Itinerary in brief

Day 1     Dien Bien Phu - Laos border - Muang Khua
Day 2     Muang Khua - Navigation to Nam Ou - Muang Ngoy
Day 3     Muang Ngoy - Pakbeng
Day 4     Pakbeng – CRUISE – Kamu Lodge
Day 5     Kamu lodge - CRUISE - Luang Prabang
Day 6     Luang Prabang
Day 7     Luang Prabang - Henri Mouhot Tomb – Elephant ride
Day 8     Luang Prabang - Khuang Sy waterfall
Day 9     Luang Prabang - Xieng Khouang - Plain of jars
Day 10   Xieng Khouang - Plaine of jars
Day 11   Xieng Khouang - Muang Khoun - Vang Vieng
Day 12   Vang Vieng
Day 13   Vang Vieng - Lac de Nam Ngum
Day 14   Vang Vieng – Vientiane
Day 15   Vientiane
Day 16   Vientiane - Departure

Itinerary in details

DAY 1: DIEN BIEN PHU (VIETNAM) - LAOS BORDER - MUANG KHUA

On the border between Vietnam and Laos. Once the custom formalities are completed. Met and welcome by the Hanoi Voyages Guide. Transfer by private car to Muang Khua, once there we are now in North-Central Laos, on the Nam Ou River.

Overnight in Muang Khua

DAY 2: MUANG KHUA - NAVIGATION TO NAM OU - MUANG NGOY

After breakfast, we begin our journey to Muang Ngoy, cruising down the Nam Ou River in a wooden boat. Along the way we pass splendid landscapes of limestone karsts and cliffs, in the heart of a spectacular wilderness area of unspoilt nature.

During the cruise we stop at a typical Laotian rural village to observe the locals going about their daily chores.
We will partake in a wonderful walk amid limestone karst cliffs and rice fields, enjoying lunch in the middle of the fields.
During our time in the village we discover the most popular sport in Laos, kataw, similar to volleyball, but the woven rattan ball is kicked over the net. It is a spectacular game to observe, and the players very talented.

We continue our cruise until we reach Muang Ngoy.

Overnight Muang Ngoy

DAY 3: MUANG NGOY - PAKBENG

Enjoy breakfast, and then we take to the road, for our journey to Pakbeng.
Our road tour is punctuated along the way as we stop to visit several different villages and observe the locals going about their everyday chores.

We take lunch during our stop in Oudomxay. On arrival at Pakbeng we check into our hotel.

Overnight in Pakbeng

DAY 4: PAKBENG - CRUISE - KAMU LODGE

In a classic, wooden slow-boat we take about 5 hours to reach Kamu Lodge. This laid-back river journey is enjoyable and relaxing, as it takes through landscapes of exquisite beauty.
The Mekong River is at the base of a valley, where dense rainforests are abundant.
These rainforests extend to the river banks and from time to time there are villages on the edges of this mighty river.
We break our cruise to stop at Ban Baw to observe the distillation of rice wine, a process generally undertaken by the women of the village.

• Lunch is taken on board the boat.

Continuing on, we reach Kamu Lodge.

Kamu Lodge is an eco-lodge on the edge of the Mekong River, in the heart of the Laotian countryside. Situated on a gentle slope, it has been constructed in total harmony with nature and the experience here is original and authentic.
You can participate (optional) in different activities such as planting rice, gold panning or fishing.
A guided tour of an ethnic “Kamu” village is also available.

Overnight in Kamu Lodge

DAY 5: KAMU LODGE - CRUISE - LUANG PRABANG

After breakfast and a relaxing morning at Kamu Lodge; we begin the journey to Luang Prabang by boat.

Before arriving in Luang Prabang, we stop at the sacred caves of Pak Ou.
The caves of Tham Ting and Tham Cave Phoum are highly venerated caves in Laos and house thousands of statues of Buddha and other religious icons; left there by pilgrims who flock there to pray.
The caves offer a magnificent view over the Mekong, which in this place mixes its dark, murky waters with the transparent waters the tributary, Nam Ou River..

After your arrival in Luang Prabang, you have free time.

Stroll through the H’mong night market, which begins trading at 17 pm, and see the strong representation of local crafts available for purchase, also the many small shops that offer prepared meals, hot or cold, and discover the real local cuisine.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

DAY 6: 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 7: LUANG PRABANG - HENRI MOUHOT TOMB - ELEPHANT RIDE

We depart for the village of Ban Phanom, a charming place and famous for its weaving methods, which are based on ancestral knowledge. Often the typical Laos motifs are unique to each family. Weavings are 100% pure silk.

We continue on to the tomb of Henry Mouhot, a young French explorer, who set out alone to explore the banks of the Mekong River. He rediscovered Angkor and was the first to reveal it to the world, before dying, exhausted in Luang Prabang in 1861 at the age of 33.

Here, on the banks of the Nam Khan River, you will be able to swim in the fresh water coming down from the mountains, before continuing north to the village of Ban Nonsavat to and the Tiger Trail Elephant Camp and the adjacent Adventure Camp.

Following the stop at the camp, in the heart of a large teak forest, we are transported across the river to the opposite bank, by small boat, where the elephant ride through the forests begins.

After a hour long ride you feed your elephant, partly to thank the animal for saving you from walking!

Taking a small trip to the Tad Sae waterfalls, we can cool off, before our return to Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

DAY 8: LUANG PRABANG - KHUANG SY CASCADE

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 in Luang Prabang

DAY 9: LUANG PRABANG - XIENG KHOUANG - 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 10: XIENG KHOUANG - PLAIN OF JARS

Our day is spent visiting “Plain of Jars” (site 1 and 2), 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.

Enjoy some free time to stroll and investigate Xieng Khoang market to discover the daily life of local people.

Overnight in Xieng Khoang

DAY 11:XIENG KHOUANG - MUANG KHOUN - VANG VIENG

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

Overnight in Vang Vieng

DAY 12: VANG VIENG

Our day is spent visiting the local market and discover some of the spectacular caves (thams) of the district, including the triangle of limestone rock caves of Tham Sang; Tham Hoi, the Tham Loup, and Tham Nam.

Overnight in Vang Vieng

DAY 13: VANG VIENG - LAC DE NAM NGUM

We journey to Lake Nam Ngum by road and see nature and beautiful scenery along the way. After crossing the lake, we will encounter and see people working at their particular trades. We visit the Lao Farmers Society, a production co-operative, supported by primary producers. 

Then onto Lao fair trade networks, that provide jobs and income for the local people. Here we receive product presentations, explanations and product tasting.

Overnight in Nam Ngum

DAY 14: LAC DE NAM NGUM - VIENTIANE

We stop at the historical site of Vang Xang, and depending on the season (for an small added cost) experience the fun on the downhill banana boat song nam.

Transfer to Vientiane, with a scheduled stop en route to visit a village

Overnight in Vientiane 

DAY 15: 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

DAY16: VIENTIANE - DEPARTURE

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

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