Destinations: Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Sene, Whisky Village, Pak Ou Caves, Manifa Elephant Camp
Overnight: Luang Prabang, Lunch Included
We will pick you up again at 8:30 and take you to a small park on the peninsula tip. The tour begins with a brief introduction to Luang Prabang, standing where the Nam Khan River meets the Mekong River. From there, walk to the famous Wat Xieng Thong temple. For centuries, the temple was considered the ceremonial gateway to the city and was the arrival and departure point for foreign dignitaries. We will walk up the stairs to the main gate and enter the temple like ancient dignitaries. After visiting Xieng Thong, we take a short stroll to temples around and visit Wat Sene, Luang Prabang’s oldest temple dazzled by the lavish ochre and gold interiors.
We take a long tail slow boat to trip on the mighty Mekong river. The Mekong River has been the main highway for people and goods for centuries and is still seamlessly integrated into the lifestyle of the people of Luang Prabang. Fishers fish in the morning and evening, and women dip their feet in the water to catch river shrimp. Children splash in the river on summer afternoons. In the dry season, fertile land along the riverside (the Mekong’s water level can rise and fall nearly 10 meters) is for farming and grazing buffalo. Enjoy the many views from the water, witness rural Laos, pass by local villages, fishers, and children and soak up the scenes of daily life by the river.
After an hour and a half boat ride from Luang Prabang, we make a short stop at the Ban Xang Hai, also known as the Whisky Village. Here you see the process of making Lao Lao, the country’s beloved rice whiskey, and taste the fresh local delights. Why not pick up a couple of bottles for later?
Our boat travels slowly along the Mekong to Pak Ou Caves. We arrive at a small boat landing dock where stairs lead you straight to the cave. These limestone caves have been places of worship for thousands of years, and Buddhist statues and idols have filled these natural caves. Hear legends and stories about the caves from your guide and explore the caves.
After visiting the caves, the boat will enter the Ou River to see the spectacular limestone cliffs and down the Mekong river 30 min. We stopped at Manifa Elephant Camp. Enjoy lunch at the restaurant with a view of the Mekong River and free-roaming elephants. You can enjoy an optional elephant ride. (30min, $10/person) This riding is safe and welfare-oriented using a howdah (carriage) that complies with a standard for Luang Prabang elephant tourism by GIZ, a German Agency for International Cooperation.
We will go back to Luang Prabang by minivan at around 2:30.