Laos Tour 7 days: Best of Nam Ou River

Arrival at the Luang Prabang Airport, our guide and driver will pick up and transfer to your hotel in city center.
Check in hotel and relax.

Located  in the centre of Northern Laos, Luang Prabang is recognized  as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding cultural, historic and architectural values and its harmonious relationship between the natural and built environment.

Have lunch at local restaurant ( your own account). After lunch, our guide will pick up you from hotel and start a half day city tour.The first destination is Royal Palace Museum where people kept a range of amazing artifacts. Then we visit the city’s oldesttemple of Wat Sene and the impressive Wat Xiengthong showing classical Laotian architecture.
We finish short tour today with the remarkable stupa of Wat Visounand the shrine of Wat Aham.

We are transferred back to your hotel. Time free at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang. 

We welcomed and met  by our guide this morning around 8:30 am, for the short road transfer to the boat pier which departs Ban Wat That at 9:00). Experience a 15-minute leisurely boat trip down the Mekong River, as well as views of charming Luang Prabang town from a unique perspective.

Upon arrival, a professional reception at Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden will give us a short introduction about the gardens. Then pass through the Ginger Garden and the Ethno-botanic Garden, which is the middle of the garden. Follow the path through the Limestone Walk and take in the amazing mountainous Mekong landscape. Study how to make a bamboo stick animal at the site of the hunting lodge of the former royal family.

Then going on our tour of the gardens, passing through the Arboretum, Palm Garden and Bamboo Garden to a viewpoint which overlooks rice fields. Make a stop by the Mist House to learn more about the necessary of biodiversity conservation. End of your excursion with an optional orchid talk at Pha Tad Ke Nursery.

All of the gardens have introductory panels and labels, for the most detailed information. Enjoy a delicious Lao set lunch at the Pha Tad Ke café.

After lunch, we will reach one of the most beautiful Kuang Si Falls situated 30 kilometers of Southern Luang Prabang
The Kuang Si Waterfall consists of a tiered many of turquoise pools put amongst the dense Laotian jungle where we will have plenty of time to refreshing swim in the pools and hike around the falls.

You’ll also visit the Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park, one of the must-visit spots, a project that was newly opened on January 2014 studying about Laos butterflies, host plants and preservation.

We stop at one of the local villages before getting to Wat Siphouthabath to admire the sunset then find the way back to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang.

After leisurely breakfast, we take a local boat upstream the Mekong, admiring the lush green forests and beautiful landscape. We will make a short stop at a few villages and enjoy the spectacular limestone karst scenery. On the way we have a short tour to the mysterious caves of Pak Ou, two linked caves filled with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims.

After getting out of the caves , we will get on the car and continue the transfer to Nong Khiaw, the small town along the tranquil Nam Ou River.

Once arrive at Nong Khiaw, we will board another cruise upstream the Nam Ou river to Muang Ngoi, the fishing village in the middle of nowhere.

We reach  Muang Ngoi just in time to admire the sunset. Check in your standard guesthouse overlooking the Nam Ou river. Overnight in Muang Ngoi

After a simple breakfast, we will have soft trek to the local village of Ban Na, and the caves of Tham Kaang, which is said to have the supernatural powers.

Then we continue ahead to Tad Mork which is situated close to the ethnic Khmu village of Ban Sop Kong, an hour trek from the river. At the waterfall we might be able to relax or swim at your leisure. A picnic lunch will be served.

After enjoying our time at the waterfall we return to the river where we board a local boat to reach Nong Khiaw. We will head off down the river through a narrow gorge where we will make a stop at another small but enchanting village

Our last destination today before reaching Nong Khiaw will be Ban Sopvan where Tai Lue people live together. The village is situated right next to the river, opposite the village on the river bank is a farm which is home to many different types of animal including Pigs, Chickens, Ducks, and Buffalo. We are pleased to pay them a visit so it is worthwhile bringing some food along if you would like to feed them and surely very appreciated by both the animals and the villagers.

We reach Nong Khiaw to catch sunset. Overnight in Nong Khiaw
 

Begin this day of adventure with a tranquil local boat ride on the peaceful Nam Ou river where you will be able to experience a small Lao village along the riverside.  We have chance to study the local people and their way of life along this Northern Laos river before starting the ‘100 Waterfalls Adventure Trail’!

Passing through small streams and rice paddies, you will reach the bottom of the 100 Waterfalls which were only first discovered in October 2008. In the next few hours you will find out only water and jungle and hear the constant sound of clear waterfall cascades. The pools around you are very attractive for a refreshing splash.

Your guide will take you through the cascades and a local style lunch will be provided  that you can enjoy on the falls surrounded by beautifully green nature.

A small village path on the top of the ‘100 Waterfalls’ will take us on our hike back down into the valley, offering wide views over the expansive Nam Ou valley.

Once back in the village we will have some more time to experience the daily life of the Nam Ou riverside village before heading back to Nong Khiaw (Nong Khiau) by boat. Overnight in Nong Khiaw

After a leisurely breakfast, we begin our trip by visiting the historical cave of Phathok which used to be a war shelter during the “Secret War”  for the Nong Khiaw villagers,  to protect people from bombs dropped in the region.It takes us approximately 30 minute gentle walk from Nong Khiaw town and passing through amazing scenery. We have chance to learn more about a secret part of the Lao history and experience the historical caves with your guide. From the cave you will admire a beautiful view of rice paddies and the valley. Walk back to Nong Khiaw along a small road through the rice paddies.

In the afternoon, we will return to Luang Prabang. After approximately 20 minute drive, we will turn right at Ban Bom onto the dirt road to Ban Na Yang (12km from the main road) where the Thai Lue minority village live together. This is the very unique village with the traditional house and hand-weaving technique.

We arrive in Luang Prabang just in time to catch the sunset. Overnight in Luang Prabang
 

You are free to make a stroll around the town before transferring directly to airport to take the departure flight. End of services.