Laos Discovery

9 days - 8 Nights (Luang Prabang to Pakse)

Day 1 : ARRIVAL - LUANG PRABANG
Arrival at Lunag Prabang Airport and transfer to hotel, city sightseeing tour of the sacred city of temples, of which nearly fifty still remain in the town and surrounding areas. Visit Wat Visoun, the 16th century temple served as a small museum for religious artifacts; Wat Aham, the early 19th century temple, whose two guardian figures at the foot of the steps which represent two characters from the Ramayana – Hanuman, the Monkey God and a fierce Yaksa; Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple, which more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture; Phousi Hill, the 328 steps leads to the summit of Phousi Hill that dominates the sky-line of Luang Prabang overlooking the finest panoramic view in the whole Luang Prabang. Accommodation at hotel.

Day 2 : PAK OU CAVE
Take a boat trip (a few hours) to visit Pak Ou cave in the side of a lime stone cliff and opposite of the mouth of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consists of two large caves, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimeter to two meters in height. En route, Lao typical villages are barely visible behind a screen of foliage. Slender canoes bobbing by the shore and bamboo poles and floats that mark the location of nets and fish traps. Visit Ban Xanghai, the well-known village for Lao traditional rice whisky to be distilled and tasted. Return to Luang Prabang, continue by car to visit Ban Xangkhong, the well-known village for its wood paper making and also Lao silk weavings with natural dyes, where you can do shopping there. Return to your hotel. Accommodationa t hotel.

Day 3 : Luang Prabang – Kuangsi Waterfall
Breakfast, visit the National Museum, the former Royal Palace which houses the collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue, gifts received from foreign dignitaries…etc and drive (30 km South) to visit Kuangsi Waterfall, which, though not very high, is spectacular and really beautiful with its green surroundings as the preserved National park. We stop en-route, to visit Ban Na Oune, a small village of a hill-tribe group “Hmong”, probably the best-known minority group in Laos. Just before arriving at Kuangsi waterfall, there is another village of Khmu minority group, namely Ban Tha Pane that we will visit.

Our picnic lunch is free on own at the shady park nearby Kuangsi waterfall. There is plenty of time for relaxing and a swim in cool water, before we head back to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. The rest of the day is spent by visiting Ban Xangkhong, a well-known village for its wood paper making and also Lao silk weavings with natural dyesvarious craft-shops or spend our free time on own. Accommodation at hotel.

Day 4 : LUANGPRABANG - VANVIENG
Breakfast at hotel, we continue by car about 6 hours on the road no : 13 north. On the way, you enjoy looking the beautiful scenery of wild forest, tree, chicken, cows and also taking photos of Hmong and Khmu tribes on the road. Lunch at the local restaurant on the way ( your own account ). Arrive at Vangvieng city, where is surrounded with mountains and Namsong river, natural caves . Transfer to hotel in Vangvieng. After refreshing yourself, visit local market of the city and watch the sunset on Namsong river. Accommodation at your hotel.

DAY 5 : VANGVIENG – VIENTIANE
Breakfast at hotel visit Tham Chang Cave, which is one of the most beautiful caves in Vangvieng and can also swim in cool spring water from the cave. Then, discover Ban Viengxay, a best – known silk, where we can see weaver’s looms underneath still houses. Then, driving to Vientiane, on the way visiting the national preserved forest and wildlife at Houai Nhang forestry. Arrive at Vientiane in late afternoon continue to visit main monastery such as Thatluang and transfer to hotel.

DAY 6 : VIENTIANE - PAKSE
Breakfast, we take flight to Pakse, the provincial capital of Champasack at the confluence of the Mekong and Sedon rivers and it is the center for trading between Thailand and Vietnam. continue by car for a few hours to Boloven Plateau to visit villages ethnic sub groups such as Katou, Alak, Ngae, where you will learn more about traditional way of rural life with their fascinating culture of people there. Along the way, you will see very nice view of coffee and tea plantations. Accommodation at Sayse Lodge at Tadlo.

DAY 7 : BOLOVEN PLATEAU – DONE KHONE
After breakfast, drive 90Km through beautiful scenery with mountains range and also local villages along to pier for crossing the Mekong river by furry boat to Champasack, the nearest town to the fantastic archaeological sight of Wat Phou. Continue by car about 15mn drive to visit Wat Phou, a site of ancient religious significance in one of the most spectacular regions of Laos. Lunch at local restaurant, drive and across the Mekong by ferry, continue by car about 2hrs drive to get to Ban Phiangdy ten take a traditional longtailed boat to Khone Island island covered in coconut palms, flame trees, stands of bamboo, kapok trees and hard woods. Accommodation at your hotel.

DAY 8 : DONE KHONE SURROUNDING
Breakfast at hotel, explore the peaceful island and see real rural life, visit old railway with old locomotive and boiler car, which the French ever built in Laos.. Take a local Tuk-Tuk transportation or walking for about 5Km to visit Liphi Fall and watching the Irrawady Dolphins, at noon we return to Done Khone, Lunch at local restaurant at Done Khone Island Continue by boat back the main land for getting a drive by car to visit Khonephapheng, the most impressive Mekong waterfall in Laos and it is reputed as the biggest waterfall in Southeast Asia and the widest one in the world. Accommodation at your hotel.

DAY 9 : DONE KHONE – PAKSE – UBON (Thailand)
Breakfast at hotel, it will be an optional walk to visit local morning market which is opened only a few hours in early morning. We wave good bye to Khong Island by acrossing the Mekong to the main land and head back to Pakse. It will take a bout 3 hours drive, We arrive back to Pakse. In the afternoon and proceed to drive across the Mekong Bridge to Vang Tao - Chongmek, the entry and exit point between Thailand and Laos.

After having checked through immigration and customs, we continue to drive to Ubon airport for departure to next destination.