LAOS AT A GLANCE

Upon your arrival at Luang Prabang international airport, you will be met by our guide then transfer to hotel for check in and relax at leisure time. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign; we will visit Wat Visoun, the holiest temple of the city, which was entirely rebuilt in 1887 after being destroyed by the invading Black Flags from Southern China. In the courtyard of Wat Visoun stands the Watermelon Stupa shaped like the fruit from which it takes its name. Continue past Wat Aham, which was first built in the 1500s and we then to Khouang Si waterfall. On the way, you can visit to the Lao ethnic minority groups-Ban Ouay Village, Ban Ou village and Ban Thapene Village. Once at the waterfalls, take a leisurely hike through the national park towards the Khouangsi waterfall and pass by the Asian bear rescue center. You will enjoy feeling the mist of the cool, turquoise waters of the different waterfalls. Swimming in the refreshing waters is possible. Transfer back to Luang Prabang for climb up 328 steps of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. We then will explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the hill tribe and local people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. We then visit the Morning Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Then back to hotel for breakfast before visiting the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we will make a stop at Ban Xang Hai village where rice wine is distilled. We will visit the caves of Tham Ting and Tham Phoum which house hundreds of Buddha statues. We return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon, continue to visit Ban Xang Khong, a village well known for silk hand-weaving and traditional Saa paper-making. Overnight in Luang Prabang

After breakfast, we drive 306km uphill a mountain surrounded by wonderful natural scenery to Xieng Khuang, which was devastated by American bombing between 1964 and 1973. Upon arrival, we will transfer to visit the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are scattered all over the plateau. If time permits, we see the old capital of Muang Khoun and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe people. They have an interesting local culture and a colorful history. Overnight in Xieng Khuang.

After early breakfast, we will head out towards Vang Vieng. Enroute we stop off to see the Buddha images at Thampra, a site more than 200 years old, and various Hmong and hilltribe minority villages along the way. After numerous photo stops, we continue driving, enjoying the splendid natural scenery of the mountains, the forest and landscape. The journey will take us over mountainous regions until we approach Vang Vieng then check in and take a short rest before we do a long tail boat Nam Song River for sightseeing and also visit mulberry farm for tasting mulberry tea before back to hotel and relax. Overnight in Vang Vieng

After breakfast, we drive 3hrs to Vientiane and stop on the way at finishing villages (Ban Houimor) and Hmong Market at KM 52 before we reached Vientiane then check in hotel. After that we start to explore the town with Wat Sisaket which is the oldest temple still standing in Vientiane. This amazing structure features remarkable frescoes and Buddha images. We continue sightseeing by visiting Haw Prakeo, the former royal temple of Laos monarchy, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Statue. We then visit the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph before continuing to the famous That Luang Stupa. Overnight in Vientiane.

After breakfast, we depart early this morning for our drive to Khammouane Province. Along the way we can make several stops to stretch your legs and take some wonderful pictures of the breathtaking scenery. Depending on road and traffic conditions we will arrive at Ban Na Hin, the gateway to Khong Lor Cave, by late afternoon. On arrival we enjoy a short walk around this charming village, enabling us to understand a little more about their culture and lifestyle. Overnight in Ban Na Hin.

After breakfast, this morning we take the short drive to the amazing Khong Lor Cave. This cave was formed by the Hinboun River which flows 7.5km through the mountain range. We will take a local motorized canoe through the cave with its many limestone formations and 100m high cavern. On the way back to Ban Na Hin we stop to explore That Mouang and That Namsanam Waterfalls. Overnight in Ban Na Hin.

After breakfast, we leave Ban Na Hin and venture further into southern Laos and the town of Pakse. Along the way we stop for lunch at Sananakhet (your own account). This fast growing town has become an important trade center between Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. The centre of the town boasts many old French colonial buildings and has an old world charm about it. We arrive in Pakse town by late afternoon and have time to stroll around and catch our first glimpse of the town. Overnight in Pakse.

After breakfast, we head to Champassak to visit the fascinating pre-angkorian ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia's most dramatically situated temples. We have time to explore these intriguing Khmer ruins, which are perched at the base of Mount Phu Kao. Wat Phu is one of the Lao World Heritage sites recognized by UNESCO in 2001, this wonderful archeological site of Khmer civilization dates back to the 10th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. We continue our journey by land to Ban Hatxaikhoun and crossing the Mekong bridge to Don Khong, the largest island in the South Mekong river region known as the 4000 islands, one of the most scenic areas in Laos. Overnight in Don Khong.

After an early breakfast, we explore the local villages of Ban Khone, where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with its locomotive. We continue discover the 4000 islands area by Tuk Tuk at our leisure to visit the Liphi waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking the end of Lao border to Cambodia, also known as the Samphamith, If we are lucky we may even see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone. We return to Ban Nakasang and drive to famous waterfalls of Khone Phapeng, the largest waterfall in South East Asia, known as Niagara of the east. Overnight in Don Khong.

After breakfast, we continue our journey towards Tadlo, through Boloven plateau. The Boloven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. Rivers run off this high plateau in all directions and then plunge out to lush forests along in a series of spectacular surging waterfalls. A trip to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that can be seen en route. This trip gives visitors the chance to venture off the beaten track and to discover some of the lesser-known areas of Laos, exploring the wild beauty of this southern region. Upon arrival at Tad Lo waterfall, we visit the villages of Alak, Nge, and Katu, populated by ethnic minority groups. We return to Pakse by late evening. Overnight in Pakse.

After breakfast, free at leisure until transferring to the airport for flight onward.
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