In the village, your guide will show you around. We will learn about the Hmong and Khmu people’s different roots and ways of life. We will visit the village hospital, school, knife maker, and corn processing plant. If you are lucky, you will meet the village shaman.

We will eat a traditional Hmong dinner prepared by our guide and Hmong host family. (You are welcome to join us in making dinner if you like.)

Day 2: We will wake up at 7:00 to see how Hmong people process rice into candy, have breakfast at 8:00 or 9:00 am. In the morning of the second day, we will experience a traditional ceremony of the Hmong people. We will sacrifice a chicken for the ceremony to pray for our good luck and receive a bracelet from the Hmong people at the ceremony. We will visit a nearby village hospital, school, knife maker, and corn processing plant. If you are lucky, you will meet the village shaman. (You can have opportunities to communicate with the children, such as introducing yourself to them and teaching them a little English. We recommend that you bring stationery that you can buy in Luang Prabang as a gift.) At 10:00 am, we will leave the village and walk  a couple hours to the Nam Pa River where we can take a refreshing swim before boarding our truck for an hour drive  to Manifa Elephant camp.

Check in to the Elephant Camp cottage, have lunch, enjoy elephant experience in the afternoon (Each person will have time to interact with one of the elephants and experience the traditional skills of a Laotian mahout.), then enjoy free time after dinner. Overnight in a private cottage with air conditioning and hot shower.

Day 3: We will get up and have breakfast. You can choose from the following activities (lunch included)
1). Cycling / Kayak to Pak Ou Caves / Mekong sunset cruise (to Luang Prabang)
2). Kayak to Pak Ou Caves / Visit Kuang Si Waterfalls in the afternoon
Transfer back to your hotel in Luang Prabang around 6:00-6:30 PM.

Minimum number of participants: 2 people or more. Please contact us if your group does not meet the minimum number of participants.

Notes

• Tour price includes entrance fee, hotel pick-up/drop-off
• Laos is a very sunny place, so we recommend wearing sunscreen and a hat when going outside.
• During sightseeing, you will enter the temple. Please do not wear revealing clothing as this is a sacred place.

You will get up early in the morning (5-30 – 5:45, sunrise time) and have a fantastic opportunity together with the locals to witness the captivating centuries old daily tradition of the alms giving ceremony. Following that, we will visit the local morning market. You return to your hotel for breakfast around 7;00.

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 morning 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.

Transfer to Manifa Elephant Camp by minivan. Lunch will be served there. After lunch, board the boat from the elephant camp. we will enjoy cruising 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 Whisky village. Here you see the process of making Lao Lao, the country’s beloved rice whiskey, and taste the fresh local delights. Then we will go down the Mekong River and enjoy a sunset cruise to Luang Prabang. Tour.  Ends at around 6.00 pm.

Prices include credit card charges and are not subject to additional charges.
Cancellations (full refund) and date changes (if possible) can be made free of charge up to the day before

Joint tours:

Option 1 Alms giving + morning market(sun rise time-6:30) + City tour (8:30-12:00) + Lunch @ Manifa Elephant Camp (12:00-13:30) + Mekong River Cruise Pak Ou Caves (13:30-18:00): 
€45 per person for a solo traveler or a group of 3 or less
€43 per person when you book together with 4 or more of your friends

Option 2 City tour (8:30-12:00) + Lunch @ Manifa Elephant Camp (12:00-13:30) + Mekong River Cruise Pak Ou Caves (13:30-18:00):
€42 per person for a solo traveler or a group of 3 or less
€40 per person when you book together with 4 or more of your friends

Children: Under 110cm tal: Free

If the minimum number of participants is not reached, the entire tour will be canceled (full refund) or only the morning city tour will be canceled (the difference from the €11 for the afternoon waterfall tour will be refunded).

Alms giving (sun rise time-6:30) + Mekong River Cruise Pak Ou Caves (12:00-18:00) : €48 per person

City tour (8:30-12:00) + Mekong River Cruise Pak Ou Caves (12:00-18:00) : €43 per person

Children: Under 110cm tal: Free

Private tours:

Calculation: €177 for solo traveler or first person in group. For group of 2 or more,  €22 for each additional person. Free for child under 3 (or less than 110 cm tall) . 12 people maximum

• Highlights of Luang Prabang’s world heritage sites
• Visit the Buddha Cave and take a sunset cruise on the Mekong River back to Luang Prabang
• Hike to local villages and Kuang Si Waterfalls

Itinerary

Day 1 Luang Prabang arrival, Airport Pickup, Half Day Tour

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You will be warmly welcomed at Luang Prabang Airport. You will also be escorted to your hotel.

Day 2 Luang Prabang City, Pak Ou Caves, Mekong River Cruise

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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 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.

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. Finally, 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.

Transfer to Manifa Elephant Camp for lunch. You will be offered a delicious buffet lunch at the restaurant overlooking the Mekong river and meet elephants roaming free. In the afternoon we will visit Pak Ou Caves by boat. We will see 4000 Buddha icons in the caves overlooking the Mekong River. After a stop at a village where Laotian rice wine is made, enjoy a two-hour sunset cruise on the Mekong River back to Luang Prabang.

(Lunch)

Day 3 Trek to Kuang Si Waterfall

Pick up time at 8:30 AM, we drive to southeast of Luang Prabang and arrive at our starting point a Hmong and Khmu village Ban Long Lao village. After seeing this village, we enter into jungle forests. Trekking across rice paddies, the orchards, farm land and forest, we will see the beauty scenery of Luang Prabang countryside on the way. As we continue to trekking, we reach the mountainous jungle and find natural springs which are source of Kuang Si Waterfall. Then we take a rest to enjoy lunch.

kuang si waterfalls

After lunch, another half hour trek take us to the crystal clear Kuang Si Waterfall. We explore the three layered Kuang Si waterfall walk the trails of the nature reserve and swim in the refreshing turquoise water pools and also visit the Bear Rescue Center. On the way back to Luang Prabang, we stop at a Hmong village. Retuurn to your accommodation or city center between 5:30-6:00 PM.

Instead of the above-mentioned 4-hour trek starting from Ban Long Lao village, delay pick up time and take an easier 2-hour trek alternative starting from Ban Nong Heo is also possible if you request.

(Lunch)

Day 4 Luang Prabang  Departure

Enjoy free time in Luang Prabang until flight time. we will transfer you to Luang Prabang airport.

Itinerary

Day 1 Luang Prabang – Nong Khiaw

Travel about 3 hours by road from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw. On the way, stop at Ban Nayang, a village of the Lue people, for lunch. You’ll also have time to walk through a well-preserved village of beautiful traditional houses and see how textiles are made. Arriving at Nong Khiaw in the afternoon, we will hike to Pha Som Nang View Point (about 30 min light climbing). Take in views of the town on the Nam Ou River surrounded by karst mountains and a picturesque sunset. Transfer to your hotel in Nong Khiaw.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 2 Nong Khiaw – Nam Ou River Cruise to Muang Ngoi

After breakfast, transfer by traditional boat up stream on Nam Ou river to Muang Ngoy. We then trek to the Tham Kang, where according to local legend, a Naga resides to the rear. We then continue through rice paddy fields onto the Lao Loum village of Ban Na, which is only accessible by foot, so retains much of its original character. After lunch, we continue to walk to Ban Houaysene or Ban Houaybor. Afterwards, return to Muang Ngoy and take a boat back to Nong Khiaw. Transfer to your hotel in Nnng Khiaw.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 3 Nong Khiaw – Manifa Elephant Camp – Pak Ou Caves – Luang Prabang (Mekong river sunset cruise)

You can wake up early in the morning and climb up to Pha Daeng Peak Viewpoint to view the stunning sunrise over Nong Khiaw.to   (about 1.5 hours light climbing)

At 8:30, our minivan will pick you up and visit Phathok Caves. Pha Thok Cave is a series of caves in a limestone cliff where villagers and Pathet Lao eluded bombing during the Second Indochina War. Then you will depart from Nong Khiaw to Manifa Elephant Camp by a 2 hour drive. You will be offered a delicious buffet lunch at the restaurant overlooking the Mekong river and meet elephants roaming free. In the afternoon we will visit Pak Ou Caves by boat. We will see 4000 Buddha icons in the caves overlooking the Mekong River. Enjoy a two-hour sunset cruise on the Mekong River back to Luang Prabang. We will take you from the boat pier in Luang Prabang to your hotel to end the tour.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Reference Price

Private tour (excluding hotel costs)

Accommodation (price per room per night, including breakfast for 2 people)

Itinerary

Day 1 Luang Prabang – Nong Khiaw

Travel about 3 hours by road from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw. On the way, stop at Ban Nayang, a village of the Lue people, for lunch. You’ll also have time to walk through a well-preserved village of beautiful traditional houses and see how textiles are made. Arriving at Nong Khiaw in the afternoon, we will hike to Pha Som Nang View Point (about 30 min light climbing). Take in views of the town on the Nam Ou River surrounded by karst mountains and a picturesque sunset. Transfer to your hotel in Nong Khiaw.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 2 Nong Khiaw – Nam Ou River Cruise to Muang Ngoi

After breakfast, transfer by traditional boat up stream on Nam Ou river to Muang Ngoy. We then trek to the Tham Kang, where according to local legend, a Naga resides to the rear. We then continue through rice paddy fields onto the Lao Loum village of Ban Na, which is only accessible by foot, so retains much of its original character. After lunch, we continue to walk to Ban Houaysene or Ban Houaybor. Afterwards, return to Muang Ngoy and stay at a guesthouse in Muang Ngoy.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 3 Homestay in a beautiful small village on the Nam Ou River

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 4 Hiking to Tat Mok Waterfall

After breakfast at host family’s house in Sop Khon village, We will cross the river and trek to Tat Mok Waterfall. Refresh yourself with a swim in the cool water while your guide prepares a picnic lunch by the waterfall. (Optional: After lunch, we will board our kayaks for a 2-hour ride through the beautiful scenery of the Nam Ou River.) The boat will then depart for Nong Kiao. Upon arrival at Nong Kiau, the tour ends at sunset.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 4 Nong Khiaw – Manifa Elephant Camp – Pak Ou Caves – Luang Prabang (Mekong river sunset cruise)

You can wake up early in the morning and climb up to Pha Daeng Peak Viewpoint to view the stunning sunrise over Nong Khiaw.to   (about 1.5 hours light climbing)

At 8:30, our minivan will pick you up and visit Phathok Caves. Pha Thok Cave is a series of caves in a limestone cliff where villagers and Pathet Lao eluded bombing during the Second Indochina War. Then you will depart from Nong Khiaw to Manifa Elephant Camp by a 2 hour drive. You will be offered a delicious buffet lunch at the restaurant overlooking the Mekong river and meet elephants roaming free. In the afternoon we will visit Pak Ou Caves by boat. We will see 4000 Buddha icons in the caves overlooking the Mekong River. Enjoy a two-hour sunset cruise on the Mekong River back to Luang Prabang. We will take you from the boat pier in Luang Prabang to your hotel to end the tour.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Reference Price

Itinerary

Day 1 Luang Prabang – Nong Khiaw

Travel about 3 hours by road from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw. On the way, stop at Ban Nayang, a village of the Lue people, for lunch. You’ll also have time to walk through a well-preserved village of beautiful traditional houses and see how textiles are made. Arriving at Nong Khiaw in the afternoon, we will hike to Pha Som Nang View Point (about 30 min light climbing). Take in views of the town on the Nam Ou River surrounded by karst mountains and a picturesque sunset. Transfer to your hotel in Nong Khiaw.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 2 Nong Khiaw – Nam Ou River Cruise to Muang Ngoi

After breakfast, transfer by traditional boat up stream on Nam Ou river to Muang Ngoy. We then trek to the Tham Kang, where according to local legend, a Naga resides to the rear. We then continue through rice paddy fields onto the Lao Loum village of Ban Na, which is only accessible by foot, so retains much of its original character. After lunch, we continue to walk to Ban Houaysene or Ban Houaybor. Afterwards, return to Muang Ngoy and stay at a guesthouse in Muang Ngoy.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 3 Hiking to Tat Mok Waterfall

After breakfast, we will take a boat to Sop Khon village. There we will cross the river and trek to Tat Mok Waterfall. Refresh yourself with a swim in the cool water while your guide prepares a picnic lunch by the waterfall. (Optional: After lunch, we will board our kayaks for a 2-hour ride through the beautiful scenery of the Nam Ou River.) The boat will then depart for Nong Kiaw. Upon arrival at Nong Kiau, you will be transfered to your hotel.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 4 Nong Khiaw – Manifa Elephant Camp – Pak Ou Caves – Luang Prabang (Mekong river sunset cruise)

You can wake up early in the morning and climb up to Pha Daeng Peak Viewpoint to view the stunning sunrise over Nong Khiaw.to   (about 1.5 hours light climbing)

At 8:30, our minivan will pick you up and visit Phathok Caves. Pha Thok Cave is a series of caves in a limestone cliff where villagers and Pathet Lao eluded bombing during the Second Indochina War. Then you will depart from Nong Khiaw to Manifa Elephant Camp by a 2 hour drive. You will be offered a delicious buffet lunch at the restaurant overlooking the Mekong river and meet elephants roaming free. In the afternoon we will visit Pak Ou Caves by boat. We will see 4000 Buddha icons in the caves overlooking the Mekong River. Enjoy a two-hour sunset cruise on the Mekong River back to Luang Prabang. We will take you from the boat pier in Luang Prabang to your hotel to end the tour.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Reference Price

Day 1

8:30 pick up from your Luang Prabang hotel / guesthouse
You can choose from the following three activities (lunch included)

• Full day elephant mahout experience
• Visit Kuang Si Waterfalls in the morning / Elephant mahout experience in the afternoon
• Visit Tad Sae Waterfalls in the morning / Elephant mahout experience in the afternoon (minimum 2 people. July to January)

Dinner
Overnight in a private cottage with air conditioning and hot shower or a large tent

Day 2

Breakfast and relaxation. Before breakfast, you can help elephant mahouts with his work.
You can choose from the following five activities (lunch included)

• Full day elephant mahout experience
• Elephant mahout experience / Pak Ou Caves
• Elephant mahout experience / Kayak to Pak Ou Caves

Dinner
Overnight in a private cottage with air conditioning and hot shower or a large tent

Day 3

Breakfast and relaxation. Before breakfast, you can help elephant mahouts with his work.
You can choose from the following five activities (lunch included)

• Full day elephant mahout experience / Mekong sunset cruise (to Luang Prabang)
• Elephant mahout experience / Pak Ou Caves / Mekong sunset cruise (to Luang Prabang)
• Elephant mahout experience in the morning / Visit Kuang Si Waterfalls in the afternoon
• Elephant mahout experience in the morning / Visit Tad Sae Waterfalls in the afternoon (minimum 2 people. July to January)
• Elephant mahout experience / Kayak to Pak Ou Caves / Mekong sunset cruise (to Luang Prabang)

Return back to your accommodation at 18:00.

Day 1

8:30 pick up from your Luang Prabang hotel / guesthouse
You can choose from the following three activities (lunch included)

• Full day elephant mahout experience
• Visit Kuang Si Waterfalls in the morning / Elephant mahout experience in the afternoon
• Visit Tad Sae Waterfalls in the morning / Elephant mahout experience in the afternoon (minimum 2 people. July to January)

Dinner
Overnight in a private cottage with air conditioning and hot shower or a large tent

Day 2

Breakfast and relaxation. Before breakfast, you can help elephant mahouts with his work.
You can choose from the following five activities (lunch included)

• Full day elephant mahout experience / Mekong sunset cruise (to Luang Prabang)
• Elephant mahout experience / Pak Ou Caves / Mekong sunset cruise (to Luang Prabang)
• Elephant mahout experience in the morning / Visit Kuang Si Waterfalls in the afternoon
• Elephant mahout experience in the morning / Visit Tad Sae Waterfalls in the afternoon (minimum 2 people. July to January)
• Elephant mahout experience / Kayak to Pak Ou Caves / Mekong sunset cruise (to Luang Prabang)
• Cycling along the river and visiting villages by mountain bike (Trek Marlin 7) in the morning / take a Mekong River cruise or go to a waterfall in the afternoon.

Return back to your accommodation at 18:00.

Tour prices vary depending on how many people share the number of elephants (2 people for one elephant or 3 people for two) and how many people stay in a cottage (double occupancy, triple occupancy, Quadruple occupancy) Adults are 12 years and over, Children are 4-11 years old, Infant (children under 3 years old) are free.

Example:

2 adults 1 child triple occupancy, share 2 elephants : total €267 for 3 people, €89 price per person

2 adults 2 children Quadruple occupancy, share 2 elephants : total €312 for 4 people, €78 price per person

This tour is the same as the 2-day package below except for the elephant share. You can compare prices.
https://manifatravel.com/trip/2-day-memorable-overnight-experience/

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.