LAOS DELIGHTS

ITINERARY IN BRIEF:

Day 1: Welcome to Luang Prabang

Day 2: Luang Prabang - Pakou Cave- Ban Xang Hai (B)

Day 3: Luang Prabang – Khouangsi Waterfall (B)

Day 4: Luang Prabang – Xiengkhouang (B)

Day 5: Xiengkhouang – Vientiane (B)

Day 6: Vientiane Sightseeing (B)

Day 7: Vientiane – Pakse – Don Khone Island (B)

Day 8: Don Khone Island & Surrounding (B)

Day 9: Don Khone Island - Tadlo – Pakse (B)

Day 10: Pakse – Departure (B)

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Welcome To Luang Prabang

Warm greetings at the airport upon your arrival then transfer to boutique hotel. Claimed by the UNESCO as ‘the best preserved city in South East Asia’, Luang Prabang has so much to lure visitors. Time allowing, we’ll visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham, Wat Mai. A hike up Mount Phousi to absorb the aurora reflecting on the beneath gilded stupas and the Mekong River. Continue down to the Night Market to admire Laos’s handmade textiles and a wide range of souvenirs. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 2: Luang Prabang - Pakou Cave- Ban Xang Hai (B)

Today we’ll see the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the most magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its golden roofs sweeping down to the ground. We then embark on a cruise on the Mekong River to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. We enter the village of Ban Xanghai to study its cottage industries and taste some rice wine. On the way back, we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a small village known for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 3: Luang Prabang – Khouangsi Waterfall (B)

An early start brings about the fantastic opportunity to participate in the unique daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from devout residents. Move on to the morning Phosi Market to see exotic merchandise such as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Next we visit the ethnic minority villages of Ban Ouay, Ban Ou and Ban Thapene en route to Khouangsi waterfall. The fall offers a chance to cool off with a refreshing swim in the turqoise pools or to walk the forest trails. Continue to see women at Ban Xangkhong weave their reputed silk and make jute paper then return to the city for overnight.

Day 4: Luang Prabang – Xiengkhouang (B)

This morning we visit the Royal Palace Museum housed in a beautiful French-Laotian building. The museum exhibits various objects from the royal family, which have been preserved since 1975. Afterwards, we drive 300 km uphill through the scenic forest to the Plain of Jars in Xiengkhouang. That’s an impressive archaeological site with hundreds of large stone jars scattered all over the plateau. If time permits, we’ll see the old capital of Muang Khoun and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong. Proceed to Phonsavanh for overnight.

Day 5: Xiengkhouang – Vientiane (B)

There’ll be time to explore the rustic town of Phonsavanh further before catching a brief flight back to Vientiane. This afternoon we pay a visit to the impressive Friendship Bridge and the Buddha Park, an enchanting collection of over 200 Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow. A spectacular view of over the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day. Overnight in Vientiane

Day 6: Vientiane Sightseeing (B)

Today we explore the major sights of Laos’ capital. Start from Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha images, to the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, to the Laotian version of Arc de Triumph, and then to the sacred gilded That Luang. We also visit Wat Ong Tue, Wat Inpeng and Wat Haisok and delve into the markets of Talad Sao and Talad Kouadin. Overnight in Vientiane

Day 7: Vientiane – Pakse – Don Khong Island (B)

This morning we fly to Pakse, take a Van southwards to Champassak and visit the fascinating Wat Phu. Wat Phu is one of the two UNESCO World Heritages of Laos, which is adorned with many intriguing pre-angkorian ruins and perched high on Mount Phu Kao. We journey road and cross the bridge to Khong Island, the largest island in the South Mekong River region known as the 4000 islands, one of the most scenic areas in Laos. Overnight on Don Khong Island

Day 8: Don Khone Island & Surrounding (B)

We take long tail boat to Khone Island in the morning. The draw-card of Don Khone is an array of relics from the French era, including remnants of the first railway in Laos. We take a boat to the Liphi waterfall that marks the border with Cambodia. If lucky, we may come across some of the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone. Visit another famous waterfall, Khone Phapeng - the largest one in South East Asia, then return to Don Khone Island.

Day 9: Don Khone Island - Tadlo – Pakse (B)

Today we travel up the Boloven Plateau towards Tadlo. The trip provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows us to observe the cultivation of coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops en route. We’ll venture off the beaten tracks to discover some of the lesser-known areas of Laos. After Tadlo waterfall, we’ll visit the villages of Alak, Nge, and Katu, populated by ethnic minority groups. Return to Pakse for overnight.

Day 10: Pakse – Departure (B)

Free till transfer to the airport for departure flight.

 (B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner)