Duration: 8 days 7 nights
Start: Luang Prabang / Finish: Pakse
Destinations included: Four Thousand Islands, Luang Prabang, Southern Laos, Vientiane
Price from: $795/person
This tour combines all the major attractions in the south of Laos with the most important central destinations. The south of Laos holds some of the most spectacular and largest waterfalls in Asia. It has coffee plantations and tribal villages on the Bolaven Plateau, the ancient Khmer temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wat Phu, and the laidback Four Thousand Islands in a wide section of the Mekong River. The trip also includes many boat cruises, at which you have a chance to spot the rare river dolphins, and an elephant ride. In central Laos you will do a city tour of the capital Vientiane and visit World Heritage city Luang Prabang with its charming French architecture and ancient temples.
JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS
Wandering the historical sites, pagodas in the laid back capital Vientiane
Visiting the minority villages for deeply local touch
Cruising on the mighty Mekong River
Soaking up the Khmer ruins – Wat Phu
Discovering the biggest waterfall of Southeast Asia
Visiting the amazing Kuang Si waterfall
TOUR INCLUSIONS
- Carefully selected accommodation with breakfast
- Other meals listed in the itinerary
- Expert English-speaking local guide
- Tours as mentioned and air-conditioned transfers
- Sightseeing and permit fees during guided times
- Boat cruises and rides while on tour
- Flights to tour destinations (Economy Class)
- Service charges and government VAT tax
TOUR MAP
ITINERARY BY DAY
Day 1: Discover World Heritage Sites & Temples
Welcome to Luang Prabang, Your guide will meet you at the airport upon arrival and bring you to your hotel. Then enjoy a half -day spin around Luang Prabang…and you will understand why it deserves the World Heritage title! Visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao. Continue to visit Wat Mai.
Built in 1796, the five-tiered roof of the wooden Sim (chapel) epitomizes the graceful Luang Prabang architectural style.Visit Wat Xieng Thong further emphasizes the uniqueness of Luang Prabang, its several roofs sweeping low to the ground. See also the impressive “tree of life” mosaic here. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts semi-erotic episodes from the Ramayana.
Climb up Phou Sii hill stands right in the center of this small city. Climb its 350 steps to enjoy commanding views for many miles in each direction. Wat Phu Sii sits atop the mountain, along side the skeletons of Indochina war anti-aircraft guns! Shopping night market, where hundred of Hmong vendors display their handmade handicraft. Diner tonight on your own but our guide recommence the nice restaurants in town for you. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Central to Southern Laos Expedition
Day 2: Royal Palace – Mekong River Boat Experience – Pak Ou Buddha Caves
After Breakfast, Visit the National Museum, once a king’s palace. Displayed inside is a lovely collection of personal artifacts of the royal family, including photos, musical instruments, and many gifts received from the dignitaries of foreign countries. Begin a Mekong Riverboat trip with your guide on the mighty Mekong River to visit the famous & sacred Pak Ou Buddha Caves. These caves, overlooking the confluence of the Mekong & Ou Rivers from on high, have been home to many thousands of Buddha images that were placed here by local people since 16th century, when King Setthathirat found the caves and declared them a holy spot. On return Visit Por Sa Paper Handicraft & textile area at Ban Xang Khong. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Day 3: Kuang Si Waterfall – Explore Town
After breakfast drive with your guide by car to the Kuang Si waterfall. The falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools.
The water here has a clear blue-green tint due to the high mineral content. You can climb the stairs and look down from various high viewpoints on the way to the top! Enjoy a picnic lunch and later in the afternoon return to the hotel to relax or explore on your own. Luang Prabang is a wonderful walking town, and you can find dinner on your own at any number of fine international standard restaurants. Visit Black Hmonng Village, where they produce varieties of handmade handicraft. Arrive in the town and transfer you to airport for Vientiane. Arrive in Vientiane, meet you guide at the airport and transfer you to your hotel to relax.
Meals included: breakfast
Central to Southern Laos Expedition – Kuangsi Water Fall
Day 4: Vientiane City Tour
After breakfast at hotel, visit revolutionary museum. Then enjoy a city tour to Wat Sisaket with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Visit Wat Simuang and Wat Prakeo, which was the original home of the famous Emerald Buddha, which today lives in Bangkok. There are many excellent restaurants in Vientiane, and you will easily find something to suit your taste.
Visit the huge golden That Luang monument, where all Lao citizen respect as holy pagoda. Visit Vientiane’s own Victory Monument, which looks like the Arc de Triumphe. This was built at the end of the Indochina wars with money rumored to be American, and earmarked for the airport’s new runway.
Thus the departing Americans dubbed this monument the vertical runway! Have a look at the lovely arches inside the monument. Overnight in Vientiane.
Meals included: breakfast
Day 5: Trekking Around Tad Fane Waterfall & Bolaven Plateau
Early morning Leave hotel for Wattay Airport. Arrive in Pakse Airport, meet your guide and drive to Tad Fane, Start to trek around Tad Fane and Bolaven plateau, enjoying a day-trek in this lovely area.
In the morning, make an easy 4 hour hike up to the Dan Sin Say Plateau. This hike goes through a local village, coffee plantations, over a hanging bridge and on to the plains. Huge boulders, epiphytes and wild orchids abound. Large pine trees grow here, giving it a wholly different character of landscape. Return to Tadfane Resort for lunch. After lunch, it’s time to relax. For the still active ones it’s possible to make a more strenuous walk to the top of one of the waterfalls. Overnight at Tadfane Resort.
Meals included: breakfast
Day 6: Elephant Ride – Four Thousand Islands
After breakfast, continue on to the 4000 Islands area (Si Phan Don) by van. En Route, visit an Elephant Camp to see how handlers (“mahouts”) train these giant friendly animals! Elephant ride. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant close to Done Khong. Then continue to 4000 Islands by bus and boat. Arrive in Donkhong and check in at your hotel for relaxing. Overnight in Khong Island.
Meals included: breakfast
Central to Southern Laos Expedition
Day 7: Mekong Cruise – Waterfall – River Dolphins
After Breakfast, begin a boat trip to Khone island, visit Li Phi Falls were the major obstacles which thwarted the French in their efforts to open the Mekong River to navigation. Here also live some 50-100 Irrawaddy (freshwater) dolphins. If lucky, you’ll have the chance to see them! Lunch is in a local restaurant. See the small gauge railway and Colonial Bridge built by the French to circumscribe the falls. Lunch served at local. Overnight in Khong island.
Meals included: breakfast
Day 8: Niagara of the East – Wat Phu World Heritage Site – Drive to Thailand
After breakfast, return to Nakasang Village by boat. Enjoy visit the largest waterfalls in Asia: Khone Prapeng! Drive North to the famous Khmer Temple complex of Vat Phou. This represents the easternmost border of the Khmer empire, although the influence of the Khmers was felt deep into central Vietnam. Continue to the Thai/Lao land border at Chong Mek. Continue to Ubon (Thailand) for your flight back to Bangkok.
Meals included: breakfast
