DAY 1 : LUANG PRABANG ARRIVAL (-/-/D)
Upon your arrival in the UNESCO Heritage Town of Luang Prabang, your guide will welcome you at the airport and then transfer to your hotel for check in. NOTE : kindly note that should you arrive early, an early check-in is not included and subject to hotel’s availability. Your guide will brief an orientation of the city along the way. Once checked in we leave you at your leisure.The balance of the afternoon is free at your leisure to relax and settle into your hotel.
DAY 2 : LUANG PRABANG (B/L/-)
For early risers, we suggest you enjoy the sunrise at the crossroads in town around 06.00 when you will also see monks in saffron robes from Luang Prabang’s many temples walking in long silent processions searching for offerings left to them by the faithful. After breakfast, we drive to visit the Royal Palace, which is today the National Museum before heading off to Khuang Si waterfall on a return journey of around 70km. The road is bordered by villages and rice fields. You will stop in some of these villages and have a countryside lunch at the waterfall.
Return to Luang Prabang and start exploring the old city on the left bank of the Mekong River. Previously a religious capital, Luang Prabang showcases more than 100 temples, considered amongst the most beautiful in Laos. Highlights include: Vat Xieng Thong, Vat Visoun - the oldest temple in the city that looks like none other with its wooden windows inspired by the Khmer temple, Vat Phou and Vat Aham just next door and framed by two large Banyan trees. At the end of the afternoon, discover the H’mong Night Market which sets up every day in the main street from 17.00 to 22.00.
DAY 3 : LUANG PRABANG / PAK OU / KHMU LODGE (B/L/D)
This morning we drive to the pier and embark a traditional boat to cruise up along the Mekong River. En-route visits the sacred caves of Pak Ou, which shelter hundreds of Buddha statuettes. The caves offer a splendid view of the Mekong which, here, mixes its water with those of the Nam Ou River. Continue up river until reaching your Eco Lodge located nearby a Khmu village. The Mekong is at the bottom of a steep-sided valley, with tropical forest invading its banks, and from time to time a village appears out of the forest.
The famous Mekong giant catfish live on this part of the river and it is not unusual to see fishermen waiting patiently their chance. At around noon time we will arrive at your lodge surrounded by lush tropical vegetation in the heart of the Lao jungle - a perfect hideaway for people who want to get away from it all. Once settle down in your own tent, enjoy lunch before we leave the lodge for visiting the neighbor Ban Nyoy Har village, where 63 families make a living in traditional Khmu fashion. Walk about the village and witness yourself the life as the Khmu live it: children are at play, everywhere delighted by your visit, a villager braiding strips of bamboo into a cylinder for rice, another scooping harvested peanuts from a tarp to a bamboo basket and yet another shaping a door frame. And everywhere, dogs and pups, pigs and piglets, chickens and chicks….
Return to the lodge in the late afternoon for dinner.
DAY 4 : KHMU LODGE / PAKBENG (B/L/D)
We leave the lodge this morning and keep cruising up Mekong River to Pakbeng, enjoying the beautiful countryside along the cruise. Numerous villages are found on the Mekong’s riverbanks, we might stop by some villages for a leisure walking around. Try to take this chance to learn more about living condition of those habitants in this upper northern of Mekong River in Laos. Arrival at Pakbeng at the end of the day.
Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
DAY 5 : PAKBENG (B/L/D)
The morning is devoted to visiting the Mekong Elephant Camp. You will cross the Mekong River to attend a show of elephant bathing. And then you will take a 2 hour elephant ride through the villages of the many ethnic groups before returning to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you will take a tuk tuk to visit the local market and then visit the village of Xang Keng Khmus, a beautiful village situated on the edge of the forest. In the late afternoon, you will also visit a local temple, Wat Chom Si Cheng overlooking the Beng River. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
DAY 6 : PAKBENG / OUDOMXAY / MUANG LA (B/-/D)
We departure for Oudomxay, a small borough taking the form of an N or an S and which is surrounded by range of mountains spreading over China, Vietnam, Luang Prabang and Pakbeng. Along the road, you’ll visit villages inhabited by Lu and Khmu hill tribes. After about 3 hours of driving (including some stops) we will reach Oudom Xay district - in the centre of North Laos. The area is a gorgeous mix of green landscapes and mountains view, and a lot of local communities live there.
Arrive and check in Muang La Resort in the early afternoon. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, departure from the resort for a walking around the resort and nearby village. Enjoy the beautiful landscapes and peaceful atmosphere of the area and stop on the way to some local families where you will discover the local daily life. Dinner and overnight at the resort.
DAY 7 : MUANG LA (B/L/D)
Depart in the morning by a 4x4 vehicle to meet Ikhos and H’Mong villagers – two typical communities of Laos. The track you will use is superb and offers an incredible climb up to 1,000m where you will have a memorable and unique view point. You will visit first the beautiful and isolated village of Ikhos. This community from Yunnan and Tibet has remained extremely traditional. Lunch will be taken whilst enjoying a magnificient view. After lunch visit the H’Mong village of Ban Tauser (a 45 minute walk). This ethnic group, originating from the high steppes of Tibet, still has many traditional customs.
You will return back to the lodge in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the resort.
DAY 8 : MUANG LA / MUANG KHUA / MUANG NGOI (B/L/D)
Early this morning, we depart for Muang La by land transfer. After about an hour and a half, you’ll board a traditional slow boat to descend the Nam Ou River until Muang Ngoi (about three hours). The scenery features limestone outcrops partly covered in heavy vegetation. Stop at a pretty village, Thai Ed, at Muang Ngoi. This charming village stretches along the Nam Ou and has a tropical ambiance with its coconut palms and thatched cafes. Having picnic lunch or at a local restaurant. After checking in your guesthouse, take a leisure walk for about two hours in the surrounding rice fields of Muang Ngoi, featuring limestone outcrops reminiscent of Vietnam’s Halong Bay. During this walk, and depending on the season, you’ll be able to see different stages of rice growing. Overnight at the guesthouse
DAY 9 : MUANG LA / NONG KHIAW / LUANG PRABANG (B/L/-)
Say goodbye to the neat Muang Ngoi village and we take one more house cruising down the Nam Ou River to Nong Khiaw. From here, leaving by road towards Luang Prabang. Visit Lu villages at Ban NaYang then Ban Hat Kho en-route. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Arrive back in Luang Prabang in the late afternoon, check in to your hotel and the evening is free at leisure. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 10 : LUANG PRABANG (B/-/-)
Spend your free time at leisure to last explore the charming town of Luang Prabang before your transfer to airport for departure flight.