Trip Type: Private Starts: Vientiane Ends: Luang Prabang Departs: Any day of the year Difficulty: Easy – Mid

Itinerary

Day 1 Vientiane Arrival

You will be warmly welcomed at Wattay Airport – Laos’ international airport. You will also be escorted to your hotel in downtown Vientiane.

Day 2 Vientiane tour

Vientiane is a charming capital city adorned with temples and faded French colonial architecture. After a short break, you will get to know the capital on a city tour and visit major attractions such as Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and Wat Phra Keo, the former royal temple where the famous Emerald Buddha statue was located. On the way to the famous sacred structure, the That Luang Stupa, a national treasure of Laos, we will also have the opportunity to photograph the imposing Patuxai Monument, known as the Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane. After lunch at a restaurant in town, visit Buddha Park in the suburbs. Buddha Park, also known as Xieng Khuan, this unusual park is filled with over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues. The quiet and tranquil setting along the Mekong River is a contrast to the slightly eccentric sculptures which were built in 1958 by a Laos shaman. The concrete sculptures are unique and intriguing, sitting majestically in the peaceful park.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 3 Vang Vieng Day Trip

Pick you up from your hotel and drive to the train station. Enjoy the approximately one-hour journey to Vang Vieng on Laos’ new high-speed train. Check in your hotel in Vang Vieng, your Vang Vieng trip starts with an awe-inspiring visit to Tham Xang, a cave naturally carved in the shape of an elephant where a sleeping Buddha is resting. Then, out in the sun, you’ll enjoy the mesmerizing landscape of rural Laos by walking along karstic cliffs and through villages and rice fields. You’ll stop at a large village of Hmong minority, the opportunity to learn about the local rich ethnicities before heading back to Vang Vieng.

After lunch, visit Tham Jang, one of the most impressive caves of Vang Vieng accessible by a staircase of 138 steps! The sight is worth the climb as the view inside the cave is spectacular.

Then, the journey carries on with a short pirogue ride on the beautiful jade-colored Nam Song River. It’s possible for those who would like to take a swim in one of the crystal clear water lagoons to enjoy the warm weather of Laos.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 4 Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang – Nong Khiaw

[Optional: Early in the morning you will be pick up at 6 am, take an early morning hot air balloon ride to see the spectacular views of Vang Vieng in the morning sun rise (Offered by Above Laos. balloon ride over Vang Vieng around 800 meter high and around 40 minutes in the air!)] -> Additional $130 per person

After breakfast, drive to the railway station and take the train to Luang Prabang. Transfer to a minivan in Luang Prabang and drive to 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. Arrive at Nong Khiaw in the afternoon, then check-in at the hotel. We will hike to Pha Daeng Peak Viewpoint after (about 1.5 hours light climbing). (If climbing is difficult, we will guide you to another easily accessible viewpoint.)

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 5 Nong Khiaw – Muang Ngoy (Nam Ou river cruise / Hiking)

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.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 6 Nong Khiaw – Manifa Elephant Camp – Pak Ou Caves – Luang Prabang (Mekong river sunset cruise)

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.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 7 Luang Prabang City

The tour begins 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.

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

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.  We head out to the Laos Traditional handicraft village Ban Xang Khong well knowned as paper village. You can discover all creations made of paper.

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.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 8 Kuang Si Waterfalls

Experience rice farming in the living land in the morning, or enjoy a two-hour hike to the waterfall from a village near the waterfall. For the rice farming experience, we will have a farm organic lunch at the farm. If hiking, enjoy lunch at the nearby private waterfall Carpe Diem Restaurant. In the afternoon, enjoy  the stunning Kuang Si Waterfall. We will spend 2 hours of leisurely time to enjoy the spectacular waterfalls. On the way back, we will visit the village of the Hmong people.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 9 Luang Prabang Departure

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

(Breakfast)

Reference Price

Accommodation prices are subject to change. See spreadsheet for all hotel options.

No accommodation

3-Star Hotel

Day 1 Lao Orchid Hotel Superior Double
Day 2 Lao Orchid Hotel Superior Double
Day 3 SILVER NAGA HOTEL STANDARD
Day 4 Nong Khiaw Riverside
Day 5 Nong Khiaw Riverside
Day 6 SAYNAMKHAN RIVER VIEW
Day 7 SAYNAMKHAN RIVER VIEW
Day 8 SAYNAMKHAN RIVER VIEW
Day 9

4-Star Hotel

Day 1 Salana Boutique Hotel Superior Double
Day 2 Salana Boutique Hotel Superior Double
Day 3 INTHIRA VANG VIENG Superior
Day 4 Nong Khiaw Riverside
Day 5 Nong Khiaw Riverside
Day 6 Maison Dalabua Classic
Day 7 Maison Dalabua Classic
Day 8 Maison Dalabua Classic
Day 9