13/12/2019
Experience in Laos Tour – 9 Days
Route: Vientiane arrival (Full-day Sightseeing) - Vang Vieng - Phonsavanh (Full-day Sightseeing ) - Luang Prabang (Full-day Sightseeing) - Boat Trip to Visit the Pak Ou Caves - Luang Prabang Depart
Dates: No fixed departure dates. You may go whenever you wish.
Starts/Ends: Vientiane - Luang Prabang
Tour Type: Landscape, Culture and Nature, Hill Tribe Discovery
Activity Level: Moderate, Easy walking and trekking
Group size: Private only - 1 person minimum and above
Tour Customizable: Absolutely!
A nine-day special tour package that promises to unlock the secrets of this magical land in Laos. You will surely have chance to take in all the sights of Vientiane including Vang Vieng, Phonsavanh and Luang Prabang with our experts leading the way as you visit temples, cultural landmarks, boat trips, Buddha footprint sites and the phantasmagorical Plain of Jars with its 3,000-year-old specimens. This is definitely the best and most comprehensible way to uncover the mysteries of Laos.
Trip Highlights:
- Visit the capital of Laos, Vientiane
- Vang Vieng with a boat trip on Nam Ngum Lake
- Sightseeing in the Plain of Jars (Sites I and II) and Muang Khoun
- Visit Luang Prabang - World Heritage Town
- Discover the mysterious Pak Ou Caves
DAY 01 Arrival in Vientiane (Dinner)
On arrival in Vientiane Capital, you are met and transferred to our centrally located hotel. After a short rest, we start to visit the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph, sunset by the Mekong Riverside and late evening.
Stay overnight in Vientiane.
DAY 02 Vientiane: Full-day Sightseeing (B)
In the morning, after breakfast at your hotel, and then we will move to visit an open-air museum, Wat Xieng Khuan (Buddha Park). This is a collection of whimsical but compelling statues of Buddhist and Hindu gods.
In the afternoon, you will be free at leisure.
Overnight in Vientiane
DAY 03 Vientiane – Drive to Vang Vieng (B)
After breakfast at your hotel, we will then travel to Vang Vieng by car. Drive to the north through the scenic province of Vientiane. The climate is pleasant and the views are nice, with mountains and cliffs along the first part of the journey. On the way, we will stop visiting at salt field in Ban Keun. And then, we will take a boat ride on Nam Ngum Lake, a serene, man-made reservoir that also generates most of the electricity sold to Thailand.
Stay overnight at hotel/resort in Vang Vieng.
DAY 04 Vang Vieng - Visit Around – Drive to Phonsavanh (B, L)
After breakfast at your hotel/resort, we will then move to visit Pha Thao Cave. Enjoy a short trek through rice paddies with a stop at a Hmong village in Ban Pha Thao and continue to visit the cave of Tham Pha Thao. Then we visit Xang Cave - also called Elephant Cave, it contains a few Buddha images and a Buddha footprint plus the elephant shaped stalactites that give the cave its name. After lunch at local restaurant, we will travel to Phonsavanh by car, with a stop at local villages on the way.
Stay overnight at hotel in Phonsavanh.
DAY 05 Phonsavanh - Full-day Sightseeing (B)
After breakfast, we will spend our all day visiting the famous Plain of Jars, a vast area extending around Phonsavanh from the south-west to the north-east. Mysterious and ancient, over 300 huge stone jars apparently carved out of solid rock are scattered around the plateau. The jars vary in size from 1 to 3.25 meters high and weigh up to six tons each. There are several different theories as to the purpose of the jars, which are estimated to be 2,500 to 3,000 years old. According to local legend, King Khun Chuang had them constructed in order to store wine for the celebration of his conquest of the province in the 6th century. Today's tour will focus on Site I and Site II, out of the many sites so far discovered. Afterwards continue to visit Muang Khoun, an ancient capital and stronghold for the Xieng khouang royal family was destroyed during the Indochina War. The town was rebuilt after 1975 with rows of wooden Lao houses and a market area and is surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. Before return in Phonsavanh town; we will visit Wat Phia That and That Foun.
Stay overnight in Phonsavanh
DAY 06 Phonsavanh – Drive to Luang Prabang (B)
After breakfast at your hotel, we will move to visit the lively open-air local market in Phonsavanh town before travelling by car to Luang Prabang. This is a slow journey that we drive on mountain roads with stunning views of the forested mountains, lush valleys and karsts formations. On the way, we will make a stop at Muang Sui, visiting Wat Ban Phong, the second oldest temple in the province; the scenic Nong Tang Lake, rimmed with limestone cliffs; and the extensive cave network of Pha Cave, only discovered recently, this cave contains a 5m high Buddha image dating from 777 AD, surrounded by gold and wooden statues of smaller size.
Stay overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang
DAY 07 Luang Prabang Full-day Sightseeing (B)
Set between the Nam Khan and Nam Ou rivers, Luang Prabang is an enchanting town filled with historic temples and colonial style buildings. The entire town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Start the day at Wat Visoun (Wat Wisunalat). The oldest living temple in Luang Prabang, Wat Visoun dates back to 1513 and contains a collection of antique wooden Buddhas. Visit the nearby Wat Aham before continuing to Wat Xieng Thong, the crowning jewel of all the monasteries and temples in the city. Its many ornate buildings feature exquisite mosaic and gold-stenciled murals. From there, stroll down the main street of Luang Prabang, stopping at some of the many temples that line its sides, including Wat Sibounheuang, Wat Si Moungkhoun, Wat Sop and Wat Sene.
Continue to the National Museum (Royal Palace), a modest but graceful building that combines traditional Lao and French beaux-arts motifs. This turn-of-the century royal residence has been preserved, as it was when the royal family last lived here and provides unique insights into the history of Laos. (Closed on Tuesdays). Afterwards, visit Wat Mai. Visit Mount Phousi for sunset. Climb the hillside stairs to the small temples atop Phou Si, the 100m-high-hill that sits in the middle of the town, offering beautiful views over the temples and river.
Stay overnight in Luang Prabang.
DAY 08 Luang Prabang - the Pak Ou Caves (B)
Travel down the Mekong River to the steep limestone cliffs overlooking the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers, home to the Pak Ou Caves. These extraordinary caves are filled with Buddha images, of every style and material imaginable. On the return journey, stop at Ban Xang Hai, a local village famous for the production of lao lao, the local rice wine whisky. Visit Ban Xang Khong, a village near Luang Prabang well known for its traditional hand-woven cotton and silk, as well as production of the local sa (mulberry) paper.
Stay overnight in Luang Prabang
DAY 09 Luang Prabang - Depart (B)
Transfer to the airport for departure flight to onward destination.
End of our service!
