TRIP HIGHLIGHS:

DAY 1 – luang prabang – arrival (-/-/-)

Arrival at Luang Prabang Airport. Welcomed by local guide and transfer to hotel for check-in. Time at leisure.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

DAY 2 – luang prabang – CITY TOUR (B/-/-)

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning alms giving ritual to saffron clad monks. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving this procession. Enjoy your UNESCO morning walk to understand insight of this charming town stop and visit fresh local markets before going back to hotel for breakfast.

This morning, visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao. Continue to visit Wat Aham temple.

Then, visit Wat Xieng Thong further emphasizes the uniqueness of Luang Prabang, its several roofs sweeping low to the ground. See also the impressive “tree of life” mosaic here. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts semi-erotic episodes from the Ramayana.

In the afternoon, visit the National Museum, explore the city’s fascinating array of shimmering temples and French colonial buildings.

Next, visit of the Centre for Traditional Arts and Ethnology. Founded in 2006, this private museum is non-profit. Its aim is to promote understanding of the different ways of life and traditions of the fabulous ethnic mosaic that forms the Lao people.

End your day by climbing up to Phou Si Mountain where you observe the sun-set and enjoy an overview to Luang Prabang.

Evening is free for your own visit at Night Market.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel

DAY 3 – luang prabang – Cruise on mekong – pak ou cave (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel.

Ferry to other side of Mekong River and beginning of the walk on a small concrete road along the Mekong. It is an opportunity to observe the smiling locals, the women drying roots or even the men who repair their pirogue for the next race.

On the way, stop at the temple of Wat Chomphet, nestled on top of a hill offering a breathtaking view of the Mekong, and the royal city of Luang Prabang that seems to be engulfed by the surrounding jungle.

Continue on a dirt track through a thick teak forest. Then visit another temple, that of Wat Sak kalin, located in front of the cave of Tham Sak kalin. Within it are drawn about eighty frescoes that follow the chronological order retracing the life of Buddha Sakyamuni.

Keep walking to the Wat Long Khun Buddhist Complex which was the annual retreat of the king and his family in earlier times. It is now a place of pilgrimage for the monks and people of Luang Prabang.

Then embark on boat and enjoy a relaxing cruise on Mekong to visit Pak Ou caves at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. In these 2 caves are displayed hundreds of sacred centuries-old Buddha images which are the object of pilgrimages during the Lao New Year festivities around mid-April.

Cruise back to Luang Prabang. Time at leisure

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel

DAY 4 – luang prabang – local market – kuang si falls (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel.

Depart to visit Phou Si market on the outskirts of town where the local people come buying everything they need. Observe how genuine the local culture has remained.

Then travelling (~45mns) outskirt of Luang Prabang, driving through green rice paddies and farms to Kuang Si park. Stop on the way for visit few villages of H’mong and Lao Loum people. On your arrival at the Kuang Si waterfall enjoy your short walking on trails of falls to visit the bear rescued centre, then to the main waterfalls with spectacular views and surrounding of orchids inside the park. Falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. You can cool off with a swim.

Driving back to town center. Stop to visit Ock Pop Tok Craft Center where the fascinating world of Lao textiles comes alive! Set in the grounds of a stunning tropical garden on the Mekong, it’s the perfect place to learn more about this unique Lao art. Admiration of the sunset on the terrace before going back to hotel.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel

DAY 5 – luang prabang – elephant camp – train to vientian (B/L/-)

Breakfast at hotel.

Meet guide and driver then drive to Elephant village camp. Enjoy half day “One on One” experience with your elephant.

• Arrival at the Elephant Village Camp: Welcome greeting and participate in a short briefing about elephants
• Elephant Feeding: Get up close and personal with elephants
• Explore Elephant Village:  Visit our elephant hospital, museum, gallery and dung paper making facility!
• One on One Experience: Enjoy the impressive experience of being a Mahout! 1 person per elephant
• Lunch at Elephant Camp restaurant.  Your buffet lunch is served with coffee / tea and drinking water (vegetarian options are available)

Transfer to train station and take speed train (~2h) to Vientaine. Welcomed by local guide and driver in Vientiane. Heading to hotel in city center for check-in and time at leisure.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel

DAY 6 – vientiane – city tour (B/-/-)

Breakfast is at the hotel.

Start our city tour by visiting the oldest Wat Sisaket which houses thousands of tiny Buddha images and row after row of seated Buddhas. Our next destination is Haw Phra Kaew, the royal temple that once enshrined the Emerald Buddha. Today it is a museum where there resides a tremendous collection of religious art.

Continue with a visit to the golden Pha That Luang, the most important national monument in Laos – a symbol of Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty. The stupa of this temple is 40m high and covered with gold that can be seen from kilometres away.

Along the way we also make stop to visit the Pattuxay monument, the Vientian’s Triump de Arch. Also, we spend time to wander around and sightseeing some prominent colonial architecture in the centre area.

Then transfer to the amazing Buddha Park (also called Wat Xieng Khouane) which is definitely worth a visit during your tour to the capital of a million elephants. Upon arrival, take your time to explore more than 200 religious statues, including an enormous 40-meter-long reclining Buddha.

Transfer back to city center. Time at leisure

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel

DAY 7 – vientiane – departure (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel.

Time at leisure until your transfer to Wattay airport for your departure flight. Check-out time at noon.

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