Luang Prabang Experience

Arrival to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After a short rest, free at your leisure to enjoy the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang

After breakfast, the driver and tour guide will pick you up then transfer to the historical center of Luang Prabang for a visit to the National Museum – the first stop of this half-day city tour. Once the Royal Palace of Laos, the National Museum is filled with artworks, artifacts and jewels and provides an excellent insight into the history and rich culture of the country. Continue on foot to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-reliefs, and Wat Sensoukarahm, which features a dazzling golden façade. The morning tour finishes at Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang. Located at the end of the peninsula, close to the Mekong River, this temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat and is decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics.
In the late afternoon, drive to the riverbank to board the Nava Mekong, an elegant and traditional riverboat. Cruising gently down the Mekong River, you will have chance to take in views of rural villages as the sun sets behind the surrounding mountains. The riverboat will moor on the opposite bank in time for dinner, which will include a selection of classic Lao dishes and traditional local entertainment including music and dance performances depicting traditional Lao folk tales and legends. After dinner, guests will cruise back to Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Today, you will be picked up and adapted bikes in the morning. The tour starts with a visit to Phosy Market where guests can join the locals and support vendors by buying fresh products or fruit. Continue the ride to Ock Pop Tock. This non-profit organization seeks to preserve traditional weaving techniques, a trade which was once an important source of income for many Lao families but is slowly fading out as modern technology has evolved. A short tour introduces the processes of silk weaving, from the initial stages of creating the dyes to the final process of loom weaving.
Ride along the Mekong back into town for the final stop of the day, the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre, which is dedicated to exploring the rich diversity of Laos’ ethnic minorities. Traditional costumes, tools and artifacts are on display alongside in-depth descriptions and written histories. It is a great opportunity to gain insight in to the Lao people.
The expert chefs will first demonstrate how to prepare authentic Lao dishes then try their hand at creating the local cuisine, slicing and pounding their way through the ingredients before cooking each dish in the traditional way. At the end, you will be given a cook book to take home, allowing them to practice their new-found cooking skills and relive their time in Laos. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

For early risers, there is a very special dawn visit to watch the monks collecting alms. As the sun begins to rise, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents. It is a beautiful, serene ceremony that highlights the spiritualism of the Lao people. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest paths. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Phanom, a well-known weaving village, and then return to the city by late evening for observing the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

This morning is free for last minute shopping or sightseeing until transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.