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Tour Code: LAO-NA-001
This comprehensive 12-day, 11-night journey allows one to experience the enchanting beauty and cultural richness of Laos. From the serene temples of Luang Prabang to the vibrant markets of Vientiane, this tour offers an in-depth exploration of Laos‘ natural landscapes, historical sites, and local traditions. Enjoy guided tours, scenic boat rides, and authentic cultural interactions, ensuring an unforgettable adventure.
Private tour with departure every day upon request
Your boat departs from the Huai Say port at 9:00 AM for a spectacular cruise along the Mekong River toward Pakbeng. Throughout the day, there will be several stops to observe rural life along the Mekong, including visits to ethnic minorities who inhabit this area. A buffet lunch will be served on board.
Arrival in Pakbeng is expected in the late afternoon. Once you arrive, you’ll be escorted to your lodge. Finally, you can enjoy dinner on the terrace with a beautiful view of the Mekong River.
Overnight in Pakbeng.
Meals: Lunch on board
After breakfast, you’ll set off for Oudomxay. Along the way, there will be plenty of opportunities to stop in villages and capture breathtaking views with your camera. You’ll arrive in Oudomxay in the early afternoon, and the rest of the day will be entirely at your disposal.
Overnight in Oudomxay.
Meals: Breakfast
This morning, after breakfast, you’ll board a 4×4 vehicle to reach the villages of two typical Laotian ethnic minorities: the Ikhor and the Hmong. The route today takes you through a stunning landscape, ascending to an altitude of approximately 1,000 meters. From this vantage point, you’ll enjoy a memorable view of the surrounding area.
Our first stop will be at a beautiful Ikhor village—one that remains completely isolated from modern civilization. The Ikhor ethnic group has roots in Yunnan and Tibet, and they have preserved their traditional way of life despite the influence of modernity.
After lunch, we’ll head toward the Hmong village of Ban Tauser, which is a 45-minute walk from the previous village. The Hmong people originally hail from Tibet, and today, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about their customs, traditions, and lifestyle. The unique path leading to this village offers countless panoramic views—perfect for capturing memorable photos.
In the afternoon, you’ll return to your resort in Oudomxay.
Overnight in Oudomxay
Meals: Breakfast – Picnic lunch
This morning, right after breakfast, we’ll leave Oudomxay behind and hit the road toward Luang Prabang. Along the way, we’ll make a stop at the Hmong village of Ban Xong Ja. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to observe the daily life of the village inhabitants.
In the afternoon, we’ll reach the village of Pak-Ou, situated at the mouth of the Nam Ou River. This is where our excursion to the Pak Ou Caves—also known as the “Cave of a Thousand Buddhas”—begins. We’ll continue our journey along the Mekong River by boat, eventually arriving in Luang Prabang. But before we reach our destination, we’ll pause at a village famous for producing a unique rice whisky. Here, you’ll have the chance to witness the distillation process.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Meals: Breakfast
This morning, right after breakfast, you will begin your visit to Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of a Million Elephants. This wonderful town has been one of the greatest centers of Buddhist culture in the region for centuries. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995, Luang Prabang still retains its timeless atmosphere, with its spectacular temples and beautiful French colonial-style buildings.
Your city tour will start with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, where you will immerse yourself in the daily life of the last royal families who ruled Laos before the rise of the Phatet Lao. After the Royal Palace, you will visit the Huan Chuan Heritage House, where you can admire the architectural charm of this building and learn about its historical connections with the Royal Palace.
Next, you will begin your temple tour, starting with the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, known for its unique roof that exemplifies the classic architecture of the Lanexang style. Today, you will also visit the beautiful Wat Mai and the stupa of Wat Visoun. Following these visits, you will head to the Arts and Ethnology Centre to better understand the ethnic minorities that inhabit Laos and learn about their customs and traditions.
To end the day on a high note, you will climb to the top of Mount Phousi for a pleasant exploration of the secrets of the golden stupa and to enjoy the spectacular view of the city and the Mekong River at sunset.
Overnight stay in Luang Prabang.
Meals: Breakfast
This morning, at the first light of dawn, you will take part in Tak Bat (the monks’ procession), an ancient Buddhist ritual still practiced by local monks in Luang Prabang. Before returning to the hotel for breakfast, you will stop at a local market. The first activity of the day is a visit to Phousi Market, a local bazaar where you will find a variety of items for sale, such as dried buffalo skin, the famous local tea, vegetables, and textile products from the tribes.
Next, you will head to the village of Ock Pop Tok, where you will learn how the locals work with silk, from the silkworm to the final product. After these visits, you will go to the spectacular and famous Kuang Si Falls, located about 30 km from Luang Prabang. The stunning turquoise waterfalls are a must-see for anyone visiting Luang Prabang. After a walk through the surrounding forest, you will have the chance to cool off with a pleasant swim in one of the natural pools.
Near the falls, you can also visit the Bear Rescue Centre, an organization that protects a particular species of Asian bear against the serious problem of poaching.
Tips: bring a towel if you decide to take a dip in one of the natural pools.
Overnight stay in Luang Prabang.
Meals: Breakfast
This morning around 8:00 am, we will begin our journey to the town of Xiengkhuang, famous for its Plain of Jars. The road we will travel today is considered one of the highlights of the country, offering unique natural panoramas. Along the way, we will stop in various villages of ethnic minorities that populate this region.
Our first stop will be at Houi Hei, where you can enjoy an extraordinary viewpoint. We will continue our journey and stop at Ban Kiu Kam Pone, a Khmu village. After lunch, we will resume our trip towards Xiengkhuang, traveling to the highest point reachable in Laos, at 1,500 meters above sea level. The next stop will be at Ban Son Boom, a fascinating Hmong village.
The last stop of the day will be a visit to a Buddha Cave, which served as a refuge for the local population against bombings during the Vietnam War. We will arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon.
Overnight stay in Phonsavan.
Meals: Breakfast
Early this morning, your first activity will be to reach the old capital of Muang Khoun, where you will have the opportunity to explore the ruins of ancient pagodas and the ruins of Wat Phiawat temple with its many statues of the seated Buddha.
Afterward, you will begin exploring the Plain of Jars, starting with site number 2 and then moving towards site number 3.
In the afternoon, you will visit site number 1, the largest in the area, containing no less than 300 jars.
Before returning to the hotel, if time permits, you can opt to visit the fascinating MAG exhibition, a humanitarian organization dedicated to clearing unexploded ordnance from the vast area affected by bombings during the Vietnam War.
Overnight stay in Phonsavan.
Meals: Breakfast
You will start your day with a visit to the colorful Central Market of Phonsavan.
After the visit, you will set off towards Vang Vieng. Along the way, shortly after lunch, you will stop at Ban Hin Ngon, a fascinating Hmong village.
Your last chance to stretch your legs before reaching your destination will be at the Phatang Mountain viewpoint, which offers a spectacular view of the valley.
You will arrive in Vang Vieng in the late afternoon.
Overnight stay in Vang Vieng.
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, we will drive north out of the city until we reach a Kamu village where we will learn about the Lao and Khmu customs and traditions from the villagers.
First, we will visit the local blacksmith, known for producing knives using traditional techniques. Here, you can admire the skill and incredible craftsmanship of these local artisans. We will then proceed to a Khmu family’s home, where a typical Khmu lunch awaits you in the garden or inside the family house. You will learn from your hosts about the traditions and culture of animism, practiced by many ethnic minorities in Laos, as well as the preparation of the local rice wine, “Lao Hai,” produced on-site.
In the afternoon, we will continue our journey and walk through the rice fields to a cave on the other side of the Nam Song River, passing by farmers working in the fields. On the way back to the village, you will rest in one of the local rice huts and taste some rice wine while learning more about the importance of agriculture in Laos.
Before sunset, we will return to the village and then proceed to the hotel, arriving in the late afternoon. You will travel to the capital, Vientiane, via the new highway.
Overnight stay in Vientiane.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch
This morning, right after breakfast, you will begin your city tour of Vientiane, the current capital of Laos, which lies along the banks of the Mekong River. Originally called Viang Chang, The City of the Moon, it became the capital of the Kingdom of a Million Elephants in 1560 during the reign of King Setthatirath.
The tour starts with a visit to the city’s oldest temple, Wat Sisaket, which houses thousands of miniature Buddha statues. You will also visit the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which once held the famous Emerald Buddha. Next, you will see one of Laos’ precious cultural heritages, the sacred That Luang Stupa, followed by the imposing Patuxay Monument, also known as the Arc de Triomphe.
Your next stop will be at the COPE center, a rehabilitation center for victims of unexploded bombs dropped over a vast area of Laos during the Vietnam War, which remains one of the country’s biggest challenges today.
The final visit of the day will be to the Buddha Park, located about 30 minutes from the city along the banks of the Mekong River. Here, you can admire an intriguing collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures. The day concludes with a beautiful sunset on the banks of the Mekong.
Overnight stay in Vientiane.
Meals: Breakfast
This morning, you will be transferred to Vientiane airport in time for your flight.
Meals: Breakfast
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The program may also be subject to changes based on traffic, weather or other events beyond our control. In this case we will take care of evaluating the necessary changes together with the travelers.
Pakbeng: Pakbeng Lodge (Superior Room)
Oudomxay: Nam Kat Yola PA (Deluxe Cottage)
Luang Prabang: Villa Chitdara (Deluxe Room)
Phonesavan: Vansana Hotel (Deluxe Room)
Vang Vieng: Bearlin Resort (Standard Bungalow)
Vientiane: Mintra Hotel (Deluxe Room)
Pakbeng: Pakbeng Lodge (Superior Room)
Oudomxay: Nam Kat Yola PA (Deluxe Cottage)
Luang Prabang: Villa Maydou (Tradition Deluxe)
Phonesavan: Vansana Hotel (Deluxe Room)
Vang Vieng: Riverside Boutique (Deluxe Room)
Vientiane: Salana Boutique (Deluxe Room)
Please note:
If the above-mentioned accommodations are not available at the time of booking, Fantasia Asia will propose other hotels of the same category, and the type of treatment will always be as specified in the program. Due to possible unforeseen circumstances, changes in the technical or practical order of the program are sometimes necessary without altering its content. In destinations where pristine nature prevails, it is not excluded that you may encounter insects and small animals, as they are part of the natural habitat where hotels and bungalows are located. Such occurrences are not at all attributable to hygiene negligence in the premises, regardless of the category of the structures.