Rural Life in Laos Tour 11 days

Morning option: Alms giving is the best done in Luang Prabang. At approximately 5h30-6:00am each morning the monks assemble in the great temples with their “begging bowls”, and then led by the experienced senior monks, they proceed in single file along their designated routes begging for food, for their daily sustenance. If you wish to witness this original parade, (only in Laos), you should rise early.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then depart for the first discovery of the Luang Prabang’s cultural and spiritual heritages.

Your city tour begins with a visit of the Wat Aham temple (Monastery of the Open Heart) which is the shape of a tent standing on a white and rectangular base that seems to be made of marble with a pointed, tiled and gigantic three-tiered roof.

Next door is the neighboring Wat Wisunarat temple, one of the oldest temples in Luang Prabang, whose architecture is simple, except its metal roofs have more details of decoration.

Continue to the Wat Xieng Thong temple, which plays an important role in the psychic life of Laotians. Wat Xieng Thong means the "Monastery of the Golden City", one of the higher symbols of Buddhism in Laos. This place is built in a particular architectural style of Laos, with a curved roof that nearly touches the ground. 

Then, begin your afternoon with the Wat May temple which lies on a vast ground and features a style of religious architecture and consists of an ordination hall (sim) and some koutis (the monk’s dwellings).

Afterwards, explore the Royal Palace Museum, it is an ideal place to study or learn some history and Royal lifestyle of Laos. The architecture of the building is a mixture of French Beaux –Art style and traditional Laos style, making it not only old, but also contemporary.

Before returning to your hotel, do some physical exercise by climbing up the top of Phou Si Mount to enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the UNESCO city.

Meals on your own. Overnight at your hotel.

Meal: Breakfast

After your breakfast in hotel, start your excursion on the other side of the Mekong River in the Ban Xiengmene, a very quiet village where the Kmus and Lao Loums reside. This is certainly a memorable experience that takes you off the beaten path of Luang Prabang.

Then discover Ban Tjan, a traditional pottery-making village. By using the local manufacturing techniques, this small village have specialized on bricks and manufacturing pottery. The raw material is processed directly on spot and everyone can participate in this activity, even children. Finish your day by crossing the Mekong to reach the pier in the city center.

You cannot leave this ancient capital without visiting Kuang Si, the most beautiful waterfalls in Luang Prabang. Take to the road, (about 30km), to discover these waterfalls where the water is turquoise all year round. At the bottom of the falls, a series of natural pools invites you to swim. In addition, you can take a walk in the forest or continue to climb to the top of the falls. On the way back to the city centre, you can observe daily life in a few ethnic minority villages of Laos, like the Hmong village (in Ban Ouay), the Laoloum village (in Ban Ou), and the Khmu village (in Ban Thapene). 

In the evening, free walk to the Hmong night market, located at Sisavangvong Street in Luang Prabang. You could find jewelry, silks, scarves that are more authentic than in big city’s markets.

Meals on your own. Overnight at your hotel.

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, driving (~4h transfer) to Nong Khiew, a village located on the bank of Nam Ou river. On the way, stop to visit Ban Nayang village and Nam park market. On arrival, start a cycling to discover this small town. Stop to visit a local school and Nong Khiew bridge. Then, continue to cycle to visit Pathok cave where Laos people did hide when all the American bombing was happening. 

After sightseeing, check in at bungalow on the bank of river.

Meals on your own. Overnight at hotel

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast, boarding a local long boat and cruise through some fantastic landscape to a small riverside village. Here we take some time to walk around and if during a weekday, visit a local school to see the charming children studing in their classes.

Then we continue our cruise to the ethic Khmu village Ban Sop Khong. We walking around 01 hour to Tad Mork waterfall where we shall have time to swim and enjoy a picnic lunch.

After lunch, we return back to Nong Khiaw via boat. On the way, we stop at a small stop at Muang Ngoy, appreciated by visitors looking for tranquillity, serenity and peace. Enjoy one drink at one of the riverside restaurants before cruise down the river back to Nong Khiew.

Dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, driving back to Luang Prabang.

Stop at Ban Pak Ou village then ferry on the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Sanctuary Caves, which were formed thousands of years ago and in recent times have attracted Buddhist pilgrims, who have decorated the caves with thousands of Buddhist statues and paraphernalia, over 4000 at last count.

Continue to hit the road to get back to town and stop then at Ban Xang Hai village specializing in the distillation of rice wine.

Upon arrival, check-in your hotel for resting.

Meals on your own. Overnight at your hotel.

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast, our driver transfer you to Luang Prabang airport for flight to Pakse, chief town of Champasak province. You are welcomed by local guide and driver on arrival then transfered to hotel for check-in.

In the afternoon, driving to Ban Sabai village and Ban Don Kho village located around 15km far from Pakse, on a small island Don Kho. Most of local families live with traditional silk weaving by hand. We take some times to chat with local people and learn about their daily life.

End of visit, driving back Pakse and time for your wandering in city.

Meals on your own. Overnight at hotel

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast, meet our guide and driver to start your sightseeing day in Boloven Plateau including waterfalls, and coffee plantations.

First stop is Tad Pha Suam waterfall. It is a wide 6m high waterfall that stretches around a U shaped cliff. Moving to the ethnic Lavae model village where you can see housing styles from different ethnic groups and handicrafts in the making.

Next, transfer to Tadlo village and admiring the enormous Tado waterfall. Then visiting the ethnic Ngai villages nearby and observe the traditional rural life.

Continue to discover a beautiful garden and coffee plantation. You have chance to taste local coffee.

Visit the magnificient Tad Fan and Tad Yuang waterfalls before transfer back Pakse.

Meals on your own. Overnight at hotel

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast, heading to explore the fascinating Pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phou, one of the oldest archaeological sites in Laos. This Khmer temple is at the base of a curiously shaped 1,416 meters mountain and reserves some peculiarities to be discovered, namely: engraved cliff, elephant figure carved out of the natural rock and gatekeepers Dvarapala, etc. Enjoy a magnificent view over the Mekong River from the third platform of the ruins.

Continue to Dong Khong, the biggest island in this area. After visiting Ban Khong village, embark on a small boat for 2h cruise to Done Khone through the beautiful 4000 island area.

Once you reach Done Khone, check in at hotel.

Meal own your own. Overnight at hotel.

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast, start your day with sightseeing in Done Khone island. This is an ideal destination to take a walk or bike ride. On this island there is an abandoned railway and Colonial French Buildings.

Explore the Li Phi waterfall (also called Somphamit Waterfall), which lies between the 2 islands of Don Xang and Don Khone and thus forms a natural border between Laos and Cambodia. The main road to go there is well preserved and decorated with bamboo groves.

Before ending your excursion, cross an old French bridge connecting Don Det, a neighboring island for a pleasant stroll. After that, cruise back to Ban Nakasang then driving back to Pakse to check-in your hotel

Meal own your own. Overnight at hotel.

Meal: Breakfast

After your last breakfast in Laos, depending on flight schedules, you will be transferred to the airport by local driver before boarding the aircraft.

END OF SERVICES

Meal: Breakfast