Wonderful Laos

On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to check-in at the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Vientiane is a charming and fascinating capital, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences. We start by visiting the major sights of the capital; including Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. En route to Lao’s national icon, the precious and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe.

In the afternoon, continue the journey northbound to Vang Vieng; enjoy some breathtaking scenery en route as you pass through spectacular countryside towards the mountainous region. Along the way, make a short stop at the colourful H’Mong market at KM52. Reach the final destination of Vang Vieng,  nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River. Its stunning scenery with limestone outcrops remains unspoiled, despite recent developments with the advent of tourism. Overnight in Vang Vieng.

In the morning, a stroll around the town to visit the local market is highly recommended to catch a glimpse of everyday life in a typical Lao rural area. After breakfast, transfer to visit the cave of Tham Jang, which was used in the early 19th century in defence against the Chinese invaders. Later, visit Ban Phathao, a very pleasant village where the different local lifestyles can be explored. Then start the expedition on the new road to Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The roads are well paved along the way for a smooth journey; we pass some stunning landscape scenery with a mixture of steep terraced fields and hill villages, and we take a few photo stops at some small hill tribe villages en route. Also, get a chance to admire the panoramic view over the surrounding area at the peak of more than 2000m. Before reaching Luang Prabang, make a short stop to visit the local school at Ban Huay Sala. Overnight in Luang Prabang

The day will start with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artefacts. Then, embark on a leisure cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious 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, stop at the village of Ban Xang Hai, where they make the local rice wine. On arrival back in the city, visit the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture.  Afterwards, visit the Traditional Art and Ethnology Center to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures. From there, transfer to visit Wat Prabath to admire the sunset; this is a peaceful place to catch the last beauty of the day. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by local and hill-tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang

An 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. From there, take a short visit to the morning local market near the Royal Palace. At the market, you can find anything from rice to fresh vegetables, steamed fish, frogs, and anything else that might be the day’s catch, just set up on the ground, this is what the locals do every day. This is the chance for you to get a real flavour of the local culture.

After breakfast at the hotel, ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the Mekong River. Visit Wat Visoun, dating back to 1513 during the reign of King Wisunarat (Visoun), this is Luang Prabang’s oldest temple and was once home to the Prabang Buddhas. Then transfer directly to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. Before returning to Luang Prabang, stop to visit the Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park (closed on Tuesdays, and from 03rd May to 19th June every year), one of the must-visit spots, where you can have an optional 15-minute tour to learn about butterflies and local flora.

Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, where you will have a short tour so you get information about Silk, the weavers, and the women that work in the Centre. Transfer out to the airport to take the departure flight.