15-Day Laos Adventure

Arrival Houay Xai

Morning
You will be met upon arrival at Houay Xai immigration checkpoint and then transfer to the hotel for check in. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.

Afternoon
Travel to the surroundings of Houay Xai for sightseeing and also visit Wat Chomkao Manilat which over-looks the township of Houay Xai. Also make a visit to some sapphire shops and a local market. Return to Houay Xai.

Dinner at the hotel

Meal included:
Lunch at a local restaurant
Dinner at the hotel

Morning
Breakfast is at the hotel. Before departure, visit the colourful local market, where people from the surrounding villages come daily to trade their goods. Drive to Luang Namtha and en route, visit a Tai Deng village where animist practices are still preserved. Lunch at local restaurant.

Late afternoon
Arrival in Luang Namtha in the late afternoon, transfer to the lodge and check in.
Dinner at the accommodation

Estimated driving time/distance:
4 – 5 hours/175 kilometres

Meal included:
Lunch at local restaurant
Dinner at the accommodation

Morning
Breakfast is at the accommodation.

9:00 hours
At 9:00 hours, depart Luang Namtha by pick-up truck and travel for around 1 hour to arrive at Ban Chaleunsouk. Then begin the trek by walking up the mountain paths through many varieties of Bamboo forest, and other woods in the Nam Ha National Bio-diversity Conservation Area, and some old up-land rice fields of Khmu people. Picnic lunch en route (Lao food).

15:30 hours
Arrive at Ban Nalan at around 15:30 hours and participate in some activities with the local Khmu people. This is an opportunity to observe and understand more about the daily life and traditions of these fascinating people.

Dinner and overnight at a villager's house

Estimated driving time/distance:
1 hour/20 kilometres

Meal included:
Picnic lunch en route to Ban Nalan
Dinner at Ban Nalan villager’s house

Morning
Breakfast is at the accommodation. After breakfast, start walking along the bank of the Nam Ha River. The trail passes through a mixed forest of new growing and old growth trees. It is a reasonably flat trail for three hours, after which you arrive at Ban Nam Koy (Lanten tribe). Lunch in an eco-lodge, Lanten style.

Afternoon
Take a walk around to see some hand-made handicrafts by the Lanten people, such as bamboo paper and other. The Lanten tribes are sometimes called "Lao Houay"(stream Lao) because they choose to live near permanent streams. The dark indigo clothing worn by men and women immediately recognizes the Lanten. The women also pluck or shave their eyebrows upon reaching puberty and wear their hair in a traditional style; swept up and held in place with beautiful silver jewellery. After your time in the village, walk through a wet and steep trail by a small stream. Most of the trail is on small rocks, so it takes about two hours to climb the steep mountain path, before the trail smooths out for another hour of climbing up a steep trail. Continue walking through forest up and down-hill for another two hours. You will arrive at Ban Nam Lue, then drive back to Luang Namtha and check in at the lodge.

Dinner at the accommodation

Meal included:
Lunch at eco lodge
Dinner at the accommodation

Full-day trek
Breakfast is at the accommodation.

Today, we drive from Luang Namtha to Oudomxay Province with lunch at a local restaurant.

On the way, visit a Khmu village. The Khmu, who belong to the Mon-Khmer ethnic group, are the original inhabitants of the Indochina peninsula. Take some time to learn about the language, traditions and culture of these people. On the way, visit a Khmu village. The Khmu, who belong to the Mon-Khmer ethnic group, are the original inhabitants of the Indochina peninsula. Take some time to learn about the language, traditions and culture of these people.

Arrive Oudomxay and check in at the hotel.
Dinner at the accommodation

Estimated driving time/distance:
4- 4.5 hours/145 kilometres

Meal included:
Lunch at a local restaurant
Dinner at the accommodation

Morning
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Luang Prabang and on the way, visit the Hmong minority village of Ban Songja, located on top of mountain. Hmong women are renowned for their beautiful embroidered costumes and their impressive silver jewellery. As many Hmong still dress in a traditional fashion you will have the opportunity to see this for yourself and learn about this unique culture. Lunch is taken at a local restaurant in Pak Mong.

Afternoon
Continue on after lunch, stopping at the silk-weaving village of Ban Nayang, populated by Tai Lu and learn more about this fascinating culture. Drive on to Pak Ou village and board a traditional boat for a trip down the Mekong River to visit the famous caves of Pak Ou housing thousands of statues representing Lord Buddha.

Afterwards, continue the journey down to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang. This former royal capital, with its gleaming temple roofs, fading colonial architecture and stunning mountain backdrop, retains a unique charm rarely found in all of Asia. You will arrive in Luang Prabang before sunset and be met upon arrival at the pier and transfer to your hotel and check in.

Dinner at the hotel

Estimated driving time/distance:
4 - 5 hours/180 kilometres

Meal included:
Lunch at a local restaurant
Dinner at the hotel

Morning
After breakfast at the hotel, visit Wat Visoun, the oldest temple in Luang Prabang and the site of the impressive Singhalese style That Makmo stupa. Nearby is Wat Aham, one of the city's major tutelary shrines dedicated to revered spirits Deveta Luang and ancestors, Pu Gneu Ya Gneu. For a different perspective we climb Wat Phousi Hill for a stunning 360-degree view over the city. After descending we visit Wat Mai, built in 1796 and famous for the five-tiered roof of its wooden sim built in the standard of Luang Prabang style. Lunch is at Le Cafe Ban Vat Sene.

Afternoon
After lunch, we visit Wat Xieng Thong, considered as the most beautiful temple. The sim of the Wat represents the classic Luang Prabang temple architecture with roofs that sweep low to the ground. In the compound stand several small chapels housing bronze Buddha images, which were displayed in Paris in 1911. Near the East gate stands the Royal Funeral Chapel. Inside are an impressive 12-metre high funeral chariot and various funeral urns of the Royal Family. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts a semi-erotic episode from Ramayana. Also look out for the “tree of life” montage on the rear temple wall.

We then travel to visit Ban Phanom weaving village, populated by Tai Lu who originally came from Sipsongpanna in Southern China. The village is full of culture and history. Nearly all the families here have a loom and they weave with cotton and silk. They sell at the Night Market in Luang Prabang and also to visitors to the village.

Dinner at 3 Nagas Restaurant

Meal included:
Lunch at Le Cafe Ban Vat Sene
Dinner at 3 Nagas Restaurant

Morning
Breakfast is at the hotel.

This morning, visit the National Museum (former King's Palace, closed on Tuesdays) displaying a collection of personal artefacts of the Royal Family: photos, musical equipment and gifts received from foreign countries. Then, stroll through the old quarter to discover the daily lifestyle of villagers. If time permits, visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center (closed on Mondays), a small private museum about minority groups where you can learn about ethnic cultures and traditional arts. The exhibits contain text, photographs and objects from villages throughout the north of Laos.

Transfer to the airport for the Lao Airlines flight from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. A lunch box will be provided. You will be met upon arrival at Vientiane Wattay airport, for transfer and check-in at the hotel.

Afternoon
In the afternoon visit Wat Sisaket, architecturally beautiful and the oldest original temple in Vientiane. Wat Sisaket features remarkable frescoes and an amazing 6,840 Buddha images. These date back to the 16th and 19th centuries. Nearby is Ho Phra Keo, once the royal temple of Lao monarchy. Built in 1565, Ho Phra Keo has been used as a museum since 1970 and contains some of the finest Buddhist sculptures and artefacts in Laos. Special displays include antique brass drums and palm leaf manuscripts. The main structure originally housed the famous Emerald Buddha that now resides in Bangkok's Wat Phra Keo. One of the most photographed images of Vientiane is Patousay, the victory gate also known as Anousavari. Constructed in 1958, its architecture is inspired by the Arc of Triumph in Paris. Another famous Vientiane landmark is the gold covered and architecturally splendid That Luang Stupa. King Setthathirath built this great sacred stupa, considered as the national symbol, in 1566. Its central structure is 45 metres tall and echoes the curving lines of an elongated lotus. The original stupa was said to contain relics of Lord Buddha.

Dinner at Kualao Restaurant

Meal included:
Lunch box provided
Dinner at Kualao Restaurant

Morning
After breakfast at the hotel, there is an early morning departure from Vientiane to drive to Savannakhet. Depart by route No.13 south and make a short stop at Wat Prabath Phonsan (the foot print Buddha temple). Continue the drive while admiring the beautiful landscape and arrive in Thakhek. Lunch is at a local restaurant. Visit the ancient city wall made of stone as well as the Sikhottabong Stupa.

Afternoon
In the afternoon, continue to Savannakhet, and visit Ban Nateuy and In Hang stupa. Transfer to your hotel and check in.

Dinner at the hotel

Estimated driving time/distance:
8 – 9 hours/460 kilometres

Meal included:
Lunch at a local restaurant
Dinner at the hotel

Morning
Breakfast is at the hotel. This morning, drive from Savannakhet to Tadlo (Saravan province), located on the Bolaven Plateau, via the city of Pakse. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

Afternoon
On the way to the resort, visit Tad Phasouam, Nge and Alak villages. Exploring these villages will give you insights into the culture, language and tradition of these fascinating people.

Dinner at the resort.

Estimated driving time/distance:
5 – 6 hours/300 kilometres

Meal included:
Lunch at a local restaurant
Dinner at the accommodation

Morning
After breakfast at the Resort drive back to Pakse, via (Coffee Street) and drive towards the former royal capital of Champasak continuing on to the pre-Angkorian Wat Phu Temple (6th-13th centuries). Wat Phu Temple lies on a hillside and offers spectacular views of the surrounding plains and the Mekong River. UNESCO listed Wat Phu Temple as a World Heritage site in 2002. Hindu Khmer probably chose the site because of the spring that flows from near the top of the hill. Historians say that Phu Pasak was in fact sacred to the pre-Angkorian Kingdom of Chenla (6th century) and may have been the site of human sacrifices. The temple is divided in two parts. The lower part consists of two ruined palace buildings at the edge of a pond, which was used for ritual ablutions. The upper section, the temple sanctuary itself, once enclosed a large Shiva phallus (linga). It was later converted into a Buddhist temple but much of the original Hindu sculpture remains. The lintels feature various forms of Vishnu and Shiva as well as Kala, the Hindu god of time and death. The naga stairway is lined with plumeria (Dokchampa), the Lao national flower. Afterwards, lunch is at a local restaurant.

Afternoon
In the afternoon continue to Champasak and check in at the hotel.
Dinner at the hotel.

Estimated driving time/distance:
1.5 hours/80 kilometres

Meal included:
Lunch at a local restaurant
Dinner at the hotel

Morning
Following breakfast at the hotel, take a small boat across to Ban Muang Pier. Then drive to Khong Island, with its lovely fishing villages, its serene monasteries and its lush vegetation offers a unique opportunity to experience the peaceful Lao way of life. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

Afternoon
ake a bike-ride to explore Khong Island. Visit Wat Hangkhong, considered as the oldest temple on the island, Ban Huay village and continue to Muang Sene to enjoy the sunset over the Mekong River.

Dinner at the hotel.

Estimated driving time/distance:
2.5 hours/125 kilometres

Meal included:
Lunch at a local restaurant
Dinner at the hotel

Morning
Breakfast at the hotel

Cruise along the backwaters to explore Siphandone (4000 Island). During the rainy season, the Mekong River reaches a breadth of 14km, the river's widest reach along its 4,350km journey from the Tibetan Plateau towards the South China Sea; when the river recedes, it leaves behind thousands of islands and islets. You will admire surrounding islands of Don Det and Don Som for a glimpse into the traditional lifestyle of the fishermen. Your boat will stop at Don Khone Island to see the old steam-locomotive, the last remaining sign of the railway built by the French in 1897 in order to bypass the powerful rapids when transporting goods from Cambodia.

Take the local transportation to visit the Sumphamith waterfall. Its other name ‘Li Phi’, means ‘Spirit Trap’. The locals believe that bad spirits are trapped at the falls and get washed downstream. Return to Ban Khone where lunch is taken at a local restaurant.

Afternoon
In the afternoon, take a boat trip for a chance to see the freshwater Irrawaddy Dolphins (this part of the trip is only possible from October to May). Then return by boat to Done Khong.

Dinner at the hotel

Meal included:
Lunch at a local restaurant
Dinner at the hotel

Morning
After breakfast at the hotel we drive to visit the magnificent Khone Phapheng waterfall, the largest cascade along the Mekong River. A fault line caused the cascade, which is 6km wide at this point, and the astonishing force of the water has cut dramatic gorges through the brittle bedrock. Return to Pakse by car.

Lunch is at a local restaurant

Afternoon
After lunch, drive to visit Ban Khiet Ngong village and stroll to visit Phu Asa temple, which lies amidst the dense jungle. Then drive to Pakse, you arrive in Pakse around late afternoon and check in at your hotel.

Dinner and accommodation at the hotel

Estimated driving time/distance:
2 – 3 hours/145 kilometres

Meal included:
Lunch at a local restaurant
Dinner at the hotel

Morning
Breakfast is at the hotel, after which you can visit the colourful Pakse local market, then we drive to Chong Mek immigration checkpoint (border crossing to Thailand).

Continue to Ubon Ratchathani International Airport for the departure flight to Bangkok (airfare is not included in the tour price).

Estimated driving time/distance:
2 – 2.5 hours/140 kilometres