Thailand - Laos Connection , 8 days

On arrival at Houay Xai border gate, you complete the border crossing formalities to enter Laos.  You are met up by our guide and start an overland trip, venturing into northern Laos. The country road twists up into the mountains, cutting a path through rock and along thickly forested and river valleys to Luang Nam Tha Town, a base for our walking adventure in coming day. This remote mountainous region offers more natural wonders than anywhere else in Laos and also many outdoor activities, including  trekking, mountain biking, rafting, and kayaking. There are over twenty ethnic groups who are settled around Luang Nam Tha, making it one of the most ethnically diverse provinces in Laos. On arrival in Luang Nam Tha Town, we enjoy a biking experience as we cycle  around  the green valley. This small town sets in a fertile valley dotted with many villages which remain practically untouched by modernity.  We visit the gleaming golden stupa which dominate the skyline of  Luang Nam Tha Town. This stupa houses a few Buddhas and provides  a fantastic view from the townscape to the jungle and mountains in the far distance. , this sight we continue, cycling  to the Nam Tha River and walk across a bamboo bridge to visit  a traditional village of the Black Thai ethnic minorities. They usually live on stilt house and have different culture and traditions from the nearby  Akha people.

Heading out of the town, we take a short  drive by local transport to Ban Jaluensouk before we set off on our trek in the Nam Ha Protected Area. This forested park is an ecotourism destination  and a homeland of some  tribal groups,  which can only be seen by foots or boats. We blaze the local track with a village guide, walking uphill through a mountain ridge mostly covered by bamboo before we venture into the primary forest of Nam Ha Area. The dense canopy with trees growing over trees makes feels like taking a step back into prehistory. We follow the forest trail, crossing some small streams that are a lifeblood of this national park. The trekking is somewhat easy in dry season; however, it involves some hardship in raining time. Along the way, we discover various species of fauna and get some explanations from our expert village guide, who calls this jungle his home. We have a break  to enjoy our local style lunch in peaceful environment of bird songs and chirping cicadas. The traditional Laos foods are simple with many organic ingredients collected from the natural wilderness, but it is still an unforgettable experience. We spend few more hours walking along a stream in lush jungle, where we see many big old trees and wildlife traces. The green rice fields come into view, a sign of our trek end. This rice plantation is made by the Lantern and Taideng  ethnic minorities  living near the national park. They are very poor but have an interesting culture and history. We will their villages on our way back to Luang Nasm Tha Town.

The overland adventure continues to Nong Khiaw, a beautiful and rustic town by the Nam Ou River.  We drive along the zigzag mountain road, passing  by the undulating terrains, terraced rice fields and many sleepy villages. They are linked to the roads which are the main artery of trade between the north of Laos and the capital city. The journey is long and strenous at times; however, the stunning scenery makes the hardship all worthwhile. En route, we can make stop as we please, to stretch our legs and make fun with waving children or see roadside villages.  We arrive in Oudomxay, a major trading hub in northern Laos.  This junction town has developed into a major transport and travel center by the favorable location rather than the distinctive charm. The main street is fringed with some unsubtle exotic mantions, shop houses and small restaurants. We catch a glimpse of Oudomxay Town before we keep driving through Pak Mong to Nong Khiaw. This small riverside town is standing against a gorgeous backdrop of imposing limestone mountains, meandering river, and genuine local villages. The favorable nature environment offers many possibilities for long walking, river cruise, kayaking, waterfall explorations, and photo expeditions. They certainly capture travellers to enjoy the area rather than an overnight stop. We check in our hotel and have free time to explore at leisure and enjoy some drinks at riverside bar.

The stunning hundred waterfalls boas a major attraction of Nong Khiaw, but this fall comlex can be accessed by trekking only. Today, we start our adventure with  a peaceful boat  trip along the Nam Ou River to Don Khou, a small Laotian riverside village. We disembark and get a chance to discover the simple lifestyle of local villagers who mostly rely on this river for their livelihood. Upon leaving this village, we start walking with our local guide through a fairly forested area, many rice paddies and small streams to the Hundred Waterfalls. They were only first explored by non-locals in late 2008 and rapidly became a highlight  in Nong Khiaw. We only see the water amidst luxuriant jungle and hear the sound of cascades which drop down in various levels and stretch nearly 2 km. The trekking is strenuous at times as we walk from flat terrains to very steep places. They are probably muddy in wet season; however, it is still a funny experience to explore these waterfalls and go for a dip in one of various pools around. The local guide prepare a Lao style picnic in a dominant place. We enjoy our lunch in beautiful nature setting before we walk down via a steep path through the grassy land away from the water. This local trail gives some fantastic views of the Nam Ou Valley. We complete our walk at Don Khou Village and head back to Nong Khaw Town on a relaxed boat trip.

Upon leaving Nong Khiaw, we make our way to Luang Prabang. On arrival at Ban Pakou we cross the Mekong River to visit 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 on a private boat for our cruise downstream  to Luang Prabang Town, catching a fantastic view of the mighty river and mountain scenery. Along the way, we make stopover  at Ban Xang Hai 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. The townscape of Luang Prabang comes in view, signifying the final destination of our river trip. You are met by our guide at the boat landing and transferred to your hotel. This ancient town is strikingly built on a peninsula formed by the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers. The  human life  has been recognized in 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.

The morning mist clears over Luang Prabang, revealing a charming environment of French colonial buildings, intricate Buddhist temples, and cobble brick streets. Today we stroll along the narrow streets and visit the  famous temple of Wat Xieng Thong, a striking temple which overlooks  the two rivers of  Mekong and  Nam Khan. The temple 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, which is 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 visit this site  and embark on 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.

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.