Itinerary

Itinerary Detail
Day 01: Luang Prabang – Around World Heritage Site Temples & The Town of Luang Prabang
Surrounded by thickly forested mountains and situated at the confluence of the Khan and Mekong Rivers, Luang Prabang has a tranquil, old world charm rarely found in Asia today. This fascinating town was the capital of the Lane Xang (million elephants) kingdom until the mid-sixteenth century. In colonial times it served as a provincial headquarters of the north. The legacy of the European presence here - well preserved French architecture and careful street planning – has blended delightfully with more than 30 gilded Buddhist temples to create a town rich in atmosphere and history.

Welcome to Luang Prabang! Your guide will meet you upon arrival at the airport and bring you to your hotel. Then enjoy a half-day spin around Luang Prabang and you will understand why it deserves the World Heritage title! Visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao. Phou Si hill stands right in the center of this small city. Climb its 350 steps to enjoy commanding views for many miles in each direction. Wat Phou Si sits atop the mountain, along side the skeletons of Indochina war anti-aircraft guns! Then continue on to visit Wat Mai. Built in 1796, the five-tiered roof of the wooden Sim (chapel) epitomizes the graceful Luang Prabang architectural style. Wat Xieng Thong further emphasizes & characterizes the uniqueness of Luang Prabang, its several roofs sweeping low to the ground. See also the impressive "tree of life" mosaic here. The gilt panel on the exterior of the royal funerary carriage house depicts episodes from the Ramayana. Then visit the National Museum, once a king's palace, where displayed inside is a lovely collection of personal artifacts of the royal family, including photos, musical instruments, and many gifts received from the dignitaries of foreign countries. Also peruse the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center, a private museum recently opened to explain about the livelihoods of Laos’ ethnic minorities. You’ll learn many interesting facts about the tribal peoples of Northern Laos. This town is wonderful for walking, and today’s excursion will help to give you your bearings! Spend the rest of the day exploring or relaxing on your own.

Day 02: Local Style Mekong Riverboat Experience – Pak Ou Buddha Caves – Ban Xang Khong Weaving
After breakfast, begin a Mekong Riverboat trip with your guide on the mighty Mekong River to visit the famous & sacred Pak Ou Buddha Caves. These caves, overlooking the confluence of the Mekong & Ou Rivers from on high, have been home to many thousands of Buddha images that were placed here by local people since 16th century, when King Setthathirat found the caves and declared them a holy spot. Today many still pay respect with this old tradition. Walk through the caves before returning to your boat and to Luang Prabang town. Enjoy lunch en route. Then visit the village of Ban Xang Khong where weaving of traditional Lao textiles takes place on traditional wooden looms. Return to Luang Prabang and spend the rest of the day exploring or relaxing on your own. You can find dinner on your own at any number of excellent delicious restaurants in town.

Day 03: Luang Prabang – Optional Almsgiving – Kuang Si Waterfall – Luang Prabang – Vientiane
If you wish, get an early start (6:00am or so) and go watch or participate in the traditional Lao rite of Almsgiving to the monks. In the city, some 300+ monks file through silently collecting alms. This is an amazing sight and your guide will be on hand to demonstrate and explain this important ritual. Return to your hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, drive with your guide by car to the Kuang Si waterfall. The falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. The water here has a clear blue-green tint due to the high mineral content. You can climb the stairs and look down from various high viewpoints on the way to the top! Enjoy a local lunch and later in the afternoon return to the hotel for check-out, transfer to the airport for your flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel for overnight and dinner.

Day 04: Vientiane – Visit Local Highlights – Vientiane
Today after breakfast, enjoy a city tour to Wat Sisaket with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues.  Other sites you will see include the huge golden That Luang monument, and next door, Vientiane's own Victory Monument, which looks like the Arc de Triomphe. This was built at the end of the Indochina war with money rumored to be American, and earmarked for the airport’s new runway. Thus the departing Americans dubbed this monument the vertical runway! Have a look at the lovely arches inside the monument. Also visit Wat Simuang and Wat Prakeo, which was the original home of the famous Emerald Buddha, which today lives in Bangkok. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and then return to your hotel, and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 05: Vientiane – Pakse – Tad Fane
After a very early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Pakse. Upon arrival, your guide will pick you up for transfer to Tad Fane Resort. Check in to your hotel and commence enjoying a day-trek in this lovely area. In the morning, make an easy 4 hour hike on the Bolaven Plateau. This hike goes trough a local village, coffee plantations, over a hanging bridge and on to the plains. Huge boulders, epiphytes and wild orchids abound. Large pine trees grow here, giving it a wholly different character of landscape. Return to Tad Fane Resort for lunch. After lunch, it’s time to relax. Dinner is on your own in the resort.

Day 06: Tad Fane Resort – Wat Phou UNESCO – Elephant Trek to Phou Asa – 4000 Islands Area (Si Phan Don)
After breakfast continue on to the 4000 Islands area (Si Phan Don) by van. En Route, visit the famous Khmer Temple complex of Wat Phou. This represents the easternmost border of the Khmer empire, although the influence of the Khmers was felt deep into central Vietnam). Also visit an Elephant Camp to see how handlers ("mahouts") train these giant friendly beasts! Ride one of the friendly pachyderms to the top of Phou Asa to see mysterious ruins there. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to 4000 Islands by bus and boat. Have dinner on your own on the island.

Day 07: Around 4000 Islands (Si Phan Don) Li Phi Falls – Mekong Dolphins – Colonial Railway and Bridge
Today after breakfast enjoy a trip by boat to the largest waterfalls in Asia! Khone Phapeng & Li Phi Falls were the major obstacles which thwarted the French in their efforts to open the Mekong River to navigation. Here also live some 50-100 Irrawaddy (freshwater) dolphins. If lucky, you'll have the chance to see them!  Lunch is in a local restaurant. See the small gauge railway and Colonial Bridge built by the French to circumnavigate the falls. Then return to the island to spend the afternoon at leisure or exploring the island on your own. Dinner is on your own.

Day 08: Around 4000 Islands (Si Phan Don) – Pakse
After breakfast, drive north to Pakse for your flight onward.

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