Art of Laos and charm of minorities

Highlights of tour:

Charm of Laos with amazing mountain scenery, it royal temple, beautiful monasteries and its numerous pagoda; unique circuit to discover spectacular wildlife of many minority groups and cultural richness.

Day 1: Arrival in Luang Prabang

Upon arrival, pick-up and transfer to your hotel. Check in at hotel and free at own leisure. Welcome dinner and overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 2: Luang Prabang city tour (B,L,D)

Your full day city tour begins after breakfast, with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Today, we also visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham. Following lunch, we visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures before we head out of town to see the weaving villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek. We then return to the city for a visit to Wat Mai. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Note: the Royal Palace Museum is closed on Tuesdays

Day 3: Luang Prabang – Luang Nam Tha (B,L,D)

After breakfast at hotel, we go to Luang Nam Tha, a province situated in the North East of Lao. Stopover to visit some tribe villages. Arrival in Luang Nam Tha at the end of day. Overnight in hotel.

Day 4 : Luang Nam Tha – Muang Sing (B,L,D)

Morning, we visit a local market and a short city tour in Luang Nam Tha before transferring until Muang Sing. Stopover on road then visit many tribe villages: Ban Lak Khammai, Ban Kolakham, Ban Thin That. Upon arrival, check in at a guesthouse. Overnight in Muang Sing.

Day 5 : Muang Sing (B,L,D)

This day, a trek passing the villages of Yao, Akkha, Lanten groups will help us to discover a nice culture of many tribes living around Muang Sing. Return to Muang Sing in the end of day. Overnight in Muang Sing.

Day 6 : Muang Sing – Luang Nam Tha – Oudomxay (B,L,D)

Early morning, visit local market of Muang Sing where take place commercial exchange of many tribes coming from around Muang Sing. Then drive to Oudomxay via Luang Nam Tha. Lunch on road. Check in at hotel and overnight in Oudomxay.

Day 7 : Muang Sing – Luang Nam Tha – Oudomxay (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we drive up to Muang Khua passing by mountainous countryside. Many stopovers to take pictures then take the boat on Nam Ou river and down to Muang Khua, a little village hidden in a beautiful valley Nam Ou. The cruise continue until Nong Khiaw. Overnight at hotel in Nong Khiaw.

Day 8 : Nong Khiaw – Pak Ou – Luang Prabang (B,L,D)

After breakfast, embark then cruise on the Nam Ou river, one of important affluent of the Mekong river crossing by many waterfalls and rapids, fishing villages situated on the edge of the river. Stopover to visit Pak Ou caves where you can find many Buddha statuses with many sizes and styles. We visit also the sanctuary of Tham Ting and Tham Poum. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the distillation of local rice wine. On the way of return, we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, well known for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 9 : Luang Prabang – Kuang Si (B,L,D)

Early morning, we see an unique scene in Laos: Many of bonzes come collect the offerings from their supporter. After breakfast, visit vegetable market of Phousi then departure to the famous waterfall Kuang Si, hidden in a luxurious tropical vegetation. Then we visit minority villages: Ban Na Ouane (M’Hongs), Ban ou (Lao Loum) and Ban Thapen (Khmu). End of the day, enjoy the sunset from the Wat Siphouthabat Tai. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 10 : Luang Prabang – Xieng Khouang (B,L,D)

After breakfast at hotel, we drive to Xieng Khouang (Plain of Jars), a mountainous plateau in the North of Laos. Lunch on road. Stopover for visit some traditional villages. Overnight in Xieng Khoang.

Day 11 : Xieng Khouang – Ban Keokaola (B,L,D)

All day trek crossing through the village Ban Thachok of Hmong minority; Ban Nam Kha of Khmu minority. Picnic lunch. The trek continues until we reach the highest, mysterious and famous jar site at Ban Pakao. We finish the trek at Ban Keokaola where we have dinner and overnight.

Day 12 : Ban Keokaola – Hot Spring (B,L,D)

The trek begins from Ban Keokaola to Ban Nakhou, a Khmu minority village, passing by two Hmong villages located in a remote region. Visit of Back Tai minority village (Ban Mouang Thear), specializing in weaving cloth and bamboo. Continue the trek until we reach Ban Namhoune. Back to our car then departure to Hot Springs resort. Relaxing at resort by a bath in the hot mineral water. Overnight in Hot Spring resort.

Day 13 : Hot Spring – Phonsavanh (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we drive to Tampaew, an historic cave where villagers went into hiding during the war. Return to Phonsavanh and visit Plain of Jars no.1 where situate several hundred huge jars of unknown origin. Overnight in Phonsavanh.

Day 14 : Phonsavanh – Vang Vieng (B,L,D)

Continue to visit Plain of Jars no.2 near Salato Mountain, lunch at local restaurant then we drive to Vang Vieng (5-6 hours). Overnight in Vang Vieng.

Day 15 : Vang Vieng – Vientiane (B,L,D)

Visit of local market and Tam Chan grotto (Moon grotto) then the car brings us to Vientiane crossing by Nam Ngum. Cruise on Nam Ngum Lake and discover the daily life surrounded the Lake. Visit of a salt village on the road. Upon arrival, check in at hotel. Dinner and overnight in Vientiane.

Day 16 : Vientiane (B,L,D)

Breakfast at hotel, all day tour help you discovering the major temples including the oldest Wat Sisaket, a temple of thousands of miniature Buddha statues; the Haw Pha Kaew, ancient royal temple; the Vat Simuang, the most famous monastery in Laos and the sacred structure of That Luang temple. Overnight in Vientiane.