12 days
All Months
The tour will visit major destinations along the Mekong River, which runs through Laos from north to south. In the north, Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Laos and a World Heritage Site; Nong Khiaw, a small town on the Nam Ou River, a tributary of the Mekong; in the south, the ruins of Champasak, Wat Phou, the Bolaven Plateau, and 4000 Islands. The tour will provide an insight into the different natural landscapes along the Mekong river of the north and south and the unique traditional life and culture of the people who live and work there.
Itinerary
Day 1 Luang Prabang arrival
Welcome to the beautiful country of Laos! Your private guide and driver will be waiting for you at the Luang Prabang Airport with a sign with your name on it. They will then take you straight to your hotel. The rest of the day to relax or to explore by your own.
Day 2 Luang Prabang city tour (B, L)
Visit the main highlights of Luang Prabang heritage area. in one day Walking with a licensed local guide, you will hear many local stories and get a taste of Luang Prabang’s culture, from the history of the temples and the city to the Buddhist stories and legends painted all over the walls of the temples.
Detail
We get up early in the morning (5:15 am in March to October and 05:45 in November to February. There is also an option without Alms giving). We pick you up from your hotel and you have a fantastic opportunity together with the locals to witness the captivating 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;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 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. We will drive to Heuan Chan Heritage. There we will see a well preserved traditional Lao house and take a short break in their gardens. Finally, we will visit the Royal Palace museum as well as Wat Mai.
Visit the Ock Pop Tock weaving centre, run by an organization that offers local weavers the chance to earn a decent income with their weaving skills.
Lunch at Ock Pop Tok Silk Road Café (lunch not included. Laotian or Western set menu $15, deluxe lunch $18 upon advance reservation request. If you have a request, we can move to other restaurants and make reservations.)
Then visit Wat Wisunarat to see the oldest Buddhist temple in Luang Prabang, and then the UXO Center for those who want to learn more about war history. Then visit either Wat Pa Phon Phao or the Laos Traditional handicraft village Ban Xang Khong well knowned as paper village along the Mekong River.
Finish your day by climbing up Phousi Mountain. Rising 150m in the centre of town, Mount Phousi cuts a distinctive figure on the Luang Prabang skyline. The hill is a popular as a place to watch the sunset. From the summit you enjoy spectacular 360 degree views across the city and its many temples, and over the surrounding landscape to the mountains in the distance.
Day 3 Luang Prabang – Living Land Rice Farming Experience / Kuang Si waterfall or Hiking to Kuang Si Waterfalls (B, L)
There are two options for this day. Both visit Kuang Si Falls in the afternoon. Morning activities are different. The first is a rice farming experience at Living Land Rice Farm in the morning. Lunch is organic Laotian food on the farm. Another is a hike from nearby villages to the waterfalls. Lunch at Carpe Diem Restaurant near the waterfall.
Detail option1
Pickup at 8:00, we drive to Ban Phong Van about 5 km, among lush rice fields and overlooked by wooded hills and mountains to join in a Living Rice Farm where they grow organic vegetables, salads, herbs and rice and supply leading restaurants and hotels in Luang Prabang. Coming here you will be shown how rice is grown on the farm, experience the life of a farmer and try your hand at some of the activities. Or just view it all from the comfort of traditional Lao rice house balcony, which is surrounded by rice terraces and organic vegetable farm. All the family can join in and there are great photo opportunities. After experience in the farm, we enjoy Lao specialty lunch in separate area overlooking their rice fields. We taste typical Lao dishes.
At about 2:00 pm, this adventure destination package takes you to Kuang Si Waterfall – you will have time to explore the three layered Kuang Si Waterfall walk the trails of the nature reserve and swim in the refreshing turquoise water pools and visit the bear rescue center.
Our way back into Luang Prabang we make a stop at Ban Na Uan hmong village where you have the chance to experience Hmong village life, meet some of the local people and see the makings of their traditional embroidery crafts. From here it is time to make our way into town, typically this is between 5:30pm – 6:00pm – drop off location is at the post office on the main street, near the night market or at your accommodation by prior arrangement or on request.
Detail option2
Pickup from your hotel and the transfer to Ban Nong Heo, we will have some time to discover the charming Khmu village, with its traditional houses, its water buffalo and free-range ducks walking around, and even the farmers and master blacksmiths dealing with their daily tasks. Then, we will have the chance to join in an easy hike in the countryside, pass over hills, and through forests and plantations, with nice viewpoints to stop at along the way. You can refresh yourself with some fresh sugar cane that can be picked directly from the field to taste the juice. After a 2-hour walk in the beautiful natural environment, we will arrive at Ban Thapene, a village which sits at the foot of the stunning Kuang Si Waterfalls. Upon arrival, enjoy a lunch break at Carpe Diem Restaurant and have time to explore magnificent waterfalls. Then visit a bear rescue center. On the way back, we visit a Hmong village. Return to Luang Prabang from 5:30 to 6:00
Day 4 Luang Prabang – Nong Khiaw (B, L)
Pickup from a hotel in Luang Prabang at 8:30 am. About 3 hours drive, stopping at Ban Nayang village for lunch break. Village tour (optional: half-day workshop in the afternoon or overnight homestay in the village and workshop can be added) Arrive Nong Khiaw in the afternoon. Hike to Pha Daeng Peak Viewpoint after hotel check-in (about 1.5 hours light climbing). If climbing is difficult, we will guide you to another easily accessible viewpoint.
Day 5 Nong Khiaw Nam Ou River Cruise / Muang Ngoy day trip (B, L)
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.
Day 6 Nong Khiaw – Pak Ou Caves / Mekong River Cruise – Luang Prabang (B, L)
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 and return to Luang Prabang.
Day 7 Luang Prabang – Pakse – Wat Phou – Champasak (B, L)
Leaving Luang Prabang early in the morning, we will take the 8:30am Lao Airline QV513 from Luang Prabang Airport to Pakse. You will be warmly welcomed at Pakse Airport. Your guide will meet you at the airport. We will take a minivan at the airport, visit the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia’s most dramatically situated temples. We have time to explore these intriguing Khmer ruins, which are perched at the base of Mount Phu Kao. In the afternoon, we will be transfered to a hotel in Champasak or Done Daeng Island and spend some free time exploring the surroundings.
Day 8: Champasak – 4000 Islands (B, L)
After spending a relaxing morning in Don Daeng, We will head to the 4000 islands. On the way, visit the pre-Angkorian site named Wat Tomo (Uo Moung). Get on board a traditional boat to the peaceful islands of Don Khon and Don Det. Following lunch, we continue our journey to the extreme south of Laos in the area of the 4000 islands. It dues its name because the Mekong becomes extremely wide and hosts many islands.
Day 9: Khong Islands 4000 Islands (B, L)
In the morning, we begin by re-tracing the French colonial-past, where some old colonial houses still stand and glimpse the first Lao railway with its own locomotive. We continue our exploration of the area of the 4000 islands by boat and visit the beautiful Liphi waterfall, also known as the Samphamith, which forms a natural border between Lao and Cambodia. We return to Ban Nakasang and drive to the famous waterfall of Khone Phapeng – the largest waterfall in South East Asia, also known as the ‘Niagara of the east’.
Day 10: Bolaven Plateau – Pakse (B, L)
Upon leaving Khong Island we continue our journey towards the Bolaven Plateau, located in the Annamite Mountain Range, which runs along Laos’ eastern border with Vietnam. The renowned coffee of Lao PDR is produced in this region. The climate of the plateau, with its cooler temperatures and abundant rainfall, make it the perfect place for coffee production. After viewing several cascading waterfalls — including the famous Tad Lo and Tad Fan Waterfalls — we’ll return to Pakse for an afternoon walk or visit to its local market. Transfer to your hotel in Pakse.
Day 11: Pakse – Luang Prabang or Vientiane (B)
Enjoy free time in Pakse until it’s time for your flight to Luang Prabang or Vientiane (depending on your departure place). Our minivans will transport you to and from the airport. Free time after checking in to the hotel.
There are flights from Pakse to Luang Prabang three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) and the itinerary stays south for five days from Day 7 to Day 11. If your departure point (last day of the tour) is Luang Prabang and you choose to fly from Pakse to Luang Prabang on Day 11, Day 7 must be a Tuesday for this tour to run as planned. If Day 7 falls on Thursday and Saturday, the length of stay in the South should be reduced from 5 days to 4 days or extended to 6 days.
If you choose Vientiane as your departure point from Laos, Day 7 can be Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday as there are daily flights to Vientiane.
If you depart from Pakse to Ho Chi Minh or Siem Reap, the schedule will be similar to Luang Prabang as flights are only available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Day 12: Luang Prabang or Vientiane Departure
Our minivan will take you from your hotel to the airport.
Accommodation
| Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 (3 nights) | Luang Prabang |
| Day 4, Day 5 (2 nights) | Nong Khiaw |
| Day 6 (1 night) | Luang Prabang |
| Day 7 (1 night) | Champasak |
| Day 8, Day 9 (2 nights) | 4000 Islands |
| Day 10 (1 night) | Pakse |
| Day 11 (1 night) | Luang Prabang or Vientiane |
The spreadsheet below lists the hotel prices we can arrange for you. All hotels include breakfast. The price is usually per room for two people. Our margins are low, so it should be the lowest price except for special sales by hotels. We can offer prices for other hotels that are not listed. Please contact us.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1G76Ha5LzBRvlF-kCVXrotLPUhR3RreeE8GDtwKEWJt8/edit?usp=sharing
Flight Information
Pakse
Arrival
Vientiane – Pakse: Lao Airline QV305 Daily 8:05-9:05, QV303 Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun 15:30 – 17:00, QV515 Tue, Thu & Sat 7:30 – 8:45
Luang Prabang – Pakse: Lao Airline QV513 Tue, Thu & Sat 8:30 – 10:10
Siem Reap (Cambodia) – Pakse: Lao Airline QV514 Tue, Thu & Sat 12:25 – 13:25
Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam) – Pakse: Lao Airline QV516 Tue, Thu & Sat 12:00 – 13:25
Departure
Pakse – Vientiane: Lao Airline QV306 Daily 9:50-10:50, QV304 Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun 17:40 – 19:10, QV515 Tue, Thu & Sat 14:20 – 15:35
Pakse – Luang Prabang: Lao Airline QV514 Tue, Thu & Sat 14:10 – 15:50
Pakse – Siem Reap (Cambodia): Lao Airline QV513 Tue, Thu & Sat 10:50 – 11:50
Pakse – Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam): Lao Airline QV515 Tue, Thu & Sat 9:45 – 11:20