1. Daytime hands-on cooking classes (join-in)

• Tour of local market

• Cook 5 dishes plus sticky rice

• Cook and dine with other travelers

Tuesday – Sunday 9am-3pm.
Minimum 1 pax, Maximum 12 pax
Starting point: Tamarind Restaurant at 8.45am.
Transport from Tamarind to cooking class venue and return is included in price for join-in classes.
To book the class privately, a minimum of 12 pax must be paid for.
The maximum for a private class is 18 pax.
Transport for private classes is not included.
Not appropriate for children under the age of 10 years old.
Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged at 100%

$24 pp (-2022), $35 pp (2023-)

2. Evening hands-on cooking classes (join-in)

• Cook 4 dishes plus sticky rice

• Cook and dine with other travellers

• Shorter class time than daytime cooking

Tuesday – Saturday 4.30 pm – 8pm (by availability)
Minimum 1 pax, maximum 12 pax
Starting point: Tamarind restaurant at 4.15pm.
Transport from Tamarind to cooking class venue and return is included in price for join-in classes.
To book the class privately a minimum of 12 pax must be paid for.
The maximum for a private class is 18 pax.
Transport for private classes is not included.
Not appropriate for children under the age of 10 years old.
Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged at 100%

$20 pp (-2022), $30 pp (2023-)

3. Family Cooking Classes (private or join-in)

• Private class, for your group only

• Aimed at families with children aged 3-10

• Cook 3-4 dishes plus sticky rice

• Maximum 8 people

Suited to families with kids of a range of ages. Dishes to please a variety of palates, with fun teachers to guide.
Tuesday – Saturday 9.30am-approx 2pm.
Minimum 4 pax, Maximum 8 pax
Pick up from central hotel at 9.30am. Transport to and from cooking class venue included.
Children 3 years and under will need direct supervision by a non-cooking adult. Email us to discuss options.
Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged at 100%

$28 pp, minimum total $112 usd (-2022), $50 pp, minimum total $200 usd (-2022)

4. Master Class (exclusive private classes):

• Private class, for your group only

• Fully customisable to your needs and interests

• Aimed at experienced cooks, or those desiring an exclusive experience

• Maximum 4 people

A custom designed private cooking class suited to those with extensive cooking know-how, or wishing for a private
cooking experience a cut above. Exclusively run by Tamarind’ s owner and head chef Mr Joy Ngeuamboupha.
Available Tuesday-Saturday 8.30am to approx 1.30pm.
Minimum 1 pax, Maximum 4 pax.
Pick up from central hotel at 8.30am. Transport to and from cooking school included.
Some flexibility and choice with menu and market tour options (please see main flyer for full details).
One beer, soft drink or glass of wine is included per person.
Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged at 100%.

Set price $167 for 1-4 pax (-2022), Set price $200 for 1-4 pax (2023-)

We will pick you up from your hotel at 8:30 morning or 12:30 noon. After a brief introduction from the guide, we start kayaking on the Nam Ou River. We enjoy a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside and see nature-built limestone cliffs called Pha Aen on the way. 1-hour kayaking takes us to the first destination at the confluence of the Nam Ou and Mekong Rivers, Pak Ou. We visit the famous Pak Ou Caves – two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims. You’ll have time to explore them. Then we’ll continue kayaking, this time down the Mekong river itself. We will paddle down the Mekong for 30 minutes until we end our journey at Manifa Elephant Camp. Shower and change clothes are available at Elephant Camp. Enjoy a buffet lunch at the restaurant with a view of the Mekong River and free-roaming elephants. (If you choose the option to start at noon, you will enjoy lunch first before kayaking) Return to Luang Prabang by car or boat.

Full description

Begin your day with a hotel pickup in Luang Prabang around 1:30 PM. Travel by minivan to Kuang Si Waterfalls. Arrive and have approximately two hours of free time to relax, swim in the turquoise pools, or explore the forest trails.

Continue by minivan to the nearby Kuang Si Heritage Rice Farm, situated on the banks of the Mekong River. Board a comfortable boat for a leisurely sunset cruise back to Luang Prabang, with drinks served on board as the sun sets over the river.

Your journey concludes with arrival in Luang Prabang at approximately 6:30 PM., where you will be transferred to the city center or back to your hotel.

• Park The falls are in a nature park. You will see large tropical trees and flowers you will probably never see in your country.
• Swimming  Dressing rooms are available. Shower and locker unavailable. Please take care of your valuables.
• Trail You can climb to the top of the waterfall to see the source of the waterfall. Left is the easy way. Right is the hard way. Be careful during the rainy season, as it can be slippery and sometimes completely flooded/inaccessible after heavy rain. Decent footwear is recommended. Please be sure to time your ascent accordingly.

We will pick you up again at 8:30 and take you to  a small park on the peninsula tip. You will have a brief introduction to Luang Prabang, standing where the Nam Khan River meets the Mekong River. From there, walk to Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in the country. Learn from your guide the typical architecture of the Luang Prabang style temples with their spectacular low sweeping roofs. Join local pilgrims for a glimpse into the daily Buddhist beliefs of the people.

Next, we will go temple hopping in the neighborhood. At Wat Sene, where there is a school for novice monks, you may meet again with novice monks you met on the morning alms.  Afterwards, we will visit the Royal Palace museum.  It houses a lot of interesting historical items. Every item tells a story…so you will learn quite a lot from your guide about Lao history and about Laos’ royal.

The tour ends with a climb up Phousi Hill. Rising 150m in the centre of town, you enjoy spectacular 360 degree views across the city and its many temples, and over the surrounding landscape to the mountains in the distance. You will be taken to the city center or to your hotel to complete the tour.

Optional

morning alms

The tour can begin early in the morning (Pickup time 5:15 – 06:00. Depends on sunrise time). We pick you up from your hotel and you have a fantastic opportunity together with the locals to witness the participating centuries old daily tradition of the alms giving ceremony. Following that, we visit local morning market. You return to your hotel for breakfast around 7:30 for breakfast.

Activities

• In-depth introduction and elephant health check at mahout village
• Elephant riding in the forest
• Elephant bathing in the Mekong river 
• Elephant feeding 

Your experience begins with a transportation service pick up from your accommodation between 8:15 am – 9:00 am. You will visit the mahout (elephant handler) village in Manifa Elephant Camp and observe their daily routine as you see a demonstration of an elephant health check. Your guide will explain the elephants while they examine the elephant’s eyes, ears, mouths, and feet. Learn how to estimate the weight of an elephant by measuring the body used by veterinarians and Mahout. You will understand that riding an elephant is well below 20% of its body weight, which a human, elephant, horse, or most animals generally can carry.

You will know the name of an elephant that will become your partner today and learn how to introduce yourself to your elephant and how to mount your elephant to ride bareback. Then you will have an intimate interaction with the elephant.You will ride your elephant and explore the jungle. Experience how powerful elephant mobility is in the dense vegetation and sloping jungle terrain. After passing through the jungle, your elephant will plunge into the Mekong River. Help your elephant body cool off and bathe in the Mekong River. Finally, you feed and care for your elephant with organic vegetables and fruits.

You will be offered a delicious buffet lunch at the restaurant overlooking the Mekong river and elephants roaming free. Return to Luang Prabang by minivan. We will arrive at the city center or your hotel around 14:00.

Please read the Elephant FAQ prepared by experts to ensure that this tour does support elephant welfare.

[/tg_accordion]

Morning tour: We will pick you up at your accommodation between 8:00 to 8:30. Go straight to the pier for the departure of the longtail boat trip and embark on the mighty Mekong. Enjoy the many views from the water, witness rural Laos, pass by local villages, fishermen, and children and soak up the scenes of daily life by the river.

Beyond the high-speed railroad bridge on the outskirts of town, the landscape is lush with nature. In the first little over an hour, the boat makes its first 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?

The boat will take you slowly along the Mekong River 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. Then a 30-minute boat ride down the Mekong River will take us to Manifa elephant camp for lunch. Enjoy a buffet lunch at the restaurant with a view of the Mekong River and free-roaming elephants. Around 2:00-2:30, return to Luang Prabang by minivan.

Afternoon tour: Pick up from your hotel at around 12:00 -13:00 and then head to Manifa Elephant Camp by minivan. Lunch will be served there. Take a boat to the caves. After visiting the caves, the tour is the opposite of the morning tour. We will go down the Mekong River, stopping at villages along the way, and enjoy a sunset cruise to Luang Prabang. Tour ends at 6.00 pm.

Tour Highlights:

• Hike: 12km guided trek through varying terrain and elevations (300-900m).
• Culture: Meet Khmu and Hmong villagers in their local environments.
• Nature: Explore limestone formations, forests, and river valleys.
• Relax: Swim and unwind at Tad Sae Waterfall.

Itinerary:

• 08:30 AM (Approx): Depart Luang Prabang for a 30-minute transfer to the Nam Khan river.
• The Trek Begins: Cross the river by boat. Begin hiking through rice paddies and forest canopy.
• Khmu Village Visit: Arrive at Ban Houay Fai. Engage with locals and learn about Khmu culture from your guide.
• Mountain Ascent: Continue hiking along ridges and limestone grottos.
• Lunch at Hmong Village: Arrive at Ban Tinpha for lunch. Enjoy the mountain views and learn about Hmong traditions.
• Descent & Nature: Trek down through diverse flora and farmland, observing local wildlife.
• River Transfer: Arrive at the riverside village of Ban Houay Yen. Board a boat for a scenic cruise down the Nam Khan.
• Waterfall Stop: Disembark at Tad Sae Waterfall. Spend time relaxing or swimming in the pools. (During low water periods from January to June, Tad Sae Waterfall may have very little water or may be dry, so you may choose to skip the visit to the waterfall.)
• Return: Boat ride back to the riverside and vehicle transfer to Luang Prabang.

Your journey begins with a short 30-minute drive from Luang Prabang to the Nam Khan River, followed by a river boat ride and a gentle trek through lush rice paddies and mid-story forests.

Our first stop is Ban Houay Fai, a charming Khmu village. Your guide introduces you to the unique customs and daily life of the villagers. Leaving the village, the trail becomes more adventurous, winding along ridges, past limestone grottos, and up rocky slopes.

We arrive at Ban Tinpha, a Hmong village nestled in the mountains, where we will stop for a wel-deserved lunch. The surrounding mountains and valleys are rich with biodiversity—take a moment to stop, listen, and ask your guide about the vibrant flora and fauna teeming around you.

The afternoon trek weaves through countryside farmland and paddies, offering chances to chat with locals before descending to the riverside village of Ban Houay Yen. Here, a private boat awaits to drift down a beautiful stretch of the Nam Khan River. We will make a stop at the famous Tad Sae Waterfall to relax and soak in the crystal-clear pools (seasonal) before enjoying a boat and vehicle transfer back to Luang Prabang.