On arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. If time permits, you will have a half-day city tour. You are able to see the major temples of Vientiane including the oldest, Wat Sisaket, a temple of thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit Laos national icon, That Luang Stupa, and we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.
Meal Included: Lunch
You are at leisure in the morning, and then you will be transferred to the airport for your flight up to Oudomxay. Here you have the chance to visit the intriguing Pra Xack Kham Temple with its sacred Buddha image. The 400 years old legendary statue is said to have many supernatural powers and is widely worshipped among faithful local Buddhists—a stop in Muang La, famous for its natural hot springs for the night. No activities are planned for the rest of the day so you can stroll around the village or just relax at the riverside retreat enjoying a massage or some time in the hot springs. Overnight in Muang La.
Meal Included: Lunch
Today, you explore the local area and undertake an easy trek around the beautiful surrounding countryside visiting the numerous ethnic hill tribes that reside around the area. The comfortable ending of the day relax in the natural hot springs, take a traditional massage and enjoy the excellent local Lao cuisine in the restaurant at the resort. Overnight in Muang La.
Meal Included: Lunch
Today, the southward drive takes you through some of the most stunning mountainous landscapes in South East Asia with plenty of opportunities to stop off at the various Khmu and H’mong villages along the way. You reach Luang Prabang by mid afternoon. Free at leisure for the rest of the day. In the evening, you may wish to explore the local night market. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Meal Included: Lunch
Your full day city tour begins with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum(closed on Tuesday), the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground. Here you can get to know why it represents classical Laotian architecture. Next is the impressive stupa of Wat Visounand, the shrine of Wat Aham. After lunch, you visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures before heading out of town to see the weaving villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek, and then return to the city for Wat Mai.
Climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River is absolutely great. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hill tribe people from Luang Prabang’s surroundings. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Meal Included: Lunch
To start the day, you visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. It is followed with visit local villages of Laotian ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Oua Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. Then take a move to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. You then return to Luang Prabang.
This afternoon, embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives you a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local make the rice wine. On return, you disembark the boat to visit traditional villages, and continue taking a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village famous for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Meal Included: Lunch
Free at leisure until your flight onwards or carry on with more “Travel Authentic Asia” impressive destinations.
Meal Included: N/A
