Beautiful Laos

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.

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 centre 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.

Today is free for you to spend at leisure in Luang Prabang or choose one of the optional excursionsAlternatively 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 worshipped 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.

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.

Today visit the COPE educational centre, a compelling centre 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.

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.

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.

Explore Pakse town your own way. Arrangements come to an end after breakfast and onward departure transfer to the airport.