Unforgotten Paradises Laos Tour 10 days

Morning option: Alms giving is the best advised 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 join this original parade (only in Laos), you should get up early.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before starting your second family day tour in Laos with the first discovery of the Luang Prabang’s cultural and spiritual heritages.

Your city tour begins by tuk-tuk with 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 with the Wat Xieng Thong temple (Monastery of the Golden City) playing an important role in the psychic life of Laotians, as 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.

In the afternoon, explore the Wat May temple lying on a vast ground and features a style of religious architecture, consists of an ordination hall (sim) and some koutis (the monks’ dwelling).

Afterwards, visit the Royal Palace Museum, an ideal place to study or learn some history and the 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, you do some physical exercise by climbing up the top of Phou Si Mount to enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view on the UNESCO city.

Meals on your own. Overnight at hotel.

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast, on third day tour in Lao, your family will be picked up by your Laotian guide and driver who will take you to local markets: the Phou Si Market. This market is infinitely populous and hectic with several edible and various products. By visiting it, you will have the opportunity to observe the dealings of local residents.

Then you will visit a Hmong family. The Hmong men are now famous for their flutes which have succeeded in public musical performances. After the conversation with the host, he will give you an explanation on how to play the flute. Take advantage of this opportunity to hear both original and romantic flute melody sounds.

Continue 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. Lunch at local familly before ferry back to town.

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).

Dinner on your own. Overnight at your hotel.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

On fourth day tour in Laos, after breakfast at the hotel, you will leave the charming Luang Prabang city to head towards Nong Khiaw, one of the most beautiful villages that is located 200 kilometers north of Luang Prabang. Nong Khiaw lies on the two beautiful banks of the Nam Ou River. With a very pleasant climate almost all year round, breathtaking landscapes of karst mountain ranges, rivers, forests ...

Stops along the way to visit the Ban Nayang village and the local market of Nampak.

Upon arrival in Nong Khiaw, cruise to Muang Ngoy (in 1 hour). During the trip, you can observe the fishing villages living on the banks of the river landscapes and also beautiful landscapes along the river.

Arrive in Ban Sojam village and start an walking (about 1 hour) to the Khamu village where you can discover their ancestral way of life. Check in at local homestay in Ban Sojam

Dinner and overnight at homestay for authentic experience.

Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

On fifth day tour in Laos, after breakfast, you will cruise from Ban Sojam to Muang Ngoy where you will take a walk to the local villages.

Then you will continue your cruise to Nong Khiaw. Upon arrival, in case of a weekday, you can visit the local school and meet the students who will eagerly share what they have learned with you.

On the way 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 with your family after a long day on the road.

Meals on your own. Overnight at your hotel.

Meal: Breakfast

On sixth day tour in Laos, after breakfast at the hotel, free time until transfer to Luang Prabang airport for flight to Champasak province in southern Laos

Upon your arrival at Pakse airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your local driver and Lao guide who will take you to the Boloven Plateau - an ideal place to enjoy the freshness of the tropical mountains and to taste one of the best coffees in the world, before immersing yourself in the paradise of magnificent waterfalls.

Start with the visit of Tad Fane, the highest waterfall in the country including two powerful waterfalls that are about 120 meters high. You will then pass by the Tad Yeung waterfall located about 2 km from Tad Fane, it is the most picturesque and has an easily accessible swimming hole at the bottom of a steep stairway. Drive back Pakse city for check-in hotel

Meals on your own. Overnight at hotel.

Meal: Breakfast

On seventh day tour in Laos, after breakfast, depart for Champassak 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 visit Ban Kiet Ngon village, located in the Xe Pian National Biodiversity Reserve. From here, you’ll begin an elephant ride around the village, to the swampy area or to the top of Phou Asa Mount where the soil is covered with volcanic rock. At the top of the mount, you will have a panoramic view over the area of Dong Houasao and also the Mekong Valley.

The local driver will then transfer you to Khong Island where you will spend the night. Free time for your rest or for your discovery of the largest island of the archipelago Si Phan Don on the Mekong River.

Meals on your own. Overnight at hotel.

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast is served at the hotel. This morning of eighth day tour in Laos, the driver will take you to the Nakasang village where you begin your cruise on a traditional long-tail boat to Don Det in the 4000 islands area (Si Phan Don). After a pleasant stroll on this island, cross an old French bridge connecting to Don Khone.

Only 5 km long and 3 km wide, Don Khone is an ideal destination to take a walk or bike ride. On this island there is an abandoned railway and Colonial French Buildings. Once you reach Don Khone, do not hesitate to 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.

At the end of the day, check-in your hotel for resting. 

Meals on your own. Overnight at hotel.

Meal: Breakfast

On nineth day tour in Laos, after your breakfast, transfer to the pier where you start a cruise back to Ban Nakasang village. Before returning to Pakse, discover the Khone Phapheng waterfalls creating rapids on the Mekong, which are the largest waterfalls in Southeast Asia. Near the falls’ exit, there is a small market, which offers traditional Lao products at reasonable prices. Lunch on the way.

Upon your arrival in Pakse, enjoy free time with your familly to discover the hidden treasures of the city.

Dinner on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Today is last day tour in Laos, after breakfast, depending on the flight schedule, your family will be transferred to the airport with local driver for boarding the aircraft to back home.

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Meal: Breakfast