Laos Highlights - 7 days

Today is devoted to explore the peaceful city of Vientiane, highlights included:

Vat Phra Keo - which was built in 1565 is one of the most impressive and interesting temples in Vientiane. It previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha image.

Vat Sisaket - which is famous for not only its cloister wall storing thousands of tiny Buddha images but also its beautiful architecture and layout with history dated back to 1818.

Pha That Louang (built 1566, reconstructed 1930). It is the most important Laotian religious and national monument. The temple has an unique architecture reflecting Lao culture and identity, becoming a symbol of Lao nationalism.

Patuxay - The memorial monument -was built in 1957 and is the most prominent landmark in the city. The architecture of the monument was inspired by the architecture of Triomphe in Paris and combined with typical Lao motifs. From the top of the monument, you can see an excellent panoramic view of the city.

Talat Sao market where you can do some shopping.

In the afternoon, we will pay a visit to the famous Buddha Park, located 25km from the city. The park is home for over 200 statues of Buddha and characters of Hinduism made by concrete, especially the enormous Buddhist statue which is 40m in length propping its arm. Furthermore, there are many other statues in shapes of human, Godheads, animals and Lucifer. Visitors can get inside the enormous monuments in shape of a pumpkin through a monster’s mount which is 3 meters high. You can also visit all floors symbolizing for Hell, Underworld, and Heaven.

Factsheet for this day
Route: by private car
Vientiane City tour: around the city with short distance
Vientiane - Buddha Park: 35 km -45 minute drive
Meals: Breakfast at hotel
Local Guide: Private local English Speaking Guide

Breakfast at the hotel and then drive about 3 hours to VangVieng - 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 VangVieng, check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon at 14.00 pm we will start our trip to Tham Jung cave, the home for migrating people, who settled near the town’s southern Meuang Xong Village to rise vegetables. The locals stumbled into the cavern during the civil war, while seeking refuge deep in the forest. Next we head to Tham Loup (Deep cave for cave exploration. This cave is known for its many stalagmites and stalactites. Back to hotel in late afternoon and relax.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Vang Vieng
Factsheet for this day
Route: by private car
Vientiane - Vang Vieng: 130km, 3 hours driving
Meals: Breakfast at hotel
Local Guide: English Speaking Guide

Today, you will depart to Luang Prabang. It is about 5 hour driver. Arrive in  LuangPrabang in the afternoon and have a half day guide tour, including the impressive stupa of WatVisoun, the shrine of WatAham 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 WatPhousi at the summit.

Factsheet for this day
Route: by private car
Vang Vieng - Luang Prabang: 230km, 5 hours driving
Meals: Breakfast at hotel
Local Guide: English Speaking Guide

This morning, you continue to explore LuangPrabang with the city’s oldest temples of WatSene and WatXieng Thong. WatSene Souk Haram or literally "Temple of a 100 000 treasures" is one of the most beautiful temples in LuangPrabang, singular by its restored painting of a deep ochre colour, flamboyant and glittering with gold.

WatXieng 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 XangHai; 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 LuangPrabang by boat.

Factsheet for this day
Route: by private car & Boat
Luang Prabang Pak Ou Cave: 45 minute on Boat
Meals: Breakfast at hotel
Local Guide: English Speaking Guide

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 LuangPrabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for silk handweaving and for traditional Saa Paper making.

Factsheet for this day
Route: by private car
Luang Prabang Khuang Si Waterfall : 25 km - 30 minute drive
Meals: Breakfast at hotel
Local Guide: English Speaking Guide

You are free at leisure until transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
End of services.

Factsheet for this day
Route: by private car
Hotel - Luang Prabang  Airport: : 7 km - 10-15 minute drive
Meals: Breakfast at hotel
Local Guide: No guide, only driver