Classic Laos

Saibaidee! Welcome to Vientiane, Laos.

Upon arrival at Wattay International Airport, your private guide and driver are waiting to meet you, holding up a welcome signboard with your names on it and take you directly to your hotel in the city centre.

After checking-in, you will have time to relax and adjust to the pace of Vientiane, the capital of Laos. There will be a short tour briefing this evening with your guide followed by a welcome dinner at Friends Restaurant, Mini Makphet. It’s a social enterprise based restaurant that empowers disadvantaged youth with vocational training amongst other support.

Please note: You must have both a passport and a visa to enter Laos. And your passport must also have at least six months’ validity remaining beyond the date that you enter Laos. You can get a visa on arrival in Laos. Make sure you have two passport-sizes photographs.

Overnight in Vientiane

The capital city of Laos, Vientiane, still feels like a sleepy city with relaxed charm, tree-lined boulevards, fascinating temples, and colourful markets. This city conjures up exotic images, with the curious mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French influences.

Morning
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up for a full-day exploration of this charming city. Start with Wat Si Muang, a Khmer temple with a fascinating legend that still holds great significance among the Laotian community. This site is famous for its supernatural power.

The next stop is Buddha Park, known as Xieng Khuan, that is filled with over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues.

Continue on to Lao Disable Women Development Center, non-profit organization run by Lao women. Spend time watching the video and learn about the Disable Women’s effort to earn their daily living. You can support them by buying some small handicrafts at the shop.

Afternoon
Start the afternoon with a visit to That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. Constructed by King Setthathirat in the 16th century, the temple is resplendent as the sun is shines upon its towering golden spire.

Proceed to the Patuxai Monument, also called Anousavari, and enjoy a panoramic view over the city from the top. It is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe that is located at the top of Lan Xang Avenue, the Champs Elysees of the Lao capital.

Walk down to Lane Xang Avenue to see the serene Wat Sisaket, the only temple left intact after the Siamese invasion in 1828. It shelters hundreds of statues of Buddha within its walls.  Nearby is Wat Phra Keo, now used as a religious museum where you can see Lao and Khmer works of art. It used to host the “Emerald Buddha” that is now on display at Bangkok’s Royal Palace.

End your tour of Laos’s capital along the banks of the Mekong River as the sun begins to set. Stroll along the river, stop to enjoy a cold drink, or sample a snack from one of the many local food stalls.

Overnight in Vientiane

Morning
After breakfast and check out of the hotel your private guide and driver will pick you up and take you on a four-hour drive northbound to Vang Vieng via the highway Vientiane – Vang vieng. Today you will see some breathtaking scenery enroute as we pass through spectacular countryside towards the mountainous region

Afternoon
Arrive and check into your riverside resort in Vang Vieng. This small town of 25,000 people sits alongside the Nam Song River. Limestone cliffs create a beautiful backdrop for the adventure-tourism oriented town.

After a short rest, you will head out to explore Tham Nangfa or Angel Cave,  filled by the huge limestone formations and has spectacular stalactites in various unique formations. Along the way, you have chance to explore the local cultures by greeting the local villagers and learning about their daily lifestyle.

After the tour, transfer back to your hotel where the balance of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight in Vang Vieng

Morning
After breakfast, you will travel by truck for 20km north of Vang Vieng to Phatang village. After an introduction to the basics of kayaking, you will set off down the beautiful Nam Song River which offers various small but fun rapids along the way to your first stop at Tham Xang Cave. Here you will walk up to the massive theater like cave while hearing about the local history about the area!

Along the way you will see beautiful woodland, jungle rapid and clear river. A stop will be made at local Lao village and your English speaking guide will explain to you the Lao culture.

Continue Kayaking with long river to Phalay mountain, where you enjoy a babecue lunch and a short rest afterwards.

Afternoon
After lunch, continue to paddle down the river until you reach Tham None Cave, one of the largest caves in Vang Vieng! It served as a bomb shelter for local villagers during the Second Indochina War. However, today it is home to a bat family and the ‘Magic Stone of Vang Vieng’. The final leg of the journey will be a gentle paddle downstream to Vang Vieng where you will arrive just in time to catch the sunset.

Finish your last part down the Nam Song River whilst admiring the sunset views behind the mountains and transfer back to your resort where the remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight in Vang Vieng

Morning
After breakfast take the morning express train to Luang Prabang (08:30 09:30) 

Upon arrival, transfer directly to the beautiful Kuang Si, which is the biggest waterfall in the Luang Prabang area with three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop into spectacular azure pools before flowing downstream. The pools also make great swimming holes and are very popular with both tourists and locals There is also the chance to walk to the nearby village of Ban Thapene, and explore the hidden waterfalls, which is rarely visited by other tourists.

If you wish, take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center home to a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers.

Afternoon
Returning to town where you will have some to visit the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center to learn more about Laos various ethnic groups.

Late afternoon, we climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic sunset view of the city and the Mekong River.

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 hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Wake up as the sun rises prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, which dates to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temples to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets.

You will then visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice, to vegetable, to fish, or chicken.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will first visit Royal Palace Museum, which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family.

Next, embark on a leisure cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us 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.

Along the way, stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local people make the rice wine.

Upon returning to the city, continue to visit the old Wat Sene and the nearby magnificent Wat Xiengthong, a superb piece of Lao temple architecture, which presents a sweeping two-tiered roof and ornate mosaics including a beautiful ‘tree of life ‘glass montage on the rear temple wall.

If time permits, drive out of the city to visit Ban Xangkhong, the Thai Lue village, famous for its arts and crafts. You will also visit the nearby village of Ban Xienglek specializing in making the traditional Saa paper and join a petanque game with the local team.

Transfer back to your hotel where the remainder of the day is free at your leisure.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

8:00 am – 8:30 am:  Pick up by your English-speaking guide from your hotel lobby.
Arrival at the Elephant Village Camp: Welcome greeting by your guide and participate in a short briefing about elephants
Elephant Feeding: Get up close and personal with elephants
Explore Elephant Village:  Visit our elephant hospital, museum, gallery and dung paper making facility!
One on One Experience: Enjoy the impressive experience of being a Mahout! 1 person per elephant
Boat trip to the Tad Sae Waterfall: Ride in a traditional Lao long boat to the Tad Sae Waterfall and relax or swim in the clear water.  Swimsuit recommended!  (note: water levels will vary with seasonal conditions)
Lunch: Dine at our Elephant Camp restaurant.  Your buffet lunch is served with coffee / tea and drinking water (vegetarian options are available)
1:00pm: Depart the camp and transfer back to your Hotel in Luang Prabang

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Your private transfer greets you at the hotel after breakfast and escorts you to Luang Prabang International Airport where you board your flight home or travel on to more adventures, we will help you with the planning.