Laos Overture 6 Days | Travel East

Day 1: Vientiane arrival (D, GP)

Pick up at Vientiane International Airport and transfer to hotel. Your time will be free at leisure.

In the evening, the guide will arrive at your hotel and take you to a local artist’s house for dinner. You will have a pleasant talk with the owner before experience some of the traditional cuisine of Laos. You’ll spend the night in Vientiane.

Day 2: Vientiane city orientation (B, L, G)

Your city tour will include visits to Wat Si Saket, Vientiane’s oldest temple and easily the most impressive, and Wat Pha Keo Museum. From there you’ll visit That Luang Stupa, stopping en-route to photograph the imposing Patuxay Monument, better known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. From there, we visit the local ‘Morning Market’ – it’s good for antiques (occasionally a genuine item turns up!), handmade textiles and other souvenirs.

After lunch, you’ll visit Wat Ong Tu, the Temple of the Heavy Buddha, an important centre of learning. The day culminates with a stroll along the Mekong riverside to enjoy the sunset.

Day 3: Vientiane/Luang Prabang (B, G)

In the morning, you will be driven to the airport for a noon flight to Luang Prabang. Arriving in Luang Prabang International Airport, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. After a short rest, 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 4: Luang Prabang city (B, L, G)

After breakfast, your guide will take you to visit the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong. Its roofs sweep low to the ground, typical of the classical architecture of Luang Prabang’s temples. The morning will culminate with a stroll around Wat Mai temple and a visit to the ‘Day Market’.

After lunch, a climb up the steps to the top of Mount Phousi provides a panorama of the ancient royal city and the Mekong River - the evening views can be spectacular if there’s a good sunset. The rest of the day will be free. You’ll spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 5: 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. From there, you’ll return to Luang Prabang and continue to Ban Phanom, a well-known weaving village. It’s quite commercial, but if you look carefully you can pick up some authentic hand-woven material – they make good souvenirs. Returning to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon, you will be free. You will spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 6: Luang Prabang departure (B, G)

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