HIGHLIGHTS

• Soak up Luang Prabang's charming mix of French colonial architecture and golden Buddhist temples.
• Witness monks collecting alms at sunrise.
• Explore the dramatic scenery of stunning Vang Vieng.
• Discover the enigmatic and remote Plain of Jars.
• Wander the sleepy Laotian capital and gap its most iconic keys.
• Travel back in time to visit the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Phou.
• Discover the ways of life and tranquil beauty of Southern Laos' 4,000 river islands.

Day by Day itineraries

Day 1: Luang Prabang Arrival.

"Sabaidee" - Welcome to magical Laos! Upon arrival at Luang Prabang International Airport, you will be picked up by Laos Travel's representative and transferred to your hotel for checking in. Enjoy a welcome drink and choose to relax or explore nearby sights on your leisure time.

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: N/A.

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 2: 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 3: 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 park-lands 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, Picnic Lunch.

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 4: Luang Prabang Phonsavan.

After breakfast, leave Luang Prabang for Xiengkhouang Province - home to the famous and mysterious Plain of Jars. It's a long drive (7-8 hours) and the road follows a twisty mountain route, but you will pass through some stunning mountain landscapes and the journey will be punctuated by stops for sightseeing and for lunch in a local restaurant along the way. Visits include Khmu and Hmong villages and a hidden cave temple that served as an army hospital during the Vietnam War.

Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure exploring the town's sprinkling of cafes and restaurants catering to those intrepid travelers who make it here.



Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in Phonsavan.

Day 5: Discover the mystical Plain of Jars.

Today you will explore the 3 clusters of mysterious stone jars which make up the intriguing 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, from the Site 2 to 3, and the Site 1 at last. You will also have opportunities to visit a small monastery in Ban Xieng Di, pass areas that were important battlefields during the American war, and observe Xieng Khouang's local village life at Ban Napia - nicknamed the "War Spoon Village".

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 6: Phonsavan Vang Vieng.

Today you will head on south to Vang Vieng, one of the most picturesque areas in the country. Upon arrival, relax and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery.

You are recommended a short stroll down to the riverbank this evening in time for sunset, where there are a number of areas to sit and take in dramatic scenery. Watch people float down the river as the sun starts to dip behind the mountains and the sky turns a deep burnt-orange, just be sure to bring a camera to catch some sunset snaps.



Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in Vang Vieng.

Day 7: Vang Vieng: Explore Caves & Kayak on Nam Song River.

Today's tour combines all the activities that Vang Vieng is famous for: kayaking on the Nam Song River surrounded by rugged karsts and beautiful rural scenery and exploring limestone caves.

After breakfast at the hotel, your tour guide will take to to the north of Vang Vieng, where you'll firstly visit Tham Xang (Elephant Cave). This cave owes its name to a remarkable limestone formation, and lies on the banks of the Nam Song River.

The nearby Tham Hoi Cave (Snail Cave) winds its way deep into the mountain. You'll float through the cave on inflatable tubes, exploring its long corridors and wonderful limestone formations. A pool of cool spring water lies at the mouth of Tham Nam (Water Cave), giving you a great opportunity for a swim.

Following a picnic lunch, trek to a Hmong village, passing through rice paddies and vegetable gardens. Return to Vang Vieng by kayaking down the Nam Song, taking you through idyllic scenes of rural life, with limestone mountains in the background.

Rest of the day, you are recommended a short stroll down to the riverbank in time for sunset, where there are a number of areas to sit and take in dramatic scenery. Be sure to bring a camera to catch some amazing snaps.



Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch.

Accommodation: Hotel in Vang Vieng.

Day 8: Vang Vieng Drive to Vientiane.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before departing Vang Vieng for Vientiane. En-route, make a stop for lunch at Nam Ngum Reservoir, one of the largest man-made lakes in South East Asia, and take a boat trip to visit local fishing communities. Continue on to Dongmarkhai Market, where among the market stalls, insects sell as local snacks.

Arrive in Vientiane, spend rest of the day at leisure in this peaceful capital. Enjoy the numerous cafés, restaurants and spas as well as shopping, including the evening market on the banks of the Mekong River.

Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane.

Day 9: 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 10: 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 11: Pakse Wat Phou Khong Island.

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 Khong Island.

Day 12: 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 13: Pakse Departure.

A transfer will take you to Pakse Airport for your onward travels. If you want to explore more parts of Laos or Indochina countries, ask Laos Travel's tour planners for a help!



Meals: Breakfast.