Kamu Lodge Trekking Tour 6 Days: Cultural and Ethnic Heritage

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.

The welcome dinner will be served at the local restaurant with the traditional dance and folk song, the best chance to experience the local culture.

You’ll return to your hotel at the conclusion of your visit.
Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang.
 

After breakfast, we start to transfer to the Kamu Lodge pier in Luang Prabang then embark a local boat on Mekong river in 2 hours to reach the best famous and spiritual Pak Ou Buddha 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.

Continue cruising upstream and you would reach Kamu Lodge Experience near 12.00 noon. You can look into your super size tents with attached modern bathroom amenities and facilities. Lunch is served at the restaurant (Lao set Menu).

After lunch you ảre free to make a choice of either relaxing or to enjoying the traditional Kamu lifestyles and activities such as rice planting and harvesting in nearby rice fields, gold panning in the Mekong , traditional fishing techniques , visit of the kamu village, archery contest. Dinner (Lao set menu) is a feast by Kamu tribe standards. You will see the real world from the Kamu’s eyes.

After dinner, free time at your tent.
Overnight at Kamu Lodge.
 

After breakfast, you will have chance to go for a 4-hour trek in the nearby forest to the waterfall (trekking grade: moderate/challenging). A picnic lunch will be served near the waterfall. You will visit one village along the Mekong River on the your way returning to the Lodge.

In the afternoon, we will spend your time on enjoying leisure activities available on site such as  bathe in the Mekong, one hour Lao traditional massage, “petanque” contest.

Dinner is served at the simple local restaurant. 
After Dinner, free at your leisure.

Overnight at Kamu Lodge.
 

In the early morning, we will enjoy Western set breakfast  at the restaurant. Free rest of morning.

After lunch, you will take  the Kamu Lodge local boat around 14:00 pm for the cruise back to Luang Prabang. You will reach Luang Prabang’s pier in the late afternoon. Time free at the rest of day on your own or make a choice of one the optional activity as below:

Ceremony of Baci at local villager’s house at 18.00 pm (before dinner time)

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.

During the ceremony all members of the family as well as invited relatives and friends are sitting around the “Pha Khouan”, a traditional bouquet of flowers. An older man of the village is conducting the ceremony by leading preaches and good wishes for health, prosperity, safe travel or whatever may seem important.

To convey the wishes to you, the white cotton threads are bound around your wrists, called in Lao “Soukhouan”. This tradition comes from the old belief that 32 souls are living in the people’s body. Wishing all bad souls or bad influences leaving and all 32 good souls staying in the body is accompanying the binding which finally mean to not let the souls leave the body. The threads should be worn for at least 3days.

The ceremony will be followed by Lao traditional dancing performance.

Overnight at Kamu Lodge

Be 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, before returning by boat, then vehicle to your hotel in Luang Prabang.

Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang.
 

After breakfast at hotel, check out (check out time 12:00 pm). Free at your own leisure until transfer to airport for departure.
End of service.