Day tour – Laos 12 days

Tour Program

Summary itinerary

Detailed itinerary:

 Day 1: Welcome to Luang Prabang (Meal: lunch)

Arrive to the airport in Luang Prabang, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Then take a  half day city tour with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then head to the magnificent Wat Xieng thong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We also have time to visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. Overnight in Luang Prabang

 Day 2: Luang Prabang – Big Brother Mouse – Ban Khia Luang – Pak Ou Caves (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

Morning, visit the Big Brother Mouse shop to select some books for the village visit. We then head north by car along route 13, before taking an unpaved road to Ban Khia Luang village. We then have ample time to visit the school, play with the kids and watch them enjoy their new books. We also take some time to explore the rest of the village, where you can see weaving and visit the local temple.

We stop for lunch at the village, which can either be a western picnic lunch, or traditional Lao food such as sticky rice, lap and fresh vegetables cooked by the villagers.

After lunch, driven to Ban Khoklin, which takes us through some beautiful scenery of mountains and paddy fields. At Ban Khoklin we then board a private boat down the Nam Ou River for 30 minutes to Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims and continue down the Mekong River back to Luang Prabang. Finish the tour in the late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

 Day 3: Luang Prabang – Khuang Si Water fall and Ba Chan (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

We cross the Mekong River by boat, to the picturesque village of Ban Chan, a pottery village.

We then visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.

Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. This then takes us to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. Finish the tour in the late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

 Day 4: Luang Prabang – Xieng Khuang (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

Driven through wonderful natural scenery to Xiengkhuang. The journey will give you plenty of opportunities for photos and visiting hill tribe villages. Upon arrival, we transfer out to visit Site 1 of the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are scattered all over the plateau. Overnight in Xiengkhuang

 Day 5: Xieng Khuang  – Plian of Jars and Muang Khoun (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

This morning we have time to visit the interesting Central Market in Phonsavan, visit the MAG exhibition and Site 2 of the Plain of Jars before taking a short scenic trek to Site 3 via a Tai Dam and Lao Leum village. Following lunch, seeing the old capital of Muang Khoun and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe and Tai Dam people. Overnight in Xiengkhuang

 Day 6: Xieng Khuang  -– Vang Vieng (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

Visit the interesting Central Market in Phonsavan, then we transfer to Vang Vieng by road, arriving there mid afternoon. Overnight in Vang Vieng.

 Day 7: Vang Vieng sightseeing – Vientiane (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

We explore the famous caves of Tham Jang, which was once used by the local people as a hideout from Chinese invaders. We also cross the river to Ban Huai Ngai, a very pleasant village where we can explore the different lifestyles of the locals.

After lunch, we head south to Vientiane. Overnight in Vientiane.

 Day 8: Vientiane city (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

Starting your visit is the oldest, Wat Sisaket, a temple of thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit Lao national icon, That Luang Stupa, and we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Overnight in Vientiane

 Day 9: Vientiane city – Pakse – 4000 Islands (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

Take a flight to Pakse. On arrival in Pakse, we drive south to Champassak and to visit the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia’s most dramatically situated temples. We have time to explore these intriguing Khmer ruins, which are perched at the base of Mount Phu Kao. Following lunch, we continue our journey by road and long tail boat to the 4000 Islands area, where you have the rest of the day to relax. Overnight in 4000 Islands

 Day 10: 4000 Islands and surrounding (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

Today, we explore Khone Island. Here we begin by re-tracing the French colonial-past at Ban Khone, where some old colonial houses still stand and glimpse the first Lao railway with its own locomotive. We continue our exploration of the area of the 4000 islands by boat and visit the beautiful Liphi waterfall, also known as the Samphamith, which forms a natural border between Lao and Cambodia. We return to Ban Nakasang and drive to the famous waterfall of Khone Phapeng – the largest waterfall in South East Asia, also known as the ‘Niagara of the east’. Overnight in 4000 Islands

 Day 11: 4000 Islands – Tad Lo – Pakse (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

This morning we leave Khone Island and you will be met and taken by road west into the Bolevean Plateau. The Bolevean Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. The area is famous for its many waterfalls, and the most beautiful of these falls, Tad Fan, we visit. Tad Fan waterfall is spectacular with twin waterfalls plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by flourishing vegetation. A trip to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that can be seen en route. In the afternoon we arrive at Tad Lo, home to another scenic waterfall and numerous ethnic minority groups. We visit the villages of Alak, Nge, and Katu before returning to Pakse. Overnight in Pakse.

 Day 12: Pakse and departure (Meals: Breakfast)

Leisure until transfer to the airport in Pakse.

Tour price includes: 

• Private air conditioned transport for pick up, transfer & sightseeing as per program
• Hotel picking up and dropping off service
• Flight ticket: Vientiane – Pakse
• English speaking tour guide
• Mineral water on car (1 bottle/person)
• Boat trip, all entrance fees
• Meals as per indicated in the tour program
• Nice and clean hotel base on two people share a room

Tour price excludes:

• Laos visa
• Travel insurance
• Drinks & other meals not mentioned in the program

Booking