LUANG PRABANG
A UNESCO protected city, Luang Prabang, once the ancient capital, has retain much of its traditional charm and tranquility. The town has many beautiful temples to explore. As the bells of the town's monasteries toll at dawn, golden lines of monks emerge to receive their morning rice from the townspeople. If you rise early, you will have the opportunity to witness this sacred ritual typical of old Laos-long lines of barefoot monks weaving through the streets on their alms rounds.
Visit the Morning Market with its array of meats, vegetables and spices the locals use in their cooking. Travel by boat to Pak Ou Caves and visit the surrounding local minority villages.
Luang Prabang is a place to slow down and relax, enjoy the markets and the local treasures.
SOUTHERN LAOS AND LUANG PRABANG
8 nights / 9 days
Day 1 Pakse - Champansak
Meet your guide upon arrival and transfer south to Champansak crossing by ferry to your hotel.
Overnight Champansak
Day 2 Champansak – Done Khone
Visit the famous Khmer Temple complex of Wat Phou. This represents the easternmost border of the Khmer empire. Visit an Elephant Camp to see how handlers ("mahouts") train these giant friendly beasts! Ride one of the friendly pachyderms to the top of Phou Asa to see the mysterious ruins.
Continue on to the 4000 Islands area by van and ferry.
Overnight Khone Island
Day 3 Done Khone
Enjoy a trip to Li Phi Falls. Here live some 50-100 Irrawaddy (freshwater) dolphins. If lucky, you'll have the chance to see them. See the small gauge railway and Colonial Bridge built by the French to circumnavigate the falls. Then relax at leisure or exploring the island on your own.
Overnight Khone Island
Day 4 4000 Islands - Bolaven Plateau
Return to the mainland and visit Khonephapheng falls, the largest in Asia. Continue north up the Bolaven Plateau, a high area known for its waterfalls, ethnic minorities and also the home to Lao coffee and tea production. Travel through the Lao countryside past villages, temples and farmland. Notice how the air gets cooler as you ascend to higher altitudes. In Paksong, visit a coffee plantation to learn the art of coffee growing and roasting from a local master and then stop at the local Paksong Market.
Visit the majestic cascades of the Tad Yuang Waterfall, for a dip if you like. Continue on to Tad Fane for a glimpse of the huge twin waterfalls that plunge 200 meters down a gorge, before returning to Pakse.
Overnight Bolaven Plateau
Day 5 Bolaven Plateau
After breakfast, meet your guide and enjoy a soft trek in wonderland, walk into lush forest areas where you will have a feeling of untouched nature. Your guide will walk with you along the trails and uphill where you will enjoy spectacular scenic view and down to bottom of Champi waterfall which accessible only by foot. In the afternoon return to your resort.
Overnight Bolaven Plateau
Day 6 Bolaven Plateau - Luang Prabang
Fly to Luang Pranbang. Meet your guide upon arrival and transfer to your hotel
Overlooking the palace is Phousi Mountain. It is said that those who do not climb the 328 steps up have not really made it to the city. Venture up the hill and be rewarded with remarkable views of the area.
Overnight Luang Prabang
Day 7 Luang Prabang
Meet your guide and explore this historic and charming World Heritage Town. Begin your journey at the most popular of temples – Wat Xieng Thong. This 500 year old temple is exquisite and is the best example of the classic Luang Prabang style.
From here, explore small side streets, along back alleys and through temples – a city that could have been designed with slow travel in mind, a morning walking tour allows you to soak up the ambiance and appreciate the hidden charms of Luang Prabang.
Visit the National Museum, the former Royal Palace. Relics from Laos’ royalist past remain here.
In the afternoon, depart through Laos' scenic countryside to Pak Ou Caves, a mystical pilgrimage site perched high above the Mekong River 27 miles outside of Luang Prabang. On arrival in Ban Pak Ou, a boat will ferry you across the river to reach the Pak Ou caves.
Peering into dark corners, your eyes gradually adjust to reveal the serene faces and figures of more than 3,000 Buddha images, some inlaid with semi-precious stones. That these remain undisturbed in this remote site in one of the world's poorest countries is a testament to the devotion of the people. Return by boat to Luang Prabang, cruising along the Mekong. On the way back, enjoy the lush river life along the Mekong while sipping a drink and tasting some Lao snacks.
Stop at two riverside villages along the way. In Ban Xang Khong, the weaving of prized Lao textiles still takes place on ancient wooden looms. Some villagers are also engaged in mulberry paper production. The villagers of Ban Xang Hai produce Lao Lao, a rice whisky. Try a swig of this potent drink – if you dare!
Overnight Luang Prabang
Day 8 Luang Prabang
Visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, a museum dedicated to the ethnic minorities of Laos.
With your driver and guide journey into the peaceful countryside, stopping to explore several villages along the way. You will see a Hmong, a Khmu, and a Lowland Lao village and can compare their different life styles, traditions and religions.
The Lowland Lao of Ban Sa-aat live on the banks of the Mekong and its tributaries and in the cities. They speak Lao, which is closely related to the Thai spoken in Thailand.
Ban Pano is home to Khmu people, who were the original inhabitants of Northern Laos. They are animists and speak a language belonging to the Austro-Asiatic group of languages.
In Ban Long Lao, you will see Hmong and Khmu people live peaceful side by side. The Hmong settlers were the most recent to come to Laos. They built their villages on the mountain tops and practice shifting cultivation of corn and other crops.
In Ban Pano and Ban Long Lao, local guides from these villages will show you around. You will have the chance to see the houses, traditional dresses and explanations about different craft productions or other common work routines. The villagers are grateful for this additional income and they are proud to welcome visitors from far away!
Overnight Luang Prabang
Day 9 Luang Prabang
Depart Luang Prabang Airport