Day 1: Arrival – Vientiane
On arrival in Vientiane, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Time permitting, your half day city tour enables us to see the
major temples of Vientiane including the oldest, Wat Sisaket, a temple
of thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of
Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We
also visit Laos national icon, That Luang Stupa, and we stop to take
some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own
Arc de Triomphe.
Overnight in Vientiane (Green Park hotel).
Day 2: Vientiane – Udomxay - Muang La (B)
Following the morning at leisure, you will be transferred to the airport
for your flight up to Udomxay. Here we have the chance to visit the
intriguing Pra Xack Kham Temple with its sacred Buddha image. The 400
years old legendary statue is said to have many supernatural powers, and
is widely worshipped among the faithful local Buddhists. We stop in
Muang La, famous for its natural hot springs for the night. No
activities are planned for the rest of the day so you can stroll around
the village or just relax at the riverside retreat enjoying a massage or
some time in the hot springs.
Overnight in Muang La resort
Day 3: Muang La – Exploration (B-L)
Today we explore the local area and undertake an easy trek around the
beautiful surrounding countryside visiting the numerous ethnic hill
tribes that reside around the area. The evening can be spent back at
the resort relaxing in the natural hot springs, taking a traditional
massage and enjoying the excellent local Lao cuisine in the restaurant.
Overnight in Muang La resort
Day 4: Muang La – Luang Prabang (B)
Todays drive south takes us through some of the most stunning mountain
scenery you will find in South East Asia, with plenty of opportunities
to stop off at the various Khmu and H’mong villages along the way. We
shall reach Luang Prabang by mid afternoon, where you have the rest of
the day to relax and take in the enchanting city. You may wish to spend
the evening exploring the local night market.
Overnight in Luang Prabang (The Chang Heritage hotel )
Day 5: Luang Prabang –full day city tour (B)
Your full day city tour begins after breakfast, with a visit to the
Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We
then enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat
Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to
the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Today, we
also visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham.
Following lunch, we visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about
Laos’ many ethnic cultures before we head out of town to see the weaving
villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek. We then return to the city
for a visit to Wat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for
an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a
panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. The tour
ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a
lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people
surrounding Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang (The Chang Heritage hotel)
Note: the Royal Palace Museum is closed on Tuesdays
Day 6: Luang Prabang –Kuang Si Waterfall and Pak Ou Caves (B)
First we visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such
diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among
the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for
its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao
ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum
village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. This then takes us to the
beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing
swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to
Luang Prabang. This afternoon, we embark on a cruise upstream on the
Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil
countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked
caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various
shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the
village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return,
we disembark the boat to visit traditional villages, and continue taking
a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village famous for its hand weaving.
Overnight in Luang Prabang (The Chang Heritage hotel )
Day 7: Luang Prabang – Departure (B)
Depending on your flight, you may have time at leisure before you will
be transferred to the airport in time for your departing flight.
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