Vientiane, beautiful town of Lung Prabang, Mekong cruise,
Khouang Si Waterfalls, hill tribe villages. This is a comprehensive itinerary, designed to
discover Vientiane's major attractions and the World Heritage
listed site of Luang Prabang. Apart from Buddhist monasteries and significant monuments,
we soak up the cool atmosphere of the scenic Khouang Si waterfalls and explore some nearby hill tribes villages.
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.
Meals: None.
Transport: Private air-conditioned.
Accommodation: Hotel.
Day 2 : VIENTAINE - XIENGKHOUANG (PLAIN OF JARS) - Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat
After breakfast, if time permits, we will visit the Morning Market, the biggest shopping center in Vientiane.
Transfer to Wattay airport for departure to Xiengkhouang in late afternoon flight.
We arrive in Xiengkhouang, the province which is best-known for having been heavily bombed during Indochina War, apart from the famous historic Plain of Jars.
and transfer to take a brief city tour around the town before checking in at hotel.
Meals: B.
Transport: Private air-conditioned, Airplane.
Accommodation: Hotel.
Plain of Jars
Day 3 : XIENG KHOUANG (PLAIN OF JARS)
Following breakfat, 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.
Meals: B,L.
Transport: Private air-conditioned.
Accommodation: Hotel.
Day 4 : XIENGKHOUANG (PLAIN OF JARS) - LUANG PRABANG
Breakfast, we take our long trip by road about 8-9 hours from Xiengkhouang, over the high land through beautiful nature and scenic views to 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 in late afternoon and check in at hotel.
Meals: B,L.
Transport: Private air-conditioned.
Accommodation: Hotel.
Day 5 : LUANG PRABANG - PAK OU CAVE
Following breakfast, we depart hotel to visit Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple which, more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture. 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. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist 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, bamboo poles and floats mark the location of nets and fish traps. 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. Lunch is at a riverside restaurant.
We arrive back at Luang Prabang in late afternoon, and continue by car to outskirt of town to visit Ban Xangkhong, a well-known village for its wood paper making and also Lao silk weavings with natural dyes.
Meals: B, L.
Transport: Private air conditioned, boat.
Accommodation: Hotel.
Day 6 : LUANG PRABANG - KUANGSI WATERFALL
An morning breakfast, before we take a 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, stop to visit a fresh produced market namely Talad Phosy, and also 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 served 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. We visit 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.
Meals: B, L.
Transport: Private air conditioned.
Accommodation: Hotel.
Day 7 : LUANG PRABANG - DEPARTURE
After breakfast, we depart hotel to 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, if time permits, the rest of the day is spent free for own experience in this charming town, till transfer to Luang Prabang airport for departure to next destination.
Meals: B.
Transport: Private air conditioned.