Laos Uncovered

This tour uses the mighty Mekong River, and two superb boat cruises to explore Laos in more detail.  Starting in the far north, and finishing in the far south of the country, this itinerary is great for any client wishing to experience the real Laos in relative luxury.

Day 1: HOUEISAY – PAKBENG (Monday, Thursday & Friday)
The Luang Say boat leaves Houei Say for the cruise down the Mekong to Pakbeng. The scenery on this stretch of the Mekong is arguably the most beautiful of all.  Stops are made en route to visit some minority ethnic groups and you also enjoy a buffet lunch on board. You arrive in Pakbeng before sunset and check-in at the LuangSay Lodge. You have the evening to enjoy dinner and a glass of wine on the terrace overlooking the Mekong River. Overnight in Pakbeng (L, D)

Day 2: PAKBENG - PAK OU - LUANG PRABANG
Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the lodge, (an early morning option is to walk to the colourful Pakbeng morning market) At 08:30 you board the boat for the second leg of the cruise.  This will also include a number of stops, including a visit to the famous Tam Ting or Pak Ou Caves with the Buddha images.  You arrive in Luang Prabang before sunset. (B, L)

Day3.  Luang Prabang – City Tour
After breakfast, you enjoy a full day guided tour taking you to the main points of interest, including the city’s oldest temple Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong. You also have time to visit the National Museum at the Royal Palace and a chance to climb the steps at Mt Phousi for a stunning view over the town.  In the evening you are free to explore the night market, where there is a wide range of locally made beautiful textiles and paintings. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Day4.  Luang Prabang – Khouangsi Waterfalls

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving it. Your guide will also take you to a local market and a number of local villages en route to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Phanom, a well-known traditional weaving village, and then return to the city by late evening. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Day5.  Luang Prabang – Vientiane
You have the morning free to discover Luang Prabang at your own leisure, or simply relax, before your guide will transfer you to the airport for your afternoon flight to Vientiane. After transferring to the hotel, you can enjoy the evening at leisure, perhaps by sipping drinks as you watch the sun set over the Mekong.  Overnight in Vientiane (B)

Day6. Vientiane
You will be picked up from your hotel this morning and enjoy a city tour of the capital.  We visit the major sights; including the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we will stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. From there, we visit the central market or ‘Morning Market’ which is a great place for antiques, handmade textiles and gifts.

After lunch we have time to visit the National Museum former which exhibits artifacts, photos and legends of Laos’s history fighters and leaders from the ancient times to the new revolution period.

You have the rest of the late afternoon and evening free to wander around the city and sample the food at one of the many fine restaurants in the capital.  Overnight in Vientiane (B)

Day7.Vientiane – Pakse – Tadlo
You will be picked up very early from your hotel this morning and transferred to the airport for your short flight to Pakse.  On arrival at Pakse, you will be met and taken by road to the Boloven Plateau area. Because of its altitude, the area is a little cooler, and famous for its tea and coffee plantations, as well as numerous waterfalls.  You will be taken to the most beautiful of these waterfalls, Tad Fan, which is spectacular with twin falls plummeting into a deep gorge. This trip gives visitors the chance to venture off the beaten track and to discover some of the lesser-known areas of Laos, exploring the wild beauty of this southern region. Upon arrival at Tad Lo waterfall, we visit the villages of Alak, Nge, Katu, that are populated by ethnic minority groups. Overnight at Tad Lo

Day8   Tadlo – Pakse
After an early breakfast, we head back towards Pakse. On the way we make a short detour to visit Pha Suam waterfall and to stroll around the ethnic minority village of Lao Teung. We continue to travel by road to Pakse town and your hotel.  You have the late afternoon and evening at leisure

Day9.  Vientiane – Pakse – Champassak – Wat Phou (Wat Phou Cruise)
This morning you will be  transferred to the Wat Phou Cruise leaving Pakse for Champassak at 10:00am. The Vat Phou is a 34-meter long, air-conditioned converted rice barge consisting of twelve twin rooms, all of which are ensuite. There is a large shaded front upper deck, perfect for relaxing and gazing at the passing long scenic stretches and a restaurant onboard. Once on board you head south arriving at Champassak in time for a riverside lunch, followed by a guided tour of the mysterious pre-Angkorian 10th century temple of Wat Phou, the boat’s namesake. Wat Phou is a wonderful archeological site of Khmer civilization, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. As dusk falls, we board the Wat Phou for a relaxing cruise down-river, enjoying the tropical sunset on the deck. Dinner is served on board, while the boat docks for the night alongside a remote local village. Overnight on board the Wat Phou Cruise (B, L, D)

Day10.   Huei Thamo - Oum Moung Temple - Khong Island (Wat Phou Cruise)
After a leisurely breakfast on board, you set sail for the village of Huei Thamo, only a few minutes walk away from the spectacular hidden ancient forest temple of Oum Moung. You rejoin the boat for a leisurely cruise southbound and enjoy lunch on the deck, continuing south to the wild paradise of the “4,000 islands” region. In the afternoon you will arrive at Ban Dua Tae, a traditional Laotian Village where the traditional way of life has not changed in centuries.  Here you can observe traditional village life and learn about the daily activities within the village. This evening we enjoy a quiet dinner on board, under the stars of the beautiful southern Laos sky. Overnight on board Wat Phou Cruise (B, L, D)

Day11. Ban Veuthong – the “Niagara of the East – Xieng Di – Pakse (Wat Phou Cruise)
Today you enjoy breakfast on the upper deck, while cruising to the small village of Ban Veuthong, where you will board a small longtail boat to Khong Island, the largest island in the 4,000 islands region. After visiting the island, you take a long tail boat back to the mainland for lunch amid the bygone splendid of another age; colourful French colonial houses and an old customs post, alongside a stone quay. You will then transfer by minivan to the captivating, scenic splendor of the Khong Pha Peng waterfall, “the Niagara of the East“, close to the Cambodian border. We return to Pakse which is a two-hour journey by road, arriving in the late afternoon. Once we arrive you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Pakse (B, L)

Day12.   Pakse – Departure
After breakfast, we will shall bid you farewell and transfer you to the airport or border. (B)