8-Days Spirit tours northern of Laos

Tour code: ETC 082

Day.1: Arrival – Luang Prabang

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang has been claimed by UNESCO to be ‘the best-preserved city in South East Asia’. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals: _/_/_

Day.2: Luang Prabang – full day city tour

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning ritual of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms from the faithful residents. This procession is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the tradition. Afterward, we have the option of visiting the local morning market, before returning to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, we visit the Royal Palace Museum which hosts a range of interesting artifacts and a guided audio tour (closed on Tuesday). We then begin our temple tour taking in some the cities most beautiful, including the nearby Wat Mai, the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, representing the classical Luang Prabang style, as well as Wat Visoun, known as ‘The Water Melon Stupa’ due to its shape.

In the afternoon we visit the excellent Arts and Ethnology Centre which gives us further insight into the ethnic mix and culture of Laos (closed on Monday). We then visit the weaving textile and Paper making villages of Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek. Then, later in the afternoon, you could stretch your legs climb Mount Phousi, which offers a spectacular sunset and a panoramic view over Luang Prabang and the Mekong River. Afterward, strolling through the night market (open between 5pm-10pm) setting in downtown selling a large variety of local textiles and ethnic handicrafts.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals: Breakfast/_/_

Day.3: Luang Prabang – Big Brother Mouse – Ban Khia Luang – Pak Ou Cave

The day starts with a visit to the Big Brother Mouse shop to select some books for the village visit. After that, we head north by car along route 13, before taking an unpaved road to Ban Khia Luang village. Then, we will have ample time to visit the school, play with the kids and watch them enjoy their new books (village school closed during June-August/holiday season). We will also take some time to explore the rest of the village, where you could see weaving and visit the local temple. For lunch, we will stop at the village, which can either be a western picnic lunch, or traditional Lao food such as sticky rice, leap and fresh vegetables cooked by the villagers.

After lunch, we say good bye to the village and drive to Ban Khoklin, which takes us through some beautiful scenery of mountains and paddy fields. At Ban Khoklin we then board a private boat down the Nam Ou River for 30 minutes to Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. And so continue down the Mekong River to the picturesque. We then are back Luangprabang by late afternoon.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/_

Note: during the rainy season (May-September) the itinerary is subject to change due to the weather conditions, an alternative program is available.

Day.4: Luang Prabang – Vientiane – half day city tour

This morning you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival in the capital, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

First of all, your half day city tour, begin with the oldest, Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. Then, en route to Lao’s national precious 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. Wat Si Muang, site of the lak meuang (pillar-stone) of Vientiane, Si Muang temple is home to the guardian spirit of the statues.

You have the option to visit the excellent COPE exhibition center, highlighting a much-overlooked aspect of Laos and a major problem many of the local people face on a day to day basis in the form of un exploded ordnance as a result of heavy bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War era.

A spectacular view of the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day.

Overnight in Vientiane.

Meals: Breakfast/_/_

Day.5: Vientiane – Pakse –Khong Island

You will be transferred to the airport early this morning for the flight to Pakse.

Flight from Vientiane to Pakse with Lao airlines on QV301 departs at 08:35, arrives at 09:50. (Note: the flight schedules are subject to change without prior notice from the airlines)

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred directly onto a private traditional boat for a 2- hour cruise to Champassak. Disembark at this ancient town, of the Champa Kingdom; continue by car to Wat Phou, another World Heritage Site in Laos, which became recognized by UNESCO in 2002. Wat Phou is the site of ruins which were once part of a temple built sometime before Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. It contains some of the most Ancient Khmer architectures which date back to between the 7-11th centuries.

In the afternoon you will drive to Don Khong, an area of 4000 islands which is the widest point of the Mekong River during the rainy season, although during the dry months the river recedes, leaving behind thousands of islands and islets. This area of the river is also famous for being the home to the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins. En route, we also visit the atmospheric ruins of the Khmer temple of Oup Mong at Ban Houei Tomo, located in the forest. Arrive at Khong Island via ferry early evening.

Overnight on Khong Island.

Meals: Breakfast/_/_

Day.6: Khong Island – Surrounding

Following breakfast, we enjoy a visit to the surrounding countryside, and embark on a long tail boat tour to Don Khone, where we disembark and have the option of exploring the island by bicycle, which takes you to visit the remains of the French period and Liphi Waterfall or “the Corridor of the Devil”. We return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng. Indeed, Khone Phapheng is considered the largest waterfall by volume in South East Asia; this is certainly the most impressive site near the Lao-Cambodian border, set within an area which is teeming with wildlife, making this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos. Then we drive back to Khong Island.

Overnight on Khong Island.

Meals: Breakfast/_/_

Day.7: Khong Island – Tadlo – Pakse

First, we will leave early in the morning today due to our long drive north to the Bolaven Plateau. The Bolaven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. Our first stop is to visit Ban Lak Sipkao (Kilometre19), a Laven village specializing in knife-making. We then stop at a tea plantation, followed by a stop at Tad Fan Waterfall, a picturesque twin chute waterfall. We then make a stop at a coffee plantation. Then, let’s go to Tha Teng Market, a colorful ethnic minority food market. Next, we explore another interesting minority village, Ban Bong Neua, an Alak village, that boasts a sacrificial alter. We arrive at the beautiful Tadlo Waterfall by late afternoon and head back to Pakse, stopping at Ban Houi Hun, Katu foot weaving village, where they keep coffins under their houses, before arriving back in Pakse by early evening.

Overnight in Pakse

Meals: Breakfast/_/_

Day.8: Pakse – Departure

After breakfast will be free time for your own exploration of Pakse Town. Then, we will fly to Siem Reap-Cambodia or exiting Laos overland from the Chongmek International checkpoint to Ubon Ratchathani Thailand.

Meals: Breakfast/_/_

END OF SERVICES

HIGHLIGHTS & INCLUDE

• Experiencing the peaceful ambiance of Luang Prabang and visiting its cultural heritage sites
• Visiting the sacred Pak Ou Caves and a traditional Lao textile village by boat
• Watching a procession of saffron-robbed monks collecting alms at sunrise
• Feeling the mist of one of Asia’s most spectacular natural attractions, Kuang Si Waterfalls
• Wandering around in Laos’ capital, Vientiane and visiting some of its highlights
• Hiking on the Bolaven Plateau, in Pakse, surrounded by incredible natural beauty
• Seeing Khmer temples at Wat Phou and visiting mysterious ruins on an elephant
• Cruising through 4000 Islands and witnessing the largest waterfalls in Asia

           NOTES:

• In the wet season, the drive by minivan is not very comfortable due to the slippery road. So 4WD truck is recommended (prices accordingly)
• Prices are in USD, per person, based on two people traveling together and sharing a room. At Laos Senses Travel, we carefully select all hotels, homestays, and guesthouses to ensure that your accommodations match our standards of trip and service excellence.
• Prices include the following:
  .All hotel accommodation including all taxes and breakfast
  .Internal economy flights as stated with airport taxes
  .All transfers & sightseeing transportation in private vehicle
  .Private services of local guides
  .All special events & private tours, guest experts
  .All entrance fees into historical sights & museums
  .Drinking water and refreshing towels for touring
  . 24/7 support from the Laos Senses Travel Team