DAY 1 : VIENTIANE ARRIVAL (-/-/D)
Arrive in Vientiane where you will be met by our representative and driven to your hotel. 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.
A world apart from other frantic Asian capitals, Vientiane remains a quiet and pleasant town located on the bank of the Mekong River. Tonight you will enjoy a welcome dinner at Makphet restaurant which trains local youth, mostly former street children, in the art of cooking. Meet with some of the children and learn how the project has changed their lives
DAY 2 : VIENTIANE (B/L/-)
An optional early start enables you to visit the fascinating local market of Thongkhankham which is where the locals shop and a wide variety of weird and wonderful foods are on offer. You continue to explore the city by visiting the oldest Wat (temple) in Vientiane, Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which now serves as a museum of arts and antiques. You then travel up Lanexang Avenue where you have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxai Monument. The climb to the top offers great views over Vientiane. The final visit of the morning will be to the excellent COPE exhibition centre, highlighting a much overlooked aspect of Laos and a major problem that many of the local people face on a day to day basis in the form of unexploded ordnance as a result of heavy bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War era
Drive to the Buddha Park, located an hour away of Vientiane. Buddha Park was built in 1958 by a very imaginative monk named Bunleua Sulilat. It includes large sculptures of both Hindu and Buddhist deities.There is a lot of space for children to run around, and an outdoor restaurant for a snack break. The central attraction is a large concrete dome that can be entered from the bottom. Once inside, you can spiral up to the top, viewing various sculptures depicting aspects of creation, heaven and hell. The highest point is a bit harrowing, far above the ground with no guard rails, but the view of the park is breathtaking
A spectacular view of the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day
DAY 3 : VIENTIANE / VANG VIENG (B/L/-)
This morning you travel by the picturesque back roads to Vang Vieng stopping en route at Ban Keun, which is famous for its salt mine. Here you can learn about the daily working life of the local people. We also visit a local minority village where the Hmong tribal people live and visit their local market to learn more about their customs. Continue to the Ngum reservoir where a picnic lunch is served by the lake. You can take a boat ride on the lake. You reach Vang Vieng by mid afternoon, where there is time to visit Tham Jang cave with its stunning views of over the Nam Song River and surrounding karst scenery
DAY 4 : VANG VIENG (B/L/-)
The landscape and limestone mountain range around the small town of Vang Vieng is perfect for your family who enjoy soft adventure. After breakfast, we drive through the countryside of Laos. Cross one of the few bamboo bridges over the Song river and start exploring Tham Jang. The historical cave was used as a defence bunker against the Chinese in the 19th century. The cave offers superb views of the surrounding countryside and dramatic limestone karsts, from an opening in the limestone wall of the main cavern. From here, continue further north by road, where you will visit a plantation and then the scenic Lao Lum village at Ban Pha Tang. You also have the opportunity to enjoy a boat trip or kayaking on the Nam Song river, certainly one of the highlights of the excursion. Your guide will provide you with a safety briefing and some basic instructions on how to kayak.
In the afternoon, you cycle through the scenic countryside, where you will visit a Hmong village and a small Mon-Khmer village. From there, you continue cycling, passing green paddy fields, and onto Phoukham caves, returning to your hotel by late afternoon.
DAY 5 : VANG VIENG / LUANG PRABANG (B/-/D)
Drive to Luang Prabang via Phou Khoun. You can buy some fresh fruits and snacks here. As you approach Luang Prabang, the scenery becomes more mountainous. It is a scenic drive and you will be able to stop several times on the way for photos. Arrive in Luang Prabang in the afternoon and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. This evening we recommend dining at The Blue Lagoon. This simple, yet charming café serves a large mix of local and western dishes that the whole family will love.
After dinner, take a stroll through the evening night market. This nightly market sets up along the city streets from around 1700 - 2200 and dozens of vendors come to sell their handicrafts, clothes, souvenirs and home ware. The serene atmosphere and beautiful goods make it one of the best places in Laos to shop.
DAY 6 : LUANG PRABANG CITY TOUR (B/L/-)
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel for a short transfer by tuk tuk to our electric powered bike station. After a short briefing to explain the use of your new vehicle, it will be time to start your responsible travel discovery of Luang Prabang... in a quiet way! These electric bikes are an emissions-free mode of transportation and allow the user to either pedal the bike by their own power or to coast along using the bike's battery-powered, rechargeable motor. Start your city tour at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, where you will explore the history of Laos. Continue your ride to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief, and Wat Sensoukarahm, which features a beautiful dazzling golden façade. Then return to the bike station to drop off your electric bikes and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free at your leisure.
In the afternoon, visit the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre for insight in to the countries various ethnic groups and traditional crafts. This tour will provide you with information into the wonders of Laos, enhancing your understanding of this little-known country and its people. (NOTE: closed on Monday). The rest of the day is at your leisure.
DAY 7 : LUANG PRABANG / KHUANG SI WATERFALL (B/L/-)
Today learn about how rice is cultivated traditionally in the rice paddy. Rice is the ultimate foundation of everyday life in Asia and yet it is still a mystery for many visitors. On this exceptional tour you meet your local farming guide at the Living Lands Organic Farm and learn how to select the seeds, plant and plough with the help of a water buffalo and every other step until the last one… eating it – where you taste a sample of traditional Lao food made from rice. After this trip you’ll have a new appreciation for rice and admiration for the people of Lao who to this day continue to harvest rice without modern machinery. From the Farm we head to Khuang Si Waterfalls for lunch where you can also enjoy a short trek to the top of the falls. This is an incredibly beautiful place, definitely worth the visit, as the waterfalls are very picturesque. You can explore the area as it is possible to walk to the top, although we recommend the pools halfway up as the perfect place for a splash about. The walk up the side of the falls is a little precarious and be prepared to get a little wet!
DAY 8 : LUANG PRABANG / SHANGRI LAO ELEPHANT CAMP (B/L/-)
This morning you have an early pick up from your hotel at 8am to the Shangri-Lao Explorer Camp, 15 kilometres outside Luang Prabang. On arrival, you will have an introductory tour of the camp where your guide will teach you all about elephants. You can talk with the veterinarian in the hospital, feed the elephants and relax by the riverside. Your expedition begins with an elephant ride across the river and continues for 1.5 hours through teak forests, jungle and over hills to reach the protected Huay Sae Valley. Along the way you can stop to see the amazing scenery of the Nam Khan River Valley. After reaching the Huay Sae Valley you leave your elephant and rest at the jungle sala to enjoy a delicious lunch with traditional Lao food and wine by a secluded waterfall. Depending on the water level you can refresh and swim in the natural pools.
After lunch continue on foot for 1.5 hours along the scenic Huay Sae mountain stream. The adventurous trail crosses bamboo bridges and passes waterfalls, fantastic limestone formations and turquoise blue pools in the dense jungle. Along this educational trail you will learn more about this important ecosystem. Where the trail leaves the valley, traditional horses from the Hmong hill tribes are waiting for you to carry your bags up a more demanding section. These strong porter-horses accompany you for the last 30 minutes of trekking through fields, plantations and teak forest. Enjoy stunning views to the mountain ranges while your guide explains the local agriculture and farming methods.
Down at the Nam Khan River, a bamboo raft is waiting to take you back downriver to the Shangri Lao camp. Have a coffee break, relax and watch the traditional village life of farmers and fishermen along the river. The relaxing 1.5 hour journey will pass the Tad Sae waterfalls and there will be an optional 30 minute stop. Late afternoon you will depart the camp and return to your hotel in Luang Prabang
DAY 9 : LUANG PRABANG / PAK OU / KHMU LODGE (B/L/D)
After breakfast at your hotel, visit Luang Prabang's the most photographed temple, Wat Xieng Thong. Located at the end of the peninsula, close to the Mekong River, this temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat, the library was added in 1828. A short walk will then take you to Wat Xieng pier where you will embark on a cruise up the Mekong River from Luang Prabang to the Khmu Lodge. Along the way stop at the Pak Ou Caves. Locally referred to as Tam Ting, these two caves are carved out of towering limestone cliffs and contain thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues. The Buddhas range in size from a few centimeters to the size of a human. The caves are as well a destination for local pilgrimages.
Continue upriver for another hour to reach the Khmu Lodge for lunch. The Khmu Lodge features 20 private canvas tents, each one of which is protected from the elements by a thatch roof. The tents are also decorated with bamboo and wooden furniture allowing the Lodges' grounds to harmoniously blend with surrounding nature. They each feature private attached bathroom and toilet with solar powered hot water and electricity. This afternoon, you may choose to participate in a variety of different activities. You will be rewarded with a very original Lao experience:
• Rice planting and harvesting in surrounding rice fields
• Gold panning (January to June) in the Mekong. Anything you find is yours!
• Traditional fishing techniques in the Mekong. You can sample your catch for dinner!
• Local village visit and encounters
Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
DAY 10 : KHMU LODGE / LUANG PRABANG (B/-/-)
This morning is at your leisure to enjoy breakfast and relaxing surroundings of the Khmu Lodge.
Travel by boat down the Mekong to Luang Prabang, arriving in time for lunch. If time allows, you will make a stop en route at Ban Xang Hai. This small village on the riverbanks is known for its production of local rice alcohol. Referred to as lao lao or lao khao, this strong concoction is normally drunk for social events such as weddings, births and other celebrations. Upon reaching Luang Prabang, the afternoon is at your leisure
DAY 11 : LUANG PRABANG DEPARTURE (B/-/-)
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.