Laos – Sights and Soul

On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Time permitting; your half day city tour begins with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. Next head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground which represents classical Laotian architecture. You also have time to visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai.
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Meals:
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

The day starts with a visit to the Big Brother Mouse shop to select some books for the village visit. You will then head north by car along route 13, before taking a unpaved road to Ban Khia Luang village. You then have ample time to visit the school, play with the kids and watch them enjoy their new books. You also take some time to explore the rest of the village where you can see weaving and visit the local temple. Stop for lunch at the village which can either be a western picnic lunch or traditional Lao food such as sticky rice, laap and fresh vegetables cooked by the villagers.
After lunch say good-bye to the village and drive to Ban Khoklin, which takes you through some beautiful scenery of mountains and paddy fields. At Ban Khoklin, board a private boat down the Nam Ou River for 30 minutes to Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims and continue down the Mekong River back to Luang Prabang, arriving by late afternoon.
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

Today cross the Mekong River by boat, to the picturesque village of Ban Chan, a pottery village. Visit the morning Phousi Market where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. This then takes you to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. Return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon.
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

Today, drive along the scenic mountain roads to Xiengkhuang. The journey will give you plenty of opportunities for photos and visiting hill tribe villages. Upon arrival, transfer out to visit Site 1 of the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are scattered all over the plateau. Stay in Xiangkhuang.
Overnight in Xiengkhuang

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

This morning visit the Central Market in Phonsavan, visit the MAG exhibition and Site 2 of the Plain of Jars before taking a short scenic trek to Site 3 via a Tai Dam and Lao Leum village. Afternoon visit the old capital of Muang Khoun and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hilltribe and Tai Dam people.
Overnight in Xiengkhuang

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

The morning is free at leisure. At 10.00 a.m., you will be picked up for a noon flight to Vientiane.
Afternoon spend a half day city tour of Vientiane including the oldest, Wat Sisaket, a temple of thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. Visit Lao national icon, That Luang Stupa, and stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument which Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph is. The afternoon is free at leisure.
Overnight in Vientiane

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

You will be transferred to the airport early this morning for your flight to Pakse. On arrival in Pakse, drive south to Champassak and to visit the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia’s most dramatically situated temples. Explore these intriguing Khmer ruins which are perched at the base of Mount Phu Kao. Afternoon continue our journey by road and long tail boat to the 4000 Islands area where you spend the remainder of the day to relax.
Overnight in 4000 Islands

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

After an early breakfast, explore Khone Island. The adventure today begins with re-tracing the French colonial-past at Ban Khone, where some old colonial houses still stand and glimpse the first Lao railway with its own locomotive. Continue your exploration of the area of the 4000 islands by boat and visit the beautiful Liphi waterfall, also known as the Samphamith which forms a natural border between Lao and Cambodia. Return to Ban Nakasang and drive to the famous waterfall of Khone Phapeng – the largest waterfall in South East Asia, also known as the ‘Niagara of the east’.
Overnight in 4000 Islands

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

This morning leave Khone Island and you will be met and taken by road west into the Bolevean Plateau. The Bolevean Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. The area is famous for many waterfalls, and the most beautiful one is Tad Fan. Tad Fan waterfall is spectacular with twin waterfalls plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by flourishing vegetation. A trip to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that can be seen en-route. In the afternoon your route take you to Tad Lo, home to another scenic waterfall and numerous ethnic minority groups. Visit the villages of Alak, Nge, and Katu before returning to Pakse for overnight stay.
Overnight in Pakse

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Pakse airport for your departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:
Transportation: Private vehicle