Best of Laos Tour
Ancient Wats to rolling hills and waterfalls
Ancient Wats to rolling hills and waterfalls
Laos, officially known as Laos People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR), is
assured to give you a unique experience unlike any other Asian country
can. Although small in size, Laos has endless offerings from adventurous activities such as kayaking, cycling, zip
lining, trekking to more composed sessions visiting temple and going on
spiritual pilgrimages.
Travellers come to Laos to experience the rolling mountains, remote villages, tribal crafts and the magic of the Mekong. Laos is a land of Buddhist traditions, where saffron-robed young monks wak the halls of the the wats (temples) and no one is in a hurry. It is a land of golden temples, majestic mountains and magnificent scenery.
Laos is a country untouched by the modern demands of the Western
world. There is a calmer more peaceful way of life. The beauty of the
country lies in the Lao people, century-old traditions and heritage, and
in its lush, pristine landscape.
As one of the least-populated countries in Asia,
Laos enchants visitors with its incredible serenity and quiet peaceful spiritual atmosphere. It
is filled with centuries-old temples in Luang Prabang and
endless river caves, with a mix of colonial charm yet unique
culture.
Day-1. Vientiane
Day-2: Vientiane - Udomxay - Muang La (B)
Day-3: Muang La -Exploration (B-L)
Day-4: Muang La - Luang Prabang (B)
Day-5: Luang Prabang - full day city tour (B)
Day-6: Luang Prabang - Kuang Si Waterfall and Pak Ou Caves (B)
Day-7: Luang Prabang -Departure (B)
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BEST OF LAOS ITINERARY
Day-1: Vientiane
On arrival in Vientiane, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation.
Your half day city tour, begins with the oldest wat 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. We then travel up Lanexang Avenue where 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 down Rue Singha 23 to Laos' National icon, and most important religious building, the golden stupa of That Luang. The final visit of the day 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 ordinance as a result of heavy bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War area. We then return to your hotel.
Day-2: Vientiane - Udomxay - Muang La (B)
Following the morning at leisure, you will be driven to the airport for your flight up to Udomxay. Here we have the chance to see the intriguing Pra Xack Kham Temple with its sacred Buddha image. The 400 years old legendary statue is said to have many supernatural powers, and is widely worshipped among the faithful local Buddhists. We stop in Muang La, famous for its natural hot springs for the night. No activities are planned for the rest of the day so you can stroll around the village or just relax at the riverside retreat enjoying a massage or some time in the hot springs.
Overnight in Muang La resort
Day-3: Muang La -Exploration (B-L)
Today we explore the local area and undertake an easy trek around the beautiful surrounding countryside visiting the numerous ethnic hill tribes that reside around the area. The evening can be spent back at the resort relaxing in the natural hot springs, taking a traditional massage and enjoying the excellent local Lao cuisine in the restaurant.
Day-4: Muang La - Luang Prabang (B)
Todays drive south takes us through some of the most stunning mountain scenery you will find in South East Asia, with plenty of opportunities to stop off at the various Khmu and H' mong villages along the way. We shall reach Luang Prabang by mid afternoon, where you have the rest of the day to relax and take in the enchanting city. You may wish to spend the evening exploring the local night market.
Day-5: Luang Prabang - full day city tour (B)
Your full day city tour begins after breakfast, with a stop to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city' s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Today, we see the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham.
Following lunch, we go to the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos' s many ethnic cultures before we drive out of town to see the weaving villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek. We then return to the city to Wat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. The tour ends after at the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Note: the Royal Palace Museum is closed on Tuesdays
Day-6: Luang Prabang - Kuang Si Waterfall and Pak Ou Caves (B)
First we visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will see local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. This then takes us to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang. This afternoon, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we disembark the boat to see traditional villages, and continue taking a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village famous for its hand weaving.
Day-7: Luang Prabang -Departure (B)
Depending on your flight, you may have time at leisure before your departing flight.
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