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Upon arrival at Wattay Airport, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Vientiane is a charming and fascinating capital, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, Soviet and American influences. A city tour acquaints us with the capital and after a short rest, we will start visiting the major sights; including Wat Sisaket, a temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. Enroute to Lao’s national heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.
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Overnight in Vientiane..
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We leave this wonderful town after breakfast for our journey northbound on Route 13. We will see some breathtaking scenery en route as we pass through spectacular countryside towards the mountainous region. We will stop along the way at Vang Xang, a famous archaeological site dating back to the 11th century. We will reach our destination in the afternoon, the small town of Vang Vieng, which is nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River. Its stunning scenery with a mixture of quiet water and limestone outcrops remains unspoiled, despite recent developments with the advent of tourism. After arrival at Vang Vieng, we will cross the Nam Song River to the Tham Jang caves and then enjoy a short trek through the breathtaking mountain landscape to explore the Tam None Cave and some hill villages. The day ends with a superb panorama of the sunset reflecting over the Nam Song River.
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Overnight in Vang Vieng. [Breakfast]
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After breakfast, we will head to the Tham Phoukham caves, where your breath will be taken away seeing the beautiful limestone caverns surrounded by natural forests. Along the way, you have chance to explore the local cultures by greeting the local villagers and learning about their daily lifestyle. There is a small natural pool in front of the caves where you can take a swim to refresh yourself from the hot climate or you can explore the nearby area. Enjoy a picnic lunch while enjoying the scenery. After spending a day at the caves and the surrounding areas, we will make our return to Vang Vieng town, using local transportation or a tractor. En route, visit the ethnic minority villages of Hmong, Souay and Taidam villages while meeting the warm and friendly hill tribe people and observing their traditional tribal costumes.
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Overnight in Vang Vieng.[Breakfast]
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Make an early start for our expedition up Route 13 north to Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang that is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The roads are well paved along the way for a smooth journey. We will pass some stunning scenery with a mixture of steep terraced fields and hill villages. There will be a few photo stops at some small hill tribe villages en route. Each hill tribe village in Laos has a different feel, some are more prosperous than others but all have plenty of life. The Muang Xieng Nguen village is our next stop and we will spend a short amount of time observing the local lifestyle prior to reaching Luang Prabang.
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Overnight in Luang Prabang. [Breakfast].
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Take a short guided tour and see the city’s oldest temple, Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong where you can see the impressive “tree of life” mosaic pattern set in coloured glass. Its exterior architecture is remarkable with the roof sweeping low to the ground, representing classical Lao architecture. Then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside. Visit to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we will stop at the village of Ban Xang Hai, famous for the production of Lao rice wine. On the return to Luang Prabang, take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a small village well known for its hand weaving.
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Overnight in Luang Prabang. [Breakfast]
- Visit the National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace displays a collection of artefacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. We also have time to visit the Central Market before your transfer to the airport for departure.
