Best of Laos Tour

Best of Laos Tour: An extensive eight-day tour to Laos enjoying all the flora and fauna along the way with attractive architecture to savior too. Visitors can enjoy local culture and breathtaking landscapes as you travel throughout Laos. To the north, Luang Prabang, the beautiful capital of the north, and the gleaming temples through the province are stunning.
Heading towards the south, travellers can savior the charming glimpse of Vientiane, the laid-back capital where mixes of the French colonial architecture with Buddhist temples. After, you will explore the trans-boundary Mekong River, the 12th longest river in the world and then the southern towns of Pakse and Champasak. The tour ends at the Si Phan Don, the riverine archipelago, characterized by numerous islands.

Best of Laos Tour: Day 1 – Luang Prabang – Arrival (L)
Welcome to Luang Prabang. A private car with a guide will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. After checking-in, admire the spiritual capital of Laos. The rest of the day is at your leisure or you might walk through the town.
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Best of Laos Tour: Day 2 – Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves (B,L)
After breakfast, your guide will escort you to Wat Xieng Thong which is a Buddhist temple, located on the northern tip of the of Luang Prabang peninsula. King Setthathirat built the temple in the year of 1560 and in 1828; a library was added to it.

Next is board a private long tail boat for a cruise up the Mekong River and towards the famous Pak Ou Caves. The caves are filled with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues from the small to large ones. Small statues are measured in a few centimeters and the large ones are almost similar to a human figure which are displayed throughout the caves which are considered a pilgrimage to the local people.

On the boat journey, you will get ample of opportunities to admire the waterways that are the basic way of local transportation. The waterways have connected many parts of the country and this has become the prime way of living life through the rivers. On the exclusive journey on a cruise, you will observe the life and activities of the fishermen, how they fish with their nets using specific gesture of the arms and body movement. The river plays an elegant role to the life of the fishermen settled along the river banks of Mekong.
Now, is the time to return to Luang Prabang. However, you can stop at Ban Xang Hay on the way back it will be a worthwhile stop wandering this village as it’s a specialist in preparing wine from rice. In Luang Prabang, you will enjoy the flavor of local restaurants in the town, Tamarind (Note: Sunday Closed).

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a city tour with your guides who will inform you about the enchanting town of Luang Prabang, one of the World Heritage Sites. The former Royal Place is now the National Museum. Next will be the Wat Mai temple, where the golden bas-relief is present. During the Lao New Year, the Prabang adjacent Royal Palace Museum is open for public display. Now, you have a chance to admire the golden façade of Wat Sensoukarahm, built in 1718.

Proceed to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre- a museum dedicated to showing the affluent diversity of Laos’ ethnic minorities. The traditional tools centuries old, artifacts, etc. are on the display alongside the museum and the history of every item is noted. It is a great opportunity to feel and discover what Lao people are!
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Best of Laos Tour: Day 3 – Luang Prabang – Alms Giving & Kuang Si Waterfalls (B,L)
Special dawn is the boon for the early risers. It is an amazing sight to watch the monks collecting alms. A long line of monks wearing orange robes leave the pagodas as soon as the sun rises. It is a beautiful sight to observe the monks walking barefoot and collecting offerings from the local residents. This is really a scene not to be missed and a highlight of the day. Return to the hotel for breakfast.

After completing breakfast, you will visit the holiest temple of the city, Wat Visoun. This temple was rebuilt after collapsing in 1887 by the attack of invading Black Flags from Southern China. In the courtyard of the temple, you will see Watermelon Stupa. Next proceed to Wat Aham, and afterward, Wat That. Here the ashes of King Sisavang Vong are entombed inside the central Stupa.

Our next destination is the Kuang Si Waterfalls (32 km southwest of the city). On the way, you will observe the stunning landscapes of paddy fields, hills, and small villages. You will see the rippling waterfalls after reaching Kuang Si Waterfall, refresh your mood and enjoy the cool surrounds of nature. This is the perfect location for walking if you become more adventurous, you can walk to the top of the falls trekking through the steep track and enjoy the stunning views waiting for you! Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch next to the cascade.

The waterfall ripples down on multilayered limestone formations creating a series of turquoise blue pools. This has become a perfect swimming destination on a hot day. (Note: when bathing please be respectful, wear a sarong and be careful not to show too much skin). You have an exciting visit to the bear sanctuary which is beside the falls, which is run by Free The Bears Fund Inc. Here, you will see about 23 Asiatic Black Bears saved from hunting. You can learn about their habits and playful nature.

On the way back to Luang Prabang you have the option to visit a small village where some ethnic minorities are living. You can observe their traditions, cultures, and their way of living unchanged for centuries. After returning to Luang Prabang you have the option to visit Mount Phousi. Enjoy a panoramic view of the town, and surrounding landscapes and the setting sun. In the evening, you can also visit the Hill tribe Market, where you will get an abundance of textiles, handicrafts and much more.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Best of Laos Tour: Day 4 – Luang Prabang – Vientiane – Buddha Park (B)
Today, take the flight to the capital, and your guide will arrange a transfer you to the airport on time.
After a warm welcome in the Vientiane Airport, you will be taken on a morning tour starting from Buddha Park. The drive will take about 45 minutes. On the way, you will cross Friendship Bridge that is really an inspiration for capturing photos. The bridge, linking Laos and Thailand, was made by the Australian government in 1994.

Enjoy wandering Buddha Park here feel amazement at more than 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues decorating the grandeur of the park. This park is known as Xieng Khuan. The quiet and serene setting of the Mekong River marks the contrast of the environment of the park and its sculptors built by a Laos Spiritualist in 1958. The statues are majestically set in the peaceful park, and they are strange yet at the same time stunning.

After completing the visit at Buddha Park, you return to Vientiane. On the way, feel the excellence of textiles by Lao people at Mai Savanh. Here, you will get exclusive quality silk products. Several families of the locality have taken this as their profession producing silk products to maintain their families.
Note: Mai Savanh is closed on Saturday & Sunday.

Another stop along the way is at the Lao Disabled Women Development Center. The intention of the center is to make the physically challenged women self-dependent. The visit to the center will give you an opportunity to watch the skills of the women, and if you would like to interact, you can chat and engage them. You will see their handmade papers and handicrafts. (Note: Subject to change without prior notice from the suppliers).

Arriving back to the city around lunch time. Check-in and enjoy your lunch. Rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the capital, “the city of sandalwood”. You can enjoy the cool breeze along the banks of the Mekong River. You can enjoy cold drinks and some snacks from the local food stalls. This area is an exercising ground to the local people which is a great place to relax and watch the locals do their “thing”.

Overnight at the hotel in Vientiane

Best of Laos Tour: Day 5 – Vientiane – Full Day City Tour (B,L)
Today, reveals the hidden charms of Vientiane. This is the quietest capital in the entire world, and the traditional hue and cry of any Asian capital are quite absent.
With your guide start heading towards the serene Wat Sisaket at about 09:00 hrs. Wat Sisaket is the only temple that remained intact after the Thai invasion in 1828. Thousands of small Buddha Statues decorate the temple with spiritual beauty.

Proceed to the nearby Wat Phra Keo religious temple, containing collections of both the Khmer and Lao works of art. You can also view Presidential Palace from outside as you are now allowed to enter inside it. This is the beautiful glimpse of the city’s colonial past because this was used as the French Governor’s Palace. Wat Simuang is considered as the most popular serene temple of Vientiane, the guardian of the spirit of the city. There is a popular belief if you round the temple three times; your all wish will be fulfilled.

That Dam is a morning market, and it is also called Black Stupa. The structure was once covered with gold; however this was stolen during the Thai invasion in 1828. A plethora of tailor shops has covered the nearby Pangkham Street. You can also visit Nam Phou Fountain here with its boundless beauty.

The next visit is to the French international after the completion of a fine lunch at Makphet Restaurant. This is a charity run restaurant to bring the street children of the locality into the hospitality industry. However, you will get the service of professional chefs from around the world to make the quality of food excellent. The staff provide a fine service to provide fantastic Lao Hospitality.

You have an option of visiting COPE, the association for helping mine victims. You will also receive detailed information about the history of Vietnam War, and you will be amazemed by watching the unexploded ordinances (UXO) in the area. Your tour heads along the That Luang which was constructed by the king Setthethirat in the 16th century. The Temple is the place of Naturalistic beauty. The temple domain was covered by gold, and today you can enjoy Vientiane’s Arc de Triomphe and climb the stairs to the roof. Here is the end of the day watching panoramic views of the city.

Overnight in Vientiane

Best of Laos Tour: Day 6 – Vientiane – Pakse Wat Phou – Champasak (B,L)
Your guide will take you to the airport for the flight to Pakse. As soon as you reach Pakse, you will be transferred to the hotel or restaurant by your reliable representative and enjoy a fine lunch there.

Pakse is the most important town on the confluent of the Sedone and Mekong River. Here you will enjoy the grand celebration during the Tet or Vietnamese New Year, and in honor of the celebration, most of the shops remain closed.

After lunch, you will start for Wat Phou an hour journey. Wat Phou is selected by UNESCO as World Heritage Site and you will get a spectacular view of the pre-Angkorian temple. The temple was built in three levels, the bottom level is concentrated on the baray or water reservoir, and saunter; the second feature is tetragon pavilions and the galleries of carvings, and the topmost level is a sanctuary. The rulers of Khmer empire established the temple before the construction of Angkor Wat. This has become the most important political and economical center, and this the most honorable place to the Lao people. You will then be transferred to your hotel, and check in before enjoying the glorious sunset on the Mekong River.

Overnight at the hotel in Champasak

Best of Laos Tour: Day 7 – Champasak – 4000 Islands (B,L)
Leave at 08:00 for a full day excursion to Si Phan Don. This is the most beautiful region of Mekong River, the 12th longest in the world and 7th longest river in Asia with thousands of islands on its waterway. At first, travel around 2 hours to the village, Ban Nakasan. From here, start for the peaceful island of Done Khone, where the inhabitants live a simple life.

Then start a trip with a boat and you have a chance to find out the atypical Irrawaddy Dolphin. (However this sight is not guaranteed). Visit the reputed Lippi falls, which is west to the Don Khone, adjacent to the Cambodian border. This is also known as Tad Somphamit, meaning “trap spirit’ and believed that the falls can trap the bad spirits.

These islands proved to be vital during the French Colonial reign, as they connected Laos to Cambodia with southern Vietnam. To cross the waterfalls, bridges are built, and thus it has become the most important place to enjoy refreshing beauty.

Proceed on your excursion with an easy and slow pace of life. Enjoy communicating with the local people, barter with them, and observe the stunning beauty of nature to your heart’s content. You will enjoy an extensive lunch at a local restaurant. Return to the mainland by a boat and then head back to your hotel by car in the late afternoon or during sunset.

Overnight in Champasak

Best of Laos Tour: Day 8 – Champasak – Pakse Departure (B)
After breakfast, transfer back to Pakse for your onward travel arrangements.