Laos Discovery North to South - 17 Days

When you arrive in Luang Prabang you will be met by our staff and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Luang Prabang is known for its many ancient and beautiful temples, and after and a short rest, we visit some of the best examples of these temples. Two of these magnificent temples are Wat Visoun and Wat Xienthong, the city's oldest temple and one of the best examples of Luang Prabang classical architecture. In the evening there will be a welcome dinner at a restaurant.
Overnight is in Luang Prabang hotel.

After breakfast, we board a long-tail boat on the Mekong River for a trip to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. On the way to the caves, we stop at Ban Xanghai Village. Known for the production of traditional Lao rice wine, you see the distillation process, and sample some of the product. After visiting the Pak Ou Caves, with its thousand Buddha statues of all shapes and sizes, we visit the two Lao-Loum villages of Ban Chan and Ban Xiengmene. We return to Luang Prabang and explore the Night Market where you can hunt for bargains on locally made handicrafts.
Overnight is in Luang Prabang hotel.

In the morning after breakfast in the hotel, we visit the National Museum which was once the Royal Palace. The museum has displays of famous Lao historical leaders and fighters from ancient times to the present day revolutionary period. Then we visit some of Luang Prabang's beautiful and magnificent temples. After lunch in a famous restaurant, we take a drive to the Kuangsi Waterfall in the green surroundings of a National Conservation Area. En route, we stop at two small villages; the Hmong village of Ban Na Oune, and Ban Tha Pane, a Khmu village. Here we learn about their culture and way of life. We return to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon, and visit the weaving village of Ban Xangkhong on the way back. We end the day with a visit to Wat Siphouthabath to see the footprints of the Buddha.
Overnight is in Luang Prabang hotel.

This morning we depart for Xieng Khouang Province, site of the amazing Plain of Jars. We drive through high mountains and a landscape of karst formations, and stop at remote ethnic villages. You will see the looms beneath the houses that are used to make the family's clothes, bags and accessories. In the late afternoon, we arrive at Phonsavan, the capital of the war-torn province of Xieng Khoung, and check in to the hotel.
Overnight is in Phonsavan hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel is followed by a visit to the morning market where a variety of local food items, and wild animals are on sale. We also see hill tribe people making rice noodles. Then we set out to explore the three main sites of the mysterious Plain of Jars. This is a remarkable archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars lie scattered over the plateau. It is estimated that the huge jars are some 1,500 to 2,000 years old, but it is still a mystery as to what they were actually used for, and how they got to their final resting places. Next is a visit to the ancient capital of this war-torn province, Muang Khoun (old Xieng Khuang). It was once a beautiful and lively French colonial town something like Luang Prabang, but years of war and heavy bombing have reduced it into a shell. We will visit the only house remaining from this period, the ruins of Wat Phia Wat, and That Chom Phet.
Overnight is in Phonsavan hotel.

In the morning, we start for Vang Vieng, and en-route we have time to stop to admire the scenery from several scenic viewpoints. Vang Vieng is a small village situated between spectacular limestone cliffs and surrounded by green rice fields dotted with traditional houses. The balcony of your hotel affords a splendid view of the beautiful countryside and the magnificent natural formation, as well as magnificent sunsets.
Overnight is in Vang Vieng hotel.

After breakfast, today you have a free day to relax and explore the town. Vang Vieng is known for its famous limestone cliffs and you can visit the caves in the area, or cycle through the nearby countryside. You can also float down the Nam Song River on an inner tube. Vang Vieng is a great place to relax and unwind.
Overnight is in Vang Vieng hotel.

This morning after breakfast, we drive approx. three hours to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Vientiane, situated on the Mekong River, has a somewhat small-town feel to it, rather than the capital of a country. You check into your hotel, and in the afternoon, we also visit a large market where you can browse among silver, silk and many other items. In the late afternoon and evening, you can take a relaxing stroll along the banks of the Mekong River.
Overnight is at Vientiane hotel.

After breakfast, we go on a sightseeing tour of the city. We see Wat Sisaket with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues, the That Luang Stupa, the country's most important monument, the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha statue, and the imposing Patuxay Monument, the Victory Gate (Arc de Triumph) of Vientiane.
Overnight is in Vientiane hotel.

Today we head out of Vientiane into the country, and drive to the valley of the Nam Hinboun River in Khammouane Province. This province is famous for its magnificent rugged limestone mountains, many caves, underground rivers, and traditional villages. Depending on the time of year, in the evening you may be pleasantly serenaded by the & ldquo; singing & rdquo; of the cicadas.
Overnight is at Hinboun hotel.

After breakfast we take a boat ride on a trip to Kong Lor Cave. As we cruise along you see the towering sheer limestone cliffs along the river, and at every bend in the river there is an amazing new vista. The Nam Hinboun River flows through the Kong Lor Cave which is actually a limestone tunnel over 8 km long. The Cave is home to many rare birds that appear in the late afternoon. We also explore surrounding villages on foot, and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of rural life in Hinboun.
Overnight is in Hinboun hotel.

After breakfast in the hotel, we take a boat from Sala Hinboun to Ban Na Pouak. We stop on the way to visit a local village, and then drive to the town of Tha Khek, with a detour to see the Pra Pafha Cave in beautiful natural surroundings.
Overnight is in Tha Khek hotel.

Today after breakfast, we take a quick look around the city. Then we are off on a seven-hour drive to Pakse. On the way, we stop to visit an ethnic village.
Overnight is in Pakse hotel.

After breakfast, we drive out to the Bolaven Plateau to the Tad Fan Waterfall, and along the way we see tea & coffee plantations, as well as visit ethnic villages. Tonight you stay at the famous Tad Fan Waterfall Resort in wood bungalows.
This resort is in a beautiful location at the top of the spectacular falls, and the wood bungalows are designed to harmonize with the surrounding forest.
Overnight is at Tad Fan Waterfall Resort.

After breakfast we take a walk from the resort to the nearby waterfall of Tad Yeung. This waterfall is very impressive with twin falls plunging and flowing into lush jungle. Then we drive back to Pakse. From Pakse we take a boat trip to visit the ancient Khmer temple complex of Wat Phu. This World Heritage Site, is estimated to have been active from the 5th century to the late Angkorian period, and is believed to be the origin of the Khmer Empire. Later in the afternoon we take a scenic drive to Don Khong Island.
Overnight is at Don Khong Island hotel.

After breakfast we drive to Nakasang, where first we take a private boat trip to see the endangered Irrawady dolphins. Then we cruise back to Nakasang, and drive to Pakse. Along the way we view some of the four thousand islands as we drive.
Overnight is at Pakse hotel.

After breakfast in the hotel, there will be free time for leisure activities until it is time for your departure transfer.