Laos Adventure
14 days - Private Tour

Destinations: Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Muang La, Muang Khua, Nong Khiaw

This cross-country tour provides a fully interactive picture from the North to South, covers all must-sees that Laos has on offer. Whether you join in the traditional rituals of Baci ceremony or picture the saffron-robed monks quietly collecting morning alms. Enjoy a sunset cocktail from a terrace overlooking the Mekong River to visit the glistering pagodas.  A long boat on the gentle Nam Ou River will give you a chance to immerse with the tranquil scenery while a visit to the ethnic villages of Ikhos minority will be one of the most beautiful moments in this trip. Highlights also include the capital Vientiane, venture off the beaten track in the Southern plateau with amazing waterfalls and cultural experiences. Come with us to experience of Laos’ signature and colors.

Itinerary of laos-adventure

DAY 1    Luang Prabang Arrival    Meals: D    

Arrival airport, please go to custom desk as your first point of entry to get visa-on-arrival into the country and pay stamping fees directly by cash to custom office there then guide will pick you up outside and transfer to the city for check in
Afternoon, your guide bring you to a local family to enjoy a private Baci ceremony after sunset. The Baci ceremony as a traditional ritual of the Lao people expresses the spirituality of the country and is a highly memorable experience and a deep insight into Lao culture for the participants. We then transfer back to the city center to have the first taste of Lao foods at one of the best restaurant in Luang Prabang

DAY 2    Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfalls – Sunset Cocktail    Meals: B 

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. From here, we visit local market near the Royal Palace where you can find anything from fresh vegetables, rice, streamed fish, frogs and many other things. This is an opportunity to get a real flavor of the local culture.
We then drive to Kuang Si Falls, located 30 kilometers south of Luang Prabang. The many tiered waterfalls have scooped out small basins of turquoise color. You can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools and hike around the falls if wanted. You’ll also visit the Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park, one of the must-visit spots, newly opened on January 2014.
From there, we will transfer to the Living Craft Center, where we will be welcomed by the Manager, who will offer us the tour around the center and give us the detailed explanation of what the center are doing to promote the traditional Lao silk. This is the good chance for you to have a soft knowledge of the Lao traditional weaving techniques.
 
After the tour, we will enjoy the wonderful sunset cocktail at the Living Craft Center terrace overlooking the Mekong River. This is the really unforgettable experience for you when visiting Laos; the best way to catch the last beauties of the day. We then transfer back to your hotel. 

DAY 3    Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves – Nong Khiaw    Meals: B

Our excursion to Northern Laos, we today embark on the a leisure 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 Muang Keo, where they make the local rice wine.
 
If wanted you have lunch at local restaurant overlooking the Mekong River and the caves. Relax and indeed feel the fresh air from the river. Afterward, we will continue the trip up to Nong Khiaw, the small lovely town along the lazy Nam Ou River. We will try to arrive there just in time to catch the sunset.

DAY 4    Nong Khiaw – Muang Ngoi – Muang Khua – Muang La    Meals: B 

After breakfast, we will embark on a leisurely long-tail boat upstream the Nam Ou River to Muang Khua, the small town along the way to Tay Trang Border with Vietnam. The scenery along the way is considered as the most beautiful part of the gently Nam Ou River. You may pay a short visit at one of the bars for drink in Muang Ngoi overlooking the Nam Ou River.
 
The picnic lunch will be served on one of the best sand beach along the way. We arrive in Muang Khua mid-afternoon; from there, we will be picked up and transfer directly to Muang La Resort, one of the best resort in Laos. This is the place for our excursion the next day where we will spend the next three nights.

DAY 5    Muang La – Timeless Moment With Ikho People    Meals: B 

Morning we leave The Resort following a beautiful route along the banks of the River Nam Pak, to visit two villages of the Ikhos people. First you’ll visit The Ikhos, one of the most isolated communities in Laos and be original from Tibet and Yunnan Province in China.
Their houses are built from bamboo and wood, you’ll learn about their way of life, their spiritual belief which affects everything they do and their unique method of dyeing their clothes using extracts from the plants of the forest. This is a real interesting experience to interact with local people.
 
We transfer back to the resort at around lunch time. You’re free in the afternoon  

DAY 6    Muang La – Free    Meals: B 

Free at leisure for your own activities or you also can take our optional tour today. 

DAY 7    Muang La – Oudomxay – Vientiane    Meals: B

 After the breakfast at the hotel, we will bid the farewell to our lovely resort to transfer to Oudomxay, where we will take the flight to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. QV502 ODY VTE 12:40 13:30
Vientiane is a charming and fascinating capital, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences.
On arrival in Vientiane, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.  After a soft rest, we will stroll around to visit Lao national icon, That Luang Stupa, and we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.
The rest of the day is spent to explore some famous shop in the center of Vientiane including Carol Cassidy, where you will find the best silk in Laos.
A spectacular view over the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day. 

DAY 8    Vientiane – Pakse – Done Daeng    Meals: B

In the morning, we will first visit Wat Si Muang, which is very famous for its supernatural power before transferring out to the airport to take the short flight to Pakse, the biggest city of the Southern Laos. QV303 VTE PKZ 10:20 11:35
Upon arrival, we will transfer to the province of Champasak before taking the small leisurely boat crossing the Mekong River to the island of Daeng, the home to the amazing La Folie Lodge, where we will spend our next 2 nights. 

DAY 9    Done Daeng – Free    Meals: B 

Today, you’re free to explore the Island by yourself or just only relax at your resort. 

DAY 10    Done Daeng – Vat Phou Cruise    Meals: B,L,D 

Free time in the morning then we take the boat back to Champasak to embark on the Vat Phou Cruise.
 
Your lunch will served on deck right after you check in and receive your cabins. All meals are inclusive on the Vat Phou Mekong Cruise. Menu are various from Laotian, Vietnamese and Thai dishes. After lunch, you will visit the Vat Phou ruins - the majestic pre - Angkorian 10th century temple complex and our boat’s namesake. Next, you’ll visit the museum at the ruins site, walk to the highest temple and take as many photos of nice view there.
 
We then transfer back to Vat Phou boat in time to enjoy the tropical sunset on the deck. Dinner is served on board, while the boat docks for the night alongside a remote Laotian village.  

DAY 11    Vat Phou Cruise    Meals: B,L,D 

Morning, the boat sails to the village of Huei Thamo. This is a small village beside the mysterious hidden forest temple of Oum Muong. We will continue our cruise southwards. Lunch is on the deck, while we leisurely sail closer to the wild paradise known as the 4,000 Islands All meals are included on the Vat Phou Mekong cruise and the galley produces the finest of Laotian, Vietnamese and Thai dishes, lovingly prepared and beautifully presented. Late afternoon we disembark from the boat to walk through Ban Deua Tia, a small Laotian Village where the traditional way of life has not changed in centuries, you will also visit the local school and share some time with the students.
 
Our day’s cruise finishes at the most northern tip of Don Khong, the largest inhabited island in the river archipelago. After dinner, the evening is yours to relax and enjoy.

DAY 12    Vat Phou Cruise – Champasak    Meals: B

 Breakfast on the deck
The Vat Phou boat cruises down the Mekong to the small village of Ban Veuthong, where you board a small boat to meander among the 4,000 Islands to Khone Island. You will visit the old French railway, the French colonial house and walk across the bridge that links Khone and Det Islands. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant on Don Khone Island along the banks of the river.
 
Afternoon, you will visit the Khone PhaPheng waterfalls, the “Niagara of the East”.  End of day, you will be transferred back to Champasak, where we will spend our next two nights
   

 DAY 13    Champasak – Bolaven Plateau – Champasak    Meals: B

Morning, transfer to Bolaven Plateau. We will pass many lush plantations, forests, hills and villages on the way. You’ll have an opportunity to observe the beautiful countryside and meet local people. We also stop at some of the villages, home of the Kato hilltribe group.
These ethnic minorities still retain their age and old cultural traditions and are distinct from each other by their dress. We continue to go through the Paksong and Boloven Plateau which is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley.
Rivers run off this high plateau in all directions and then plunge out to lush forests along in a series of spectacular surging waterfalls. The scenery around Tad Fan waterfall is spectacular with twin waterfalls plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by flourishing vegetation. A trip to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to see the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that are grown in the area. This trip gives visitors the chance to venture off the beaten track and to discover some of the lesser-known areas of Laos, exploring the wild beauty of this southern region.
We transfer back to Champasak in the late afternoon. 

DAY 14    Champasak – Pakse – Departure    Meals: B

You are free before transferring back to Pakse to take the departure flight