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Visit Laos and get the most timeless, undiscovered, and mystical destinations in Southeast Asia. Laos is quietly under the tourist radar compared with its Indochina neighbors, but it’s a real hidden gem of jungle adventures, riverside relaxation, and rich cultural traditions – perfect for those who like to take off-beat trips. Luang Prabang is an ancient city that is rich in culture and history. It has plenty to explore; from natural sites to religious buildings and elegant architecture.
Wake up early in the morning and witness or participate in the ancient Buddhist tradition before immersing yourself in the city’s local heritage. Then explore Xieng Khouang, home to the remarkable Plain of Jars, an enduring archaeological mystery. The Plain of Jars is a collection of 2,000-year-old stone jars ranging in size from 70cm up to 3 or 4 meters. To this day, the true origin, as well as the purpose of these huge jars, remains a mystery. Head to Vientiane for your final nights, falling on colorful temples and the repurposed remnants of the colonial era. Nearby you can visit Pha That Luang, a stunning Hindu temple with an incredible history, and explore the hundreds of old statues and carvings in Buddha Park.
Your trip to Laos begins visit Luang Prabang. On arrival at the airport, we will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. After a short rest, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai; we then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, gilded stupa as well as capture a beautiful view of the city and the watch the setting sun as it is reflected on the Mekong River. From there, we visit the Night Market, where you can browse a lovely selection of handmade textiles, made by the local and hill-tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession.
AM: After breakfast, we enjoy a short guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple Wat Sene, and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to 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, we stop at the small village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is distilled. We return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon, and on the way, we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a small village well known for its hand weaving.
PM: We continue our excursion toward Khouangsi Waterfall, en route, we visit local villages of Laos ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouray, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village, and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest trails. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Xang Khong, a village well known for silk handweaving and traditional Saa Paper making. We return to the city by late evening to observe the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
After breakfast, we visit the National Museum (closed Tuesday) at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artifacts, which reflect the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. Today we leave this charming town and drive to Xieng Khouang. These back roads are a great way to explore and visit the real Laos. We see very few other travelers, mostly rural dwellers who are just as interested in finding out about our lives as we are in theirs. The drive is very long, but we can make many stops at our pleasure, to stretch our legs and take some wonderful photographs. In the afternoon there will be time to see the old capital of Muang Khoun Province and its’ nearby villages.
Overnight in Xiengkhouang.
Following breakfast at the hotel, we transfer out to visit the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site encompassing hundreds of large stone jars scattered throughout the plateau. We then board our short flight visit to the charming and fascinating Laos capital Vientiane. On arrival, we check into the hotel.
Overnight in Vientiane.
After breakfast, we see the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket, the temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to Lao’s national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop route to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.
In the afternoon we transfer out to see the Buddha Park, a scattered enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, close to the Friendship Bridge. Approximately 200 religious images are dating back over 500 years. A spectacular view over the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day.
Overnight in Vientiane.
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our departure flight.
