Laos Highlight

8 days - 7 Nights (Vientiane-Luang Prabang-Plains of Jars)

Day 1: ARRIVE VIENTIANE
Meet on arrival and you are welcome to Vientiane, the city of the moon – an ancient city, situated on the bend on the left bank of the Mekong as the largest city and the capital of Laos. Transfer to hotel for check-in.

In the afternoon, we take a sightseeing tour of Vientiane, to visit religious museums of Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple to have been survived from the Siamese war of 1828, Wat Ho Prakeo, the former home-temple of the Emerald Buddha statue or Pra Keo, That Luang Stupa, the single most important monument in Laos, which was built to cover the original small stupa containing a piece of the chest bone of Buddha; Patouxay (Arch de Triumph), built quite recently in commemoration of those who died during the wars in the past and it is today as the land-mark of Vientiane. Accommodation at Inter City Hotel, Vientiane.

Day 2: VIENTIANE – LUANG PRABANG
Breakfast at hotel, if time permits, we will visit the Morning Market, the biggest shopping center in Vientiane. We depart to Wattay airport for departure to by QV 103 (1700-1740) Luang Prabang, the ancient first capital of Lane Xang kingdom, the center of religious life in Laos and today the World Heritage City. Arrive in Luang Prabang and transfer to Phousi hotel for check-in and overnight.

Day 3: LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU CAVE
Following breakfast, we vist Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple which, more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture and we take an excursion (a few hours) by boat, upstream on the Mekong to visit Pak Ou cave in the side of a lime stone cliff and opposite of the mouth of the Mekong and Ou rivers. En route, Lao typical villages are barely visible behind a screen of foliage. Our first stop will be at Ban Muangkeo, a well-known village for Lao traditional rice whisky, namely Laoh-Khao to be distilled. We are welcome to taste it and also take away.

We arrive back to Luang Prabang in late afternoon, and continue to 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, 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.

Day 4: LUANG PRABANG – KUANGSI
An morning 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 5: LUANG PRABANG – XIENGKHOUANG
After breakfast, we take our long trip by road about 8-9 hours from Luang Prabang over the high land through beautiful nature and scenic views to Xiengkhouang, the province which is best-known for having been heavily bombed during Indochina War, apart from the famous historic Plain of Jars. Arrive in Phonesavanh (Xiengkhouang), transfer to Hotel for check-in and overnight.

Day 6: XIENGKHOUANG
After breakfast, we drive (10 km SE of Phonesavanh) to visit the Plain of Jars, the archaeological stone Jars, which dated back at least 2000 years ago and also continue to visit the Plain of Jars (site 2). We en-route visit villages of Hmong minority group, where we can learn more about their housing, living and working conditions which are completely different from others.

In the afternoon, we drive to Muang Khoune, the old capital of Xiengkhouang, which was heavily damaged during the war, but there are still some former French settlement and hospital to be seen as well as the damaged famous temple of Wat Phia Wat.

Day 7: XIENGKHOUANG – VIENTIANE
Breakfast at hotel, before waving good bye to Xiengkhouang, it is also interesting to visit both food and central markets in town. Later, we drive to Vienaiane via Vang Vieng. Arrival at Vientiane late afternoon and transfer to htoel.

Day 8: VIENTIANE DEPARTURE
Breakast at hotel. Transfer to airport for your departure flight.