Essential Laos

Welcome to Laos! You will be met and ascorted to check-in the hotel on your arrival to the airport. The rest of the day is free at leisure.  

After breafast, today's trip begins at Wat Sisaket, the only temple left intactly after the Siamese invasion in 1828. It’s arguably the most beautiful temple in Vientiane and famous for its cloister wall housing thousands of miniature Buddha statues. 

Next you will visit Wat Pra kaew, built in 1565 as the Lao royal family's personal chapel enshrined the Emerald Buddha statue, which was subsequently stolen by the Siamese and now sits in the Grand Palace in Bangkok.  Then go to the Patuxai monument - also called Anousavari, well known as Vientiane’s Arc de Triumph. Climb up to the roof for fantastic panoramic views. Later go to the national symbol, the golden stupa of That Luang, the holiest place in Laos.    

The final visit of this morning will be the excellent COPE exhibition centre, highlighting the Lao people's continued day-to-day struggle with the unexploded ordnance as a result of heavy bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War era.

Return to the hotel after lunch. The afternoon is at leisure.  

When the sun sets and the air cools,  the city of Vientiane turns positively vibrant, especially around the street-food market. A trip to Laos wouldn't be complete without savouring some of Lao's fantastic street-food.  Accompanied by your guide, take a tuk tuk to the night market near That Luang, a place without many tourists, but is a consistent favourite among the locals. YAs the stalls come alive with delicious aromas, your guide will help you pick out a selection of dishes to sample but remember to save some room for the main event: a Lao-style BBQ, known as a Sin Dat.  

After dinner go back to your hotel leisurely in the tuk tuk.

Take the morning flight from Vientiane to Pakse. Upon arrival, your guide will me you and escort you to Champasak, a delightful Colonial riverside town.

Take the short boat crossing over the Mekong River to Don Daeng, one of the most beautiful islands in this laid-back region. Although it is too far north to be considered part of Si Phan Don, a.k.a the 4000 Islands, this doesn't deter from the archipelago experience.

Explore the island leisure in the remainder of the day or just simply relax into the Si Phan Don pace of life!

Make an early morning visit to the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phou offering a stunning sunrise view and few people come this time in the morning. Return to your hotel by around 8am for breakfast.

After breakfast, cross over the Mekong River again and drive south to Ban Hatsaikhone to board a local boat for a tour of the famous 4000 Islands.  

You'll arrive at picturesque island of Don Khone by lunch time. You will ride a bicycle to explore the island in the afternoon, admiring some of the old French Colonial buildings and the beautiful Liphi Waterfall. When return to the mainland you will go to visit the impressive Khone Phapheng waterfalls, one of the largest and most powerful waterfalls in Southeast Asia, just a few miles from the Cambodian border.

Continue to go to Done Daeng, arriving at early evening.

Free at leisure till be transferred to Pakse for your flight to Luang Prabang.

Upon arrival you will be met by your guide for the transfer to your hotel. 

Luang Prabang, the ‘Jewel of Indochina’, situated at junction of Khan River and Mekong River, surrounded by mountains voted  as one of the Asia's premier travel destinations and it is a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site.  

Before sun set climb 328 steps to the top of Mt. Phousi, which is in the center of the city.  The rewards of the climbers will be the panoramic view of the Luang Prabang and the surrounding view over the Mekong River. 

In the evening there are plenty of great restaurants for you to choose - we recommend the local stalls by river side  for some truly authentic Lao flavours, washed down with the excellent Beer Lao!

An option for early-risers is to get up before dawn to witness the Buddhist Alms Giving Ceremony. the lines of orange-robed monks leaving their pagodas to receive offerings of food from the residents of Luang Prabang. It’s an iconic sight in Luang Prabang. 

After breakfast, you will begin your tour at the former Royal Palace Museum, giving a good overview of the local history. Followed by some temples, beginning with Wat Mai, a temple famous for its golden bas-reliefs,  then continuing on to Wat Xieng Thong, the most photographed temple in Luang Prabang, and the unique Wat Visoun, known as ‘The Water Melon Stupa’ due to its shape. the final visit of this morning is the excellent Arts and Ethnology Centre where you will further learn the ethnic mix and culture of Laos.

In the afternoon visit the weaving and textile villages of Ban Xang Khong and Ban Xanghai.

In the early evening you will have an opportunity to attend a Baci Ceremony in a local family. The purpose of it is to call escaped spirits back to the body. It is a very important tradition for Lao people before major events such as births, weddings, travel or welcoming guests. The ceremony itself is led by an older member of the family and involves gently tying cotton cords around your wrists, symbolizing good health,  friendship and good luck on your journey ahead.

Your day is at leisure.

Depart in the early morning to enjoy a local boat ride up the Mekong River to the Pak Ou caves, which are filled with thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues, hidden from the looting Chinese Haw in times gone by. The statues are in various shapes and sizes ranging from a few centimetres to the size of a human.

After the trip to the caves, continue to Kamu Eco Lodge on the banks of the river and you will arrive at lunch time. The lodge features 20 canvas tents covered by thatched roofs, each adapted to the local Lao style in harmony with its surrounds. Each tent has an private bathroom with shower, solar-powered warm water, toilet and electricity.

In the afternoon you can enjoy this unique setting in a variety of ways. Options include rice planting, gold-panning, jungle walks to search for medicinal plants, traditional fishing, a local village visit, an archery contest, or simply relaxing and soaking up the atmosphere. Supper is served at the camp.

Enjoy a peaceful breakfast and then have a walk nearby before taking the short cruise back to Luang Prabang. Upon arriving, be escorted to your hotel.

The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Free at leisure till be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.