Laos in Style

Present in the airport, you will be greeted and drove to the hotel. Check in the hotel and free at your leisure to take time to travel this joyful city at its best preserved situation. Later, leave for a standard dinner at a local restaurant which offers a full menu of tasty local cuisine. Overnight in the lovely hotel in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour taking you to the main points of interest, including the city’s oldest temple Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its low sweeping roofs, representing classical Laotian architecture. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. En route, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the rice wine is produced. Once back in Luang Prabang city we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village famous for its hand weaving. We also have time to visit Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek, small villages well known for silk weavings and for Saa (jute) papermaking. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. From there you will visit the morning Phosi Market where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weaving. Laos is also known for its traditional handicrafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Hill tribe, Ban Ou, Lowland Lao and Ban Thapene of Khmu village. After we head towards the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can take a dip in the large turquoise pools or walk along the forest paths. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Phanom, a well-known traditional weaving village, and then return to the city by late evening for observing the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

In the morning, take a tour to one of the great interests to most visitors is the The National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace, which displays a collection of artefacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign. We also have time to visit the Central Market, before taking our afternoon flight back to Vientiane. After transferring to the hotel, we start exploring Vientiane capital city with a sightseeing tour of some of the major sights of the capital; including the oldest temple Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Overnight in Vientiane.

Today depart Vientiane for the flight to Pakse, on arrival you will be met and transferred to the Vat Phou Cruise leaving Pakse for Champassak then embark on board and we head south. Enjoy a riverside lunch, followed by a guided tour of the mysterious pre-Angkorian 10th century temple of Wat Phou, the boat’s namesake. Wat Phou is a wonderful archeological site of Khmer civilization, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. As dusk falls, we board the Vat Phou for a relaxing cruise down-river, enjoying the tropical sunset on the deck. Dinner is served on board, while the boat docks for the night alongside a remote Laotian village. Overnight on board.

After a leisurely breakfast on board, we set sail for the village of Huei Thamo, only a few minutes walk away from the spectacular hidden Ancient forest temple of Oum Moung. We rejoin the boat for a leisurely cruise southbound and enjoy lunch on the deck, continuing south to the wild paradise of the “4,000 islands” region. In the afternoon we will arrive at Ban Dua Tae, a traditional Laotian Village where the traditional way of life has not changed in centuries. We observe traditional village life and learn about the daily activities within the village. This evening we enjoy a quiet dinner on board, under the stars, serenaded by the songs by the songs of the buffalo toads. Overnight on board.

Following breakfast on boat, while cruising to the small village of Ban Veuthong, where we will board a small longtail boat to Khong Island, the largest island in the 4,000 islands region. After visiting the island, take a long tail boat back to the mainland for lunch amid the bygone splendid of another age; colorful French colonial houses and an old customs post, alongside a stone quay. Head to the captivating, scenic splendor of the Khong Pha Peng waterfall, “the Niagara of the East“, close to the Cambodian border. Then get back Pakse by a two-hour journey on road for your onward flight.