14 Days Laos in Style

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by your guide and driver for a short transfer to your hotel.

Today your guide will take you to the heart of Luang Prabang’s distinguished heritage and introduce you to a number of different specialists on the town’s history, culture and Buddhist background.

We start the day’s exploration at the quaint Royal Palace Museum, which gives an excellent overview of local history. We then continue to Wat Xiengthong which is renowned for its beauty and is one the most important Buddhist temples on the town’s peninsula. You will also have the rare opportunity to receive a blessing from one of the temple’s head monks that involves the tying of string around your wrists, symbolising luck and good health.

Afterwards, we will take a short stroll to the nearby Wat Khili. The temple’s charming traditional library building houses an historic photo exhibition of Buddhist heritage, known as The Buddhist Archive of Photography. This is a unique collection of 35,000 historical photographs formed by several monk collectors and monk photographers over a period of 120 years. As part of a British Library's Endangered Archives Programme, the collection has been identified and catalogued digitally by a small team from 2006 to 20011 known as the Buddhist Heritage Project. You will either meet the founder, Mr. Hans George Berger** or Director Dr. Khamvone Boulyaphonh, who will give you unique access to the collection of original photographs and will personally guide you through the backrooms in which it is housed. A very unique and meaningful way to learn about the Buddhist civilization and heritage of Laos. Afterwards, enjoy a cup of monastic tea on the archive’s verandah

In the early afternoon, we will continue to the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre, where we will meet co-founder Tara Gujadhur or co-founder Soutthivilay Thongkhoun for a Directors Tour, which will provide insight into the myriad Laos' ethnic cultures, their traditions and customs. This will be an excellent chance to learn more about the country’s diverse ethnic groups from one of the creators of the museum themselves. We then transfer to Luang Prabang’s oldest temple, Wat Visoun which dates to 1503 and which is now home to an array of religious artefacts. You will learn about their colourful history and about early Lao Buddhist architecture from your guide.

Our final stop of the day will bring us to the steps of Mt Phousi, which you will climb to hopefully catch a glimpse at a spectacular sunset and a panoramic view over Luang Prabang and the Mekong River.

**Founder Mr. Berger published a number of books on the Buddhist Heritage collection. You will receive a copy as remembrance of this remarkable tour.

The Buddhist Archive is closed on weekends, T.A.E.C. is closed Mondays, from March - Nov

Rise early this morning (5.30am) to witness and partake in the daily morning ritual of ‘Tak Bat’ or giving alms to the monks. This is a unique ritual still followed by the locals in Luang Prabang. We can also visit the local fresh market to see how the locals shop.

We then drive directly to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall arriving there around 8am, well before anyone else arrives so you will have the falls to yourself! A luxury gourmet picnic breakfast can be enjoyed overlooking the falls. Next to the falls is a Bear Rescue Centre, which does a great job of rehabilitating the rare Asiatic Black Bear. Return in back in town in the late morning.

Beginning in the morning, you will be met at 07:45-08:15 AM at your hotel by our Elephant Specialist Guide and transferred to a beautiful elephant oasis just 40 minutes outside of Luang Prabang. During the shuttle our guide will give you a brief introduction to himself and the recently opened sanctuary. On arrival, you will meet with one of the directors of the Elephant Sanctuary who will fill you in on more detail with some fascinating stories about the elephants and their refuge. Learn the challenges they’ve faced and how they are learning to improve the situation one elephant at a time. After being regaled you will cross the river by boat where you will be met by Baby Bull Elephant ThongSing and his stepmother Mae Vane 2 and their mahouts. feed the elephants some bananas while receiving background on the elephants from the guides. Next, follow the elephants on a 1½ hour trek through forest and meandering creeks during which you will witness the unique bond between the mahouts and their elephants while the guide explains more about the incredible history that Laos has with the elephant. After saying goodbye to your pachyderm friends, you’ll head back to camp where a tasty lunch of local specialties awaits you. After lunch overlooking the Nam Khan River, it is time for a transfer back to town, arriving in the early afternoon.

In the late afternoon, you will be met for a short transfer to the Mekong Riverside where we board the Beautiful Nava Song boat for a private Sunset Cruise Take-in the panoramic views - oranges, reds, pinks, and purples of the changing sky as the sun sinks behind the mountains. Enjoy drinks and some local canape while the sun sinks down behind the mountains. Return to town after sunset has passed.

Return to town and transfer back to your hotel by early evening.

Spent your morning at leisure before you will be transferred to Luang Prabang train station for your 1-hour train journey to Vang Vieng. Train ride – LPQ 12.52 PM – VVG 13.49 PM, 1st Class

Go through officialities and make yourself comfortable in the new train service, which is the first in Laos only started operations in December 2021. Take in the village-life and mountain views while the trainline cuts straight through spectacular mountain sceneries, crossing numerous bridges and tunnels. Upon arrival at Vang Vieng station, you will be met by your guide and driver for a short transfer to your hotel in town. Check-in and enjoy the rest of the at leisure.

After breakfast, we head north out of town, and transfer to a Khmu village called Ban Viengsamai. You will be welcomed into a in the local home to meet the friendly family and to learn about Khmu customs and traditions, including animism. Next, we walk to explore the village, visiting the local knife smith who uses traditional techniques to create knifes. Be impressed by his skills, and give it a try yourself. We continue our explorations and trek through rice paddies to a cave on the other side of the Nam Song River, passing by farmers working on the fields. On the way, you will be taking rest in one of the local rice huts while learning more about the importance of agriculture in Laos. We then trek back to the family’s home, where the lady of the house will show you how she prepares local rice wine, called "Lao Hai". Next, enjoy a lunch of Khmu Specialties together with the family and try the local rice wine if you like. Afterward, we will say goodbye to the family and transfer back to Vang Vieng, arriving by mid-afternoon with the rest of the day at leisure.

Mid-morning, we check out of our hotel and leave Vang Vieng behind. Via the first expressway of Laos, which opened in 2020, we transfer in approx. 1½ hours to the capital, Vientiane. You can check into your hotel by early afternoon.

At 6PM we go out to explore the city at nighttime. We travel by tuk tuk to the food-night-market near That Luang. At night it comes alive and is a firm favourite amongst locals with few tourists to be seen. Wonder over the market and learn from your guide about the different dishes and the local dinner culture. Try some of the tasty dishes on the spot or bring them with you to our next stop; a traditional Lao style BBQ or Sindat. A favourite night spot for the locals, which few tourists ever visit. The guide will introduce you with his favorite dishes. After dinner we, we follow the recent transition of this growing capital, and continue by tuk tuk to 525 in the heart of town. Here, you will be warmly welcomed with a cocktails and nibbles, crafted by the specialized mixologists of the beautiful bar. Enjoy the warm ambience of this historic building, The first set of cocktail w. nibbles is on us. Afterwards, return by tuk tuk back to your hotel.

After breakfast we explore the city by visiting the oldest temple in Vientiane, Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which now serves as a museum of arts and antiques. Next, we visit Wat Simuang, a fascinating temple which is very popular pilgrimage for the locals.. We then travel up Lanexang Avenue you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxai Monument, which resembles its Parisian inspiration, the Arc de Triomphe. The climb to the top offers great views over Vientiane. We continue onwards down Rue Singha 23 to Laos’ National icon, and most important religious building the golden stupa of That Luang. The final visit of the morning will be the excellent COPE exhibition centre, highlighting a much-overlooked aspect of Laos and a major problem many of the local people face on a day to day basis in the form of unexploded ordnance as a result of heavy bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War area.

In the afternoon we visit the quirky yet impressive Buddha Park, an enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the banks of the Mekong River. By no means historic – Buddha Park was built in the 1950’s by a self styled ‘holy man’ – the park features some very photogenic and unusual sculptures, including a huge reclining Buddha, and a giant pumpkin. Upon returning to Vientiane we have the optional of stopping at the Lao Disabled Women’s Centre, which provides valuable training and schooling for disabled women in Laos. The friendly women here learn how to make silk & paper handicrafts and how to live independently. Have a chat with the women to find out about their interesting lives. We continue back to town, where a spectacular view of the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day.

Today we travel to Southern Laos. Meet your guide & driver and transfer to the airport for your flight to Pakse.

Flight: QV 305 VTE – PKZ 11.55 – 12.55 – By Nakarath Travel

Upon arrival at Pakse Airport, you will be met by your guide and driver. Transfer in 45 minutes to the historical town of Champasak, from where we cross by boat to Don Daeng Island. Check-in at the idyllically located La Folie resort, and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

After an early breakfast, we cross to the mainland and transfer to the Bolaven Plateau. The Bolaven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. We first visit Tad Fan Waterfall, a picturesque twin chute waterfall, which is with 120 meters the highest of the Bolaven Plateau. We then continue to the village of Ban Beng, where we change vehicle and continue by vintage jeep, which is the ideal vehicle for the terrain we will cover. We take a backroad onto the Bolaven Plateau and make a stop at the Tad Moun waterfall where there is time to relax and go for a swim if you like. We then continue by jeep and journey in 1 ½ hours to the coffee farm of our guide. Witness and learn about the coffee roasting process and explore the plantations while our hosts prepare a delicious home-cooked lunch. After lunch, we continue our adventures by Jeep and journey in 1 hour to Paksong. Here the minivan awaits us for a transfer back to Don Daeng, arriving in the early evening. 

After an early morning breakfast, we cross to the mainland and drive south to Ban Hatsaikhone, where we board a local private boat for a scenic tour of the 4000 Islands. By late morning we reach the picturesque island of Don Khone. In the afternoon, we explore the island by tuk-tuk, following the route of the old abandoned railway and admiring the remnants of French Colonial architecture. Our journey continues to the stunning Liphi Waterfalls, one of Southeast Asia’s most impressive falls. Get up close to the thrilling rapids by crossing five interconnected suspension-bridges, offering a unique and exhilarating offer an exciting view of the cascading falls. We then return by boat to the mainland and drive back to Don Daeng, arriving by early evening.

Wake up early and transfer around 04:30/05:30 to the Wat Phou Temple Complex which is the oldest ancient Khmer religious temple in Laos and even outdates its big brother Angkor Wat in neighboring Cambodia. Early morning, the temple will be deserted.

Wat Phou exhibits a remarkable well-preserved complex of monuments and other structures over an extensive area between river and mountain, some of outstanding architecture. Explore the grounds and temples before climbing up the stairs which lead to the main sanctuary located on a terrace at the foot of the cliff where a sacred spring flows and where you will be rewarded with stunning sunrise views over the surrounding land and Mekong River. Learn from your guide about the rich history and be amazed by the magnificent workmanship in this outstanding complex. We return to Don Daeng in time for breakfast.

Enjoy your free day at leisure.

Depending on your departure flight, you may have free time at leisure, before crossing back to the mainland by boat, then onto Pakse by car to the airport for your departure flight.