Laos Trekking Tour 19 days: Discover the Mysteries of Laos

On arrival at the Luang Prabang airport, you will be warmly welcome and  transferred to hotel by private car.
Check in the hotel and have a rest.

We start the half day trip with first stop at Luang Prabang’s famous Vat Xieng Thong which is one of the most important of Lao monasteries and reserves a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art where you’ll be suprised by the temple complex’s struture and gold decoration.
 
Then we make our stop at Vat Mai which brings us a chance to enjoy the impressive architecture of this Laotian city’s unique architecture. After experiencing the Luang Prabang’s rich religious heritage, continue your trip to climb to the top of Mount Phousi which is considered the city’s geographical center and a great lookout place. Have a closer look at  the golden stupa sitting at the peak as you soak up the sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.
 
The last destination of our tour today would be Luang Prabang’s National Museum, once the country’s royal palace and home to King Sisavangvong in the early 20th century. Explore the museum’s a range of personal artifacts from the Lao royal family as well as the Phra Bang Buddha image and throne from the country’s Lan Xang Kingdom.

In the late afternoon, we will get an oppotunity to join a private Baci ceremony at a local family. The Baci ceremony is a traditional ritual of the Lao people expresses the spirituality of the country and is a highly unforgettable experience and a deep insight into Lao culture for the participants.
 
You will be served dinner and share with family members which helps us have first-hand experience of local life and culture.
Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang.
 
 

After breakfast, we start cycling out of Luang Prabang  at 8:30 am  to the river bank and hop on a ferry to cross the mighty Mekong River to Ban Xeng Mene. We cycle off-road, discovering the area with several stops to take pictures before arrival at the village of Ban Nakham. The village is famous for sugar cane and Kaolam (sticky rice and beans in bamboo), which are tasty local treats.

We keep riding along green rice fields stopping in different villages and tribes to find out how the locals make their living. Then we still cycle to pass the villages of Khmu and Lao Loum until we reach the amazing waterfall, Tad Hoi Khua (Hundred families waterfall). A picnic lunch  will be served by the falls while listening to the sound of the nature.

After lunch, we begin ascend to the top of the waterfall supported by a local guide for a hiking loop of around 2h30.
Reaching the top, we enjoy a wonderful mountain view and explore the natural pool from the waterfall water spring and also some centenaries trees. Learn about the jungle vegetation, the tales of Hoi Khua waterfall and the local life style.

Continue by the governor’s trees plantations project with some wild field, admire the natural taste of some veggies found on the way and then walk back down to the coffee shop, take a short rest before back to Luang Prabang and cycle back to your hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang
 

This morning , our guide and driver will pick up you and  driver for one hour to Ban Xeng Mouk Village.
We start to visit to the ethnic Khmu village of Ban Longlao Nung and then  the nearby Hmong village of Ban Longlao Song.

You will have a chance to observe the lifestyles of these two different cultural minority groups and be a bit surprised because, despite their differences, they still manage to work together day by day and even share the same school.

We pass through rice paddys and vegetable fields and heading the moutainous forest. On the way we could discover a cave which was a bomb shelter for local villagers in the second Indochina War.

After visiting the cave one more hour of trekking brings us to one of the many springs which feeds Kuang Xi waterfalls, here a beautiful pool full of sacred fish can be seen. After descending from the top of the waterfall we enjoy a Lao style lunch amongst some beautiful settings!

After that, we have a soft trekking in one hour reaching the most famous Kuang Si Waterfalls in Laos. We spend full afternoon in bathing and relaxing around the turquoise pools below the waterfall or we could also visit

You can see up close Asiatic bears have been rescued from illegal farms at the Bear Rescue Centre which is located nearby.

The final leg today, we shall make a short stroll  to a nearby Khmu village of Ban Thapene which is home to some of the most beautiful pools of Kuang Xi Waterfalls.

Overnight in Luang Prabang
 

Wake up early, after breafast, we will begin our adventure of the northern Laos by passing through the most remote area of Laos to Muang Hiam via Pakxeng, Samsoun, and Vieng Thong.

We will have a short stop at Ban Pak Ou, where we will hop on the small motorboat to visit the mysteries Pak Ou caves where we could have a look at confluence of the Mekong & Ou Rivers. Since the 16 century, the villagers built many thousands of Buddha images here.

After that, our drive will pass the backroad via Pakxeng and Samsoun, the least visited area of Laos. On the way, we will see very few travelers, who also have the same passion with us in the purposes to find the new heaven.

We may make some stop to enjoy the view, visit the local villages, or just to stretch your legs.
We arrive in Muang Hiam late afternoon. Transfer to your standard guesthouse. Overnight In Muang Hiam
 

After breakfast depart for the Nam Et-Phou Louey NPA (National Protected Area).

From here, you will explore the Nam Nern Night Safari and stay in a simple standard ecolodge which has been built and developed by the local villagers . We study about wildlife preservation, medicinal plants, traditional agriculture and the history of the Secret War from your knowledgeable local Khmu guide.

When we arrive at Ban Son Koua - an ethnic Khmu Village, our local knowledgeable guides and boatmen will welcome you and take you on a short tour of the village where you will study about the animist tradition of appeasing the village spirit. After that, we take a local boat on 1.5-hour journey to the park substation on the Nam Nern River, on the way we have chance to study about the upland rice cultivation and having opportunities to spot monitor lizards and bird life.

Upon arrival at the park substation, lunch will be provided by the local villager group. After lunch, we get a briefing by park staff about the on-the-ground efforts in protecting tigers and their prey. Around the middle of the afternoon we will leave for the night safari.

We continue to have a soft trekking into the forest. Our local guide, a profession al hunter and tracker, will show us how local people track deer and other wild ungulates. The guides notice evidence of wildlife, such a tracks or scat at the salt lick.

The boats will continue upstream to the dinner site, a sandy, flat bank, where  a picnic dinner will be served around a campfire. After dinner, our guides tell Khmu folktales and stories about dragons, wildlife, and ghosts. They teach you about the species of animals they may find out  during the spotlighting and explain the rules and expectations for spotlighting.

Basing on the amount of moonlight, we leave for the night spotlighting 1-2 hours after dark, floating down river with engines off with only one light per boat. Only guides use the light to avoid scaring the animals. The guides and boat drivers communicate via hand signals to avoid talking that might disturb the animals. The boat is very quiet so as not to disturb the animals. Animals that may be seen include Sambar Deer, Otters, and Barking Deer, various species of Civets, Slow Loris, Porcupine, and Owls (Hogbadgers, Asian golden cat and wild dogs have also been seen).

At the end of the spotlighting, the boats arrive at the evening camp. Before going to bed you will be able to check out a variety of insects attracted to the black light set up near the substation.

 Overnight in Nam Nern
 
 

Before breakfast, our local guides will meet you and take you make a stroll around the jungle, show you learn about the use of some medicinal plants and give you information of the history of the site, which used to be a major settlement during the Secret War. After breakfast, the boats cruise back through the core zone at a relaxing pace with engines off, while the guides point out wildlife along the way.

Upon arrival in the village, you are invited to try earthen jar rice wine (lao hai).
After that we keep driving approximately 3 hours to Xieng Khouang. On the way enjoy the beautiful scenery and see local village life. Lunch will be provided at a local restaurant.

Xieng Khouang is a town that has been completely reconstructed after being destroyed during the secret war in Laos. The town is now situated 30 km away from where it was originally. Nowadays, Xieng Khouang, locally called “Phonsavan” is the gateway to the Plain of Jars.

After checking into your hotel, if you  are still energy, you night visit the MAG Center in the town. MAG is a humanitarian organization clearing the remnants of flight for the benefit of local communities worldwide. Lao PDR is the most heavily bombed nation in the world (per capita). Free entry, open everyday from 08:00h – 20:00h.

Overnight in Xieng Khouang
 
 

In the morning, we get an opportunity to enjoy a half day trip to Muang Khoun. Muang Khoun one place in the old provincial capital that was not been damaged by the American bombings during the secret war. Muang Khoun is home to unique sitting giant Buddha as well of some old pagodas that lies in ruins. The foundation and columns of Wat Pia Wat are still standing and close to this site, there is also an old 30m stupa constructed in the Lan Xang/Lanna period.

After lunch, we will continue to head to the southern road via Thathom, and Nam Cap to Paksan. This road is also not discovered by the tourist, and you mostly see the villagers
We arrive in Paksan late afternoon. Overnight in Paksan
 

Wake up early, we spend our time to walk at around 06:30 to experience the villages in the morning as local people get up  and prepare for the day.

Back to hotel for breakfast, we start driving around 5-10 minutes towards the Kong Lor Caves. Life jackets and head torches will be provided before walking shortly around to the main entrance of the cave. Upon reaching the cave, you will take a long tail boat which will lead you through the length of this impressive cave along an underground section of the Hin Boun River – a length of 7.5km before you find out daylight again!

The river flows all the time and indicates vast formations of stalactites and stalagmites, which you will discover partly on foot whilst inside the cave with width of 90m wide and the height of 100m. Villagers still used this cave as an access route to the region beyond (it is far quicker than climbing over the mountains which this cave cuts through!).

Once get out pf the other side you might make a short stop for refreshments and walk to local villages, admiring the scenery and observing a simple way of life (talk with your guide how far you would like to walk).

Return by boat, board ‘downstream’ through the cave, to Ban Kong Lor. Have  lunch on your own account before traveling south.

Overnight in Ban Kong Lor 
 
 

In the early morning, we highly recommend to stretch your leg  around 06:30am to experience the villages as local people wake up and prepare for the day.
After breakfast, it is time for us to say goodbye to the friendly village and leave for Ban Thalang.

It takes us 1 hour to drive to make the first stop in Ban Thabak, and admire the 02-hour boat ride along the Nam Theun river. The boat is created from the old aircraft oil tank, and suitable for maximum 3 adults per boat.

During the cruise, we enjoy the peaceful landscape of the along the bank of the river. We may have a rest at one or two local villages if you wish to see closer into the local life.

After the local lunch at standard restaurant, we will drive onwards to Ban Nam Yen, to refresh and take a dip at the natural swimming pool. We will also make a short stop at Tham Mangkon (Dragon caves) before driving directly to the impressive village Tha Lang in Nakai District, where we will check in the simple Sabaidee Guesthouse.

The rest of the afternoon is free for your own exploration. You can choose to stroll along the river to admire the sunset, or go fishing on the lake (which is created by the Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Dam).
Overnight at Sabaidee Guesthouse
 

We get up early in the morning, Sabaidee Guesthouse owner will support to prepare for your own breakfast.

After that, we leave for Thakhek, the capital town of Khammouane Province. On the way, we will make a short visit to the Nam Theun 2 Visitor Center, where we could be introduced to this Hydropower project.
It takes us around 02 hours to reach the village of Ban Nakhang Xang, the local village guide who leads the trek will welcome and pick up you.

We have soft trek passing through secondary forest while the guide points out forest products that provide the villagers with significant food resources. The trail passes through a cave that exits into a striking valley surrounded by towering cliffs and forest.

We will be provided a picnic lunch wherever you feel hungry, it should be at Tham Hip, which brings us the incredibly panoramic view over the area.

We then continue the path, following the shoreline of Nong Thao Lake, where trekkers can find out local fishermen at work. At Tham Nong Paseum Cave, the adventurer can enjoy swimming into the 400-metre-long cavern and discover its dramatic stalactites and stalagmites.

We then go on walking, and ascend a bamboo stairway to the Buddha Cave, which was rediscovered in April 2004. The cave insists of 229 bronze Buddhas that are said to be over 300 years old.

We arrive in Thakhek late afternoon, check in your hotel in town before taking a walk along the river to admire the sunset if you wish.
Overnight in Thakhek
 

After a light breakfast, your guide will pick up you around 09:30 to head your journey to the Southern. It takes us  takes approximately 1.5 hours Savannakhet. Before getting into Savannakhet you will have a short stop at the impressive 16th Century temple of That Ing Hang.

An magnificent central stupa dominates a courtyard which is flanked by statues of Lord Buddha, in a style the same with Wat Sisaket in Vientiane. That Ing Hang is among the most respected temples in Laos and many Buddhists will come here during December for the annual ‘Boun Phathat’ ceremony.

Heading to Savannakhet city which is most well - known as the birthplace of the father of the Lao People’s Democratic Repulic (Lao PDR), Kaysone Phomvihane, who was gave birth here in 1920. We have a short tour of the architectural highlights insisting of various French villas and the striking St. Teresa Catholic Church.

We could not miss the small but very amazing Dinosaur Museum. Dinosaur remains are being found nearby which are between 150,000,000 – 250,000,000 years old. You can talk with the resident paleontologists about their work and the proceeds from your visit help to keep this project going.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant it will be time to hit the road again for heading to Pakse approximately 3.5 hours. Check in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

On the the junction of two rivers : the Mekong and the Sedone River, Pakse is the most important town in southern Laos. Pakse is the home a very important Vietnamese community, so if you visit this town during the Têt (Vietnamese New Year), do not be surprised if many shops are closed. This small city has a combination of Chinese and French architecture and some lively markets.
Overnight in Pakse
 

After breakfast, We have a short walki around city tour of Pakse will help you find out some nice remnants of the French period before spend around 1 hour in transferring by road to Wat Phou.

Wat Phou is a beautifully dramatic pre-Angkorian temple being considered as World Heritage Site by UNESCO that located amidst the rice fields and waterways of southern Laos.The temple was built in three levels: the bottom level is mainly concentrated on the baray (water reservoir) and promenade, the second level features quadrangular pavilions and galleries of carvings, and the top level is the sanctuary itself.

The temple was constructed by the rulers of the Khmer empire before the construction of Angkor Wat. The temple was the most important economic and political centre of the region and still is one of the Lao people’s most respected temples.

After your visit, we continue in to Champassak to see samples of French colonial architecture before driving to Ban Khiet Ngong, set inside the Xe Pian NPA, where we will spend the night at King Fisher Eco-lodge

Overnight at King Fisher Eco-Lodge
 
 

We will pass through the little village of Ban Khiet Ngong where we'll get an opportunity to take an elephant ride to Mount Asa. We’ll enjoy our lunch at a simple local restaurant. Ban Kiet Ngong is the beginning point for your 90 minute elephant ride through the forest (2 people per elephant) and up to Mount Asa. This kind of tour is part of a community-based tourism project developed to support the local villagers and provide conservation awareness.

En route, we’ll catch a amazing sight of the Xe Pian National Park which is situated between Champasak and Attapeu provinces. Stretching along the Mekong with many wetlands and unspoiled forest areas, this park offers a huge biodiversity with 29 recorded ecosystems. Birds species such as egrets, sarus crane and hornbill can occasionally be spotted and other inhabitants include wild elephant and gibbon.

Afterwards, we drive south to visit Khone Phapheng, which is considered the largest waterfall by volume in South East Asia; this is an impressive spot near the Lao-Cambodian border, set within an area which is teeming with wildlife, making this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos.

We then drive back to Ban Nakasang, and take the boat venturing the 4000-island area. We will stop at Khone island, where we spend the night.

Overnight at the hotel at Khone Island.
 

After a leisurely breakfast, we will get an opportunity to experience the local peaceful villages of Ban Khone, where you will find out a rang of historical object from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with its locomotive.

We continue to explore the 4000 islands area by tuktuk and visit the breathtaking Liphi waterfall, also named the “Corridor of the Devil” one of the most beautiful waterfalls between Lao border and Cambodia. If we are lucky, we may even see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone.

Afterwards, we will hop on the boat upstream the Mekong river to Khong island, the largest island of the area. Here, you will have enough time to go around the island, visit the local village, or just take a cup of coffee before continuing our return to Champasak.

Upon arrival in Champasak, we will embark the boat crossing the Mekong river to the peaceful island of Daeng, which is named after very famous folk tale of the area.

Then you will be welcomed and met by the host family before strolling around the island to stretch your legs and enjoy the local life.

The dinner will be provided while the folk tales are told by the host family supported by your guide.
Overnight at the home of the host family, the real Lao experience.
 

The breakfast will be served by the host family. It is time for us to say goodbye to our gentle host before embarking the boat back to Champasak.

Then leaving for the Bolaven Plateau, The Bolaven Plateau is well -known for its cooler temperature being situated high above the Mekong Valley.

Make a stroll at a tea plantation, followed by a short tour to Tad Fan Waterfall, a magnificently picturesque  twin chute waterfall.

Tad Fane is built by natural twin 120-metre high waterfalls basing on the merging waters of the Champy and Pak Koot rivers. These falls are located on the edge of Dong Hua Sao protected area, far from 38 km from Paksé (Note: water level may vary accordingly to the previous rainy season).

On the way back to Pakse we  will make a stop to visit a tea and/or coffee plantation. Laos is famouus  for its delicious coffee, is mainly grown here on the Bolaven Plateau. A visit to one of the plantations will privide you with good knowledge of the process of planting, harvesting and roasting these delicious beans. Have chance to enjoy a cup of the local brew before you leave.

 Overnight at Sinouk Coffee Resort

After breakfast, Our  Jeep tour specialist will welcom and met you at Chai Coffee, and discuss  with him a bit there when enjoying a cup of coffee.

After that, we will take our own Jeep to reach Tad Moun Waterfalls within 30 minutes where we can enjoy the fresh cool water, and visit the vegetable farm not far away.

We then continue our tour day trip to drive to the Coffee Farm of Mr. Khamsone via the 10KM bumpy and muddy road, which will take us near 01 hour with your special Jeep car.

Upon arrival, the Coffee farm’s owner will spend 1 hour to give us useful introduction about about coffee Roasting step and finishing by enjoying a coffee cupping with the different kind of coffee (Robusta, Arabica and Typica).

A picnic lunch will be served on the farm at around 1:30PM before walking to the refugee cave not far away, which is used as the shelter place by the local villagers during the war time.

After that, we will walk along the farm to see the volcano mountain named Phou Sanark where we can discover the view over the farm and the nearby villages during the sunset.

We can get an opportunity of preparing and cooking diiner with the wife of Mr. Khamsone.
 Overnight at the tent camp at the coffee farm
 

After breakfast we head to Laven village name’s B Setkhord by Jeep transfer for 14km or 1hr .. In this village there are more than 500 families living in over 100 years old. So, during the France Indochina, these plateau named Laven plateau, which means: An area or the hometown of Laven people living. Upon arrival, we can make a stroll ,and our guide can give you more stories about this village.

We continue to drive to Tad Say Waterfall where we will be served the picnic lunch

After that we will make a short tour at a Suay Village named B Darsia, where you can find out many traditional house. 30% of the house here is still the traditionally built long house, and rest of them is the traditional house. The house is the place, where many generations will live together. The family use the house for all daily activities such as cooking, eating, and sleeping.

We will arrive back to our hotel in Paksong late afternoon. Free for the rest of the day.
Overnight in Paksong.

 Free for the rest of the day. Overnight at Sinouk Coffee Resort
 

After a leisurly breakfast, we begin driving to a small ethnic village, and spend our time to experience the village before heading off trekking through the Bolaven Plateau which is original of many tea and coffee plantations. We continue further until reaching the amazing rock formations of Xing Sai Limestones, here we have some time before going on onwards to the towering Champi waterfall where  our picnic lunch will be served.

At the waterfall we will be free to enjoy swimming and relax amongst the wonderful surroundings! After our lunch we continue on trekking through the dense forest for approximately three hours until reaching the village of Ban Lak 38, where we meet our driver and transfer back to Pakse.

Free for the rest of the day for your own experience of the town.
Overnight in Pakse
 

You are free to make a stroll around the town before being transfered to the airport for the departure flight. End of services.