Day 1: Chiang Rai/Houeisay/Pakbeng (D, G)
After passing through immigration in Thailand side, you will cross the Mekong River to Houei Say in Laos where your Lao guide will be waiting for you at the immigration point. After completing border formalities, you board a ready traditional boat for the trip down the Mekong River. As your journey downriver you will stop at some tribal minority villages such as the Hmong, Yao and Khmu. Upon arrival in Pakbeng, you will visit a local market; experience daily lifestyle of colorful hill tribe traders exchanges their goods. You will spend the night in a beautiful lodge overlooking the Mekong River.
Day 2: Pakbeng/Pak Ou Cave/Luang Prabang (B, L, G)
After breakfast, you will sail downriver as a second leg, you will pass areas of un-spoilt forest with little villages along the riverbanks and perhaps the odd elephant or two with his mahout. You will visit a fishing village and a rice winemaking village and perhaps even taste some of the infamous beverage known as Lao Rice wine. You also visit the Pak-Ou caves, where thousands of Buddha statues are stored. You arrive in Luang Prabang around sunset and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day will be free to wander around the Nigh Market offering handmade textiles woven by local people and ethnic minority communities. You will spend the night in Luang Prabang.
Day 3: Luang Prabang City Tour and Kuangsi Waterfall (B, L, G)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.
After breakfast at your hotel, you will visit the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Visoun, Wat Mai temple and the ‘Day Market’.
After lunch, you will drive out of town to experience local lifestyle of nearby villagers and visit the most beautiful waterfall in Luang Prabang. On the way, you visit Phosi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. You will also stop at the weaving village of Ban Phanom which are populated by Lao ethnic minority groups. You will spend time at the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest paths before returning to Luang Prabang city by late afternoon. You will spend the night in a hotel.
Day 4: Luang Prabang/Laos Spirit resort (B, DP)
After breakfast at your hotel, your guide will show you 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 from the days of the early Kings right through the last sovereign. You will also go around the Central Market which is famous for silver jewelry. After visiting these sites, you will be back to your hotel to check out and drive to the Laos Spirit resort which is 15 km away from the city centre in the middle of unspoiled, natural green surroundings. The rest of the day will be free to wander around the resort. You will spend the night at Laos Spirit resort.
Day 5: Luang Prabang/Lao Spirit Adventure (Elephant + rafting) (B, L, D, G)
This is a full day trip combining a rafting tour with some sightseeing and an exciting elephant ride to/from Tad Sae Waterfall (or alternative route in dry season). Start from the Adventure and Elephant camp, you will cross a small river, you will be introduced to our Asian Elephants and venture on a 1hr - 1hr 30 minutes enchanting journey through forests, plantations and fields. This activity programme provides 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. 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. Your overnight will be at Lao Spirit Resort.
Day 6: Luang Prabang departure (B, G)
Free time at leisure before transferred to the airport for your departure flight. Tour ends.
