Laos in Style - 12 Days

Day 1- Welcome to Pakse, Laos

Upon arrival at Pakse Airport, you will be met by your guide and transfer to hotel in Pakse.

The rest of your day is for free at leisure.

Accommodation: Hotel in Pakse

Day 2- Pakse - Wat Phou - Oup Mong

Morning transfer to Champasak to visit the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phou; one of South-East Asia's most dramatically situated temple sites and superb views of the Mekong River. Designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2001, the site dates back to the 5th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Whilst much of the origins of Wat Phou are unclear, it is believed that the Khmer Hindus built the original temple and eventually made Angkor Wat their capital.

Then, you will visit the atmospheric ruins of Oup Mong, a Khmer temple at Ban Houei Tomo, set deep within the forest.

Transfer to Kingfisher Eco Lodge in the afternoon, the remainder of your day is yours to spend as you wish.

Accommodation: Hotel in Kingfisher Eco Lodge

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - Phou Asa, Jungle Elephant Safari

Start your day at the village of Khiet Ngong where you will meet the elephants and their mahouts before setting off out across the surrounding paddy fields and wetland. Entering the nearby jungle that surrounds the area, your seat – or howdah – gives you a unique vantage point to experience the jungle environment while cicadas and bird sounds accompany you along the way.

After several hours, break for lunch near a stream whilst your elephants are allowed to roam off in search of a light snack of their own!

Continue riding throughout the afternoon, all the time learning some basic commands and tricks from your mahout, returning to your lodge around 4pm.

Accommodation: Hotel in Phou Asa.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Phou Asa, Pakse, Vientiane

Transfer to Pakse Airport in time for your morning flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

Vientiane, capital of Laos, is often overlooked by travelers due to Luang Prabang’s status as one of the world’s premier travel destinations. Busy and hectic in comparison to the rest of the country, it is actually quite sedate when compared to most other capital cities in Asia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, the city has a population of less than a million and is a true blend of east and west. French Colonial architecture sits side-by-side with gilded temples and due to its status amongst many travelers as Laos ‘2nd city’, you get to enjoy its wealth of highlights without the large crowds so often encountered in Luang Prabang.

Enjoy a short tour of the city centre, taking in a few of the key highlights such as Wat Sisaket, with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the Patuxai Monument which has more than a passing resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe.

Then visit Pha That Luang. The giant golden stupa is a sight to see as the bright gold holds a sharp contrast to the pure blue sky.

Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 – Vientiane - Oudomxay - Muang La

Transfer to the Vientiane Airport in time for your flight to Oudomxay.

Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and transferred to Muang La, located on the outskirts of Oudomxay. The remainder of your day is at leisure to enjoy the serenity of the Muang La Resort and its welcoming hot spring baths.

Accommodation: Hotel in Muang La

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 - Muang La tour

Depart Muang La by 4x4 vehicle for a day of trekking and exploring the local area where you will discover minority hill tribe people and their fascinating way of life. Today’s journey is truly off the beaten track and ensures some stunning mountain views along the way.

Commence trekking over farmland and hills, with a picnic lunch trek for 45 minutes at the beautiful village of Ban Phavie, a Khamu Village atop a hill, and with superb views over the surrounding area.

After lunch we continue trekking to reach a beautiful waterfall where you can relax and freshen up. Return to Muang La in the late afternoon where the remainder of your day is spent at leisure.

Accommodation: Hotel in Muang La

Trekking time/grade: 5 hours/moderate

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7 - Muang La – Nong Kiaw

Today you will take the transfer from Muang La to Nong Kiaw.

Nong Khiaw is a remote village situated on the banks of the Nam Ou River and flanked on either side by stunning mountainous backdrops.

The remainder of your day is at leisure so why not take a stroll along the riverbank, wander through local villages, or just settle back with a Beer Lao!

Accommodation: Hotel in Nong Khiaw.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 –  Nong Kiaw – Muang Ngoi

We leave Nong Khiaw at 8:30am and cruise up the river via a traditional long boat. Along the way, we stop off to visit several different ethnic villages. We actually pass straight through Muang Ngoi at first and pay the village of Ban Sop Jam a visit. This village is famous for its traditional Lao silk and cotton weaving, here you can purchase some beautiful textiles if you wish.

After spending some time in the village, we turn around and return back downstream to Muang Ngoi. Upon arrival, we take some time to have a break and a coffee before heading off on a small trek which takes us through some gorgeous scenery consisting of limestone cliffs, mountains and rice paddy fields.

Along the trek, we visit a historical cave which was used as bomb shelter by the local during the second Indochina war. Upon returning back to Muang Ngoi we board our boat for the cruise back down the river whilst watching the beautiful sunset over Nong Khiaw, arriving back just before dark.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Nong Kiaw

Day 9: Nong Khiaw – 100 waterfalls - Luang Prabang

We’ll start the day with a boat ride on the Nam Ou to a small village where you can learn about the way of life along this river. Then we’ll trek through small streams and rice paddies to reach the base of the 100 waterfalls. The next few hours you will see only water and jungle and hear the sound of clear waterfall cascades. The pools around you are very inviting for a refreshing splash.

Your guide will lead you through the cascades and prepare a local style lunch on the falls in the middle of it all. Then we’ll take a small villagers’ trail from the top of the falls back down into the valley; along the way, you’ll take in views of the landscapes of the Nam Ou valley.

Hiking back to the village, we’ll have more time to observe the daily life here before heading back back by a small boat to Nong Khiaw.

Later of this day, transfer back to Luang Prabang.

Meals: Breakfast.            

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 10 - Luang Prabang, Walking Tour

An option (although we highly recommend it; in fact, we almost insist) for early-risers is to wake before dawn to witness the long lines of orange-robed monks leaving their pagodas to receive offerings of food from the residents of Luang Prabang. It’s a fantastic experience and for many a highlight of their visit to this iconic city.

Following breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the former king’s palace, which is now a museum. The many items nicely displayed include rare furniture, traditional costumes and arts, jewelry, ornaments as well as working tools and utensils of the early part of the 20th century. Then we embark on a tour of this enthralling town to visit Wats Xieng Thong, the Golden City monastery, which dates back to the 16th century and is considered to be the finest in Laos. Furthermore, we visit the fine temples of Wats Mai, Vixoun, and wat That Luang. then visit the Traditional Art and Ethnology center. Later that day, we adjourn to the Phousi Holy Hill to enjoy the marvelous panoramic views of the town at sunset.

at night, visit the night market by your own.

Meals: Breakfast.            

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 11 - Luang Prabang – Kuangsi waterfall

This morning you will visit the morning Phosi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.

Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the turqoise pools or walk along the forest trails.

You will have visit to Kuangsi butterflies center before transferring back to town.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

Day 12 - Depart Luang Prabang

Your day is at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast

Want to Ask a question?