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Day 1: Luang Prabang Arrival (D)
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Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. We then proceed on a walking orientation tour of this lovely town. A climb up to the top of Phousi Hill offers a spectacular panorama of the region and photo opportunities for the sunset. Dinner is served at a local restaurant - your first opportunity to sample some authentic Laos cuisine and excellent Beer Laos. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
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Day 2: Luang Prabang (B, L)
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As an option for travelers who expect to catch extraordinary scenery of alm-givings in the early morning (around 5.30am). It is a very special dawn visit to witness the long lines of orange-robed monks leaving their pagodas to receive offerings of food from Luang Prabang residents. If wishing to join in, you can ask your guide for instruction. Return to hotel for breakfast.
At 08.30 am, we then embark on a short-guided walking tour including Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Mai, National Museum or Former Royal Palace. After that, we take 30 -minute drive towards Kwang Si Waterfall to Ban Nong Heo, a Khamu village where you will start the trek. Hike through village community forests and fields for 1.5 hours to Ban Long Lao, a Hmong village. We have some rest and enjoy a family style Lao lunch prepared by the villagers, and learn about traditional Hmong textile production. Continue on through thick forests climbing to the top of a mountain from where you will have excellent views of the area. Descend from the hills to a natural spring perfect for a brief rest and afternoon swim. Finally arrive at the famous Kwang Si waterfall, Luang Prabang's most beautiful natural site. Return to Luang Prabang by car in the late afternoon.
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Day 3: Luang Prabang (B, L)
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Morning transfer to the dock and board our private boat for a journey up to the Mekong River toward the Pac Ou Caves. The caves are crammed with the images of Buddha. Along the way we will have a picnic lunch before returning to Luang Prabang via rivercraft. Stop at villages en route. Our waiting vehicle will take us back to hotel. Evening at leisure, so you get to decide how to spend the remainder of your day. stroll around, watch the world go by from one of the many cafes and restaurants in the centre or take part in the brilliant Night Market, one of the most attractive places. Here you can choose colorful souvenirs which are made locally.
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Day 4: Luang Prabang – Vientiane (B)
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More time for you touring around morning markets or explore other wats on your own. In the afternoon get a pick -up and transfer to airport for flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival, you can enjoy hotel’s facilities or stroll around the town.
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Day 5: Vientiane (B)
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After breakfast, enjoy city tours with your local guide, visit Wat Sisaketh, Hor Pra Keo, Wat Simeuang, Patuxay Monment and Wat Tha Luang. Spend some more time shopping at the Morning Market. Later afternoon, fly out.
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Day 6: Vientiane – fly to Pakse – Champasak – Khong island (B, L)
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Early morning we fly to Pakse. Upon arrival we drive and travel on a wonderful local ferry over the Mekong River to Champasak. Here we visit the sacred Khmer temple of Wat Phu. This complex represents the most eastern border of the Khmer Empire in the 4th centurary. Later in the afternoon we take a scenic drive and boatride to Don Khong. This island is one of the larger permanently inhabited islands in the ‘si pan don’ area. Don Khong is best explored by bicycle. A reasonsable dirt road circumvents the island.
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Day 7: Khon Phapheng en Liphi falls (B, L)
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By boat we’ll explore the 4000 islands area (si pan don). Here, the Mekong River is at its widest. During the rainy season it is up to 12 km across. When the waters recede, many small islands emerge. It is from this phenomenon that the region takes its name. From far distance you can hear the unmistakeable roar of the Khone Phapheng and Li Phi falls, which we will visit today. Nearby the falls live some hundred Irrawaddy freshwater dolphins. Ban Hang Khon is one of the rare places on earth to spot these endagered mammals. Also see the old locomotive, railway and colonial bridge built by the French to avoid navigating on the rapids and waterfalls that abound on this section of the Mekong. Overnight at Khong Island.
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Day 8: Khong Island – Pakse (B, L, D)
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By boat and bus we leave early morning to Pakse. Our activities today include an elephant ride and visits to villages on the Phou Asa. Overnight in Pakse.
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Day 9: Pakse – Departure to Thailand or Cambodia (B)
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After breakfast, drive back to Lao/Thai border at Chong Mek. From the Thai city Ubon we fly back to Bangkok. Or we flight from Pakse to Siem Reap.
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