Discover Laos North To South
Day 01 : Arrive at Tai Chang border( Laos - Vietnam border ) – Mai District – Muangkhoua ( L)
After passing the checking point ( Tay Trang – Panghok, Laos– Vietnam border) you will meet your guide. Then we drive Mai District. Explore hill tribe villages of Tai Dam, Khmu and then we drive ahead to Meuang Khoua, the peaceful town located on the bank of Nam Ou river, explore Meuang Khoua and it’s surrounding. Dinner and overnight at local hotel inMeuangKhoua.
Day 02 : Meuang Khoua – Oudomxay (B/L )
Today we drive forward to Oudomxay. On our trip we stop to visit hill tribe villages of Iko poulee, Iko Erpa and Iko pala. We reach Pak Nam noy for lunch, then we stop at Meuang La to visit the mysterious temple of Meuang La, drive ahead to Oudomxay, the central province of Northern Laos. Overnight at hotel in Oudomxay.
Day 03: Oudomxay- Luang Namtha – Muangsing (B/L )
After breakfast, we drive to Muang Sing via Luang Namtha province along a winding road through beautiful tropical forests and hill tribe villages. Stop en route to visit Had Yao village handicrafts and silk dying. Along the way, we may visit Akha villages. Arrive at Muang Sing in the late afternoon. Check in hotel. Overnight inMuang Sing.
Day 04: Muang Sing (B/L )
Visit Muang Sing’s morning market and hike to Akha villages, Pou Don Than (Yao) and Fou Pou’s farm. In the afternoon visit the Muang Sing Exhibition, traditional Lao houses, minority handicraft markets, and a Buddhist temple featuring Thai Lue architecture. Drive to Ban Yaang Luang (Akha) and Ban Thin Thad (Tai Lue). Spend the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the mountain scenery and rice paddies. Overnight in Muang Sing.
Day 05 : Muang Sing – Luang Namtha (B/L )
Morning drive to Luang Namtha. The road winds through rice paddies and the hamlets of Ban Nam Keo Noi. Stop at Ban Kum to see how locals make traditional "lao lao" wine, the most famous local wine in Muang Sing. Arrive at Luang Namtha around noon. In the afternoon visit That Poum Puk, Ban Nam Ngaen andLuang Kone temples. Overnight in Luang Namtha.
Day 06 : Luang Namtha – Houeisay (B/L )
After breakfast, drive to Houei Say (approx. 4 hours journey). En route, stop at the hill tribe village of Ban Chan and then at an Ikhor and Lanten village to take pictures. Overnight in Houei Say.
Day 07: Houeisay – Pakbeng (B/L )
After breakfast, drive to Houei Say pier. Board a traditional riverboat for a cruise down the Mekong River to Pakbeng (approx. 7 hours journey depending on the water level). The Mekong River has kept much of its untamed character with impressive rapids and lush jungles along the bank. En route, stop and visit some hill tribe villages such as the H’Mong village of Ban Houeilampene and the Thai Lu village of Ban Kouaytoune. Arrive in Pakbeng, a rustic town located on a steep hillside and offering spectacular views of the Mekong River. Check-in to your hotel. Overnight in Pakbeng.
Day 08 : Pakbeng – Luang Prabang (B/L )
After breakfast, continue the cruise along the Mekong River towards the ancient Royal capital of Luang Prabang (approx. 6 hours voyage depending on the water level). On the way, stop at Pak Ou, at the confluence of the Nam Ou and Mekong Rivers and visit the sacred caves of Tham Ting and Tham Phoum, home to hundreds of Buddha statues. Continue to Ban Xang Hai Village and discover the distillation of sticky rice wine. Then stop at Vat Longkhoune Temple, famous for its 18th century frescoes. Arrive in Luang Prabang and transfer to your hotel . Overnight in Luangprabang.
Day 09: Luang Prabang – half day City tour – Kwangsi waterfall (B/L )
After breakfast, in the morning we explore the world heritage city by visiting the Royal Palace Museum which hosts a range of interesting artifacts, including visit temples of Wat Sene, Wat Mai, and Wat Xiengthong, the most interesting temple with charming and sacred temple in Luangprabang. Lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon we drive out of the town to Kwangsi waterfall, explore waterfall and take relax or swim in swimming pool area of waterfall, then we drive back to Luangprabang, on the way back we have a nice time to visit a Hmong tribe village. Overnight in Luangprabang.
Day 10: Luang Prabang - Pakse – Tadlo (B/L )
After breakfast, transfer to airport for morning flight to Pakse. On arrival at Pakse, you will be met and taken by road to Saravanh province via Tateng. We take a tea break en route to the Boloven Plateau area, to observe the locals and their way of life as they make traditional tea and coffee. The Boloven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. Rivers run off this high plateau in all directions and then plunge out to lush forests along in a series of spectacular surging waterfalls. The scenery around Tad Fan waterfall is spectacular with twin waterfalls plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by flourishing vegetation. A trip to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that can be seen en route. 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, we visit the villages ofAlak, Nge, Katu, populated by ethnic minority groups. Overnight at Tad Lo
Day11. Tadlo – Pakse – Wat Phou – Don Khong (B/L )
After an early breakfast, we head out towards Khong Island. On the way we make a short detour to visit Pha Suam waterfall and to stroll around the ethnic minority villages of Lao Teung. We continue to travel by road via Pakse town crossing the Mekong by ferry to visit the fascinating pre-angkorian ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia"s most dramatically situated temples. We have time to explore these intriguing Khmer ruins, which are perched at the base of Mount Phu Kao. Wat Phu is one of the Lao World Heritage sites recognized by UNESCO in 2001, this wonderful archeological site of Khmer civilization dates back to the 5th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. We continue our journey by road to Ban Nakasang and taking a long-tailed boat to Donekhone island, the largest island in the South Mekong river region known as the 4000 islands, one of the most scenic areas in Laos. Overnight in Don Khong
Day12. Don Khong – Khone island – Pakse (B/L )
Following breakfast, we enjoy a visit to the surrounding countryside, and embark on a long trail boat tour of theDon Khone area, which takes you to visit the remains of the French period, Liphi Waterfall or "the Corridor of the Devil". We return to the mainland at the fishing village Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng on the journey. Khone Phapheng is considered the largest waterfall by volume in the South East Asia; this is really an impressive sight with marvelous nature near the Lao-Cambodian border, which is teeming with wildlife making this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos. Afterward we drive back to Pakse. Overnight in Pakse.
Day 13: Vientiane (B/L )
After breakfast at hotel, transfer to visit local fresh market before transfer to airport for flight to Vientiane the capital ofLaos. Upon arrival transfer to visit PHA THAT LUANG - a symbol of both the Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty. Then proceed to PATUXAI - a large monument in the style of the Arc de Triumph in Paris, HO PHA KEO - the former royal temple of the Lao monarchy and now converted into a museum, WAT SI SAKET contains more than 2,000 silver and ceramic Buddha images. Followed by visit to WAT SI MUANG - a temple most popularly used as it acts as the home of Vientianes guardian spirits. The last stop isTALAAT SAO - a Morning Market but also open all day selling a wide range of fabrics, jewelry and electronic goods. Overnight at hotel in Vientiane
Day 14 : Vientiane (B/L )
Breakfast in the hotel
Take an excursion to the National Ethnic Cultural Park and Buddha Park. Visit WAT XIENG KHUAN housing a collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures along the Mekong River. The National Ethnic Cultural Park consists of attractive houses of different ethnic minorities. It has a small zoo with monkeys and birds and a long distance view of the Friendship Bridge. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Vientiane
Day 15: Vientiane - departure (B )
Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer from hotel to Vientiane airport.
B: Breakfast, L: Lunch; D: Diner