PRIVATE TOUR: Take in the very best of Laos on this private 8 day tour. Travelling from enchanting Luang Prabang and the picturesque Khouang Si waterfall in the north, to Pakse and the beautiful 4000 Islands in the south. Taking in the charming laid-back capital of Vientiane en route.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Luang Prabang
Welcome to Laos. Upon arrival at Luang Prabang airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Luang Prabang
City tour & Khouang Si waterfall
This morning take in the highlights of enchanting Luang Prabang on a city tour. Visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the former Royal Palace which is now a National Museum and the sobering UXO Centre, where you will learn about Laos’ Hidden War. In the afternoon travel to the beautiful Khouang Si waterfall, where you can swim in the turquoise pools, and visit the Sun Bear Reserve, a conservation center that rescues animals from the wildlife trade. This evening explore the Luang Prabang Night Market before dinner at a local home, accompanied by a traditional Baci ceremony.
Overnight: Luang Prabang | Breakfast, Dinner
Free day in Luang Prabang
Today is free for you to spend at leisure in Luang Prabang or choose one of the optional excursions
Alternatively there is an optional excursion to the Pak Ou Caves on a Mekong boat trip. Within the caves are thousands of tiny gilded statues of Buddha that were left by pilgrims and worshiped for centuries. Then stop at the village of Ban Xangkhong, known for its hand woven silk and traditional Saa Paper making. Alternatively, visit a local farm n Luang Prabang, to learn about the production of rice, using water buffalo for and other traditional processes.
Overnight: Luang Prabang | Breakfast
Monks' life encounter
Set off after breakfast for a visit of the Morning Market where, together with the guide and local host lady, you pick all ingredients needed for your upcoming cooking class. Then drive to a small village on the outskirts of Luang Prabang to enjoy a unique cooking class. Learn how typical Laos dishes such as Laap Laos, Orlam soup and papaya salad are cooked. The food is then brought to a local temple to offer for the monks’ lunch, and as part of this ritual, your name will be asked for a blessing chant. Later, join an open talk about Buddhism in Laos with the monks before returning to Luang Prabang for a light lunch, sampling the food you have cooked.
Early this evening board the train in Luang Prabang for a 2-hour rail journey to Vientiane. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight: Vientiane | Breakfast, Lunch
Vientiane city tour
Today visit the COPE educational center, a compelling center that teaches us about Laos’ Hidden War and the aid that is being given to help civilian victims of conflict. Afterwards we continue on to the unique Buddha Park or Xiang Khouan as it’s known locally, the park is filled with hundreds of Buddhist and Hindu statues creating a peaceful atmosphere.
Later, take a tour of Vientiane visiting Wat Sisaket, one of the oldest temples and home to thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and also visiting the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo. En route to Lao’s national icon, That Luang Stupa, we pass the Patuxay Monument, known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe.
Overnight: Vientiane | Breakfast
Pakse and Khong Island
Luang Prabang - Pakse - Don Khong Island. Today fly to Pakse, the laid back provincial capital of Champasack and drive to the ancient temple of Wat Phou, one of the oldest archaeological sites in Laos. Then enjoy the beautiful lush scenery as you take a small boat across the Mekong to Khong Island. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure exploring this sedate and picturesque island and its villages on foot or by bike.
Overnight: Don Khong Island | Breakfast
4000 Islands Boat Trip
Don Khong Island - Pakse. Set sail this morning on a scenic 4000 Islands boat trip, exploring Khone Island and its highlights. Visit the old French heritage sites on Khone and see colonial buildings and the remnants of a locomotive from the first Lao railway. Visit Liphi Waterfalls – aka "Devil's Corridor", which is one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking the Lao border with Cambodia. Then continue to visit Khone Phasoi Waterfall and witness
the daring fishermen with their fishing traps on Mekong River, with its many rapids. After the boat ride visit the famous waterfalls of Khone Phapeng, the largest waterfalls in South East Asia, also known as the Niagara of the east. After the boat trip return to Pakse.
Overnight: Pakse | Breakfast
Pakse
Explore Pakse town your own way. Arrangements come to an end after breakfast and onward departure transfer to the airport.
Breakfast
Prices & Dates
Prices shown are per person when there are 2 persons sharing a room. The 'Single Room' price is applicable when a single room is required, based on a travelling party of at least 2 adults.
Read MoreHotels
The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
Santi Resort and Spa, Luang Prabang
Set just outside the main town of Luang Prabang, the Santi Resort and Spa is a modern property set in manicured gardens. Guest rooms are set on two levels and are spacious with excellent amenities. Meals are served in the main restaurant and the outdoor pool is perfect for a cooling afternoon dip. If you need to get into town then take advantage of the free shuttle service that runs nearly every hour. Located on the outskirts of Luang Prabang.
Lao Poet Hotel, Vientiane
The stylish Lao Poet hotel provides a relaxing retreat in the heart of Vientiane. The beautifully appointed guest rooms feature polished concrete floors and warmly coloured walls. En suite bathrooms are equipped with a spacious rainfall shower and complimentary bottled water is provided each day. Up on the rooftop guests can enjoy a Signature Cocktail whilst the sun is setting and a swim in the hotel's infinity pool. The restaurant serves famous Lao dishes and tasty Western fare, while the Poet Spa offers wide selection of beauty and health treatments. Conveniently located within walking distance of the National Museum, major temples, the Patuxay Monument and the Mekong River, this popular hotel is also surrounded by a variety of restaurants, bustling street food stands and the popular Vientiane night market.
Pakse Hotel, Pakse
Originally a cinema and casino in the 1960s, this characterful hotel has been recently renovated to combine traditional Lao culture with the French Indochina spirit. The cozy rooms feature free WiFi internet access and rosewood furniture with tasteful decorations. The rooftop restaurant offers superb panoramic views of the city as well as traditional Lao, Thai and French cuisine. The hotel enjoys a perfect location in the centre of Pakse, within walking distance from the Mekong River, the bus station and local shops and banks. The international airport is 3km away.
At a Glance
