Laos Highlights Overland 10 Days

Day 1: Vientiane Arrival – city tour

Welcome to Vientiane! After arrival in Vientiane airport, and completion of customs & immigration formalities, transfer with your guide to your hotel. Enjoy a city tour to Wat Sisaket with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Then visit Wat Simuang and Wat Prakeo, which was the original home of the famous Emerald Buddha, which today resides in Bangkok. Admire the huge, golden That Luang monument, which all Lao citizens 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.

There are many excellent restaurants in Vientiane and you will easily find something to suit your taste. Overnight in Vientiane.

Laos Highlights Overland

Day 2: Buddha Park – Textile Village

After breakfast, we start to visit the major sight out of town about 30 km, visit Buddha Park, a blend of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures created by mystical monk on parkland located by the Mekong River and the impressive Lao- Thai Friendship Bridge. En route stop at Lao/Thai Bridge, taking photos before continue to the park. Arrive in the town continue visit Textile village at Nong Buathong. Then transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Vientiane

Meals included: breakfast

Day 3: Morning Market – Drive to Vang Vieng – Explore Vang Vieng & Surroundings

After breakfast, visit Morning Market, first market in Vientiane, to spend time shopping on your own. Drive to Vang Vieng, about 3 hours from the capital. Once a key military airfield during the Indochina wars, the town’s central feature is the long-abandoned runway along the eastern side of town. On the west side, a small river separates the town from the nearby caves & mountains, which can easily be visited from town. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant en route. Overnight in Vang Vieng.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 4: Balloon over Vang Vieng – Explore Caves –Drive to Phonsavan – Plain of Jars

In the morning before breakfast, your guide will pick up at the hotel before 6 AM, and you will start flying by balloon to look around Vang Vieng and get the natural atmosphere, about 30 minutes on balloon. If you don’t have time in the morning you can fly by balloon in the evening at 5 PM. In rainy season (June, July and August), this activity is not available.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel; visit the local market and then the ThamJang caves through which flows a crystal clear stream. Drive ahead to Phonsavan, known for the Plain of Jars, about 6-7hours drive that passes through splendid scenery and past many panoramic lookout points on the winding mountaintop road. There are several stops en route to take in the scenery. Welcome to Phonsavan! Uon arrival check in at your hotel before escorting you to the Plain of Jars, an impressive archeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are littered all over the plateau. Have lunch at a local restaurant, and then continue to visit the old capital of Muang Khun Province and nearby hilltribe villages. They have a fascinating culture and a colorful history. Return in the late afternoon to your hotel for dinner and overnight. Overnight in Phonsavan.

Meals included: breakfast

Laos Highlights Overland – Plain of Jars

Day 5: Drive to Luang Prabang – Discover World Heritage & Temple Sites

After Breakfast, we take a half day drive to the former Royal capital, Luang Prabang. It takes around 6,5 hours to arrive. En route we stop to talk with local ethnic people who have built their houses and settle down along the road. Also enjoy the very beautiful landscape that will make you temporary forget your home town. Upon arrival your guide will meet you and bring you to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 6: World Heritage & Temple Sites

After breakfast enjoy 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! Overnight at same hotel.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 7: Royal Palace Museum – Mekong River Boat Experience – Pak Ou Buddha Caves

After Breakfast at Hotel 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. Lunch local restaurant, return to the town late after noon visit Por Sa Paper Handicraft & textile area at Ban Xang Khong. Overnight at same hotel.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 8: Morning Alms Giving – Kuang Si Waterfall

Early morning, enjoy giving Alms Bowl to the monks on the street for making a merit. The Buddhist monks carry for their collection of food as they walk around the village near by only one time a day, early morning. It’s a belief that in order to give people to gain merit before they will start their day life, normally people will have to go to Buddhist temple, but in this case it’s to give people opportunity to do at home, it is not the way of begging as they never ask for any food and even wait for those who are late for giving alms in the morning.

After breakfast, Drive to the Tad Khuang Sii 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. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals included: breakfast

Laos Highlights Overland – Alms Giving

Day 9: Textile Village – Elephant Camp

After breakfast, drive out of town visit the elephant camp at Ban Noon. En route stop at famous and well-known village, Ban Phom Nom, almost of those villagers are weavers. They used to be servants and made handicraft souvenirs for the last king of Laos. Another stop at Henrimouhot monument at Kang Noon, a French man, who founded Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. Then continue to the camp. Arrival, your guide brief about those 10 elephants jabot original come from and daily living condition, and take some vegetables for those elephant, return to the town. The rest of the day is free on your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 10: Departure

After breakfast, relax before you transfer to the airport, or enjoy our optional program.

Meals included: breakfast