OVERVIEW:
Destination: LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU – KUANG SI – LUANG PRABANG – PLAIN OF JARS – VANG VIENG – VIENTIANE – PAKSE – TAD LO – CHAMPASSAK – KHONG ISLAND – 4,000 ISLANDS – KHONG ISLAND – KHONE PHAPHENG – PAKSE
Duration: 13 days 12 nights


With this 13-day tour, you will be able to grasp all the beauty of Laos, a charming land with an appeasing atmosphere. Discover the historic Luang Prabang, bustling capital Vientiane, amazing Vang Vieng, mystical Plain of Jars, and finish with a relaxing time in the beautiful 4,000 Islands region. From North to South, you will visit the best that Laos has to offer.


HIGHLIGHTS:

  • The beauty of Luang Prabang, the magnificent Kuang Si Falls, and the amazing Pak Ou Caves
  • The mysterious Plain of Jars and its mystical atmosphere
  • The atmospheric natural setting of Vang Vieng
  • The surprising capital city of Laos, Vientiane
  • Pakse and the Bolaven Plateau with its fabulous landscapes and welcoming ethnic minorities
  • Champassak Province and Wat Phu, and the wonderful 4,000 Islands region

QUICK LOOK ON THE ITINERARY:

Day 1: Arrival in Luang Prabang (-)
Day 2: Luang Prabang – City Tour (B)
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou – Kuang Si falls – Luang Prabang (B)
Day 4: Luang Prabang – Plain of Jars (Phonsavan) (B)
Day 5: Plain of Jars (B, L)
Day 6: Plain of Jars – Vang Vieng (B)
Day 7: Vang Vieng – Vientiane (B)
Day 8: Vientiane – City Tour (B, L)
Day 9: Vientiane – Flight to Pakse – Bolaven Plateau – Tad Lo (B, L, D)
Day 10: Tad Lo – Paksong – Champasak Province (Wat Phu) – Khong Island (B, L, D)
Day 11: Khong Island – 4,000 Islands – Khong Island (B, L, D)
Day 12: Khong Island – Khone Phapheng – Pakse (B, L, D)
Day 13: Pakse – Departure (B)


TOUR IDENTIFICATION CODELCLT04

Day 1: Arrival in Luang Prabang (-)

You will be welcomed upon your arrival at the airport and driven downtown to Luang Prabang.

Check-in at the hotel. Free time for the rest of the day.

Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 2: Luang Prabang – City Tour (B)

You will have free time to visit Luang Prabang on your own. This town, the ancient capital of Xang Lane Kingdom, is today the religious center of the country. Today, Luang Prabang is listed as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

Interesting sites to discover in Luang Prabang include:

  • Wat Visoun (or Wat Wisunarat): this temple dates from the 16th century and is today acting as a museum where you can find a lot of religious items
  • Wat Aham: dating from the 19th century, this temple is guarded by two tigers and by statues representing Ravana and Hanuman.
  • Wat Xieng Thong: largely recognized as the most elegant temple in the city, this 16th-century edification is remarkable due to its original architecture.
  • National Musem: the old Royal Palace now houses a collection of precious items that include the famous Pha Bang statue, a flamboyant 83-cm gold-alloy Buddha representation. 
  • Phu Si (or Phou Si): you will have to climb 328 steps to get to the top of this hill, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view on Luang Prabang.

In the evening, we will discover the night market, where you will find beautiful artisanal fabrics.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 3: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou – Kuang Si falls – Luang Prabang (B)

Wake up early in the morning if you want to see the Tak Baat ritual, the morning alms round occurring every morning at dawn. Every morning (between 5:30am and 7:00am), Luang Prabang monks, cladded in their orange robes, line up in the streets with their black alms bowls. Sitting on the sidewalks, followers wait for each monk to pass by and collect sticky rice or other foods, and even money. By giving to the monks, the local people earn merit and blessings. 

After this daily ritual, you will have breakfast. Then, you will cruise on Mekong River while enjoying the beautiful countryside, until reaching Pak Ou. There, you will visit the famous Pak Ou Caves, home to thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues of different shapes and sizes. Then, you will board a boat for an excursion along the river, until reaching Ban Xang Hai, a village specializing in manufacturing a local rice whiskey.

In the afternoon, you will visit Ban Xang Khong and Ban Xieng Lek, villages specializing in weaving crafts. You will then continue until reaching Kuang Si Falls. During this journey, you will also go to ethnic minority villages: Ban Na Ouan (a H’Mong village), Ban Ou (a Laoloum village) and Ban Thapene (a Khmu village).

Later, you will return to Luang Prabang.

Dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Luang Prabang – Plain of Jars (Phonsavan) (B)

Depart for a drive on a winding road through the mountains that will lead you to Phonsavan, capital of the Xieng Khoang Province. 

Before reaching your destination, you will stop to visit Tai Lue and H’Mong villages. Lunch on the way.

You will reach Phonsavan at the end of the day.

Check-in, have dinner and spend the night at Phouphadeng Hotel.

Day 5: Plain of Jars (B, L)

Have breakfast at your hotel.

The morning will be dedicated to visit the archeological site No2, where the famous stone jars are found. Those monumental objects bear witness to an ancient civilization with many mysteries have yet to be unsolved. Then, you will continue to Muang Khoun, the former capital, destroyed by American bombings, before going to Wat Phia Wat Temple and That Foun Stupa.

Lunch on site, we will head back to Phonsavan and stop at the archeological site No3, where approximately 50 jars are scattered throughout the hill.

After a short visit of the archeological site No1, you will be driven back to your hotel.

Dinner and overnight at Phouphadeng Hotel.

Day 6: Plain of Jars – Vang Vieng (B)

Visit the local market where local people gather to sell what they caught during their hunts, before getting on the vehicle for a 7-hour drive through amazing wild sceneries that will lead to Vang Vieng.

You will reach Vang Vieng at the end of the afternoon – there, you will discover enchanting landscapes, blessed by the Nam Song River and a succession of rocky formations sculpted by the erosion.

Check-in at the hotel, before starting a short cruise on Nam Song River.

Overnight in Vang Vieng.

Day 7: Vang Vieng – Vientiane (B)

Today, you will go to Pathang Village, your starting point for a hike through incredible landscapes, charming villages, and intriguing caverns. During this walk, you will have time to contemplate at the beautiful nature in Vang Vieng and its surroundings.

After a nice picnic lunch, you will drive to Vientiane.

Check-in at the hotel upon arriving to the capital.

Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 8: Vientiane – City Tour (B, L)

After breakfast, you will meet the guide and start a city tour. First, you will visit Wat Si Saket, erected in 1818 by King Anouvong and designed according to the ancient Bangkok style. Then, you will go to Haw Pha Kaew, an old royal temple now acting as a museum, Wat Si Muang, the most revered temple in Laos, and Pha That Luang, the national monument of Laos symbolizing both Buddhism and Lao sovereignty. After that, you will discover the Central Market.

After your visit, you will be driven along the Mekong River until reaching Chao Anouvong Park, where you will enjoy a nice walk. A bronze statue of Chao Anouvong was installed in this park named after him. There, you will visit the night market, where you can shop for local snacks and products while also bargaining for other items such as wood sculptures or mountain clothes.

Overnight at the hotel in Vientiane.

Day 9: Vientiane – Flight to Pakse – Bolaven Plateau – Tad Lo (B, L, D)

You will leave Vientiane early in the morning for your flight to Pakse. Upon arriving at Pakse Airport, you will be picked up by our driver and transported to Tad Lo (120 km from the airport), located at the northeastern part of Bolaven Plateau.

The Bolaven Plateau is a region where tea, coffee, and cardamom plantations are widespread, among many other vegetable and fruit crops. Before reaching Tad Lo, you will go to several villages inhabited by Alak, Lawe, Katu, and Ya Heune ethnic minorities. You will also visit Ban Kok Phoung and Ban Pong-Tai villages, inhabited by the Ta-Oi and K-Lac minorities, who live in stilt houses. Later, you will visit Pha Xuam eco-tourist site.

Upon reaching Tad Lo, you will check in a bungalow located in the forest and on Sexet River border.

Overnight at Tad Lo Lodge (www.tadlolodge.com).

Day 10: Tad Lo – Paksong – Champasak Province (Wat Phu) – Khong Island (B, L, D)

Today, you will go to Champasak Province, famous for being home to Wat Phu (also spelled Vat Phou), a pre-Angkorian site. Before getting to Wat Phu, you will stop at Paksong and visit several sites: coffee export center, Tad Fan Waterfall, and a traditional tea workshop at KM 33.

Later, you will finally arrive at Wat Phu, a structure that was assembled between the 9th and 13th centuries, before Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. You will also explore the Champasak Historical Heritage Museum. After that, you will continue your road up until reaching Khong Island.

Overnight at Pon River Guesthouse on Khong Island (standard room – www.ponarenhotel.com).

Day 11: Khong Island – 4,000 Islands – Khong Island (B, L, D)

Have a nice breakfast before going for a cruise on the largest portion of the Mekong River, where nearly 4,000 islets emerge during the dry season. This explain why this region is called “Si Phan Don” which means 4,000 Islands.

During this cruise, you will stop at Don Khone Island to visit the remnants of the French Colonial Era (which include a bridge and a railway, built by the French in order to circumvent the waterfalls), Liphi Waterfalls, and the local village. Later, you will return on Khong Island.

Overnight at Pon River Guesthouse on Khong Island (standard room – www.ponarenhotel.com).

Day 12: Khong Island – Khone Phapheng – Pakse (B, L, D)

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven to Khone Papheng, located at the extreme south of the country and near the border of Cambodia. This place is home to the biggest waterfalls of the Mekong in Laos. You will have time to admire this magical natural sight. Have lunch during the visit.

In the afternoon, you will be driven back to Pakse. Overnight in Pakse.

Day 13: Pakse – Departure (B)

You will have free time in the evening until being taken to the airport for your departure flight.

Please contact us for more information about this tour or to customize this itinerary.

Included:

  • All transportation
  • Accommodation (twin room or double room)
  • All entrances fees
  • Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B for breakfast, L for lunch, D for dinner)
  • English-speaking tourist guide
  • One small bottle of water on the bus everyday
  • Services fees
Excluded:

  • Personal expenses
  • Insurance
  • Drinks
  • Flight tickets
  • Visa for Laos