Laos Overview , 6 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 exoticimages 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 undergosome 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 begin our exploration of  Vientiane with the oldest temple of Wat Sisaket,  which is still in its original form.Thetemple structurefeatures 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 towards  Patouxai, a version of own Arc de Triomphe standing on the Lane Xang Avenue. The following stop is That Luang Stupa, a current national symbol of Laos. This most venerable Buddhist monument with thegolden stupa was  built in Laos style but influenced by Buddhist beliefs. The sightseeing tour continues to the vibrant Morning Marketthat is crammed with shopping malls selling everything from medicinal herbs, electronics equipment, silver jewellery, hand make silks to everyday sundries. We wander around this bustling trading hub and  try our hand at bargaining. Heading out of the town, we make our way past the giant Friendship Bridge , which  links Thailand and Laos, on our way to  the impressive Buddha Park. This landmark represents a blend of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures created by a mystical monk on a parkland near the Mekong River.The sculptures mesmerize visitors not only for their incredible size but also for their intriguing and unique details. We walk around these huge images scattered amongst gardens and catch some wonderful photos.

The following destination is Luang Prabang via short flight from Vientiane. On arrival at Luang Prabang Airport, you are met by our guide and driven to your hotel. This ancient town was strikingly built on a peninsula formed by the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers. The human life has been recognized in place for over thousand years; however, Luang Prabang began a prosperous time, once being the royal capital of the Lane Xang Kingdom. The old-time appearance of Luang Prabang  has been changed since the protectorate  of the French, whose influence led to the construction of many colonial villas. 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 start exploring Luang Prabang Town with Wat Xieng Thong, a famous temple which overlooks  the two rivers of  Mekong and  Nam Khan.  This structure is decorated 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 isWat Mai, a large and nicely decorated temple in Luang Prabang, which is extensively adorned with black and red lacquer decorationand gold leaf.

The morning mist clears over Luang Prabang, revealing a charming environment of French colonial buildings, intricate Buddhist temples, and cobble brick streets. Today we embark a local boat for an exciting river trip to Pakou Caves and have a stop at Ban Xang Hai, a riverside village famous for  the rice alcohol distillation in traditional way. We can taste the potent local whisky and buy some souvenirs at the village shop houses. Upon leaving this village, we race against the Mekong River towards the mysteriousPakou Caves.They are  crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes, all brought here by devout villagers.We cross the Mekong River to Ban Pakou before we travel by road toBan Phanom.This small village is dominated by the Tai Lu hill tribe people who used to make the royal silk textile for the Lao former royal family down centuries. We continue our tour of  Luang Prabang Town with the oldest temple of  Wat Visoun. This sacred monument 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 risingshrine  dominates Luang Prabang skyline and lends  a panoramic view  from the townscape to the rugged surrounding mountains.

Today, we have an option to see the sunriseceremony 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 alush 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 from60 m highover multi-tiered limestone formations into clearcascaded 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 an end with a transfer to Luang Prabang Airport for  your departure.