiane, home to thousands of tiny Buddha images. Continue to Wat Phra Keo, now a museum of Lao and Khmer religious art.

See the elegant Presidential Palace, then visit That Luang, Laos’s most sacred monument and symbol of national identity. Continue to Patuxay Monument, the city’s own Arc de Triomphe, and climb to the top for panoramic views.

In the afternoon, drive to Buddha Park, home to over 200 Buddhist and Hindu sculptures. Stop en route to photograph the Friendship Bridge linking Laos and Thailand. Return to the city and stroll along the Mekong Riverside before heading back to your hotel.
Overnight in Vientiane.

DAY 03: VIENTIANE – KONG LOR (B)

After breakfast, drive south toward Ban Kong Lor, passing through scenic landscapes of limestone karsts, forests, and rice paddies. En route, stop at Wat Prabath Phonsane, known for the sacred footprint of Buddha.

Arrive in Kong Lor Village, check in, and prepare for an unforgettable boat adventure through the Kong Lor Cave — a 7.5-kilometer underground stretch of the Hin Boun River. Glide through vast chambers filled with dramatic stalactites and stalagmites before emerging on the far side to visit nearby villages.

Return downstream through the cave and relax in your village lodge.
Overnight in Ban Kong Lor.

DAY 04: KONG LOR – SAVANNAKHET (B)

Start the morning with a short walk through nearby villages to observe local life. Continue south toward Thakhek, a quiet riverside town with charming colonial architecture, then drive onward to Savannakhet.

Before arriving, stop at That Ing Hang, a beautiful 16th-century temple revered by Buddhists across the region.

In Savannakhet, visit highlights such as St. Teresa Catholic Church, the Dinosaur Museum, and remnants of French-era villas.
Overnight in Savannakhet.

DAY 05: SAVANNAKHET – PAKSE (B)

After breakfast, drive to Pakse, the gateway to southern Laos.

In the afternoon, explore Pakse’s colonial quarter, Chinese-style shophouses, and lively market. Then continue to the Bolaven Plateau, a highland region famous for its waterfalls, cool climate, and coffee plantations.

Visit Tad Fane and Tad Yuang Waterfalls, cascading dramatically into jungle-clad valleys. Stop at a coffee plantation to learn about the “Champagne of coffee,” cultivated in this fertile volcanic soil.
Overnight in Pakse.

DAY 06: PAKSE – WAT PHOU – DON KHONG (B)

After breakfast, drive to Wat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This pre-Angkorian temple complex sits gracefully on a hillside overlooking the Mekong and remains a spiritual center for the Lao people.

Enjoy lunch in Champasak Town before continuing south to Don Khong Island, the largest in the 4000 Islands region. As the Mekong widens to 14 km, thousands of small islands appear among gentle rapids — a serene landscape of timeless beauty.
Overnight on Don Khong Island.

DAY 07: DON KHONG – DON DAENG (B)

After breakfast, embark on a full-day exploration of the 4000 Islands (Si Phan Don).

Take a local boat to Don Khone Island, where colonial bridges, plantations, and traditional villages reveal the region’s rich past. Visit Liphi Waterfall (“Somphamit Falls”), near the Cambodian border, believed to trap evil spirits.

Board a short boat trip for a chance to spot the rare Irrawaddy dolphins. Enjoy lunch at a local riverside restaurant, then return by boat to Ban Nakasan and continue by ferry to Don Daeng Island.
Overnight on Don Daeng.

DAY 08: DON DAENG – PAKSE – LUANG PRABANG (B)

After breakfast, transfer to Pakse Airport for your short flight to Luang Prabang.

On arrival, explore this UNESCO-listed gem starting with Wat Xieng Thong, the most magnificent temple in Laos, then visit the Royal Palace Museum, built in 1904 and filled with royal artifacts and art. Walk to Wat Mai, known for its gilded bas-reliefs and graceful five-tiered roof.

Evening at leisure.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 09: LUANG PRABANG – KUANG SI WATERFALL (B)

Rise early to witness the sacred Tak Bat ceremony, where monks collect alms from the locals — a serene and spiritual moment.

After breakfast, drive to Kuang Si Waterfall, a stunning multi-tiered cascade of turquoise pools surrounded by jungle. Visit the Bear Rescue Center nearby before returning to town.

Explore the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center (closed Mondays) and stop at Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Center to learn about silk weaving, dyeing, and traditional Lao crafts.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 10: LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU CAVES (B/L)

After breakfast, embark on a boat cruise along the Mekong River, passing rural villages and beautiful limestone cliffs.

Stop at Ban Xang Khong, a weaving village, before continuing to the sacred Pak Ou Caves, where thousands of Buddha images fill two mystical grottoes. Enjoy a traditional Lao lunch on board before returning to Luang Prabang for a relaxing afternoon.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 11: LUANG PRABANG – DEPARTURE (B)

Spend your final morning discovering Lao cuisine in a cooking class with a local chef. Learn about traditional ingredients and techniques, then savor your creations for lunch.

Free at leisure until your transfer to Luang Prabang Airport for your onward flight.

Thank you for discovering Laos with Tonkin Travel — where every journey tells a story.