Itinerary in brief

Day 1     Arrival - Vientiane - FLY - Luang Nam Tha
Day 2     Luang Nam Tha - Muang sing - Akha Ecolodge - Trekking
Day 3     Akha Ecolodge - Trekking
Day 4     Akha Ecolodge - Trekking - Muang Sing
Day 5     Muang Sing - Oudomxay - Muang La
Day 6     Muang La
Day 7     Muang La - Nong Khiaw
Day 8     Nong Khiaw - Luang Prabang
Day 9     Luang Prabang
Day 10   Luang Prabang - Khuang Sy waterfall - Luang Prabang
Day 11   Luang Prabang - Xieng Khoang (plain of jars)
Day 12   Xieng Khuang - Muang Khoun - Vientiane
Day 13   Vientiane
Day 14   Vientiane - Departure

Itinerary in details

DAY 1: ARRIVAL - VIENTIANE - FLY – LUANG NAM THA

Arrival in Vientiane airport. Wait for the next flight to Luang Nam Tha. Met and welcome by the Hanoi Voyages Guide upon arrival at the airport. Then transfer by private car to your hotel.

Overnight in Luang Nam Tha

DAY 2: LUANG NAM THA – MUANG SING – AKHA ECOLODGE - TREKKING

After breakfast we depart by road to Muang Sing, a journey of approximately 1h 30min. Muang Sing was the first capital of the ancient kingdom of Lu, and is well known for its numerous ethnic tribes, still living their traditional lifestyles.

The ethnic people in the district are mainly Thai Dam, Thai Lu, H’mong Yao-Mien, Akha, Shan, and Yunnanese.
During our visits to several villages, including Ban Lak, Khammas, Kolakham Ban, and Ban thin That, we will enjoy watching and meeting the local tribal peoples.

Overnight in Akha lodge

DAY 3 : AKHA ECOLODGE – TREKKING

Our day is spent trekking to discover Akha villages.

We start trekking through forest trails, through villages, witness the local techniques used to spin cotton, plant rice, and gather vegetables.

Before heading off to bed, experience a traditional massage to ease those tired muscles.

Overnight in Akha lodge

DAY 4 : AKHA ECOLODGE – TREKING - MUANG SING

After breakfast we spend some time at the local market, discovering all the herbs and spice that perfume and flavor the Laotian kitchen.

We then trek and visit a village of weavers close by.

Overnight in Muang Sing

DAY 5 : MUANG SING – OUDOMXAY – MUANG LA

Next, we take the road to Oudomxay. The region is populated by ethnic groups, and our journey takes us past their homes along the way. We pass through the villages of Ban Na Teui, Namor and Ban Tawan, populated by the Hui Lao, Mien Yao, Lanten and H’mong, a very interesting journey that gives us an understanding of the difference in their traditional dress and housing types. Transfer to Muang La Resort.

Overnight in Muang La

DAY 6: MUANG LA

We spend a  day to discover Hmong and Ikhos villages; two typical Laotian ethnic communities.

Visit a beautiful, isolated Ikhos village, original from Yunnan Province in China and also from Tibet.

• Lunch is served in the village

We continue our day to the Hmong village of Ban Tauser.

Overnight in Muang La lodge

DAY 7 : MUANG LA – NONG KHIAW

After breakfast we return by road to Muang Khua, in the centre of northern Laos, halfway between China and Vietnam. Muang Khua is located on the Nam Ou River, and we head down the river by boat to return to Muang Ngoy. During the cruise we pass through splendid scenery of karst landscapes and unspoilt nature.
When we reach Muang Ngoy where you'll discover the sacred Buddha temple and shrine.

Arrival in Nong Khiaw late in the afternoon.

Overnight in Nong Khiaw

DAY 8 : NONG KHIAW – LUANG PRABANG

From Nong Khiawi, we travel in the traditional wooden boat, which takes you, firstly, to two sacred caves of Pak Ou. These highly venerated caves house thousands of Buddha statues and other icons pertaining to the Buddhist religion, placed there over many years by worshipers.

The caves offer a magnificent view of the area where the tributary Nam Ou River mixes its transparent waters with those of the murky dark waters of the Mekong.

During the river journey you may be lucky enough to see elephants playing and bathing in the shallows of the water near the banks, or locals trying their luck gold panning.

On route you stop at the village of Ban Xang Hai, where we see the distillation of rice wine made in the traditional ways by the women. Known as Lao-Lao, it is the most popular alcoholic beverage, and is made from glutinous rice, yeast and water. It averages at 45% proof.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

 
DAY 9 : LUANG PRABANG

Designated a UNESCO Heritage City.
Very early in the morning at sunrise, before breakfast, you have the opportunity to witness the everyday ritual of monks collecting alms. The monks, barefooted and dressed in their resplendent saffron robes, walk in single file through the streets, collecting food for the monastery. It is a wonderful, colorful sight!

After alms we will visit some small morning markets, selling produce from market gardens across the region. They also sell insects, bats and snakes for human consumption.
We visit a local food market to discover some typical local Laos cuisine.

After breakfast we travel by tuk-tuk, and enjoy an in depth discovery tour of this ancient capital of Laos.
We visit:

• Wat Xieng Thong, in the centre of a small religious complex built in 1560, considered the most beautiful - Buddhist temple in Luang Prabang, where we discover the chapel of the sacred Buddha Pavilion, the Royal
• Funeral Chariot and the Reclining Buddha Sanctuary contained in the complex.
• The temple of Wat Visoun, built in 1515, and the oldest temple in Luang Prabang, which houses numerous gold statues of Buddha.
• The That Makmo stone stupa
• Vat Aham, a major shrine in the city, dedicated to the ancestors of Laos.

In the afternoon

• The National Museum (formally the Royal Palace) which displays a collection of artifacts that once belonged to the royal family.
• The temple of Wat Mai, the most richly decorated temple in Luang Prabang, and was the residence of the Buddhist patriarch before 1975.
• Relax with a massage provided by the Lao Red Cross

In the evening : we enjoy a traditional Baci ceremony and local dance spectacle.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 10 : LUANG PRABANG – KHUANG SY WATERFALL

Depart for the beautiful Khuang Waterfalls, approximately 30kms from Luang Prabang.
This journey takes you through some beautiful nature places and past traditional houses made from bamboo, wood, and palm leaves.
The waterfalls are nestled in lush tropical vegetation with beautiful, clear pools of water for swimming.
On the way we visit H’Mong minority a village of Ban Thinkeo, and Khmu peoples village of Ban Thapaene.
We visit the weaving village of Ban Xang Khong, where the people, using traditional techniques, make Saa paper from mulberry tree leaves.

On return to Luang Prabang we visit the Ock Pop Tok textile gallery for an explanation and viewing of some Lao Silk products, made with the co-operation of small villages. From the rearing of silkworms, silk production, weaving and natural dying of the fabrics, we will understand the whole process.

Then enjoy some free time to stroll through the H’Mong night market, where a variety of original, local handicrafts are sold. Trading begins at 5pm.
There are also many small shops offering prepared meals, hot or cold, of the real local cuisine.

Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang

DAY 11 : LUANG PRABANG – XIENG KHOANG – PLAIN OF JARS

We begin with a 6hr drive to the province of Xieng Khuang. This region was heavily bombed in 1970 by the United States in an attempt to conquer the Pathet Lao troops of Laos. Still today there are many unexploded bombs found in the region.

We visit the “Plain of Jars” (site 1), to discover massive sandstone jars weighing as much as 6 tonnes, scattered over a dozen separate sights. The origin of these jars is still unknown and further future excavations hope to answer this question. We visit villages of ethnic H’mong and Thai Phuan Dam people.

Overnight in Xieng Khoang

DAY 12 : XIENG KHUANG – MUANG KHOUM – VIENTIANE

Visit the local market in Phonsavan, before taking to the road again to Vientiane. Stopover in Muang Khoun.

Overnight in Vientiane

DAY 13 : VIENTIANE

Our day is spent visiting the main attractions of the city by tuk tuk.
Attractions include:

• Vat Sisaket, built in 1818 and the only temple in Vientiane that was not destroyed by the Siamese in the fiery raid in 1828.
• Phraken Ho, the former royal chapel, which was home to the Emerald Buddha, and the power base of the Kingdom of Lane Xang.
• Patouxay, a large monument, reminiscent of the Arc de Triumph in Paris. It boasts four archways and was built to commemorate the Lao people who died in pre-Revolutionary wars.
• The large golden stupa of That Luang, founded by King Setthathirah in 1566 and a symbol of Lao sovereignty and Buddhist religion. It is said to contain a hair of Buddha.
• The temple Wat Si Muang, the most visited temple in Vientiane as it is considered the seat of the guardian spirit of the city.
• Relax in the Wat Sokpaluang, enjoying a wonderful steam bath and massage. Centered in a large park, with a hut on stilts as its steam room, and a large pot of aromatic plants and herbs “cooking” below, steam is piped and circulated in the steam room.

Enjoy some free time to stroll and investigate some of Vientiane’s markets, including the covered market, known as the “Morning Market” with lots of local crafts, jewelry, gold and silver on display.

In the evening : enjoy dinner with a folk dance show.

Overnight in Vientiane

DAY 14 : VIENTIANE – DEPARTURE

Free time until transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

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