HIGHLIGHTS

• Wander the sleepy Laotian capital and gap its most iconic keys.
• Explore the dramatic scenery of stunning Vang Vieng.
• Discover the enigmatic and remote Plain of Jars.
• Soak up the serenity of Luang Prabang with a sunset trek to Mount Phousi and visit the Kuang Si Waterfalls.
• Witness a sea of monks in saffron-coloured robes flow through the city to collect alms from devoted locals.
• Taste fresh organic cup of coffee in Bolaven Plateau.
• See majestic Wat Phou Temple, a beautiful pre-Angkorian three-tiered temple, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Cruise along the tranquil archipelago of "Siphandon" - the 4,000 Islands.

Day by Day itineraries

Day 1: Vientiane Arrival.

"Sabaidee" - Welcome to magical Laos! Upon arrival at Vientiane International Airport, you will be picked up by Laos Travel's professional tour guide and friendly driver.

Begin your discoveries with the essential landmarks and iconic sights that the small & charismatic city of Vientiane has to offer. The first visit is Wat Sisaket, believed to be Vientiane's oldest surviving temple, left intact after the Siamese invasion of 1828. Next, you'll be introduced to see Pha That Luang, the most revered shrine, constructed by King Setthathirat in the 16th century. The Vientiane City Tour also takes you to Patuxai Victory Monument, Laos' version of the Arc de Triomphe.

Afterwards, end your day tour along the banks of the Mekong River as the sun begins to set. Stroll along the river, stop to enjoy a cold drink, or sample a snack from one of the many local food stalls, if you like, before being transferred to your hotel.



Meals: N/A.

Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane.

Day 2: Vientiane Vang Vieng.

After breakfast, set out on the spectacular drive north to Vang Vieng, 130km from Vientiane. Nestled along Nam Song River in Central Laos, Vang Vieng is popular for its idyllic scenery: limestone karsts jutting out of emerald rice paddies.



Arrive in Vang Vieng, be ready for kayaking experience. You will have an introduction to the basics of kayak and a safety briefing before setting off down the beautiful Nam Song River. Paddle downstream to Tham None (the Sleeping Cave), which is one of the biggest caves in Vang Vieng. The cave served as a shelter for the villagers during the Second Indochina War. Today it is home to a family of bats and the "Magic Stone" of Vang Vieng. Be noted that in the rainy season, you may need to swim through the entrance to the cave. Then kayak gently back to Vang Vieng just in time to catch the sunset.

Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in Vang Vieng.

Day 3: Vang Vieng Drive to Phonsavan.

Leave Vang Vieng this morning, making a short photo stop at Phatang Mountain view point to admire the beautiful scenery. You also have an optional stop at Koe Kuang, which boasts a local forest market, offering edible snakes, rats and assorted reptiles! En-route you'll visit Ban Hin Ngon, a picturesque Hmong village, before arriving at Phou Khoun for lunchtime.

Later in the afternoon, arrive in Phonsavan - meaning the "hills of paradise" - the capital of the Xiengkhuang Province. Take an orientation tour around the town and have the option to visit the thought-provoking UXO Information Centre, run by British organisation MAG (Mines Advisory Group), which has been helping to clear Laos' unexploded ordnance since 1994.

The evening is free to enjoy as you please.



Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in Phonsavan.

Day 4: Explore the mystical Plain of Jars.

Today you will explore the 3 sites that make up the Plain Of Jars. Despite being named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, very few visitors travel to this mysterious megalithic site - so once you make it, you're treated to arguably one of Southeast Asia's quietest UNESCO sites.



Nobody knows how long the jars have actually been here or what they were used for; some speculate they are funeral urns dating back some 2,000 years. Another theory says that they were probably made to contain and transport "Lao Lao", a glutinous wet rice which is boiled with yeast and left to ferment in large jars. It is believed that they were prepared for a huge celebration, which, for some reason was disrupted whilst the jars were being transported, as other jars in smaller quantities can be found on two other sites close by. Despite being one of the most strategic battlegrounds of the Indochina War, most jars were unharmed and remain a complete mystery even today.

Spend time discovering the plain of undulating green fields where the 300 giant stones jars are scattered, the largest of them weighing six tons and measuring 4-metres high. You will also have opportunities to observe Xiengkhuang's local village life, visit a small monastery in Ban Xieng Di and pass areas that were important battlefields during the American war. Later in the afternoon, drive back to your hotel in Phonsavan, where the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in Phonsavan.

Day 5: Phonsavan Drive to Luang Prabang.

Today is set aside for the long drive west to Luang Prabang - the enchanting World Heritage town and former royal capital. Make your way along winding mountainous roads reaching an altitude of 1,500 m at the highest point. Break up the journey with a few short stops along the way at local villages. The total journey time will be approximately seven-to-eight hours, depending on traffic and weather conditions.

On arrival, enjoy free time to explore Luang Prabang for the remainder of the day. Luang Prabang has many great cafés, restaurants and night food stalls which emerge at dusk, ask the guide for personal recommendations to enjoy your dinner.



Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 6: Luang Prabang Pak Ou Caves.

Following breakfast at the hotel, visit the former King's Palace, now the National Museum. The many items nicely displayed include rare furniture, traditional costumes, arts, jewelry, ornaments as well as working tools and utensils of the early part of the 20th century. Then visit Wat Xieng Thong, the most photographed temple in Luang Prabang. Board a private boat for the Mekong River cruise to the sacred Pak Ou Caves. Locally called Tam Ting, the caves are filled with thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues, coming in a wide range of sizes. During the boat ride, take note of the fishermen and villagers going about their daily life on the river. For many, the Mekong plays an integral role in daily life and represents one of the only means of transportation and commerce.

From the caves, the boat continues to Ban Muang Keo Village where you can see local weavers and whisky distillers honoring their ancient traditional crafts. Before returning to your hotel, climb the steps of Mount Phousi for a gorgeous view of the town.



Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 7: Luang Prabang Alms Giving Kuang Si Waterfall.

An early start provides the fantastic opportunity to witness the captivating centuries old daily tradition of the alms giving ceremony, Tak Bat. Before sunrise, hundreds of saffron-clad monks file out from the old town's 35 temples to collect their daily alms from faithful local residents.

Back to the hotel for breakfast, then spend the morning exploring the area around one of Luang Prabang's most impressive and picturesque waterfalls, Kuang Si. Trek through jungle parklands to Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre, located nearby. Established in 2003, the centre has rescued numerous bears from wildlife traffickers and traditional medicine traders. Here, you will help-out with the bears' midday scatter feed. Next, walk through the national park to the Kuang Si Waterfall, where a 60m cascade feeds into multi-tiered turquoise pools; and if you feel energetic, climb to their source and go for a swim.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the tranquil park.

Afterwards, return to the town to relax or explore more of the local area independently.



Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 8: Luang Prabang Fly to Pakse Bolaven Plateau.

Have a breakfast at the hotel then fly south to Pakse, the capital of Champasak Province. On arrival, meet another tour guide and driver of Laos Travel then begin your discoveries with a scenic drive through mountains and winding roads all the way up to the region of Bolaven Plateau.

An expanse of highland formed from an ancient volcano, Bolaven Plateau is resplendent with lush jungles, rivers, scenic farmlands and diverse ethnic communities. Explore this naturally beautiful and cool climate elevated region. Start with a visit to the Tad Fane Waterfalls, 120 meters high and located in the Dong Hua Sao Nature Reserve. Continue to the Tad Champi and Tad Yeung waterfalls, which drop an impressive 42 meters and are surrounded by lush vegetation. Then head to a tea and coffee plantation and learn why the Bolaven Plateau is an ideal area for these plantations. Enjoy an exceptional fresh organic cup of coffee prepared with a unique technique at the Jhai Coffee House in Paksong and meet some ethnic minorities.

Transfer back to Pakse in the late afternoon. If time permits, take a short orientation tour of the town, explore its colonial and Chinese-style buildings and a local market. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.



Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in Pakse.

Day 9: Pakse Wat Phou Khong Island.

After breakfast, check out the hotel and journey along Mekong River to Don Khong in the south of Champasak. Stop at Wat Phou, otherwise known as Vat Phou, to visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating back more than 1,000 years, Wat Phou is a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits amidst the rice fields and waterways of southern Laos. Explore this mythical temple ruins and tumbledown structures.

Enjoy lunch en-route, and continue to Khong Island, the biggest island in Southern Laos and the start of the 4,000 Islands. Called "Siphandon" in Laotian language, this area is where the Mekong stretches over 14km wide and houses thousands of islands between its cascades and rapids. Here the Mekong River is at its widest and dotted with thousands of small islands.

Later in the afternoon, you will arrive in the peaceful island of Don Khong, home to small villages and plantations, where you'll spend the night. The remainder of the day, it's recommended to explore the area either by bicycle or tuk-tuk.



Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in Khong Island.

Day 10: Khong Island Pakse Departure.

Embark on a traditional long-tail boat and cruise amongst the Siphandon riverine archipelago. Explore this peaceful rural island where locals live out a simple life. Once a minor 19th century French Indochina settlement, Don Khong reveals a handful of colonial-era buildings including an old French railway station. Visit awesome Liphi Waterfalls, nicknamed the "Corridor of the Devil", a natural border between Laos and Cambodia and habitat of the rare Irrawaddy dolphins (sadly, the last known river dolphin in the transboundary pool in the Mekong between Laos and Cambodia was found dead on 15 February 2022).

Continue to the 10km-long Khone Pha Pheng Falls, Southeast Asia's largest waterfalls and one of Laos' most magnificent natural attractions. Hear the thunderous roar and gaze at the awesome power created by millions of litres of water crashing over rocks.

After relaxing on the boat ride, enjoy a local-style lunch served in a nearby restaurant.

Return to the mainland by boat and then transfer back to Pakse International Airport for your flight home or on to the next destination. Depending on flight schedules, it may be necessary to book another overnight stay in Pakse or Champasak (excluded in the tour cost).



Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Accommodation: N/A.