Glimpse Of Laos , 4 days

On arrival at Vientiane Airport, you are greeted by our guide and taken to your hotel by private transfer. We spend our time exploring 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. We visit  Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple in Vientiane, which 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. Nearby is 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 keep driving  along the Lane Xang Avenue past  Patouxai, a version of own Arc de Triomphe, on our way to That Luang Stupa, the 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 following destination is Luang Prabang Town via a 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 visit  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.

Heading out of the town, we travel by road towards Pakou Caves and make some stops 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 delivers us at  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 board a private local boat and navigate 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. We continue  exploring   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 sacred shrine  dominates Luang Prabang skyline and lends  a panoramic view  from the townscape to the rugged surrounding mountains. The riverbank is always a good place for you to enjoy drinks and  explore the authentic local ways of life.

There are no activities planned on this 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.