Charms Of Laos , 7 days

On arrival at Vientiane Airport, you are greeted by our guide and taken to your hotel by private transfer. We may have some time free to explore the capital city of Laos, Vientiane. This laidback city stretching long the mighty Mekong River conjures up exotic images with the curious mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, and French influences. The initial history of Vientiane dates back the sixteenth century, but it left its legacy in form of few pagodas which are still standing in place after many struggles for the independence. The recent economic reform of Laos has made this small city undergo some vast changes with growing ambition. However, the historic old quarter of Vientiane still houses many French colonial villas, boutique hotels, vibrant shop malls, open air restaurants and tree lined boulevards. You can walk  from the old quarter area to the Mekong riverbank, admiring the cityscape and catching a view of the Mekong River. The long riverside is lined up with local food stands and open air bars, good place to enjoy some  drinks and  explore the authentic local ways of life.

Today, we start our exploration of Vientiane with Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple in Vientiane. This beautiful structure features remarkable frescoes and cloister wall where are laying almost 7,000 Buddha statues in all sizes. They have been made from wood, stone and bronze, and brought here  hundred years ago. We take a short walk to see the  former royal temple of Haw Pha Kaew which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. This sacred jade statue is currently displayed at  Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok . We drive along Lane Xang Avenue to Patouxai, a version of own Arc de Triomphe . This imposing structure provides a  beautiful view over the town center. The following stop is That Luang Stupa, which was  built in Laos style but influenced by Buddhist beliefs. This most venerable Buddhist monument with the golden stupa now becomes the country national symbol. We continue to  the vibrant Morning Market, a flagship shopping destination in Vientiane. This market interior is  crammed with shopping malls that sell everything from medicinal herbs, electronics equipment, silver jewellery, hand make  silks to everyday sundries. We finish a round of city tour and  travel by roadthrough the sleepy villagers to Vang Vieng. This small, tranquil village is rapidly developed with the advent of tourists, but the beautiful scenery with a mixture of quiet water and limestone outcrops unchanged for century.

The high altitude gives a lush color to the undulating mountains which are often covered in a morning mist. We can get up early to see  this stunning scenery and enjoying some adventure activities. Upon leaving Vang Vieng Town we take a short drive by local transport to the amazing Tham Xang Cave set by the Nam Song River bank. This remarkable cave housing an important Buddhist shrine  has been named by a  limestone shape  inside. We head to the nearby Tham Hoi Cave, of which the interior goes spirally deep into the mountains, giving an impression of snail. There are numerous long corridors and wonderful limestone formations stretching from floor to ceiling, which form pillars to support the cave. We follow it with the Loop Cave that is naturally adorned with stalagmite formations. The footpaths go along the mountain sides towards the gorgeous Tham Nam Cave.  We  have time to enjoy a leisurely  swim at a nearby pool and glide through the water tunnel.  This exciting excursion continues with a walk to Phatthao Village, home to the Hmong hilltribe people. On arrival we stroll around  the village to understand  a little more about the style and customs of local villagers. We take a drive back to Vang Vieng Town and have a free afternoon for own exploration.  You can take an optional boat trip along the Nam Somg River to explore the striking river landscape lined with towering karst and  the riverine life of local people. 

Upon leaving Vang Vieng, we start our overland trip to Luang Prabang. These zigzag roads are challenging at times, with some uphill and downhill drive; however, the spectacular scenery make the hardship all worthwhile. We arrive in Luang Prabang Town in early afternoon and check in our hotel. This remarkably preserved town with saffron-clad monks, exquisite cuisine, gleaming temples, vibrant cultural traditions, distinctive artwork, relaxed atmosphere, traditional wooden houses and colonial style structures, makes it an unforgettably beautiful destination. We visit Luang Prabang Town with Wat Xieng Thong, a famous temple which overlooks  the two rivers of  Mekong and  Nam Khan.  This structure is deco rated in various ways with gilded stuccoes and doorways, featuring an elaborate tree of life mosaic and  intricately carved walls. We follow it with the former Royal Palace, a showcase of Lao traditional and French architecture style. This mansion has been changed into the National Museum where display many artifacts and treasures dating from the early king period right through the last sovereign. The following stop is  Wat Mai, a large and nicely decorated temple in Luang Prabang, which is extensively adorned with black and red lacquer decoration and gold leaf.

The sightseeing tour continues, giving a depth exploration of Luang Prabang Town. We visit   the oldest temple of  Wat Visoun, which was all  but mainly destroyed by invaders from southern China. However, it is still interesting to have a look at the replica built over the original temple ground.  We follow it with  a walk uphill along the zigzag path of 318 steps on Phousi Hill , which is topped by a glittering golden stupa. This rising shrine  dominates Luang Prabang skyline and lends  a panoramic view  from the townscape to the rugged surrounding mountains. Heading out of the town, we set off on drive to Pakou Caves, with stopover  at Ban Xieng Lek and Ban Xang Khong. These craft villages are  specialized in weaving traditional silk and making Saa Paper from mulberry tree for many years. The scenic drive reaches Ban Pakou, from where we take a short trip across the Mekong River to explore the mysterious Pakou Caves. They are  crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes, all brought here by devout villagers. We embark a private traditional boat for a  cruise downstream on the Mekong River to Luang Prabang Town. This relaxed boat excursion gives us some fantastic views with a blend of mighty river, mountain backdrop, and riverine life.

Today, we have an option to see the sunrise ceremony of “Arm Giving” when many saffron-clad monks walk along the streets to collect offerings from the faithful residents and visitors. This old age tradition remains very unique in Laos, which is  the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. Heading out of the town, we take a drive southwards to Ban Long Lao Village, home of the Hmong hill tribe people. We start blazing the trails with our guide and walk through many rice fields and maize plantations to venture into a lush forest. The plant life in jungle is rampant, with trees growing over trees, plus countless butterflies dancing through the thick, humid air, which is as still as a painting. Along the way, the local guide will point out various species of fauna and flora. We continue trekking to the source of Kuang Si Waterfall, one of the most captivating attractions around Luang Prabang. The undulating terrains make our trek difficult at times, with some uphill and downhill walking, but it is still an exciting experience. We descend on steep walkway and admire the spectacular Kuang Si Waterfall, which  tumbles from 60 m high over multi-tiered limestone formations into clear cascaded pools. The turquoise pools in marvelous setting of waterfall and  evergreen forest for ideal for anyone seeking an enjoyable escape on hot days. Nearby is a famous bear sanctuary that has rescued over 23 bears from illegal trade. They are now allowed to roam and enjoy life outside a cage, giving us an interesting view close up of their life in nature.

There are no activities planned for the final day. You may have free time to continue your exploration of Luang Prabang Town, do your last shopping or simply look back upon your trip images. The holiday comes to an end with a transfer to Luang Prabang Airport for  your departure.