Tour route :
Vientiane - Luang Prabang - Pak Ou cave - Luang Prabang
Brief description :
Upon arrival at Wattay Airport, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel where you will reside overnight. After a short rest, we begin our orientation - a short walking-tour of the Lao capital, strolling around the city sights and observing the evening sunset along the Mekong Riverside...
Detailed itinerary
Day1. Arrival - Vientiane
Upon arrival at Wattay Airport, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel where you will reside overnight. After a short rest, we begin our orientation - a short walking-tour of the Lao capital, strolling around the city sights and observing the evening sunset along the Mekong Riverside. You will be able to experience the city lifestyle of the local Lao people.
Overnight in Vientiane
Day2. Vientiane – Luang Prabang (B/…/…)
AM: After breakfast, we embark upon a tour of the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket which contains thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. From there, we visit the ‘Morning Market’, where one can find an array of antiquities, handmade textiles and gifts.
PM: The rest of the afternoon will be spent visiting the National Museum (close Tuesday), former Revolutionary Museum, which boasts a collection of antique items and the history of Laos’s fighters and leaders who were displaced from the ancient times through to the new revolution period. We then board a short flight to Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best - preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. UNESCO registered Luang Prabang as a World Cultural Heritage City in 1995. The tranquility and charm of this city, with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Asia. On arrival, we transfer you to your hotel. After a short rest, we will stroll around the Night Market, where you will find a lovely selection of local handmade textiles. We then hike to the top of Mount Phousi for an exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa and the exasperating, beautiful panorama views of the sun setting over this once royal ancient city and the Mekong River.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Day3. Luang Prabang – Pakou Caves (B/…/…)
After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour of the city’s oldest temple, Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai, Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low representing the classical architecture of Luang Prabang. 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 pilgrims. En route, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local specialty of rice wine is produced. On our return, we stop at the local villages of Ban Xiengmene and Ban Chan then continue to see the royal temple at Wat Longkhoun, which once belonged to the royal family near the Sackarine Caves. Once back in Luang Prabang city we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, well known for its hand weaving.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Day4. Luang Prabang – Kuangsi waterfall (B/…/…)
An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. You will visit the morning Phosi Market where you will find dried buffalo skins, local teas and saltpeter among the many chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.
Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will have the opportunity to visit the local village of the Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village, Ban Thapene and Khmu Village. After visiting the villages, we then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfalls where you may wish cool off by splashing around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest paths. We continue to Ban Phanom, another well-known weaving village and return to Luang Prabang by the late evening to observe the sunset at Wat Phabath.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Day5. Luang Prabang – Departure (B/…/…)
After breakfast you will experience the highlight of the tour to leave your mind with an impressionable image of this charming city. We visit The National Museum (close Tuesday) at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating back from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign. Silver Smith’s, the Fine Arts School and the Central Market are not to be missed and we visit these sights prior to bidding farewell to this ancient city and taking your next scheduled flight.
Thank you very much for joining us and see you again !
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.
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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
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
VIENTIANE = Lao Orchid hotel (Standard Room) www.lao-orchid.com
LUANG PRABANG = Manoluck Hotel (Standard Room) www.manoluckhotel.com
FIRST CLASS HOTEL
VIENTIANE = Novotel Hotel (Standard Room) www.novotel.com
LUANG PRABANG = Villa Santi Hotel (Deluxe Room) www.villasantihotel.com
SUPERIOR HOTEL
VIENTIANE = Green park Hotel (Classic Room) www.greenparkvientiane.com
LUANG PRABANG = Grand Luang Prabang Hotel (Deluxe Room) www.grandluangprabang.com
DELUXE HOTEL
VIENTIANE = Settha Palace Hotel (Deluxe Room) www.setthapalace.com
LUANG PRABANG = La Residence Phouvao Hotel (Garden View Room) www.residencephouvao.com
Laos Travel Tips
Laos Today & History
Laos Tourism Interview
Laos Travel maps
Recently updated – Traveller’s comment
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
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