|
Day |
Suggested itin |
Accommodation / Meals inc |
|
1 |
Leave Houey Xay on the Thai border for a leisurely cruise on
the Pak Ou boats down the Mekong for Pak Beng.
Several stops along the way offer the opportunity to sample rural
life first hand and marvel at just how little has changed over the
centuries.
Arrival in Pak Beng is in the late afternoon. |
Hotel -Pakbeng |
|
2 |
The boat leaves in the morning for the second leg of the
cruise to Luang Prabang.
Go on to Pak Ou village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River to visit
the Tham Ting Caves of a Thousand Buddha's.
Stop off at the village of Ban Xang Hai for a lesson in how rice
whisky is made. |
(Breakfast)
Hotel - Luang Prabang |
|
3 |
A city tour begins at the former Royal Palace, now the
National Museum and Vat Xieng Thong Temple. In the afternoon
continue to Vat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-reliefs
and Vat Visun, entirely rebuilt after being destroyed in 1887 by
the invading Black Flags from southern China.
In the courtyard of Vat Visun stands the Watermelon Stupa shaped
like the fruit it takes its name from.
In the late afternoon climb the 328 steps to the top of Mount
Phousi to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding
countryside. |
(Breakfast)
Hotel - Luang Prabang |
|
4 |
Visit the Kuang Si Waterfall, southwest of Luang Prabang
with stops en-route to visit some ethnic minority villages.
It is possible to walk to the top of the falls via a steep track
and if the weather is good, swim in the clear water at the foot of
the falls.
Continue to Ban Tha Baen, the Khmu village with a traditional
hydro-rice mill.
The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure to explore on your
own. |
(Breakfast)
Hotel - Luang Prabang |
|
5 |
Journey south through Muang Kasi and Ban Phatang.
Continue to Vang Vieng, a scenic district in Vientiane Province.
Breathtaking views of the limestone karst scenrey of mountains,
caves and rocky outcrops on the west bank of the Nam Song River.
|
(Breakfast)
Hotel - Vang Vieng |
|
6 |
Visit Tham Chang Cave which once used as a bunker against
marauding Chinese in the early 19th century.
Tham means cave and Chang is steadfast.
Continue to Tham Xang Cave (also called Elephant Cave) It
contains a few Buddha images and a Buddha footprint plus the
elephant shaped stalactites which give the cave its name. |
(Breakfast)
Hotel - Vientiane |
|
7 |
Visit many interesting wats and lively markets, such as Pha
That Luang - the most important national monument in Laos, Patuxia
- a large monument in the style of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris,
Ho Pha Keo - the former royal temple of the Lao monarchy converted
into a museum containing Buddhist sculptures found in Laos, Wat Si
Muang - the temple which contains the city pillar and acts as the
home of Vientiane's guardian spirits, Wat Si Saket - the early
Bangkok style tempole containing more than 2,000 silver and
ceramic Buddha images, and Talaat Sao - the Morning Market
(actually open all day) selling a wide range of fabrics, jewellery
and electronic goods. |
Hotel - Vientiane
(Breakfast) |
|
8 |
Flight from Vientiane to Pakse and transfer from Pakse to
the Tad Lo Resort.
Journey north-east towards Salavan through the villages of
Laongam and Ban Laongam in Salavan Province.
The big attraction in the Salavan Province is the Bolaven
Plateau. |
Hotel - Tad Lo
(Breakfast) |
|
9 |
Journey south in Champasak Province along the east bank of
the Mekong River through the villages of Ban Nongsim, Ban Hangdon
and Kheo.
Visit Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands) and Wat Phu Champasak,
the Angkor-period ruins . |
Hotel - Khong Island
(Breakfast) |
|
10 |
Transfer by boat from Khong Island to Khon Island.
Visit Ban Khon Village, main village on the island with several
old French colonial buildings.
Continue to Wat Khon Tai, Lao temple built on the former site of
a Khmer temple possibly from the Chenla era.
Then, Visit Tad Somphamit (Li Phi Falls), raging set of rapids at
the western end of Khon Island. |
Hotel - Khon Island
(Breakfast) |
|
11 |
Journey to Khon Phapheng Falls south of Don Khong Island,
the Mekong River features a 13km stretch of powerful rapids with
several sets of cascades.
Then transfer to Pakse and journey north through Champasak
Province along the east bank of the Mekong River through the
villages of Kheo, Ban Hangdon and Ban Nongsim. |
Hotel - Pakse
(Breakfast) |
|
12 |
Transfer to airport |
(Breakfast) |