Luang Prabang - Angkor Along the Mekong tour 12 Days: The Magnificent Journey

Arrival at Luang Prabang airport, pick up and transfer to hotel in Luang Prabang. In the afternoon, visit Vat Visoun temple with its Singhalese-style stupa, That Makmo, and Vat Aham, one of the main city sanctuaries dedicated to the ancestors of the Laos Wat. Then, enjoy the sunset at Vat Siphouthabath Temple along the Mekong River.

Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang

Accommodation            : At the hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals                           : NA

After breakfast, visit Vat Xieng Thong, regarded as the most beautiful temple in Luang Prabang with low sweeping roofs.

Then set sail on a traditional river boat for a 2-hour cruise up the Mekong River to Pak Ou, at the confluence of the Nam Ou and Mekong Rivers and visit the sacred caves of Tham Ting and Tham Phoum, home to hundreds of Buddha statues.

On the way, visit the Ban Xang Hai Village and discover the distillation of sticky rice wine.

Return to Luang Prabang and proceed by road to Ban Xang Khong weaving village where traditional mulberry leaf paper is also produced. 

Arrival in town, visit Vat Longkhoune temple, famous for its 18th century frescoes (located on the other side of town center). End of your visit, back to town and transfer back hotel for resting.

Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang. 

Accommodation            : At the hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals                           : Breakfast

This morning for early risers at 5h00, you may want to rise early and participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black Alms-giving bowls being given offerings from the local people, including the ubiquitous sticky rice. Back to hotel for breakfast.

Breakfast at hotel, then our guide and driver will pick up at hotel lobby. From there you will visit the morning Phosi Market where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.

Then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or walk along the forest paths. Laos is also known for its traditional handicrafts, and today you will have chance to visit local village of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay and Ban Thapene on the way going to Kuang Si falls gate.

End of your visit, transfer back town.

Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang 

Accommodation            : At the hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals                           : Breakfast

Morning transfer without guide to the airport for flight to Pakse (QV513, operated only on TUE, THU, SAT).

On arrival at the airport, meet your guide and then visit the morning market of Pakse, one of the largest markets in Laos.

Then transfer to visit Boloven Plateau. As soon as you leave Pakse the road climbs in elevation as you ascend onto the Plateau. The area of Volcanic Rock makes for suburb tea and coffee plantations which thrive on the rich soil and the cooler climate.

Then transfer to visit Tad Fan falls, the highest waterfall in the country including two powerful waterfalls that are about 120 meters high. A further 2km from there is Tad Yuang falls which makes for a pleasant drive through the coffee plantations. After that, transfer back to Pakse and stop at the HoueyTen knife-making village for a short visit.

Meals on your own. Overnight in Pakse.

Accommodation            : At the hotel in Pakse

Meals                           : Breakfast

Breakfast at hotel. This morning, make your way by road to the ancient Royal capital of Champassak. Upon arrival in Champassak, continue by car to Vat Phou (8 km from the city), a pre-Angkorian temple built between the 6th and13th century and classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

Then continue your road trip to the other side of Mekong, in order to visit Ban Houei Thomo Village and walk to the nearby ruins of the Khmer temple of Oum Moung, hidden in the heart of a thick forest. 

End of your visit, transfer to ferry spot for the ferry boat to Don Daeng. 

Overnight at the hotel in Dong Deang

Accommodation            : At the hotel in Don Daeng 

Meals                           : Breakfast

After breakfast, ferry back land and continue the road to Khong Island where you board a long-tail riverboat for a 2h cruise through the maze of waterways forming the tropical paradise of the South of Laos, to Khone Island.  During the rainy season, the Mekong River reached a width of 14 km and when the water recedes they leave behind a myriad of islands and islets.

Upon arrival on Khone Island, we will take moto-taxi (local tuktuk) as our vehicle. Visit Det and Khone Islands for a glimpse of the traditional way of life of the local fishermen.  Discover Khone Island’s colonial heritage including an old railway built by the French in 1897, built to avoid the powerful rapids disrupting the navigation on the Mekong River. Continue to visit the Li Phi Waterfalls.

Overnight at the hotel on Khone Island.

Accommodation            : At the hotel in Khone Island.

Meals                           : Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel and make a short cruise to Ban Nakasang village. From there, drive to the famous Khone Phapeng Waterfalls, the largest cascade on the Mekong River along its 4,350 km journey from the Tibetan Plateau to the South China Sea.

Welcome by your Cambodian guide and then drive to drive to the colonial-style town of Kratie via Stung Treng. Check in to your hotel upon arrival. In the afternoon, visit Wat Phom Sambok to discover the Buddhist monasteries and enjoy a magnificent view on the surrounding countryside from the hilltop. Continue to reach the site of the freshwater river dolphins and observe the dolphins until sunset. Overnight at the hotel in Kratie.

Accommodation            : At the hotel in Kratie

Meals                           : Breakfast

Morning depature for Kampong Cham. This tranquil town has plenty of interesting sights, some of which are old colonial buildings and Wat Nokhor with the ancient temple and modern style pagoda. We include these in a short walk tour before we continue traveling by roads though Cambodia's biggest growing rubber area to Phnom Penh. This riverside town still maintains considerable charm despite its recent turbulent history. Arrival in Phnom Penh. Visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and we climb up a small hill to visit thelegendary Wat Phnom and catch a fantastic view over the surrounding areas. Overnight at the hotel in Phnom Penh.

Accommodation            : At the hotel in Phnom Penh

Meals                           : Breakfast

Morning you will transfer to Siem Reap with driver only to Siem Reap. You will stop in Skun to visit Spider Market.

Our guide will wait you at hotel for check in. After that you will start to visit Ta Prohm and some nearby temples including Kravan, Banteay Kdei, Sra Srong, Ta Keo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevado. They almost belong to the small circuit according to the archaeologists’ division and then we round off our exciting day with a walk up to Phnom Bakheng Hill to admire the spectacular sunset over these sandstone monuments. Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap.

Accommodation            : At the hotel in Siem Reap 

Meals                           : Breakfast

Morning departure for Banteay Srei Temple. We stroll around this beautiful landmark which was designed to leave no space undecorated. The roads begin to deteriorate but it is still fascinating to drive past the rolling mountain scenery towards Kbal Spean. This interesting site locally named the river of 1000 Lingars, has been largely reclaimed by the jungle; however it invovles a walk to catch a view over its riverbed carvings. The next stop is Banteay Samre which is adorned with striking relief depicting the scenes of Vishunu and Krishna legends. Today we also have a chance to explore the ancient Khmer civilization site of Hariharalaya which flourished in the late 9th and earlier 10th centuries. These are the earliest temples in the Angkor area and are referred to the Rolous group. Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap

Accommodation            : At the hotel in Banteay Srei  

Meals                           : Breakfast

After breakfast, you will transfer to visit various famous temples for the architectural masterpiece of Angkor Wat. Then contineu to South Gate of Angkor Thom, famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King.

Afternoon continue to Grand Temple including Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Krol Ko, Ta Som, East Mebon and end of the day visit Pre Rup Temple. Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap.

Accommodation            : At the hotel in Siem Reap   

Meals                           : Breakfast

Morning visit Les Chantiers Ecole, a handicraft center located in the center of Siem Reap. This art school was founded in 1992 and aims to revive the ancient art of Khmer workmanship as it gives young people the opportunity to learn the art of stone and wood carving, silk weaving methods and polychromic technique. If time permits we pay a visit to this school and the market in town. The trip ends after your transfer to Siem Reap

Accommodation            : NA   

Meals                           : Breakfast