Laos Impression: Vientiane & Luang Prabang

Welcome to Laos! Today you will fly to Vientiane. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by your private guide and escorted to check in the hotel.

Enjoy this guided tour to discover the charms of Vientiane, the quietest capital of South West Asia. Our tour begins with Wat Sisaket which was built in the Siamese style of Buddhist architecture, with a surrounding terrace and five-level ornate roof, unlike the Lao style. Wat Sisaket has a fence wall with more than 2,000 ceramic Buddha images and silver. Our next visit will be Wat Phra Kaew built between 1556 and 1565, it was the first housed the Emerald Buddha, who now reside in Wat Phra Keaw in Bangkok. The temple was destroyed many times and was rebuilt for the third time by the French in the 1920s.

On the way to the famous sacred stupa of That Luang, a golden-covered Buddhist stupa, the most important national monument in Laos and a national symbol, we will visit the imposing monument of Phatuxay. The Victory Gate or the Triumphal Gate was built and dedicated to what was fought in the struggle for independence against France. Then we will visit COPE Centre. Our day will end with a visit to Sao Talat or Morning Market, where you can find an abundance of locally made handicrafts.

Free at leisure until your private guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by your guide and escorted to check in the hotel. 

This afternoon, we will drive to the beautiful Kuang Si Falls where there is the opportunity to take a refreshing swim. Enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings and explore the surrounding dense jungle on foot. For the adventurous, it is possible to walk to the top of the falls via a steep track where beautiful views await. After a picnic in the tranquil park, return to the town & enjoy some free time.

Get up early to observe the Buddhist Alms Giving Ceremony at 5:40 am if you like. You will continue to explore the open-air Morning Market in the old town. There are only a few large grocery stores here—instead, food is still produced by small farming families and villages and was brought to Luang Prabang for sale from the surrounding rural areas. Your guide will explain some seasonal vegetables and fruits to you and he will also guide you to pick some snacks. Return to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, take a cultural excursion to Wat Sene. Located in the heart of Luang Prabang, it is the city's oldest temple maintaining many unique structures. Then visit the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, the largest and most splendid one. Then board a boat upstream in the Mekong River and get a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside. Explore the sacred Pak Ou Caves, when disembarking, which are crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. 

Later you will be driven back to the town. Along the way, you will take a stopover at the small village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is very famous and Bang Xang Khong is famous for its traditional handicrafts.  

In the afternoon, take an easy city tour of the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. Last, tour the Royal Palace Museum.

Free at leisure until your guide comes and escorts you to the airport for your onward flight.