Itinerary in brief

Day 1    Houei Say - Cruise - Parbeng - Luang Say Lodge
Day 2    Parbeng - Cruise - Pak Ou - Luang Prabang
Day 3    Luang Prabang
Day 4    Luang Prabang - Khuang Sy waterfall - Luang Prabang
Day 5    Luang Prabang - FLY - Vientiane
Day 6    Vientiane - FLY - Pakse - Boloven - Tadlo lodge
Day 7    Tadlo - Vat Phou - Khong island
Day 8    Khong island - Khone island
Day 9    Khong island - Khone Phapeng - Phou Asa - Pakse
Day 10  Pakse - Departure

Itinerary in details

DAY 1: HOUEI SAY - CRUISE - PAKBENG - LUANG SAY LODGE

On the border between Thailand and Laos. Once the custom formalities are completed. Met and welcome by the Hanoi Voyages Guide.

You embark in a traditional wooden boat, sailing towards Pakbeng, where you stay the night.
A day of sailing, during which, you will visit some villages that are still very traditional, and see a multitude of ethnic minorities.

Late afternoon you arrival at Luangsay Lodge, a small boutique hotel, built with local architecture where you spend the night.

Overnight in Luang Say lodge

DAY 2: PAKBENG - CRUISE - PAK OU CAVE - LUANG PRABANG

In a classic, wooden boat we take about 6 hours to reach Luang Prabang. 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.

Along the Mekong River to visit two sacred caves at Pak Ou. The Tham Ting and Tham Phoum caves are highly venerated and revered in Laos, and house many thousands of Buddha statues and other memorabilia, placed there by the people who come to visit and pray.
The caves offer a magnificent view over the Mekong and the Nam Ou rivers and their contrasting waters.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

DAY 3: 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.
• Then stroll through the Darat market, before climbing Mount Phousi to discover a magnificent panoramic view of the ancient capital and Mekong River at sunset.
• 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.

J4: LUANG PRABANG - KHUANG SY WATERFALL - ETHNIC MINORITY VILLAGES

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 5: LUANG PRABANG - FLY - VIENTIANE

Transfer to the airport for a short flight to Vientiane. Met and welcome by the Hanoi Voyages Guide in Vientiane upon arrival at the airport. Then transfer by private car to your hotel.

Our day continue by visiting the main attractions of the city.
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 6: VIENTIANE - FLY - PAKSE -BOLOVEN - TADLO LODGE

Transfer to the airport for a short flight to Pakse. Met and welcome by the Hanoi Voyages Guide upon arrival at the airport. Then transfer by private car to your hotel.

We take the road to the Bolaven plateau (1250m altitude), a major agricultural region of Laos.
The area is primarily devoted to the cultivation of robusta coffee, introduced by the French, but tea, pepper cardamom and rubber plantations also exist in the region.
We discover magnificent waterfalls named Tat Fan and Tat Lo.

Overnight in Tadlo lodge 

DAY 7: TADLO LODGE - WAT PHOU -  KHONG ISLAND

In the morning we transfer to the pier for a boat cruise on the Mekong to Champassak.

On arrival at Champassak we visit the Vat Phu (“Temple of the Mountain”), a sacred place dating back 1500yrs, and now a UNESCO protected building. Renovations have been undertaken to return it to its former glory.

We lunch in town, and then cross the Mekong River by ferry to the site of the "4000 islands" and its wonderful peaceful landscapes. The river floods the plain and after it recedes, many small islands appear, hence the name, "4000 islands". There are many permanent, inhabited islands offering fascinating glimpses of tranquil, river-oriented life.

Transfer to Khong Island, the largest of this group of islands.

Overnight in Khong Island

DAY 8: KHONG ISLAND

Discover the village of Ban Khong to see the Wat Keo Phouang, and the magnificent Buddha, protected by seven heads of Naga’s. We detour and stop by at the local market to discover the trade of palm sugar and other commodities.

Then taking a motor canoe we cruise through the region of the 4,000 islands to enjoy a look at river oriented life

We stop at Khone Island, to see the old colonial mansions of the French period, and while on the island we visit two waterfalls:

• Firstly the Li Phi falls, known as the “Phantom of the Abyss”.
• Then we visit the spectacular Phapheng Waterfall, the largest in South-East Asia, on the border of Cambodia.

The day concludes with the observation of rare, white “Irawaddy” river dolphins.

Drive back on the island of Khong to your hotel

Overnight in Khong Island

DAY 9: ILE DE KHONG - KHONE PHAPENG - PHOU ASA - PAKSE

We visit the Ban Ngon Khiet reserve, and its ethnic village of Suay, where some families have domesticated elephants as pets. Here a carnac (elephant trainer) will take you on a two hour elephant ride to the Assa Phou temple.
Some of the area resembles “moonscape”, a result of volcanic rock deposits.

Afterwards we drive to Pakse, detouring along the way to stop at the village of Ban Sapaie, an area well known for its weavings of cotton and silk, and other textile productions.

Overnight in Pakse

DAY 10: PAKSE - DEPARTURE

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

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