Day 1: Luang Prabang– Around World Heritage Site Temples & The Town Of
Luang Prabang– Luang Prabang
Surrounded by thickly forested mountains and situated at the confluence of the Khan and Mekong Rivers, Luang Prabang has a tranquil, old world charm rarely found in Asia today. This fascinating town was the capital of the Lane Xang (million elephants) kingdom until the mid-sixteenth century. In colonial times it served as a provincial headquarters of the north. The legacy of the European presence here well preserved French architecture and careful street planning – has blended delightfully with more than 30 gilded Buddhist temples to create a town rich in atmosphere and history.
Welcome to Luang Prabang! Your guide will meet you upon arrival at the airport and bring you to your hotel. Then enjoy a half-day spin around Luang Prabang…and you will understand why it deserves the World Heritage title! Visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao. Phou Sii hill stands right in the center of this small city. Climb its 350 steps to enjoy commanding views for many miles in each direction. Wat Phu Sii sits atop the mountain, along side the skeletons of Indochina war anti-aircraft guns! Then continue on to visit Wat Mai. Built in 1796, the five-tiered roof of the wooden Sim (chapel) epitomizes the graceful Luang Prabang architectural style. Wat Xieng Thong further emphasizes & characterizes the uniqueness of Luang Prabang, its several roofs sweeping low to the ground. See also the impressive "tree of life" mosaic here. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts semi-erotic episodes from the Ramayana. Then visit the National Museum, once a king's palace, where displayed inside is a lovely collection of personal artifacts of the royal family, including photos, musical instruments, and many gifts received from the dignitaries of foreign countries. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant, after which you can return to the hotel. This town is wonderful for walking, and today’s excursion will help to give you your bearings! Spend the rest of the day exploring or relaxing on your own. You can find dinner at any number of clean & delicious international restaurants. Lao beer is an excellent pilsner, and many types of French wine are also available at reasonable prices.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Luang Prabang– Local Style Mekong Riverboat Experience – Pak Ou
Buddha Caves – Ban Phanom Weaving – Luang Prabang
After breakfast, begin a Mekong Riverboat trip with your guide on the mighty Mekong River to visit the famous & sacred Pak Ou Buddha Caves. These caves, overlooking the confluence of the Mekong & Ou Rivers from on high, have been home to many thousands of Buddha images that were placed here by local people since 16th century, when King Setthathirat found the caves and declared them a holy spot. Today many still pay respect with this old tradition. Walk through the caves before returning to your boat and to Luang Prabang town. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route. Then visit the village of Ban Phanom where weaving of traditional Lao textiles takes place on ancient wooden looms. Return to Luang Prabang and spend the rest of the day exploring or relaxing on your own. You can find dinner on your own at any number of excellent delicious restaurants in town.
Meals: Lunch
Day 3: Luang Prabang– Khuang Sii Waterfall – Luang Prabang Vientiane
After breakfast, drive with your guide by car to the Tad Khuang Sii waterfall. The falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. The water here has a clear blue-green tint due to the high mineral content. You can climb the stairs and look down from various high viewpoints on the way to the top! Enjoy a picnic lunch and later in the afternoon return to the hotel for check-out, transfer to the airport for your flight to Vientiane. Upon your arrival transfer to your hotel for overnight and dinner.
Meals: Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Vientiane – & Traditional Buddhist ‘Alms Giving’ Visit Local
Hightlight – Vientiane
Before breakfast, make an early start with your guide to witness or participate in the local tradition of alms giving in Vientiane. Local people make merit by giving alms, primarily of food, to monks who walk their begging rounds every morning just as the sun is coming up. Then return to your hotel for breakfast after which you will enjoy a city tour to Wat Sisaket with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Other sites you will see include the huge golden That Luang monument, and next door, Vientiane's own Victory Monument, which looks like the Arc de Triomphe. This was built at the end of the Indochina wars with money rumoured to be American, and earmarked for the airport’s new runway. Thus the departing Americans dubbed this monument the vertical runway! Have a look at the lovely arches inside the monument. Also visit Wat Simuang and Wat Prakeo, which was the original home of the famous Emerald Buddha, which today lives in Bangkok. Dinner is served in a local restaurant with a traditional Laos Music and dancing accompaniment. Then return to your hotel, and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Vientiane – Pakse
After a very early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Pakse. Upon arrival, your guide will pick you up for transfer to Tad Fane Resort. Check in to your hotel and commence enjoying a day-trek in this lovely area. In the morning, make an easy 4 hour hike up to the Dan Sin Say Plateau. This hike goes trough a local village, coffee plantations, over a hanging bridge and on to the plains. Huge boulders, epiphytes and wild orchids abound. Large pine trees grow here, giving it a wholly different character of landscape. Return to Tadfane Resort for lunch. After lunch, it’s time to relax. For the still active ones it's possible to make a more strenuous walk to the top of one of the waterfalls. Dinner at the resort.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Tad Fane Resort
Day 6: Tad Fane Resort (Ban Lak) Elephant Camp AT Kiat Ngong Village
4000 Islands AREA (Sii Phan Don)
After breakfast continue on to the 4000 Islands area (Sii Phan Done) by van. En Route, visit an Elephant Camp to see how handlers ("mahouts") train these giant friendly beasts! Elephant ride. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant close to Done Khong. Then continue to 4000 Islands by bus and boat.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Around 4000 Islands (Sii Phan Don) Li Phi Falls – Mekong Dolphins
Colonial Bridge
After breakfast enjoy a trip by boat to the largest waterfalls in Asia! Khone Prapeng & Li Phi Falls were the major obstacles which thwarted the French in their efforts to open the Mekong River to navigation. Here also live some 50-100 Irrawaddi (freshwater) dolphins. If lucky, you'll have the chance to see them! Lunch is in a local restaurant. See the small gauge railway and Colonial Bridge built by the French to circumscribe the falls. Then return to the island to spend the afternoon at leisure or exploring the island on your own. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Around 4000 Islands (Sii Phan Don) Wat Phu Khmer Temple Complex
Chong Mek Thai/Lao Border Ubon Rachathani
After breakfast, drive North to the famous Khmer Temple complex of Wat Phou. This represents the easternmost border of the Khmer empire, although the influence of the Khmers was felt deep into central Vietnam). Stop at Pakxe market for last minute textile shopping. Lunch at a local restaurant, and continue to the Thai/Lao land border at Chong Mek. Continue to Ubon (Thailand) for your flight back to Bangkok.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
