LAOS AT A GLANCE

DAY  1 : ARRIVAL – LUANG PRABANG

Upon arrival at the charming UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, you will be met by a guide at the airport and transferred to your overnight accommodation.

If time permits, we will then take a ‘snapshot’ tour of this small but perfect destination by tuk-tuk, rounding out the day with a gentle climb up Mount Phousi to enjoy the unparalleled views. Dinner is at your overnight accommodation.

An optional activity offers the chance to forge unforgettable memories at a traditional baci ceremony. This calling of the spirits ritual is unique to Laos and has been practiced for centuries. It involves tying white cotton strings around the wrist while prayers are chanted by a shaman. The ceremony can be held on any day of the week that is deemed auspicious on the lunar calendar.  

OPTION 1 : Baci Ceremony with Traditional Music and Dance Show at local house

An optional activity offers the chance to forge unforgettable memories at a traditional baci ceremony. This calling of the spirits ritual is unique to Laos and has been practiced for centuries. It involves tying white cotton strings around the wrist while prayers are chanted by a shaman. The ceremony can be held on any day of the week that is deemed good in the lunar calendar. This unique experience includes a delicious dinner at a local house. 

Dinner is at on own account.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

DAY  2 : LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU CAVES – LUANG PRABANG (B / L / -)

After breakfast, we head to the pier to board a traditional boat and cruise upstream along the Mekong River to visit some sacred Buddhist caves. We make a short stop at the picturesque village to get a glimpse into local life before continuing to Tham Ting and Tham Phoum caves, which house hundreds of Buddha statues. We then re-board the boat for our return journey to Luang Prabang.

We enjoy lunch on-board before stopping at Ban Xang Khong, a village famous for its handmade paper products. We then head into the old city to take a leisurely stroll before exploring a Hmong market to snap up souvenirs. Dinner is at a local restaurant. 

OPTION 2 : Garavek Story Telling

An optional activity is a trip to Garavek. This traditional storytelling project sees local folktales, legends and myths brought to life on the stage using traditional music, dance and theatre.

Dinner is at on own account.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

DAY 3 : WATCH TAK BAT – CITY  TOUR – KUANG SI ATERFALLS (B / L / -)

Start the day with a dose of culture and watch monks carry out the early-morning ritual of tak bat. This forms a daily part of Laotians’ everyday lives and sees monks collect offerings in return for blessings. We then visit a fresh fruit market before returning to the hotel for breakfast. We continue our exploration at the Royal Palace Museum and former royal palace before continuing to Wat Xieng Thong. This is Luang Prabang’s oldest temple and it dates back to the 16th century. We then head to Wat Mai to admire its exquisitely-carved veranda.

Lunch is at a local restaurant before we drive to stunning Kuangsi Waterfalls (32 km). We take a short walk to the tiered falls which cascade into clear limestone pools. Take a refreshing dip in one of the nearby pools before we visit the Asian Bear Sanctuary. We then have dinner (to our own arrangement) in one of Luang Prabang’s diverse collection of restaurants and cafes. 

Dinner is at on own account.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

DAY 4 : LUANG PRABANG – PAKSE – CHAMPASAK – DON DAENG (B / L / D)

In the morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Pakse. Upon arrival, we head to a local restaurant for lunch before embarking on a traditional boat for an idyllic two-hour cruise to the small town of Champasack. From here, we continue by car to visit the mysterious UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wat Phou. This ruinous Khmer pre-Angkorian temple sits at the foot of Phou Kao Mountain and is home to a collection of intricate structures that date back to between the 5th and 15th centuries. There is also an on-site museum that contains various statues of Buddha and Hindu gods.

We then drive to our overnight accommodation for check-in and – if time permits – explore the surroundings on foot or bicycle, or simply relax by the pool, or on your terrace to soak up the view that takes in the Mekong and a dramatic mountainous backdrop. Dinner is at the hotel.      
Dinner and overnight on Don Daeng

DAY 5 : DON DAENG - KHON AND DET ISLANDS – KHONG ISLAND (B / L / D)

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive through verdant scenery to the islands of Don Khone and Don Det, two of the largest islands that make up the intriguing ‘4,000 Islands’ archipelago. We cross a bridge that links the two small islands and sink into laidback riverside life.

We visit the old French railway bridge and locomotive that date back to colonial times and then take a walk, or tuk-tuk ride to visit the impressive Liphi Waterfalls. We pass through sprawling rural scenes that dominate the small islands.

At the end of the day, we return to the hotel with the rest of the afternoon free to relax and refresh ahead of a feast of Laotian food. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

Dinner is at our accommodation. 

Dinner and overnight on Don Khong

DAY 6 : KHONG ISLAND – PAKSE (B / L / -)

After breakfast at the hotel, we hit the road to the pier and board a small boat to cross the Mekong River and continue by road to the mighty Khonphapeng Waterfalls – also known as Khone Falls – which sit at the southern tip of Laos.

This series of cascading waterfalls in the Mekong is one of Laos’ most beautiful natural attractions. The impressive falls are some of the largest in South-East Asia and are most impressive during the dry season. At their highest point, they gush from 21 metres, with a viewpoint conveniently resting above them. We spend the day exploring this natural wonder before returning to Pakse with the rest of the day at leisure to relax and refresh.

Lunch is at a local restaurant. Dinner is at the hotel. 

Dinner and overnight in Pakse

DAY 7 : PAKSE (B / - / -)

Today brings this immersive seven-day exploration of Laos to an end. After enjoying a hearty breakfast, you have some time until your onward journey to relax at the hotel, or squeeze in some last-minute sightseeing. We then drive to the airport while warmly recalling the adventures packed into this time in Laos.

We’ve cruised along the country’s most famed rivers, explored sacred caves, viewed stunning waterfalls, taken a step back in time during an in-depth tour of Luang Prabang and sailed alongside the ‘4,000 Islands’, stopping to sample local life. Along the way, we have experienced true Laotian hospitality, tasted delightful local delicacies and got a dose of the country’s spirituality during tak bat rituals with monks.  

End of our services.