Unseen Laos Tour, 15 days

On arrival at Luang Prabang  Airport, you are greeted by our guide and transferred to your hotel.  You may have free time to relax and catch your first glimpse of Luang Prabang. This ancient town is 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, relaxing atmosphere, traditional wooden houses and colonial style structures, makes it an unforgettably beautiful destination. You can wander through the town old quarter where are many striking structures adjoining along narrow lanes  and friendly people around. The main street is a paradise while it gives way to the night market, a famous place to sample local foods and buy some souvernirs at bargaining. This fascinating old quarter captivates travellers in all senses and offers an endless exploration.

Today, we spend our time walking around Luang Prabang Town and visit some of its major highlights, which are mostly scattered along the narrow streets. The famous temple of Wat Xieng Thong overlooking  the  Mekong and  Nam Khan Rivers, is decorated in various ways with gilded stuccoes and doorways, featuring an elaborate tree of life mosaic and  intricately carved walls. We visit  Wat Xieng Thong  and head to  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. No doubt the oldest temple in this town is Wat Visoun, but this sacred structure is 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 Prbanag skyline and  lends  a panoramic view from the town old quarter  to Mekong and Nam Kha Rivers, and undulating mountains in the far distance.

The early morning light comes to a charming life in Luang Prabang. 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. We start our biking experience as we cycle along country lanes and dirt tracks, getting  a taste of rural life in Laos. Along the way, we visit 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 local track leads us to  Ban Xang Hai, a riverside village famous for  the rice alcohol  distillation in traditional way. We can see local villagers working around their jars and   taste the potent local whisky. The biking excursion comes to an end at Ban Pak Ou,  from where we take a boat 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 board a private local boat and start our cruise downstream  to Luang Prabang Town. This relaxed boat excursion gives us some fantastic views with a blend of mighty river, mountain backdrop, and riverine life.

The following destination of our journey is Xieng Khouang commonly known for the intriguing ‘Plain of Jars’. We start an early morning drive along  the winding country path through the rugged and verdant scenery. These back roads are a great way to explore the real Laos as we see very few other travellers, mostly rural dwellers who are just as interested in finding out about our lives as we are of theirs. The journey is very long and strenuous at times, but we can make stops at our pleasure, to stretch the legs and visit some roadside villages. The senic dirve deliver us in Phonsavan Town, a new provincial center of  Xieng Khouang and  a gateway to the Plain of Jars sites. The high plateau of Xieng Khouang was heavily suffered from the bombing raids and the intense ground battles. The conflict has left a deadly legacy of unexploded ordnance which is still being cleared. However, the independence of Laos has made this vast plateau a peaceful region after many decades of  conflict. We check in our hotel and catch a quick look at the townscape. There are not much to see in town besides the bustling local market and the bombing history. The bomb gallery shows how some of the defused weapons have been given a second life as support beams, scrap metal, and planters at a nearby village. We can soak up the fresh climate as much as we want since this plateau is tempred by its high elevation, with warm day and cool evening.

Heading out of the town, we travel by road to the enigmatic “Plain of Jars”, an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are littered all over the plateau. These huge jars carved from stone are supposedly over 2,000 years old, but most of archaeologists are still mystified about their purpose. These megalithic jars still stand despite the bombs rained down on this area during the Vietnam War. There are three sites of jars in place, but more interesting is the premier site where numerous jars in different sizes spread across the entire valley.  We visit one of them before we take a short drive to Muang Khoun, the original capital city of Xieng Khouang. This old town was almost  obliterated by the American  bombing between 1964 and 1973, therefore it was moved to Phonsavanh. Upon arrival in Muang Khoun we have a look at That Foun, an impressive 30 metre tall stupa made of brick with a hole right through  the round shape base. The major attraction of this demolished town is Wat Piawat  where sits in state a large robed Buddha. We visit  this temple  before we set off on  our journey  to Vang Vieng, driving the zigzag mountain road. This small and 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. We arrive in Vang Vieng by late afternoon or early evening depending on road and traffic conditions.

The mountainous altitude gives a lush color to the rolling hills which are often covered in a morning mist. Today we can get up early to see this stunning scenery  before we  begin exploring some mysterious caves hidden beyond the towering cliffs in Vang Vieng. The local transport takes 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.  The cave exploration is not only activity in Vang Vieng as this stunning area is also home to many hill tribe groups. We take a walk to Phatthao Village where we meet the Hmong ethnic minority and get a chance to understand  a little more about the style and customs of local villagers. We round off our exploration of Vang Vieng and make our way to Vientiane, the capital city of Laos.

Today, we begin our exploration of  Vientiane with the city oldest temple of Wat Sisaket . This masterpiece 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  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. Upon leaving this sight  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 the golden stupa  was  built in Laos style but influenced by Buddhist beliefs. The sightseeing tour continues to the vibrant Morning Market that 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 modern comfort will be left behind as we venture into  the sKhammouane Plateau and  drive past  many sleepy villages linking to the road which is the main artery of trade between central Laos  and Vietnam. Along the way  we make stop at  Phuphaman Mountain, to stretch our legs and catch some wonderful pictures. The scenic journey continues to Ban Na Hinb, which was built in in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains and lush forests. We will trek forward for around two hours, blazing the local trails through a lush jungle alive with gigantic trees and wildlife, including  birds and butterflies to the selcuded Namsanam Waterfall . This spectacular multi-level double waterfall topples over a sandstone cliff into a rocky stream below. We enjoy a rest by the waterfall and admire the beauty in tranquil setting of jungle. Upon leaving this sight we walk back to Ban Na Hin and keep travelling by road  along the Hin Boun River to the Khong Lor Cave. This underground tunnel is a source of the Hin Boun River, which flows out of a nondescript opening beneath a towering cliff.  We will explore all of them on a boat trip out in forthcoming day. On arrival at Khong Lor area we check in a simple lodge and catch a look from the nearby river to the rugged mountains in the far distance.

Upon leaving our lodge, we set off on a short drive before we embark on a local boat to explore the mysterious  Khong Lor Cave. This underground tunnel created by  a river passage through solid rock has  7.5 kilometres long. We can visit a section of this cave or traverse its entire length on an exhilarating boat ride. The standard boatload is usually for 2 or 3 passengers. You will  be given a life vest and a head torch as it gets dark inside the cave. The suggested wears are  shorts and footwear since you may get wet while helping push the boat through shallow section, especially in dry season.  We  race along the serpentine river, passing every corner and every hazard. They make this passage a real challenge to every boatman. Along the way, we make stop at the formations plateau to view the beautiful illuminated stalagmites, stalactites and  columns. They are standing on a wide rock shelf  looking down on the river. We board our boat again to make our way back to the boat pier or continue navigating through the whole cave. This extension trip takes anything between 50  to 70 minutes. The following activity  is a walk through Khong Lor Village, where we get a chance to see the local lifestyle. We bid a farewell to villagers and travel by road to Thakhek. The mountains are spectacular, rising and falling endlessly in the distance. We arrive in Thakhek Town by late afternoon and check in our hotel. This sleepy riverside town does no offer much to see as it is basically an overnight stop to break our long journey.   

The south bound journey continues to Pakse Town with a long drive from Thakhek. We travel through the scenic mountain scenery  to Savanakhet, the second largest city of Laos. This tranquil town has historically been a transit point and trading post since the French colonial time and continue flourishing to become an important trade hub between Thailand and Vietnam, Vientiane and Pakse. On arrival in Savanakhet  we make a break to stretch our legs and catch a glimpse of this riverside town. The historic downtown is utterly charming and seems the best remaining example to be found in southern Laos. We wonder around this downtown area of Savanakhet, seeing many old date structures in tranquil atmosphere. They conserve many aspects of the traditional culture and history of Laos. The most bustling area in town is Talat Yen plaza where we find out a wide array of local handicrafts and exotic products.  We also visit  Wat Sainyaphum, the oldest and largest monastery in southern Laos. The veritable golden Buddha production line at the river entrance of this monastery is remarkable. We carry on with our journey to Pakse in southern Laos. This large region offers some underground rivers, towering waterfalls, ethnic diversity, ancient ruins, and chilled-out backpacker havens.

Heading out of the town, we travel by road to Tadlo, a rugged mountainous area ideal for adventure activities.  On arrival in Tadlo we embark on a trek along the undulating terrains of the Xe Set River to explore the consecutive falls of Tad Hang, Tadlo and Tad Suong. The trekking is strenuous at times as we walk through steep terraced fields, lush forest and rocky riverside. However, some physical preparation will enable you to maximize the enjoyment from this walk. We blaze the local trails with our local guide, seeing the beautiful nature and the local villages, which are home to the Katu and  Ta Oi minority people. These local villagers are mostly farmers  living from the slash and burnt traditions and also speak their own dialect, but the  guide will help you to  learn more about the customs and traditions of these animist tribal groups. They still retain their old age traditions of the annual buffalo sacrifice, usually held during the full moon of march, and  seriously believe that  this sacrifice  affects their harvest in the following season. We walk around the village before we catch a look at the Tad Suong Waterfalls, the largest one in this remote region. The clear water tumbling from 100 m high over the river bed makes for a fantastic scene.  We complete our trekking day and stretch our legs on a drive back  to Tadlo Village.

The cool water is irresistibly refreshing in the endless heat. We have the last chance to relax  at  the Tadlo Waterfall before we start our day driving through the Boloven Plateau. This fertile region formed by an ancient volcano is famour for rugged mountains, rolling hills,  beautiful waterfalls, ethnic diversity, sleepy villages and coffee plantation. They are naturally grouped together to sketch the typical landscape rarely found in different places of Laos. We make stops as we please, to stretch our legs, visit the coffee plantation, and savor this local drink  made by villagers. They are mostly farmers living from the coffee, rubber, and fruit growing. Uponarrival at Paksong Junction,  we head south, driving along the main road that links Pakse Town and  Khong Island. This overland trip mostly goes along the Mekong River bank, giving us some fantastic views of the  splendid  scenery changing from the rough mountans to the vibrant water front. We arrive in Don Khong, the largest island out of Don Det and Don Khone, but it does not have  the waterfall, restaurants and activities of its counterparts. The major pastime in place is cycling or motorbiking around this lush island.  Today we can enjoy a biked ride in our pace if time permits, through the beautiful countryside to the  Wat Chom Thong at the upstream extremity of the village. This attractive pagoda features the combination of Lao and Khmer architecture.

Today, we embark on a traditional boat to venture into the widest reach of the Mekong River, from where are many islets jutting out in dry season. They give this area a lovely name four thousands of islands, locally called ” Si Phan Done ”.  The local boat passes by Don Det and Don Som before  racing against the water to Don Khone. These lush islands are mostly covered by coconut palms, flame trees, stands of bamboo, kapok trees, and hardwoods, but Don Khone still retains a more authentical Lao charm.  We anchor at the  peaceful island of Don Khone and stroll through Ban Khone Village, catching a great insight into the Lao rural life without hustle and bustle found in more built-up areas. Along the walkway, we make stop to see an old locomotive and some abandoned railways. They are proper relics of the bygone colonial area in this watery region. We start riding our bike along this village lane to the Liphi Waterfall, which also named " Corridor of the Devil". You have an option to discover the rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins that have been known to make its way upstream from Cambodia to frolic in the water of Si Phan Don Area in Laos. This boat trip usually starts from Ban Hang Khone and costs you some extra fee.  Upon leaving Don Khone, we travel by boat back to Khong Island and have free time for own exploration.

The exiting exploration of southern Laos could not be complete without a visit to  Khon Phapheng, the largest waterfall in southeastern Asia. This huge waterfall reaches 21 meter high at certain points and stretches 9.7 km of the river length, blocking all attempt of fluvial traffic from Laos to Cambodia. Upon leaving Khong Island, we drive south to the Khon Phapheng Waterfalls and catch a spectacular view that some million litres of water  crash over the rock formations. We continue travelling by roads to the former royal capital of Champasak, a gateway to the pre-angkorian Wat Phou Temple. The good introduction of this sacred site is a collection of recovered objects, architectural elements and sculptures, which are displayed  at the Wat Phou Museum. We pay a quick look at this museum before exploring the temple complex. This hillside temple has a unique structure with the elements leading to a shrine  where a lingam dedicated to Lord Shiva was bathed in water from a mountain spring. The original structure dates back to the fifth century but is deteriorated in turbulent history of Laos; however, it is still fascinating to stroll  among the ruins.  We follow a walkway from  the lower to the upper section and pass  various forms, including Vishnu, Shiva and Kala. The upper ground of Wat Phou Temple  also affords a spectacular view of the surrounding valley, rustic villages, and winding river. We leave Wat Phou Temple for Pakse Town, the  major transport and commercial hub for southern Laos.

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