Tour route :
Luang Prabang - Luang Prabang – Lao Spirit adventure - Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave - Luang Prabang – Pakse - Khone Island - Don Khone Island – Surrounding – Khone Phapheng Resort
Brief description :
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos....
Detailed itinerary:
Day 1 Arrival – Luang Prabang
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights makes it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos.
After a short rest, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. We then ascent to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, gilded stupa as well as capture a beautiful view of the city and watch the glowing reflection of the setting sun on the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 2. Luang Prabang – Lao Spirit adventure (B, L)
This is a full day trip combining a rafting tour out of town with some sightseeing and an exciting elephant ride to/from Tad Sae Waterfall (or alternative route in dry season). After pick up from your hotel (8:30-9:00 a.m) we proceed to the Adventure and Elephant camp located 15 km out of town in the middle of unspoiled, natural green surroundings. After crossing the small river you will be introduced to our Asian Elephants and venture on a 1hr – 1hr 30 mins enchanting journey through forests, plantations and fields. This activity programe will provide you with a breathtaking and unique experience as you make your way through forests and along the Nam Khan River up to the waterfalls of Tad Sae. (In the dry season we ride a village trail) After visiting the waterfall, lunch is served before a relaxing 30 minute rafting tour along the river back to the resort. The evening is free at your leisure.
Overnight at Lao Spirit Resort.
Day 3. Sala Hin Boun – Kong Lor Cave (B)
After breakfast we head back towards Luang Prabang town to enjoy a short-guided tour of the city’s oldest temple, Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low representing classical Laotian architecture. We then embark on a boat journey upstream along the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims. En route, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where you can sample the local produce of Lao rice wine. On our way back to Luang Prabang we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village famous for its hand weaving.
Today we visit The National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artefacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating back from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign. We also have time to visit the Central Market before we catch the flight to Pakse. On arrival at Pakse, we drive south to Done Daeng Islands. Done Daeng Islands is the largest island in the South Mekong River region known as the 4000 islands and it is one of the most scenic areas in Laos.
After an early breakfast, we explore the local villages of Ban Khone, where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with it’s locomotive. We continue to discover the 4000 islands area by boat with a visit to the Liphi waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls that mark the Laos-Cambodia border. If we are lucky, we may even see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone. We return to Ban Nakasang and drive to famous waterfalls of Khone Phapeng, the largest waterfall in South East Asia, known as Niagara of the east.
Overnight in Champassak.
Day 6. Done Daeng Islands – Dongkalor (Cambodia border) (B)
After breakfast, we transfer to Dongkalor border gate for your departure to Cambodia by land.
Thank you very much for joining us and see you again !
Draft itinerary :
Day 1: Arrival – Luang Prabang
Day 2: Luang Prabang – Lao Spirit adventure
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave
Day 4: Luang Prabang – Pakse – Done Daeng Islands (Flight)
Day 5: Done Daeng Islands – Khong islands Surrounding – Done Daeng Islands
Day 6: Done Daeng Islands – Dongkalor (Cambodia border)
Tours highlight :
+ Luang Prabang
Colour is the first of Luang Prabang’s virtues to greet travellers. Pearly frangipanis with their heady perfume, banks of overgrown trees peppered with scarlet flowers, the burnt sienna robes of hundreds of monks and their novices, and resplendent gold and claret wats. The scent of fresh coffee, river activity, produce markets and spicy food soon follows. And then the broader aesthetics begin to unfold. Encircled by mountains, and set 700m above sea level at the confluence of the Nam Khan (Khan River) and the Mekong River, Luang Prabang is now Laos’ foremost tourist showpiece. The brew of gleaming temple roofs, crumbling French provincial architecture and multiethnic inhabitants captivates even the most jaded travellers, and the quiet benevolence of the city’s residents lulls them into a somnambulant bliss.
+ Pak Ou cave
Pak Ou Cave is located about 25 km from Luang Prabang. It can be reached by boat from Luang Prabang. Alternatively you can go by a soonthaew, that will bring you to the opposite bank of the river, where boats will be waiting to take you to the other site.
There are two levels. One cave entrance is clearly visible from the river. The higher level can be reached after climbing some stairs. Bring a flashlight with you, if possible. Both caves have lots of small and bigger Buddha images, mostly donated by local people.
+ Vientiane
This delightfully friendly capital, studded with crumbling French mansions, bougainvillea-blooming streets and steaming noodle stalls, is somewhere between a big town and a diminutive city; the kind of place you might find a Graham Greene protagonist. Its conveniently compact travellers’ enclave is based around Nam Phu, the Mekong riverside and Setthariat and Samsenthai streets. Full of things to see, from Buddha Park to the Morning market and an impossibly rich selection of international cuisine – most pointedly French – you’ll find yourself slowly won over by the easy charms of this evolving backwater. The city may reveal its beauty less readily than Luang Prabang, but spend a few days visiting its unusual sights, sampling its excellent food and enjoying a Beer Lao at sunset by the river, and you’ll soon feel at home here.
The tour price is updating, Please fully fill in the below form for your inquiry !
Hotel Categories
Group size
Surcharge If require
2
3-6
7-11
12-15
16-19
20 up
Single
Meals
Standard
First class
Superior
Inclusive of above prices:
Private transportation in private air-conditioned
Accommodation in twin shared
Domestic air ticket with airport tax
Private boat trip as stated in above sights
English speaking guide (some escort & some station guide)
Admission fee to indicated sights
Meals: daily breakfast at hotel
Government tax and service charge
Luggage handling
2 bottles of drinking water per day during the tour
2 cold tower per day during the tour
Exclusive of above prices:
Visa stamping fee
Domestic air ticket with airport tax
Int’l air tickets to / from Laos
Travel Insurance in all kinds
Meals: lunch or dinner where not stated
Single room (quoted separately)
Tip, drinks, personal expenses and others
What to bring: Passport, change of clothes, sun-glasses & hat, sun-block, insect repel, flashlights, good shoes, cable locks.
Hotel list:
STANDARD HOTEL
LUANG PRABANG = Manoluck Hotel (Standard Room) www.manoluckhotel.com
LAO SIPIRIT AREA = Lao Spirit Resort (Standard Room) www.lao-spirit.com
KHONE ISLAND = Sala Donkhone (Standard Room)
KHONEPHAPHENG = Khonephapheng Resort (Standard Room) www.khonephaphengresort.com
FIRST CLASS HOTEL
LUANG PRABANG = Villa Santi Hotel (Deluxe Room) www.villasantihotel.com
LAO SIPIRIT AREA = Lao Spirit Resort (Standard Room) www.lao-spirit.com
KHONE ISLAND = Sala Phae Floating (Standard Room)
KHONEPHAPHENG = Khonephapheng Resort (Standard Room) www.khonephaphengresort.com
SUPERIOR HOTEL
LUANG PRABANG = Grand Luang Prabang Hotel (Deluxe Room) www.grandluangprabang.com
LAO SIPIRIT AREA = Lao Spirit Resort (Standard Room) www.lao-spirit.com
KHONE ISLAND = Sala Phae Floating (Standard Room)
KHONEPHAPHENG = Khonephapheng Resort (Standard Room) www.khonephaphengresort.com
DELUXE HOTEL
LUANG PRABANG = La Residence Phouvao Hotel (Garden View Room) www.residencephouvao.com
LAO SIPIRIT AREA = Lao Spirit Resort (Standard Room) www.lao-spirit.com
KHONE ISLAND = Sala Phae Floating (Standard Room)
KHONEPHAPHENG = Khonephapheng Resort (Standard Room) www.khonephaphengresort.com
Laos Travel Tips
Laos Today & History
Laos Tourism Interview
Laos Travel maps
Traveller’s comments - Impress Travel
Good Morning Tony, so very nice to hear from you again.
I received lots of emails from Kate during their holiday in Vietnam and can assure you that they had a truly wonderful trip and enjoyed it as much as we did.
They were very grateful that we had recommended Impress Travel to them.
They have not yet returned to Tasmania as they are spending some time in South Australia with their daughter, but we have spoken to them with regard to catching up with them shortly after their return.
We definitely hope to return to Vietnam in the future and would like to bring some more friends when we do.
I think I mentioned previously that our youngest son is getting married next February, so next year we will need to assist financially with that, but hopefully in 2012.
I couldn’t convince my son and his fiancée to come to Vietnam for their honeymoon, they have settled on Langkawi, but I am sure they will get to your country one day.
They love to travel very much.
We have received nice emails from Thoi and Cindy (our guides in Hoi An and Hanoi) which is really good.
From our trip, there is not a thing you need to improve, I will mention to Kate and Peter that you would appreciate their feedback as well on their tour.
It is the first day of spring here today and hopefully the weather will begin to warm up. We took our grandchildren up the mountains to the snow last weekend which was beautiful, but I long for some warmer days.
Thankyou for your email again, I appreciate you keeping in touch, be assured we will continue to recommend your travel agency to any other friends wishing to tour Vietnam.
Thanks for your email. Sorry I have been slow getting back to you, but since returning home we have been busy (as you can imagine). Both Peter and I are back at work now, but we feel very refreshed and revitalised from our fantastic holiday. We loved everything we saw. The highlights for me were the Mekong Delta, Hoi An and Sapa.
If we had the good fortune to return to Vietnam we would like to do a homestay either in the Mekong Delta or Sapa. We absolutely loved those areas and could easily have spent more time there. We also liked Nha Trang and would liked to have stayed there for another day too.
It was just wonderful to have a guide and driver meet us at the airport and drive us around to the various attractions.
I have enclosed a photo of you and Peter taken in Hanoi.
Thank you once again Tony. We very much appreciate what you have done for us while we were in Vietnam.
Kind regards,
Kate and Peter
Email: katesbarber@hotmail.com
Nationality : Australia
We loved everything we saw !
Both Peter and I are back at work now, but we feel very refreshed and revitalized from our fantastic holiday. We loved everything we saw. The highlights for me were the Mekong Delta, Hoi An and Sapa.
If we had the good fortune to return to Vietnam we would like to do a homestay either in the Mekong Delta or Sapa. We absolutely loved those areas and could easily have spent more time there. We also liked Nha Trang and would liked to have stayed there for another day too.
It was just wonderful to have a guide and driver meet us at the airport and drive us around to the various attractions.
Thank you once Impress Travel. We very much appreciate what Impress Travel has done for us while we were in Vietnam.
It was great. Everything was very well organized !
Dear Ms Tieu Binh Yen Now we are back again in Austria and we remind traveling through Vietnam. It was great. Everything was very well organized. All the guides and the drivers were punctual, very helpful and they showed us interesting and wonderful sites. We enjoyed the delicious Vietnam food in good restaurants. Cooking was funny too. We are very happy and impressed of this trip. We can recommend your office to all our friends. Thank you for all. With best regards Family Spennlingwimmer
Hello Ms Yen,
I would like to thank you very much for organizing our tour. We had an amazing time. The boat was wonderful, the tour guide spoke well and was very entertaining and the food was excellent.
Kind Regards
Jessica
Hello Yen,
Thank you again for all the arrangements that you made for our recent trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
We had a wonderful time and all the hotels you suggested were excellent as well as the trips to Halong bay ,
Sapa, Cu Chi and Cai Be were great.
The guides and transportation were also excellent.
Your assistance and effort was certainly appreciated.
Kindest regards,
Dan and Luci Morrow
I wish to thank you for your help in organising our stay in Hanoi and our cruise aboard the Victory Star at the beginning of March this year. Your service was excellent and the cruise was really memorable. Once again, thank you. Best wishes, John Lindon.
Dear Mr. Tony Nam,
we would like to THANK YOU very much for your help and organisation of our holiday in Vietnam. We had a FANTASTIC time in your country.
Highlights for us were Halong bay , Cuchi Tunnel and Mekong Delta. The Tour guides and drivers you supplied were fantastic, please pass on our thanks to them also.
Deb had a great birthday in Nha Trang, when we arrived back to our room that night and there was a Birthday cake waiting for us. Much appreciated if you had anything to do with this.
Once again THANK YOU. Your service and follow up is excellent.
We hope you are well and look forward to meeting with you again.
Cheers.
Regards,
Peter and Debra Nickolai.
P.S. I also passed your details onto a lady we met on our way home in Darwin. She is travelling to Vietnam soon and would like some help and information.
Vietnam head office in Hanoi: No.9, Lane 8, Lieu Giai street; In Ho Chi Minh city: Suite C, 5th floor, Hudson building, 179 Nguyen Cu Trinh, Dist 1, HCMC Cambodia office: Vithi Charles De Gualle (Road to Angkor Wat), Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia. Laos office: 97/06, Xiengkhong Road, Ban Visoun, Luang Prabang, Lao P.D.R Thailand office: Sukhumvit 101, Soi Punnawithi 3, Bangjak, Prakanong, Bangkok 10260, Thailand Myanmar office: Shin Saw Pu Road, Sanchaung Township, Yangon. Myanmar Canada office: Odlin Crescent. Richmond, BC V6X 3Z7 Canada