9D- Essentials of Laos

DAY 1.  Arrival – Luang Prabang
Upon arrival, you will be met by our staff and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. After a short rest, we’ll  visit to The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture throughout the ages and Wat Mai; we then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, gilded stupa as well as capture a beautiful view of the city and the Mekong River at sunset. From there, we visit the Night Market, where you can browse through a lovely selection of handmade textiles. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Accommodation: Included
Meal: Dinner

Day 2.   Luang Prabang – Pak Ou cave – Kuangsy Waterfalls
Today, we enjoy a short-guided tour of the city’s oldest temple, Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong where you can see the impressive “tree of life” mosaic set in colored glass. We then board an upstream cruise on the Mekong River, which gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside. We’ll make sure to stop at the Pak Ou Caves, sanctuaries consisting of two large caverns, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images. We will also stop at a few villages during the day, including Ban Muangkeo where the local rice wine is produced
In the afternoon, we head out of town 30km to the beautiful Kuangsy Fall. En route, stop to visit some ethnic minority villages and see how these colorful people live. We then continue to the beautiful Kuangsy Waterfalls where you can swim in the turquoise pools or walk along forest paths. Overnight in Luang Prabang
Accommodation: Included
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Day3. Luang Prabang – Oudomxay (Namkat Yolapa) (Express train C86 12.30 13.45)
After breakfast, we catch the express train to Oudomxay. Oudomxay province is residence to 23 ethnic minority groups located along the Nam beng river. Upon arrival, you will be met our staff and transferred to the jungle resort Namkat Yolapa. After check into your hotel, we will enjoy a short trek through the jungle to Namkat waterfall. Take your time at the waterfall before returning to the hotel for overnight.
Accommodation: Included
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Namkat Yolapa- Muang La
You set off in the morning in the direction of Pak Khai; this pleasant journey gives you wonderful views across the River Nam Pak, terraced rice fields and the small villages along the banks of the river. On your arrival, you start your trek along a mountain trail which follows a mountain stream meandering through the lush vegetation. You have the chance to meet the local farmers working in their rice fields and learn how they cultivate their lands, hunt for small game and fish in the mountain stream, before you enter into the tropical rainforest. After around 1½ hours, you leave the forest and arrive in the village of Ban Phavie; a beautiful Khamu village which sits on the top of a hill. After taking your lunch in the village, you continue on to some nearby waterfalls. You can relax in the cooling clear waters, lulled by the gentle breeze and tranquility of the falls (weather permitting). At around 14:30, you head back to Namkat Yolapa and arrive in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: Included
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Day5. Oudomxay-  Luang Namtha (Express train C82 1021 1051)
After breakfast, take a short walk to the village of Khamu people and see how these colorful people live before catching the train to Luang Namtha, situated on the Tha River, or Nam Tha. Upon arrival, you will be met our staff and transfer to your hotel for checkin. After a short rest,  we visit the Luang Namtha Museum, where collections of anthropological importance are on display. Ethnic garb, tools, instruments, and artworks can be seen here, providing insight into local culture and history. You’ll also visit Ban Nam Dee, the Lantern Village, where you can observe ethnic tradition in action and cool down by the beautiful Nam Dee waterfall. You’ll return to Luang Namtha in the evening for overnight.
Accommodation: Included
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Day6: Luang Namtha- Muong sing
After breakfast, we make our way to Muong Sing, on the way we stop to visit hill tribe villages: Ekor (Aka ) and Lan Taen people who used to be a group of Sino – Tibet people, After lunch we discover the way of the life of hill tribes, we will also visit Chieng Tung stupa, Ban Nam Ded Village, Ban Nam Mai Village of Yao people and the Laos-China border Pang Thong local check point. Return to Luang namtha and set the time at your leisure. Overnight in Luang Namtha
Accommodation: Included
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Day7: Luang Namtha- Vang Vieng (Express train C81 12.15 14.45)
After breakfast, we catch an express train to Vang Vieng, a small and tranquil town nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River.  After check into your hotel, we explore the famous caves of Tham Jang, which was once used by the local people as a hideout from Chinese invaders. Today ends with a superb sunset panorama reflecting over the Nam Song River. Overnight in Vang Vieng
Accommodation: Included
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Day8. Vang Vieng – Tham Phoutham – Vientiane (Express Train/C81 14.49- 15.45)
After breakfast, we take a drive through paddy fields to the Tham Phoukham caves, the country’s beautiful and famous limestone caverns surrounded by forest. Along the way, you will meet local villagers and learn about their daily lifestyle. There is a small natural pool in front of the caves where you can swim and refresh yourself from the heat. After spending the day at the caves and the surrounding area, we make our return to Vang Vieng and catch the train to Vientiane.  On arrival at in the capital, you will be met by our staff and transferred to your hotel. Vientiane is a charming and fascinating place, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences. After a short rest, an orientation walk is a pleasant way to spend the day, strolling around some of the city’s m most historical sites and seeing some of the French colonial architecture. We’ll bask in the sunset by the Mekong Riverside and continue to explore until the late evening. Overnight in Vientiane.
Accommodation: Included
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Day9. Vientiane- Departure
Today, we start visiting the major city sights; including Wat Sisaket, the country’s oldest temple, with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo. En route to the famous That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.
(If time permits) We visit the Morning Market and the weaving village of Ban Nong Bouathong. The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure.
Accommodation: N/A
Meal: N/A