TRIP OVERVIEW
Laos Adventure - Travelling from Luang Prabang to the very south of the country, the Laos Timeless – Adventure itinerary is a traditional and all-inclusive 10-day trip that combines major sites with exceptional cultural experiences and outdoor activities. Situated on a peninsula at the meeting point of the Mekong and Nam rivers, Luang Prabang, often known as the City of the Golden Buddha is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. It was the legendary capital of the Lan Xang Kingdom.
See the stunning Kuang Si waterfalls and cruise the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Caves, also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, which have been a significant site of prayer and pilgrimage for ages.
See Vientiane, the sleepy Mekong River city of Laos, and Phonsavan and the Plain of Jars, a vast archeological monument with hundreds of enormous jars scattered over the plateau.
Discover southern Laos for an amazing natural experience in Don Khong and Don Khone in the 4000 Islands region, Plateau Bolaven, the amazing Tad Fane, Li Phi and Khone Papheng waterfalls.
This best itinerary starts in Luang Prabang and ends in Pakse. It can be tailored to your requirements and combined with other Laotian excursions as well as an overland journey to Cambodia.
Group tour: Yes
Dates: As you wish
Starts/Ends: Luang Prabang – Pakse (or overland to Cambodia)
Tour Type: Heritage and Landscape
Tour Tailor-Made: Absolutely Yes!
Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Luang Prabang – city tour
Day 02: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave
Day 03: Kuang Si waterfall and Local villages
Day 04: Luang Prabang – Plain of Jars
Day 05: Xieng Khuang – Flight to Vientiane
Day 06: Vientiane – City tour
Day 07: Vientiane – Flight to Pakse - Wat Phu – Don Khong
Day 08: Don Khone – Four Thousand Islands – Pak Song Plateau
Day 09: Bolaven Plateau Pak Song – Kato Village – Waterfall – Pakse
Day 10: Pakse – Departure
Day 01: Arrival in Luang Prabang – city tour
Arrival at the airport of Luang Prabang, the tour guide and driver will come to pick you up and transfer to the center for the visit of Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of the Lan Xang Kingdom located on the peninsula at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam rivers, UNESCO World Heritage since 1995, whose origins date back to the ancient city Muang Sua built in 698.
Transfer to the city center and begin our walking tour of the most important monuments.
Visit Wat Visoun, built in 1513, Wat Aham, or ‘Monastery of the Blossoming Heart ‘, built at the beginning of the 19th century as a place of meditation and a meeting place between animist and Buddhist cultures, and the Wat Mai, ‘New Monastery ‘, built at the end of the 18th century, one of the most complex and picturesque temples in the city, richly decorated and easily distinguishable by its unique five-level roof.
Late in the afternoon we climb Mount Phousi to visit the sacred golden stupa and admire the beautiful city skyline and a romantic sunset over the Mekong.
A walk to the Night Market on Luang Prabang’s main street in the evening is definitely worthwhile, as you can meet local traders selling handicrafts from the area’s ethnic minorities.
Overnight at Houny Valai hotel 4* in Luang Prabang
o Assistance: private tour guide and driver
o Meals included: lunch + dinner
Day 02: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave
After breakfast we continue to Wat Sene Souk Haram temple, or ‘Temple of 100,000 Treasures, built in 1718 using 100,000 stones extracted from the Mekong River, and Wat Xieng Thong, or ‘Monastery of the Golden City ‘, founded in 1560, one of the most important in Luang Prabang, known for the grace and elegance of its architecture.
Afterwards we head to the pier and embark on a river cruise to Pak Ou Caves, also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves. Located at the confluence of the Mekong and Ou rivers, they are one of the must-see sights on a trip to Laos. The sanctuary consists of two large limestone caves: Tham Ting, the lower cave, which can be reached by climbing the 30-step staircase, and Tham Theung, the upper cave, which can be reached by climbing the 70-step staircase.
The Pak Ou caves have been an important place of worship for many centuries for the faithful, who offer a Buddha image as a gift when they make a pilgrimage there. As a result of this tradition, today both caves house thousands of statues of Buddha of different sizes, from a few centimeters to about 2 meters, in different styles and spiritual positions (mudras), from meditation to ascent to nirvana.
During the cruise we admire the typical Laotian rural landscape and the local lifestyle.
We stop for a short visit to the villages Ban Xang Hai, known for the production of “Lao Lao”, the famous rice whiskey, Ban Xang Kong and Ban Xieng Lek, known for the ancient textile tradition and the production of paper from mulberry bark.
Overnight at Houny Valai hotel 4* in Luang Prabang
o Assistance: private tour guide and driver
o Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 03: Kuang Si waterfall and Local villages
At 5:30am we witness the Tak Bak ceremony, the monks’ quest, an ancient Asian Buddhist religious tradition practiced with constancy only in Luang Prabang. Every morning, for the past 2,500 years, hundreds of monks walk barefoot from their temples to the center of the city. Forming a long line, they slowly walk through the streets to collect alms, especially ‘sticky rice’, donated by the faithful, who wait silently on the pavements, in exchange for prayers and blessings.
Once finished, we return to the hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast we head to the National Museum: formerly the Royal Palace, it now houses an important collection of valuables including statues of Buddha and many other objects donated by visiting dignitaries to the court of Luang Prabang.
We continue along the quiet streets lined with buildings from the French colonial period to admire their architecture and learn about their original function.
Next, we visit Phousi market and the ethnic villages Ban Ouay (H’mong tribe), **Ban Ou (**Laoloum tribe), and others inhabited by the Khmu ethnic group.
We then hike to top of the beautiful Kuang Si waterfalls with some stops to take a picture.
A natural basin upstream and a steep slope create this natural wonder, which is spread over 3 levels, with the upper level having a 60-metre drop. Several natural pools are formed in the valley, offering a compelling opportunity for a refreshing dip in the turquoise waters.
We end the day with a beautiful sunset from the top of the Wat Phabath temple overlooking the Mekong River.
Overnight at Houny Valai hotel 4* in Luang Prabang
o Assistance: private tour guide and driver
o Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 04: Luang Prabang – Plain of Jars
After breakfast we travel to Xieng Khoang, the province heavily affected by the American bombardment during the Second Indochina War (Vietnam War). The path is very enchanting and reflects the authenticity of Lao landscapes. It is unusual to come across other tourists in this area as it is still off the beaten track. The transfer is slightly long and includes a few stops to admire and take pictures of the scenery. We reach the Plain of Jars, the large archaeological site with hundreds of large jars scattered over the plateau.
Archaeologists claim that the jars are around 2,000 years old, although no concrete explanation has yet been found as to what they were used for, whether they were burial urns or were merely used to store the popular rice wine.
Overnight at Vansana hotel 3* in Phonsavan
o Assistance: private tour guide and driver
o Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 05: Xieng Khuang – Flight to Vientiane
After breakfast visit Plan of Jar site 1 and Plans of Jar site 2 before transfer to airport. Flight with Lao Airlines Qv 402B departure time 14:45 pm – arrival 15:20 pm at Vientiane, the quiet capital of Laos on the banks of the Mekong River.
In the afternoon we continue the visits on foot to the temples Wat Ong Tue, Wat Inpeng and Wat Haisok.
Afterwards we get back to the city in time for the spectacular sunset over the Mekong River.
Overnight at Sure Stay hotel 4* in Vientiane
o Assistance: private tour guide and driver
o Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 06: Vientiane – City tour
After breakfast we visit the most significant landmarks such as Wat Si Saket, known for its thousand’s images of Buddha that, according to local belief, protected the temple during the Siamese invasion of 1828.
We continue to Wat Ho Prakeo, built in 1865 to house the famous Emerald Buddha, and to That Luang Stupa, considered the most important monument in Laos. The latter, according to local belief, houses a relic of the Buddha brought over in the 3rd century BC.
We conclude our visits to Vientiane at the Patuxai, or ‘Laotian Gate of Triumph ‘the monument dedicated to the fallen of all wars.
During the afternoon we visit Wat Xieng Khouan, also known as ‘Buddha Park ‘. In 1958 the Buddhist-Hinduist cleric Boun Léua created numerous sculptures inspired by the Buddhist and Hindu religions, with the aim of ‘uniting’ the two beliefs through a work of art.
The 40-metre-long statue of the reclining Buddha and the large hollow sculpture in the shape of a head, which provides access to an upper level with a beautiful view of the park, symbolizing the passage from hell to heaven, are particularly noteworthy.
Overnight at Sure Stay hotel 4* in Vientiane
o Assistance: private tour guide and driver
o Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 07: Vientiane – Flight to Pakse - Wat Phu –Don Khong
After breakfast transfer to the airport for the domestic flight to Pakse, the former capital of the Champasak Kingdom, today the provincial capital as well as the second largest and most populous city in Laos.
On arrival transfer to Champassak to visit the ruins of Wat Phu Temple, at the base of Mount Phu Kao. The temple was built as early as the 5th century, during the pre-Angkor Ian period, however, most of the ruins visible today date back to the 11th and 13th centuries, during the Angkor Ian period.
Compared to other temples of the same period, the structure is developed according to a unique architecture, evolving towards the top of the mountain and ending with a sanctuary dedicated to the deity Shiva. Wat Phu Temple has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.
In the afternoon we carry on south to Si Phan Don, the area better known as the 4000 Islands which corresponds with the widest point of the Mekong River bed, with a maximum of 12 km during the rainy season.
This site is called 4000 islands because thousands of islands of different sizes surface during the season (November to May) as the water level of the Mekong decreases.
Upon arrival we head to Don Khong Island. Plenty of free time to explore the surroundings at your pace.
Overnight at Seng Ahloum Resort in Don Khone.
o Assistance: private tour guide and driver
o Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 08: Don Khone – Four Thousand Islands – Pak Song Plateau
After breakfast we travel to Ban Khone village on Don Khone Island.
Several references and artefacts from the French Indochina period are visible in the area, such as some dwellings and an original locomotive from that period on a section of the old railway built for commercial purposes with the though never achieved, of reaching China by bypassing the rapids of the Mekong River.
Next, we travel to Li Phi Falls, also known as Samphamith Falls, which mark the natural border between Laos and Cambodia.
In the afternoon we continue by boat to Ban Nakasang jetty and drive south to the Khone Phapeng waterfalls, the largest in Southeast Asia.
After that’s drive back to Paske 150 km it is take about 2:30 minutes.
Overnight at Sabaidee Valley Resort in Pak Song
o Assistance: private tour guide and driver
o Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 09: Bolaven Plateau Pak Song – Kato Village – Waterfall- Pakse
After you breakfast in the resort for start or tour at 09:00 am, Visi Tad Yueang waterfall this is a 30 m high, truly picturesque waterfall surrounded by beautiful nature, the waterfall is amazing to see the real life. It’s so much bigger than it looks in photos.
In raining season, it was extremely powerful with a lot of back spray. It was unable to walk all the way along the hiking path as we would’ve gotten soaked but it was still an incredible experience. There is a tail, step to take you down to the falls with Lookout points, it can be a little steep the melodious sound of the waterfall make you will stay for a couple hours, just relaxing and enjoying its beauty.
Then continues our diver with air-conditioned & music if you like it on the way we will stop to visit Kato village where our can learn about Kato tribe culture with local family life.
After that we will take a 20 minutes’ drive to Tad Lo waterfall where you have lunch about 12:00 O’clock. With time to cool in the crystal-clear, cool waters of Tad Lo waterfall on a hot day, enjoy a swim in the beautiful, nature environment. Take time cool off the crystal-clear waters of Tad Lo waterfall then you will return to Pakse fix you’re formatting so it reads together Pakse by minivan arriving at about 15:30 pm. We will arrive in city about 17:30 pm.
Cheak-in hotel and rest of day.
Overnight at Champasack Grand hotel in Pakse
o Assistance: private tour guide and driver
o Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 10: Pakse – Departure
You are free time until transfer to Pakse airport in time for your departure flight.
This itinerary can be extended into Cambodia by crossing the Don Kralor land border.
o Assistance: private tour guide and driver
o Meals included: breakfast in hotel
END OF TRIP
Tour includes:
• Tours & transfers in private air-conditioned vehicles
• 2 mineral water/ day/ pax
• All accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotel
• 02 domestic flight tickets: Phonsavan – Vientiane & Vientiane – Pakse
• Private English-speaking guide
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary with local foods (B= breakfast; L=Lunch; D = Dinner)
• Boat cruise as stated
• Entrance fees and permits for all sights visited
• Mineral Water and towel
• Government taxes & Service charges
Tour excludes:
• International airfare & airport tax
• Visa in Laos (available at the airport at 30 USD)
• Personal travel insurance
• Personal expenses such as Telephone and Laundry bills.
• Tips and gratuities