HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the sleepy Laotian capital - home to ornate temples and colonial-influenced architecture.
• Visit the mythical temple ruins and tumbledown structures of Wat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Cruise on slowboats along the Mekong River in Laos' remote south.
• Soak up Luang Prabang's charming mix of French colonial architecture and golden Buddhist temples.
• Witness monks collecting alms at sunrise.
• Discover the nicest natural waterfalls of Champasak and Luang Prabang.

Day by Day itineraries

Day 1: Vientiane Arrival.

Upon arrival at Vientiane Airport, you will be met by Laos Travel's guide & driver and transferred to your hotel. After settling in, enjoy the remainder of the day free at leisure to explore the city or visit the bustling Mekong riverside area yourselves.

Vientiane has many great restaurants with Lao, Thai, French, Italian, Mexican and Chinese cuisines available, ask the guide for personal recommendations to enjoy your dinner.



Meals: N/A.

Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane.

Day 2: Vientiane City Tour.

Today you will discover the essential landmarks and iconic sights that the small and charismatic city of Vientiane has to offer. With French colonial architecture & magnificent Buddhist temples, Vientiane boasts a rich mixture of cultures to savor.

Start at Wat Sisaket, believed to be Vientiane's oldest surviving temple, left intact after the Siamese invasion of 1828. The interior walls of the cloister are covered in niches containing over 2,000 silver and ceramic Buddha images. Next is a visit to Wat Phra Keo, built originally to house the famed Emerald Buddha and now a religious museum that displays a collection of art representing Lao and Khmer artefacts. Continue to Wat Si Muang - the most popular onet in town, before visiting Patuxai Monument, Laos' version of the Arc de Triomphe and its most prominent monument.

The city tour also takes you to the golden spired Pha That Luang, constructed in the 16th century and regarded as the holiest site in Laos, and the Buddha Park, built in 1958 by Luang Pu, a yogi-priest shaman.

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 back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane.

Day 3: Vientiane Fly to Pakse Bolaven Plateau.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport to take a flight to Pakse. 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.

Drive back to Pakse, the most important town in southern Laos. If time permits, take a short orientation tour of Pakse, 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 4: Pakse Wat Phou Don Khong.

This morning journey along Mekong River to Don Khong in the south of Champasak. Stop at Wat Phou, also 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 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 Don Khong.

Day 5: Explore 4,000 Islands Pakse.

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 travel back to the hotel in Pakse by car, arriving in time for sunset.



Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Accommodation: Hotel in Pakse.

Day 6: Pakse Fly to Luang Prabang.

A transfer will take you to Pakse Airport for the in-country flight to the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of Luang Prabang. Spend rest of the day to relax or explore nearby sights of the town on your leisure time.



Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 7: Discover Luang Prabang.

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.

Following the ceremony, wander around the beautiful ancient town of Luang Prabang taking in all of the sights. Enjoy a leisurely walk to the magnificent stupa of Wat Wisunarat, one of Luang Prabang's most historically important temples, built in the 16th century and serving as a small museum for religious artefacts. Next stop is Wat That Luang, traditionally the cremation site for Lao Royalty and housing the ashes of King Sisavang Vong and his brother, interred inside the large stupa, erected in 1910.

Continue to Wat Xieng Thong, a 16th century temple which epitomizes the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture and showcases classic Lao style roofs. This temple was one of only two temples spared by the Black Flag army in 1887, and it was then used as the leaders headquarters during the invasion.

Pay visits to Wat Mai and the nearby former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, before climbing to the top of Mount Phousi. The 100 meter (328 feet) hill is crowned by a gilded stupa, That Chomsi, which dominates the old city centre. Enjoy a sunset view of the gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city and surrounding landscape.



Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 8: Luang Prabang Kuang Si Waterfall.

After breakfast, 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. Afterwards, stroll to Kuang Si Waterfall, where a 60m cascade feeds into multi-tiered turquoise pools set in a beautiful lush forest setting. Enjoy a refreshing dip in the cool water or choose to walk up the trails to the upper section.

After a picnic lunch in the tranquil park, return to the town.

The remainder of the day is free for you to independently explore more of Luang Prabang. Consider visiting the sobering UXO Centre to learn more about the Second Indochina War, take in more of the city's beautiful temples or head to the Ock Pop Tock weaving centre set in beautiful tropical gardens.



Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch.

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 9: Luang Prabang Pak Ou Caves.

Today you will board a private boat for the Mekong River cruise to the famous 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 cruise out, see the fishermen and local villages along the way. For many in the region, the Mekong plays a crucial role in daily life, representing one of the only means of transport and commerce.

Return to Luang Prabang, stopping en route at a craft village, surrounded by verdant rice paddies, that produces traditional textiles and Lao whiskey.



Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in LuangPrabang.

Day 10: Luang Prabang Departure.

Today you can do some last-minute exploring or shopping until it is time to transfer to the airport for your onward flight or on to the next destination.

Farewell peaceful Laos!



Meals: Breakfast.