TREKKING AROUND VIENTIANE
 

5 days - 4Nights (Vientiane-Vang Vieng-Homestay)

Day 1 : ARRIVAL - 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 and its cloister contains more than 8000 Buddha statues; Wat Ho Prakeo, the former home-temple of the Emerald Buddha statue or Pra Keo, but today it contains a collection of Buddha statues, antiques and all artifacts found in around Vientiane; 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.

Day 2 : VIENTAINE - NAM NGUM LAKE - VANG VIENG

Breakfast at hotel, we depart to visit the Morning Market, the biggest shopping center in Vientiane and we make our way by route No. 10 North to Vang Vieng, via Nam Ngum Lake, (90 km N), with hundreds of small islands. En-route, we stop to visit Ban Bor, a village where natural salt is produced. Arrive Nam Ngum Lake, we enjoy our lunch at local restaurant overlooking panoramic view of the lake. After lunch, we relax by taking a boat ride about an hour viewing around small islands. We continue to drive north into the central highlands, on the way we also stop at Ban Viengsay, a silk weaving village of Tai Neua who originally migrated from North near China border during the war. We arrive in Vangvieng and catch the sunset over the mountains.

Day 3 : VANGVIENG (TREKKING + HOMESTAY)

Following breakfast, we start the day by exploring the highlights of this scenic area, we drive outskirts of Vangvieng to visit natural caves of Tham Norn, one of the biggest caves in Vangvieng.We begin to trek through some beautiful forest at the valleys of the range of high limestone mountains as well as rice fields, garden and food gardens to another cave of Tham Phapork. Optional hike or take a local taxi-tractor to visit another cave, Tham Poukham where there is a swimming pool on a stream for your peaceful relaxation or swim in the cool water. Picnic lunch is served under the shady tree along the way. In the evening, you are welcome by a family host at Ban Nathong, a small village of Low-land Lao. You will learn more about traditional way of rural life with their fascinating culture of people there. We spend the night in traditional style homes and enjoy the Lao typical cuisine with Lao family.

Day 4 : VANGVIENG - VIENTIANE

Breakfast with hosting family, and say good-bye to villagers, we take a local taxi-tractor to get back to Vangvieng. We also visit Tham Chang, one of the deepest caves which is near Vangvieng and we also visit local market at Vang Vieng. Lunch is free on own at Vangvieng. Return to Vientiane on the road No. 13, on the way, we stop at Ban Phone, a village where people making bamboo baskets, bamboo dinning tables...etc, and we continue to visit Vang Xang, an archaeological site where we will see Buddha sculptures in Mon style from 11th - 13th centuries carved on stones hidden in the forest. We arrive in Vientiane in late afternoon, and transfer to our hotel.

Day 5 : VIENTIANE - DEPARTURE

After breakfast, this morning is spent free at leisure or own exploration till we depart to Wattay airport or the Friendship Bridge for departure.