Code: ITL14

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in  Luang Prabang

Airport pick up and transfer to the hotel. We then take an hour drive to the Kuang Si Waterfall set in the lush green surroundings of one of the National Conservation Areas, where we will refresh ourselves in the crystal water and visit the bear rescue center. En route, we can quickly stop at Buffalo farm for Buffalo milk ice cream, then we return to Luang Prabang. 

Day 2: Mekong cruise to Pak Ou cave - Elephant ride at Manifa camp

At 5:50 am today we are going to see and experience the Alms giving “Tak Baat ''. There are more than 100 Buddhist monks walking on the street next to your hotel. You will learn more about the Buddhism culture. then go back to the hotel for breakfast.

At 8:30am. After breakfast, taking 5-minute walk in the city center of the UNESSCO site, we will enjoy a sightseeing a magnificent temple: Wat Xienthong - the city’s oldest temple and one of the best examples of Luang Prabang’s classical architecture.

At 9:45 am, walking behind the temple to catch our boat, then takes a longtail boat about 2 hours up on the mighty Mekong river to reach the Buddha Cave, most well known as “Tham Ting '' in Laos. The scenery is amazing all along the river, on the way we will stop to visit Lao whisky & weaving village. You can try some Lao Lao whisky if you want to… Back to the boat, then continue to Buddha cave and have lunch on the boat set up as Lao buffet style (Lao Food. Heading our cruising down to the Elephant camp and riding or bathe with Elephant for about 20 minutes.  After that take a boat back to town and upon arrival, take 10 minutes quickly change and then we will straight to climb 328 steps up the “Phousi hill “mountain view, which is where you can see the whole Luangprabang city and sunset.

Day 3: Luang Prabang - Train to Vang Vieng

At 7:45 am, we loaded our bag into the van and be ready for check out to Vang Vieng. Before departure, we will spend our last morning in Luang Prabang the world heritage city by visit the morning market about 5 minutes’ drive ­­­­­away from the hotel, to explore the daily fresh local market and some local snacks. We then continue to the National Museum – once the Royal Palace – but now giving a picture of the various leaders and fighters famous in Lao history, from long ago and up to the present new revolutionary period. and preparing your own lunch box (sandwich) is highly recommended. Then at 11:40 am jump into the van and take about a 30-minute drive to the train station for our departure to Vang Vieng at 12:52 pm. We must be at the station at least 40 minutes before boarding time. The train usually takes around 1 hour to reach at Vang Vieng station. Upon arrival, the van will pick up and take a 20 minutes’ drive to the hotel, check in. And Lunch at local restaurant nearby.

After that, take about 25 minutes’ drive to Pha Nam Xay Viewpoint. It will take you about 20-30 minutes (depending on your fitness) to reach the top. Should wear walking shoes, sandals...but please don’t wear flip flops.    

Day 4: Vang Vieng with different alternatives - Vang Vieng

After your breakfast, our local guides pick up at 8:30 am and drive about 40 minutes to visit Elephant cave, and Tham Loop cave. Then, it’s a time to get wet and cool yourself, we will enjoy the tubing inside the water cave. After that, drive back to the kayaking point for lunch and then start your kayaking about 3 hr to reach Vang Vieng town but we can stop at local bar for fruit shake or drinks set along the Nam Song riverside.

Day 5: Vangvieng to Vientiane capital (City tour) - Night Bus to Pakse

At 8:30 am, the van picks up and drives about 2:00 hr on the express road to Vientiane capital. Our full day tour of Vientiane begins with a visit to Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple still standing in the town. This amazing structure features remarkable frescoes and Buddha statues. Next, we visit the former royal temple of Haw Pha Kaew, which once housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit the imposing Patuxai Monument - well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe before we continue on to the great sacred structure and symbol of Laos - That Luang Stupa. After lunch, we head out of town and take about 40 minutes to the Buddha Park, a blend of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures created by a mystical monk on parkland on the banks of the Mekong River and close to the impressive Friendship Bridge linking Laos and Thailand. A perfect way to round off the day is to watch the spectacular sunset over the Mekong River from one of the riverside bars. After that transfer to the South bus station for our night bus (Sleeping Bus) to Pakse.

Day 6: Bolaven Plateau, Tad E-tu, Tad Yuang and Tad Fane – Pakse

We depart from Pakse in the morning and head towards the Bolaven Plateau. Our first stop is a small village, famous for its blacksmiths, where we can see how the local people make knives and other tools by hand. We continue our journey, driving past tea and coffee plantations until reaching the heart of the Bolaven Plateau. The plateau is home to many different ethnicities including the Laven people, that gives the plateau its name. We stop at the amazing Tad Fan Waterfall, a twin waterfall cascading over 220 meters into a valley. We then make our way to Tad Ngoung Waterfall, which has a great spot for swimming. Here we will have lunch, relaxing in the beautiful surroundings. After lunch and relaxing in the cool waters, we visit the local market in Paksong. This is a fascinating place to look around and get an insight into the lives of the local people. From the market we make our way to Tad Pasuem Waterfall where we will visit some of the different local ethnicities that live in this area. After spending some time at the waterfall and learning about the different ethnic groups, we head to the town.

Day 7: Wat Phou Champasak, Khone Phapeng waterfall – Done Khone

Today we will visit Wat Phu the second of Laos’s world heritage site, the oldest pre-Angkor wat back in 9th century. Lunch at the local restaurant which set along the Mekong river with nice view view. After that we take a furry cross the river, then drive to Nakasang then boat to 4000 islands, Done Khone.

Day 8: Si Pan Don, Li Phi - Don Khon

We cycling to explore the local peaceful villages of Ban Khone, where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with its locomotive. We continue to visit the marvelous Liphi waterfall, also called the “Corridor of the Devil” one of the most beautiful waterfalls, cross the bridge to Done Deth island lunch there and back to hotel relax at the swimming pool.

Day 9: Morning travel to Cambodia border – Pakse airport or Thailand border

         Breakfast at 6:30 am and packed ready to leave to the boat by 7:30 am back to the main land. Minivan pick up and transfer. End of the trip.