Laos Tour 9 Days: A Majestic Country

Arriving at Wattay International Airport , after clearing immigration and customs, you will be welcomed and transferred to a hotel in the city center by private car.

Check in at the hotel and relax.
In the evening, we will have chance to experience the Lao Culture by enjoying the traditional dance & folk song when dinner is served.

You are free at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel in Vientiane.

In the morning, we will pick up you  at your hotel in Vientiane to start our private tour by the first stop Wat Si Saket, the only temple left undamaged by  the Siamese invaders in 1828. It is considered as one of the most magnificent temples in the city, and its breezy teak-covered hallways with thousands of miniature sculptures of Buddha statues.

The second stop we make would be a religious museum of Wat Ho Phra Ke which expresses a collection of both Lao and Khmer works of art. Then we visit the Presidential Palace and have a look at the building from outside ( we are not allowed to go inside). Catch a sight into the town’s colonial past as this building formerly served as the French governor’s palace.

Dicover Wat Si Muang, one of the most popular and respected temples in Vientiane. Then continue out trip with the Patuxai monument (Victory Gate), Laos’ version of the Arc de Triomphe, where you can climb the stairs to the roof for sweeping panoramic views of the city.

Then we move on That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. Constructed by King Setthethirat in the 16th century, the temple is resplendent as the sun shines upon its towering golden spire.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant and then reach the Buddha Park  after 45 - minute by road transfer. On the way, we  make a brief stop and take photos of the Friendship Bridge, built by the Australian government in 1994, which connect Laos and Thailand. On arrival, we go around the Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) with more than 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues. The tranquil setting along the Mekong River is a contrast to the slightly eccentric sculptures built in 1958 by a Laos shaman. The concrete sculptures are unique and intriguing, sitting majestically in the peaceful park.

We return to Vientiane and make our stop at the Lao Disabled Women's Development Centre, which intends to help disabled women to raise theire knowledge and skills  so that they can become self-sufficient and productive people of the community. The center mainly focuses its efforts on helping people with disabilities gain independence and self confidence.

A visit to the center brings you  the opportunity to talk to these women and to observe their skill at creating handicrafts such as hand-made paper. End your full-day tour of the capital along the banks of the Mekong River as the sun begins to set. Walk along the river, stop to enjoy a cold drink, or sample a snack from one of the many local food stalls, if you like, before retunr to your hotel.

Overnight at the hotel in Vientinane
 

We leave the city in the early morning  for our journey to the  Northern; we will see some stunning landscape on the way as we pass through beautiful countryside towards the mountainous region.

Along the way,  we will experience the colorful market of KM52 where local people come to trade goods and buy provisions.

We may stop to take a photo at Hin Heup bridge, and the fish market in Ban Tha Heua.

We reach our destination Vang Vieng which lies on the Nam Song River with the limstone hill landscape surrounding the town.

In the afternoon, we  continue our trip by passing through paddy field areas heading to Tham Phoukham caves  which is located  to the northeast of the village of Ban Na Thong . On the way, you will experience  the local cultures by greeting the local people and learning about their daily lifestyle.

There is a small natural pool named Blue Lagoon in front of the caves  where you can take a swim and relax by yourself or you could explore the nearby area.

Return to town, we will take the leisurely boat along the Namsong River while enjoying the sun setting behind the mountains.
Overnight in Vang Vieng

Today, we start experiencing the town by visiting the most well-known in Vang Vieng, the cave of Tham Jang, which was shelter of the local villagers   in the early 19th century  against the Chinese invaders. We also pass through the river to Ban Phathau, a very peaceful village where we can discover the different local lifestyles.

After that, we begin our expedition to Xieng Khuang. The roads are well paved along the way for a smooth journey; we go through some beautiful landscape scenery with a combination of steep terraced fields and hill villages, we take a few photo stops at some small hill tribe village enroute. Each hill tribe village in Laos has a different feel, some are more prosperous than others but all have plenty of life. We still have time to stop at the peak of Phou Phiengpha to admire the panoramic view over the mountainous area.

From there, we will continue by road tranfer  a bit further to the T-Junction in Phoukhoun, and take the right turn onto Xieng Khuang province. After that, the road is getting a bit harder which includes some zigzagging mountain paths; and we will make some stop along the way to visit the local hill tribe villages, or to stretch your legs. We will make a short stop at Tham Pra, which served as the hospital during the Indochina Wars before arriving in Phonsavanh.

Overnight at the hotel in Xieng Khuang.
 

Today, our trip today insists of 3 sites and also discover some local villages where you can have chance to experience local village life.
Site 1, close to the town is located at Thong Hai Hin and is the largest site.
Site 2 is at Hai Hin on Phou Salator, “Phou” in Lao means “Mountain”.
End your tour at site 3 in Hai Hin Lat Khai. Site 3 is the most magnificent with over 150 jars. Nearby this site, you will have a stop at where there is a little monastery with Buddha images. En route, you will pass through areas that were necessary battlefields during the American secret war. You can still have a closer look at  bomb craters from that time today.

In the afternoon, 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.

Overnight at the hotel in Xieng Khuang.
 

In the early morning, we make a stroll at the Central Market of Phonsavanh to find out the different hill tribe people barter and exchange merchandises.
Return back to hotel for slight breakfast, then we shall take the direct transfer to Luang Prabang.

After so many  photo stops, we go on driving, enjoying the gorgeous natural scenery of the mountains, the forest and landscape. The roads are well set along the way for a smooth journey; we pass through some stunning landscape scenery with a combination of steep terraced fields and hill villages, we stop for a while to take a few photo stops at some small hill tribe village en route. Each hill tribe village in Laos has a different feel, some are more prosperous than others but all have plenty of life.

We will make a short stop at Ban Phoudam village, where we can discover the two hill tribe minorities of H’Mong and Khamu living in harmony, before driving to the photo stop at Ban Kiew Nya for the panoramic view prior to reaching Luang Prabang.

Overnight at the hotel in Xieng Khuang.

After breakfast, our guide will pick up you from hotel and begin our trip to day with the first destination is Royal Palace Museum where people kept a range of amazing artifacts. Our next stop in the city is the impresive  Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which shows classical Laotian architecture. We will also catch a sight of the Traditional Art & Ethnology Center to study the many Lao ethnic groups.

In the afternoon, we take 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.

Overnight at the hotel Luang Prabang.

Our trip today will  takes us to  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 among the dense Laotian jungle where we will have plenty of time to refreshing swim in the pools and hike around the falls.

You can also have a closer look at  Asiatic bears at the Bear Rescue Centre along the jungle walk to the waterfall.

Before returning to Luang Prabang, we will visit  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.

Arriving in Luang Prabang, we will climb the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a stunning sunset view of the city and its brightly shining reflection on the majestic Mekong River.

After breakfast at the hotel, we shall have chance to experience a Elephant Village. On arrival, you will be welcomed and greeted by the Camp Manager who will give us a brief introduction. After enjoying the interesting  experience of approx. 30-minute elephant ride on the neck; you will then embark on a return boat trip to the Tad Sae Waterfall and spend some time in the clear water. Your buffet style lunch will be served at the Elephant Village Restaurant ,coffee or Tea and drinking water will be available.

We are free to make stroll around before transferring back to the center.  Along the way, we take a short visit to the tomb of the 19th century French explorer Henri Mouhot; the first European to rediscover Angkor Wat and the Royal Kingdom of Luang Prabang.

We then transfer out to the airport to take the departure flight. End of services.