Laos Unique Experience

On arrival at the Luang Prabang airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel.

After a soft rest, you may want to stroll around for the first impression of this ancient city. 

Late afternoon, join a private Baci ceremony at a local family. The Baci ceremony as a traditional ritual of the Lao people expresses the spirituality of the country and is a highly memorable experience and a deep insight into Lao culture for the participants.

Dinner will be served after that for you to share with the host family, which gives you the best start to Laos culture exploration.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Wake up as the sun rises, we will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning almsgiving.

We then visit the morning market near the former Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice to vegetables, to fish, or chicken. 

After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will take you on a walking tour of the city. Along the way, we'll see the 4 different types of buildings categorized by UNESCO including the Lao house which is made from tropical hardwood or bamboo and built on stilts, a half-wood and half-cement house built after the arrival of the French, the traditional French colonial buildings that are similar to those found in Vietnam and Cambodia and the old Chinese shophouses that were built to be used for both commercial and residential purposes.

In the afternoon, we will visit some famous attractions inside the city center including the oldest temple of Wat Sene and Wat Xiengthong. 

We then continue with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. From there, we walk to the nearby Wat Mai, which is one of Luang Prabang’s largest and most richly decorated temples.

Late afternoon, we climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa and a panoramic sunset view of the city and the Mekong River.  

The tour ends after a visit to the famous Luang Prabang Night Market. 

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After picking you up from your hotel, you will leave Luang Prabang around 08:30 for the nearby village of Xieng Lom. Upon arrival, you will be invited to have coffee or tea while your guide provides an in-depth introduction to elephant behavior and how you should interact with them.

A quick boat ride across the Nam Khan River will bring you to the waiting elephants.

You will enjoy observing the elephants from the riverbank as Mahouts wash them in the Nam Khan River. You can also experience elephants washing, swimming, and playing in the water.

After 2 hours of crossing through a beautiful stretch of traditional Lao gardens, you will arrive at the jungle-covered Huay Nok stream.

You and your elephant companions will continue walking past a stretch of rice fields and enter a patch of forest where you can rest, relax, and enjoy a traditional Lao lunch on bamboo mats on the forest floor.

In the afternoon, you will visit Tad Kuang Song Waterfall, named after a Golden Deer spirit seen standing on its crest many centuries ago. You can take a cool dip, wade, stand under the soft showers of the waterfall, or spend time meditating and admiring the private beauty of nature.

You will watch and learn as the MandaLao Mahouts show how they communicate and listen to their elephants. Along with the Mahouts, you will bring your elephants to their nighttime feeding grounds.

In the late afternoon, you will walk to Chateau Orientale, a sanctuary where you can unwind. Located along a picturesque riverside, this ancient oriental hermitage is nestled in the middle of the Laotian jungle.

Overnight at Chateau Orientale.

You are free to stroll around the resort for your exploration. There are plenty of activities on spots such as kayaking, cycling, or trekking. Check with us in advance to pre-arrange the activities that you want to have.

Overnight at Chateau Orientale.

Heading out of the town, we take a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside.

We will take the first stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make local rice wine. We then continue our boat trip to the atmospheric riverside town of Pakbeng.

Continue further 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. 

The Mekong was once the only major transport route in the country, Pakbeng, being the halfway point on the Mekong River between Luang Prabang and Huayxay, developed as an overnight stop for many traders traveling along the river. 

We will reside in Pakbeng overnight.

Visit the impressive 1000-year-old tree forest with some trees that could be dated around 2000 years old. This forest is not officially protected; however, the primary forest remains untouched with its very own beautiful nature and abundant wildlife. You will also visit the villages of the hill tribe Kamu family and the local school (except during school holidays). 

Along the way, you will drop off and speak to friendly hill tribe villagers, spend time in various ethnic group villages, and test the healthy 1000-year-old tea using the traditional way of boiling tea with local villagers.

We return to the resort just in time to catch the sunset.

Overnight in Pakbeng.

After breakfast, you will leave for Muang La. On the way, you can observe the local rural life, local markets on the side of the road, clear views of corn and banana plantations, and amazing views over the mountains.

Today, we will visit the amazing Tad Talae Waterfall, which is an amazing waterfall, located in Ban Talae from Pakbeng by 35 kilometers. The waterfall is in the district-protected area. 

The best time to visit this waterfall is from June to February of every year. A famous picnic place for the local people there. From there, you can also visit local ethnic hill tribe villages which are much less explored by the western tourists. (This tour might not be able to operate during the rainy season)

In the afternoon, we continue to Namkat Yorla Pa, passing through the provincial capital, Oudomxay.

This makes the final leg of the journey, away from the busy town and into unspoiled nature, all the more exciting.

Arrive at Namkat Yorla Pa late afternoon.

Overnight in Namkat Yorla Pa.

You set off to visit the villages of the Ikho, H'mong & Khamu people, 3 of the many ethnic groups in Laos. Your route climbs to 1,300m above sea level and offers some magnificent views of the stunning mountain scenery. 

We will first visit a Khamu village before driving further into the mountains to an isolated Hmong village. 

This ethnic group originates from the high steppes of Tibet and you will learn about their way of life, the importance of their livestock pigs, buffaloes,... and the care that they give to their animals. 

From the Hmong village, you can choose to do an optional short walk of 30 minutes which will bring you to the first Ikho village. 

This ethnic group originates from Tibet and Yunnan Province in China. You learn about the daily life of the village and how the villagers still follow customs passed down through the centuries. 

You take your picnic lunch enjoy the surroundings and continue to visit more Ikho villages along the way, before heading back down to the lodge.

You will return to the resort at the end of the afternoon.

You are free to stroll around the lodge for your exploration. There are plenty of activities on spots such as tubing, kayaking, or cycling. Just check with our guide or the lodge for further information.

Overnight at Muang La Lodge.

You are free to relax or stroll around the village of Muang La before transferring to Oudomxay to take the speed train to Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. The train will take about 3 hours to reach Vientiane.

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in town.

Overnight in Vientiane

In the morning, we will first visit Wat Si Muang, which is very famous for its supernatural power. 

After that drive to Buddha Park filled with over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues which takes around 45 minutes away.

We then visit Lao Disabled Women Development Center, where you can support them by buying some small handicrafts at the shop.

Start the afternoon with a visit to That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. Constructed by King Setthathirat in the 16th century, the temple is resplendent as the sun shines upon its towering golden spire. 

Then, enjoy a panoramic view over the city as you climb the stairs to the top of Patuxai, Vientiane’s own “Arc de Triomphe”. 

Continue down Lane Xang Avenue to the serene Wat Sisaket, the only temple left intact after the Siamese (Thai) invasion in 1828. 

Continue to the nearby Wat Phra Keo displaying a collection of both Lao and Khmer works of art. 

End your tour of the capital along the banks of the Mekong River as the sun begins to set. Stroll along the river, stop to enjoy a cold drink, or sample a snack from one of the many local food stalls.  

Overnight in Vientiane.

Tips: You can also visit Sinouk Coffee Pavilion to discover the Lao coffee, stroll around the mini coffee gallery, view the in-house coffee roaster and try a cup of delicious and unique coffee or tea. Discuss with our guide about this. Entrance fee and extra coffee/drinks are payable on spot.

After breakfast, we take the flight to Pakse, the biggest city in southern Laos.

Upon arrival, we head east to Pakse and onto the Bolaven Plateau. The Bolaven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. 

Stop at a tea plantation, followed by a brief visit to Tad Fan Waterfall, a picturesque twin-chute waterfall. 

We will also visit the local village at Ban Lak Sipchet, which makes iron knives; and Ban Lak Samsip, which makes bamboo baskets.

If time permits, we will also visit Tad Yeung and take a dip into the cool clear natural pool at the foot of the waterfall

The last stop is at a coffee plantation before arriving at your destination for the evening. Overnight in Bolaven Plateau

After breakfast, visit Tha Teng, a colorful ethnic minority food market. Next, explore a couple of fascinating minority villages, Ban Bong Neua, an Alak village that boasts a sacrificial altar, and Ban Kokphung, a Katu village where they keep coffins under their houses. 

In the afternoon visit Wat Phou, an ancient Khmer religious complex dating back to the 5th Century. 

Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Wat Phou is a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits amidst the rice fields and waterways of southern Laos, which was built by the rulers of the Khmer Empire before the construction of Angkor Wat. 

The temple served as the most important economic and political center of the region and still is one of the Lao people’s most revered temples.

After your visit, we continue into Champasak to see samples of French colonial architecture before driving to Done Khong where you have the rest of the day to relax or to explore the island. Overnight in Don Khong Island.

After breakfast, we will take the boat crossing the Mekong River to Ban Muang and take the transfer to Khong Island.

From there, embark on a 1.5-hour-long tail boat for venturing into the widest reach of the Mekong River, where during the dry season the waters recede and leave behind thousands of islets, Si Phan Don. 

Upon arrival, explore the local peaceful villages of Ban Khone, where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with its locomotive. 

We continue to discover the 4000 islands area by tuk-tuk and visit the marvelous Liphi waterfall, also called the "Corridor of the Devil" one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking the Lao border with Cambodia. 

Free for the rest of the day for your exploration of the island. We recommend you take a bike for a ride around the island to see the local life and admire the sunset along the Mekong riverbank.

Overnight on Khone Island.

After breakfast, return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng, which is considered the largest waterfall by volume in Southeast Asia.

Khone Phapheng is an impressive spot near the Lao-Cambodian border, set within an area that is teeming with wildlife, making this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos. 

Afterward, we drive back to Champasak and take the boat to the isolated island of Done Daeng. 

Done Daeng is the home to the charming La Folie Lodge, where we will spend the last 2 nights before concluding the trip in Laos.

Free to stroll around for your exploration. There are some activities such as cooking class, cycling, or walking around the island.

Check with our guide or the lodge for further information.

Overnight at La Folie Lodge.

After breakfast, we will take the boat back to Champasak and transfer directly to Ubon Ratchathani (Thailand) via Chongmek Border to take the flight to Bangkok and connect to your departure flight back home.