A Glimpse of Laos - 8 days

In the morning; visit Morning Market, first market in Vientiane. It is very famous for its superior silk weaving, metal work, and woodcarving. Then drive about 3 hours to Vang Vieng - once a key military airfield during the Indochina wars. On the way, you have chance to admire and observe the rural life, visit Ban Houeimo, the fisher village. Upon arrival in Vang Vieng, check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon take a small boat about 30 minutes (2 persons per boat) to visit the biological gardens down Nam Song River. Visit the natural cave of Tham Chang and later, explore Vang Vieng Township.

Today, you drive ahead to Phonsavan, known for the Plain of Jars, about 6-7hours drive that passes through splendid scenery and past many panoramic lookout points on the winding mountaintop road. There are several stops en route to take in the scenery. Upon arrival in Phonsavan, check in hotel and then visit the old capital of Muang Khun and nearby villagers. Overnight in Phonsavan.

Visit the local market where the ethnic minorities (Thai Dam, Hmong, and Phuan) from the surrounding villages gather every morning. Then visit the mysterious Plain of Jars (site 1 which features 250 jars weighing from 600 kg to one ton). The jars have been fashioned from solid stone, most from a tertiary conglomerate known as molasses, akin to sandstone, and a few from granite. Several theories have been advanced as to the functions of the jars (burial urns, wine fermenters, rice storage), but there is no evidence confirming one theory over the other. Return to Phonesavan.

Today, you will depart Phonsavan to Luang Prabang. It is about 5 hour driver. Arrive in  Luang Prabang in the afternoon and have a half day guide tour, including the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham and Wat Mai with five tiered roofs. Climb to Phousi Hill to enjoy a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River. There are 329 steps leading you on zigzag way past various temples to the sacred, gilded stupa of Wat Phousi at the summit.

This morning, you continue to explore Luang Prabang with the city’s oldest temples of Wat Sene and Wat Xieng Thong. Wat Sene Souk Haram or literally "Temple of a 100 000 treasures" is one of the most beautiful temples in Luang Prabang, singular by its restored painting of a deep ochre colour, flamboyant and glittering with gold. Wat Xieng Thong is a magnificent piece of architecture, which nestles at the meeting of the Mekong and the Nam Khan River. The temple structures are decorated in various ways with gilded stuccoes as well as doorways and the main sim has a marvelous 'tree life' mosaic pattern on an outer wall.

Then board a traditional riverboat for a trip upstream the Mekong River to visit the famous caves of Pak Ou housing thousands of statues representing Lord Buddha. And then, visit Ban Xang Hai; the village is famous for distillation of traditional rice alcohol. It used to be more famous for the big jars it is stored in, which they've been making there for over 2000 years. Afterwards, walk around Ban Pak Ou Village, a small Laotian fishermen’s village on the Mekong River, and continue to Ban Muang Keo village, where you will see the production of coloured fabric, which is woven on simple weaving looms. Return to Luang Prabang by boat.

Breakfast at your hotel and visit the National Museum, once a king’s palace. Displayed inside is a lovely collection of personal artifacts of the royal family, including photos, musical instruments, and many gifts received from the dignitaries of foreign countries.

After that, leave the city for an one hour drive to Kuang Si waterfall. The waterfalls tumble over multi - tiered limestone formations into cool, clear pools ideal for swimming and relaxing. The water here has a clear blue-green tint due to the high mineral content. You can climb the stairs and look down from various high viewpoints on the way to the top! Return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for silk handweaving and for traditional Saa Paper making.

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. You will visit the morning Phosi Market where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.