Laos Special 10 Days | Travel East

Day 1: Pakse arrival/Wat Phu/Khong Island (L, D, G)

Arriving in Pakse, you will be met and transferred to boat pier where you will board a long tail motorboat downstream the Mekong to Champassak to visit the ruins of Wat Phu, the pre-Angkorian temple, one of Southeast Asia's most dramatically situated temples. After lunch, you will drive to the peaceful Khong Island; the largest in the 4000 islands region with visit to the villages of ban Phone Saat en-route. You will spend the night in Khong Island.

Day 2: Khong Island Surrounding (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, you will cruise to the widest point of the Mekong River where thousands of islets become visible in dry season. Along the way, you will stop by the Liphi waterfalls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking the end of Lao border to Cambodia. You will also visit the fishing village of Ban Done Khone. On the way back, you will take a short drive to the Lao – Cambodia border at Weukham to visit Khone Phapheng, which boasts South East Asia’s biggest waterfall, known as the Niagara of the east. With lucks, you may even see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone. You will spend the night in Khong Island.

Day 3: Khong Island/Tadlo (B, L, D, G)

This morning, you will drive towards Tadlo, through Boloven plateau, which is well-known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. This trip gives visitors the chance to venture off the beaten track and to discover some of the lesser-known areas of Laos, exploring the wild beauty of this southern region. Upon arrival at Tad Lo waterfall, you will visit the villages of Alak, Nge, and Katu, populated by ethnic minority groups. Your overnight accommodation will be in Tadlo.

Day 4: Tadlo/Pakse/Luang Prabang (B, G)

This morning, you will take a short flight to Luang Prabang. In the evening, you’ll be free to stroll around the city’s Night Market offering handmade textiles woven by local people and ethnic minority communities. You will spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 5: Luang Prabang city (B, L, G)

Today, you will visit the the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Visoun, Wat Mai temple and the ‘Day Market’.

After lunch, you will climb up to the top of Mount Phousi provides a panorama of the ancient royal city and the Mekong River. You’ll spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 6: Luang Prabang/Kuangsi Waterfall/Luang Prabang (B, L, G)

This is the morning when you need your alarm clock! Early in the morning after a sustaining beverage and a small snack, you’ll witness one of Laos’ unique ceremonies – the daily ‘alms giving’ ritual of saffron-clad monks walking in a long line holding black bowls to receive offerings from local people. The traditional gift is a handful of ‘sticky rice’, but nowadays money is equally acceptable.

You’ll then return to your hotel for a proper breakfast. Afterwards, you’ll be driven to the Kuangsi Waterfalls, a serene beauty spot where you can splash around in the pools or stroll the forest paths. You will also visit Ban Phanom, a well-known weaving village. You will spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 7: Luang Prabang/Xieng Khoang (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artifacts and the Central Market. After that, you will be driven 306km uphill a mountain surrounded by wonderful natural scenery to Xiengkhouang, which was devastated by American bombing between 1964 and 1973. On arrival, you will visit the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are scattered all over the plateau. If time permits, you will see the old capital of Muang Khoun and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe people. You will spend the night in Xieng Khoang.

Day 8: Xieng Khoang/Vientiane (B, L, G)

Your morning will be free until your car takes you to the airport for an afternoon flight to Vientiane. After that, you will visit the impressive Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge and the Buddha Park, a a scattered enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, close to the Friendship Bridge. You will spend the night in Vientiane.

Day 9: Vientiane City Tour (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will visit the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket, the temple with 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 Lao’s national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will stop enroute to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

After lunch, you will visit Wat Ong Tue and Wat Haisok. You will then stop at the Central Market of Talad Sao and Talad Kouadin where various goods are displayed for sale; including fresh food, household goods, souvenirs, textiles, gold, silver and antiques. You will spend the night in Vientiane.

Day 10: Vientiane departure (B, G)

Free time until transferred to the airport for departure flight. Tour ends.