Unseen Luang Prabang

Welcome to the spiritual capital of Laos. Upon arrival in to Luang Prabang, your guide will greet you and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

In the afternoon join in a traditional game of petanque with the locals. As the sun sets over Wat Prabat Tai you’ll join the local players and try your skills at this sport- a favorite pastime of the Lao people. They will cheer you on and give you hints as you play a few games and enjoy snacks and drinks. A great time for adults & kids with great local interaction opportunities. Continue on to the local hill tribe market that sells a range of crafts and products from all over the country and wonder through the night food market selling many local delicacies. Enjoy dinner on the banks of the Mekong at a Sindat restaurant. Sindat is a Lao style barbeque which is very popular with the locals. After dinner drinks are at Hive bar. Located at the foot of Mount Phousi Hive Bar is a popular spot for backpackers, locals and expats. Its outdoor seating is beautifully surrounded by lush forest and decorated with an assortment of recycled goods. Modern and alternative music is played and many creative cocktails are on offer. There is a stage outside where they often have live music, hip hop dancing and many other shows.

OPTIONAL: For those wanting a more relaxing dinner on the Nam Khan River and with a taste for wine and quiet surroundings we recommend dinner at Dyen Sabai restaurant followed by a drink at the Icon Club or Pak Luk wine bar.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals Included: Dinner

After breakfast enjoy a cultural tour of the city in a quiet way! Ride electric bikes that are an emissions-free mode of transportation allow the user to pedal the bike by their own power or coast along using the bike’s battery-powered, rechargeable motor.

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel in Luang Prabang for a short transfer by tuk tuk to our electric powered bikes station. After a short briefing to explain you the use of your new vehicle, it will be time to discover the local architecture and art of Luang Prabang.

Your guide will point out to you the four different types of buildings categorized by UNESCO. The first is the traditional Laos house which is made from tropical hardwood or bamboo and built on stilts. The second is a half wood and half cement house built after the arrival of the French. The third is the traditional French Colonial buildings that are similar to those found in Vietnam and Cambodia. The last form of architecture you will see is the old Chinese shop houses that were built to be used for both commercial and residential purposes. Your guide will also explain to you the history of architecture in Luang Prabang and you will discover what these buildings were used for in the past. Continue to Project Space a non-profit multifunction space for producing exhibitions, events and objects in the cultural capital of Laos. After that visit Yensabai Books and Art where you will learn more about stencil art Laos and how it is used to decorate the walls of many temples and buildings in Luang Prabang. End your tour with a visit the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre (TAEC), a museum dedicated to exploring the rich diversity of Laos’ ethnic minorities. Traditional costumes, tools, and artifacts are on display alongside in-depth descriptions and written histories.  It is a great opportunity to gain insight in to the Lao people (note: closed on Monday).

For lunch sample a menu of different dishes from the many ethnic groups of Laos at Le Patio Café located next door to the TAEC.

In the afternoon cross the Mekong River and visit a local village where you can see how the local people live. Continue to Wat Chomphet and ascend the 200 steps to the temple for a different view of the Luang Prabang. Visit Wat Long Khoun, a former center for royal retreats that also features some beautiful royal artwork. Lastly visit the sacred limestone caves of Wat Tham Sakkalin before enjoying refreshments and watching the sun set along the Mekong. Return to your hotel Luang Prabang to freshen up before dinner.

OPTIONAL: Enjoy this tour with the man who put Luang Prabang on the Map

Francis Englemann has been researching ancient sites in Laos for more than 20 years and it is thanks to his studies and deep knowledge of Lao Culture and it’s colonial past that Luang Prabang was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. He also started Heritage House in Luang Prabang which provides visitors with more details about the management of the World Heritage city of Luang Prabang and is a consultant to many NGO’s in the region.

Dinner at L’Elephant. Located in a beautiful French colonial building enjoy delicious French fare in Luang Prabangs finest restaurant.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

For early risers, there is a very special dawn visit to watch the monks collecting the alms.  As the sun begins to rise, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents. It is a beautiful, serene ceremony that highlights the spiritualism of the Laos people.   Return to the hotel for breakfast.

Following breakfast visit the refreshing waters of the Kuangsi Waterfalls, located at 32 km from Luang Prabang. These waterfalls cascade down a multilevel limestone formation creating a series of turquoise blue pools perfect for swimming in on a hot day.  The jungle and dense woods surrounding the falls is filled with wildlife and pleasant walks can be taken along the natural footpaths (Note: when bathing, please wear a sarong, no bare bodies).

Enjoy a picnic lunch cooked on the spot, Lao style. Learn about traditional Lao dishes and their origins while sampling some of Laos’ more unusual cuisine, such as the ant-egg omelet. (The menu will vary depending on availability).

Enjoy free time this afternoon at leisure.

OPTIONAL: Stencil Art Class

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to Yensabai Books and Art where you will meet with your Laos stencil teacher, Anousith, who will tell you about the history of stencil art in Laos and explain what the different motifs and patterns represent. Then you will have the opportunity to create your our work of art by carving a stencil with close guidance by Anousith.

At the end of the day, climb the 328 steps to the top of Mount Phousi and enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding countryside.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Depending on your flight schedule, there may be time to visit the Heritage Information Center.  Here you will learn about the methods being used to preserve the unique heritage and culture of Luang Prabang as well as gain further understanding in to the importance of developing sustainable and community-based preservation projects.

After your visit, your private car and driver will transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Meals Included: Breakfast