Itinerary in brief

Day 1    Houei Say (Thailand border) - Cruise - Pakbeng
Day 2    Pakbeng - Cruise - Pak ou cave - Luang Prabang
Day 3    Luang Prabang
Day 4    Luang Prabang - Khuang Sy waterfall
Day 5    Luang Prabang - Vang Vieng
Day 6    Vang Vieng - Vientiane
Day 7    Vientiane
Day 8    Vientiane - Savannakhet
Day 9    Savannakhet - Salavan - Tad Fane - Tadlo lodge
Day 10  Tadlo lodge - Wat Phu - Khong island
Day 11  Khong island - Khone island - King Fisher lodge
Day 12  King Fisher lodge - Pakse - Departure

Itinerary in details

DAY 1: HOUEI SAY (Thailand border) - CRUISE - PAKBENG

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 Pakbeng Lodge, a small boutique hotel, built with local architecture where you spend the night.

Overnight in Pakbeng

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.

DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG - KHUANG SY WATERFALL - ETHNIQUE 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 - VANG VIENG

Depart for the town of Vang Vieng (160kms from Luang Prabang) and its natural topography of karsts on the west bank of Nam Song River. The road is great and on the way we pass through some picturesque scenery, stopping at Meo village to visit a tea plantation.

• Lunch on route

Overnightl in Vang Vieng.

DAY 6: VANG VIENG – VIENTIANE

In the morning we visit 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
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

We arrival in the capital in late afternoon, and transfer to your hotel. Then take a stroll through the Khua Din market.

By late afternoon, the time has come to settle at a sidewalk cafe to watch the sunset on the golden brown banks of the Mekong River.

Overnight in Vientiane

DAY 7: 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 8: VIENTIANE – SAVANNAKHET

Depart for Savannakhet. Stop over at Thakkek. We walk to discover the small town and visit Ban Nateuy.

Arrive in Savanakhet in the afternoon,  and enjoy the sunset over the Mekong

Overnight in Savanakhet

DAY 9: SAVANNAKHET - SALAVAN - TAD FANE - TAD LO LODGE

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 10: TADLO LODGE - VAT 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 11: KHONG ISLAND - KHONE ISLAND - KING FISHER LODGE

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.

We will offer lunch at the resplendent Kingfisher Ecolodge. 

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

Overnight in King Fisher lodge

DAY 12: KING FISHER - DEPARTURE

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

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