Splendors of Laos, “long version” from North to South
Overview
A very complete discovery of Laos, as a nature destination. From North to South, you will discover the specificities of each region from a natural and cultural point of view. You will meet the peoples of the North and the South, very different. You will meet many craftsmen, farmers … Experiment with a cooking class or even approach elephants … In short, you will be seduced by this journey rich in discoveries and very authentic!
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Prices
Tour code
LAO 03
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Price
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The price includes
All transfers, entrance fees, supervision, accommodation, full board except drinks and some meals
Characteristics
Duration
21 days / 20 nights
Accomodation
Hotels and homestays
Rythm
Active
Public
All ages | Children from 8 yo
Period
All year round
Group
Up to 16 participants
Highlights
- An in-depth discovery of the country
- Many walks, by bike, by boat
- Activities: cooking lessons, elephants, orchid trek …
- The meeting of many artisans and farmers
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival to Bangkok, transit and flight to Chiang Rai. Welcoming by the guide and transfer to the hotel. Accomodation, free time. Free dinner at the night market. Overnight.
Day 2
Small city tour and transfer to Laos. Crossing the Mekong at the border, then drive to Luang Nam Tha 3 hours away. Accomodation in an ecolodge. Free time to enjoy the place by the river. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3
Discovery of Luang Nam Tha and its surroundings. Easy hike towards Muang Sing through a forest, fields and elevated rice fields to reach an Akha site. Magnificent views and meetings with the population will be waiting for you.
Day 4
Trip to Oudomxay. Lunch. Ascent of Mount Phou That from where you will enjoy a beautiful view of the region. Then we continue to Muang Khua on the banks of the Nam Ou river. Stop at Muang La where there is a salt mine and a very old pagoda. The Muang Khua region is mainly home to Akhas, Khamus and Tai Dam (black Tai), but these ethnic groups are not very visible in the city.
Day 5
Breakfast and departure by boat for a cruise on the Nam Ou river. Magnificent landscapes of rocky peaks reflected in the water … Magical … Life along the banks … Stops in villages for a better exchange with the populations. Arrival at the village of Muang Ngoi, lunch and a free afternoon to enjoy the place, to walk in the surrounding countryside, beautiful and peaceful.
Day 6
After your breakfast, the trek will begin with a climb to a mountain which culminates at an altitude of around 1200m and then continues throughout the day to reach the Khamu & Tai Daeng village of Ban Houay Boor. Lunch in the village. On the way, stop at Tham Kaang cave which served as shelter for the villagers during the last Vietnam War (1960-72). Dinner and free evening in Muang Ngoi.
Day 7
Cruise to reach the village of Nong Kiaw nestled in a landscape of limestone peaks. Transfer by road to Luang Prabang with a visit to the famous Pak Ou caves housing hundreds of Buddha statuettes. Lunch and stop in a village specializing in the production of rice alcohol. Check in at the hotel and visit of the Museum of Ethnology and Traditional Arts in order to become aware of the ethnic diversity of the country and its traditions. Finally, climbing to Mount Phousy to enjoy the view of the city and the Mekong. Dinner in a restaurant with ethnic fashion show. Overnight.
Day 8
Waking up early to attend the offering ceremony to the bonzes if desired. Return to the hotel for breakfast passing through the morning market, full of culinary curiosities! Bike tour around the main points of interest of the city: the Royal Palace which has become the National Museum, the Vat Mai, the heritage museum. Discovery of the training center for certain manual trades related to Buddhist art located at Vat Xieng Mouane. Finally, visit Vat Xieng Thong, the most majestic and oldest temple in the city. Free time in the beautiful and pleasant night market for some souvenir shopping! Dinner and evening free.
Day 9
Gourmet morning with first buying ingredients at the city market, followed by a cooking class. Lunch preparated by yourselfs. Relax time at Kuang Si Falls, magnificent with its multiple natural pools. Swimming possible. Dinner and evening free in the town.
Day 10
Luang Prabang. Visit in the Living Land community farm, to discover how organic farming is developing in Laos. You will learn a lot about the rice cycle, basketry, irrigation, etc … Lunch in a responsible and organic restaurant. Then visit of the Ock Pop Tok weaving center, dedicated to the preservation of traditional and natural textile techniques. At the end of the day, you will release “K ratong” on the Mekong, offerings generally made at the end of the rainy season. A baci ceremony will also be organized. Dinner and free evening in town.
Day 11
Breakfast and departure for Vang Vieng. The road is a bit long but punctuated by several stops and beautiful karst landscapes. Lunch at Phou Fiengfa in a restaurant which offers a magnificent panoramic view. Arrival in Vang Vieng. Canoes wait to descend the Nam Song River at sunset over the limestone reliefs. Check in at the hotel. Dinner and free evening.
Day 12
Visit of the region of Vang Vieng famous for its karstic reliefs and caves. We will go to the organic farm of Phou Dindaeng which aim is a responsible, organic agriculture as well as perpetuating various traditional market gardening and goat breeding techniques. Lunch on site. After that heading to Vientiane with a stop on the way at the Vang Sang caves where some bas-reliefs have been carved. Check in at the hotel and free time in Vientiane.
Day 13
Vientiane. Day spent discoverying the city: its main monuments including the Ho Phrakeo temples and Vat Sisakek, Patuxai, That Luang. Stroll through quiet alleys rarely visited by tourists to meet local artisans and the daily life of the inhabitants. Lunch in a restaurant which trains street children in cooking skills. Walk in Chao Anouvong Park at the end of the day. Tour of the Vientiane night market. Dinner at the restaurant, a hidden address in the heart of Vientiane!
Day 14
A pleasant orchid trek in surroundings of Vientiane at the Phou Khao Kway natural park. Impressive viewpoint over a gorge over 40m high and the thick jungle. Small shaded paths through different types of forests: semi-deciduous, jungle, bamboo, accompaniment by 2 local guides and an orchid expert. Picnic and swimming at Tad Say waterfall. Then it’s time to head south to Konglor where the arrival is scheduled for early evening.
Day 15
Exploration of the 7.5 km long Konglor Cave crossed by the Hinboun river from one end to another that can be ascended by canoe. The river sometimes 30m wide crosses beautiful cavities with sometimes heights of more than 100m, along sandy beaches and different rock formations. Lunch and transfer to Thakhek. Visit of Vat Sikhottabong, one of the most sacred sites in Laos. Installation at the hotel. Dinner and free evening.
Day 16
Discoverying the surroundings of Thakhek which is a beautiful karst region. Lunch before leaving for Pakse, about 5 hours away. On the way stop at Khongsedon, famous for making rice alcohol. We will cross Pakse then we will continue to our resort in the heart of the Bolovens Plateau. Arrival in the end of the afternoon. Accomodation at the resort. Dinner and overnight.
Day 17
Bolaven Plateau. Visit of the village of Ban Suanone which produces coffee, then the falls of Tad Malai following an escarpment which offers several beautiful views. Lunch near the Khannouan caves that we will visit after. Passage through plantations of sugar cane, cardamoms and it will also be an opportunity to learn more about these local products and their culture. Finally, walk to the falls of Tad Lo before coming to the resort. Dinner and overnight.
Day 18
Road in the heart of the Bolaven Plateau towards the magnificent falls of Tad Fane and Tad Yuang. Also stop to discover a coffee plantation. Laos coffee is very famous. Roasting workshop. In the afternoon, heading to the very south of Laos and the 4000 islands on the Mekong. Check-in to your hotel on Khong Island. Free dinner.
Day 19
Khong Island. Local boat cruise to discover this fabulous region of 4000 islands. Landing on the small island of Don Khone. Easy bike ride for a pleasant discovery and a peaceful immersion in meeting the inhabitants of the island. In the afternoon, visit the impressive Li Phi Falls, where you can observe different fishing techniques that are sometimes dangerous. Return to Không Island at the end of the day. Dinner and free evening to relax.
Day 20
Returning to the main land and passing through the Khone Phapheng Falls which are considered to be the most important in Southeast Asia. Lunch at the elephant village of Ban Kiet Ngong located in the natural park of Xe Pian. 1 hour elephant ride through the jungle and to the top of Phou Asa. Observation of fauna and flora along the way. End of the day and overnight in an ecolodge.
Day 21
The day begins in the village of Ban Nong Bune famous for its wood carvings. Moving to the pre-Angkorian temple of Uomo before crossing the river by ferry to reach another pre-Angkorian site of Wat Phou located near Champassak where you can still see many buildings from the French period. Transfer to Thailand to reach Ubon Ratchatani airport. Flight to Bangkok and connection for the international return flight in the evening.
Possible extensions
• 3 or 4 days in Angkor in Cambodia
• Beach extension (Thailand)
• Vietnam Extension (Hanoi, Halong Bay)
Consult us !
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