11-Day Laos Highlights Tour: Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane

On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos.
Evening, free on our own to explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the hill tribe and local people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

You have the option to wake up before dawn to witness and participate in offering alms to hundreds of saffron-robed monks – an awe-inspiring sight. Please tell your guide a day in advance if you wish to make an offering so he/she can prepare some food for you to hand over to the monks. This early morning ritual dates back generations in Laos. Watch the town come to life in the morning then return to the hotel for breakfast or join the locals for a bowl of delicious noodle soup after the alms giving ritual. (If you do not wish to make an offering, please keep an appropriate distance and observe the ritual in silence. Dress appropriately – shoulders, chest and legs should be covered).
Breakfast, we then visit the Morning Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Then we visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. Continue to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we will make a stop at Ban Xang Hai village where rice wine is distilled. We will visit the caves of Tham Ting and Tham Phoum which house hundreds of Buddha statues. We return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon, continue to visit Ban Xang Khong, a village well known for silk hand-weaving and traditional Saa paper-making.
We will explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the hill tribe and local people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
 

In the morning, we will climb up 328 steps of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful over view of the city and the Mekong River. Then transfer by private vehicle to Khouang Si waterfall. On the way, you can visit to the Lao ethnic minority group at Ban Na Ouane Village, H’Mong Village. Once at the waterfalls, take a leisurely hike through the national park towards the Khouang Si waterfalls and pass by the Asian Bear Rescue Center. You will enjoy feeling the mist of the cool, turquoise waters of the different waterfalls. Swimming in the refreshing waters is possible.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Breakfast at hotel
This morning we say goodbye Luang Prabang and transfer to Xieng Khoang – the place famous with UNESCO site – Plain of Jars. The day will be a long driving with some stop along the way for relax such as the Buddha images at Thampra, a site more than 200 years old, and various Hmong and hilltribe minority villages. After numerous photo stops, we continue driving, enjoying the splendid natural scenery of the mountains, the forest and landscape. Arrive Xieng Khoang in the afternoon, if time permits we transfer to visit MAG Center.
Note: due to traffic jams and the bad road, the driving may last about 8 hours

This morning, transfer to visit Plain Of Jars site 1,2 and admire the beautiful scenery of mysterious plateau. Then we drive to Plain Of Jars site 3 and have short trekking to visit War Spoon Village – where people villagers produce spoons from Aluminium UXO scraps. You will be introduced about how people make spoons, as a way to improve their livelihoods from the destruction left behind by UXOs. The villagers first collect UXO, make sure the scraps are harmless, melt them down in a kiln, and fashion it into spoons and other household items using wooden moulds.
If time permits, we will visit the Noodle Village where people make dry rice noodle by hand. Transfer back to hotel for overnight.

This morning, we visit Central Market – the best place to immerse to local life. We will see many interesting items from vegetables, insects, animals and local cuisine. Try some local snacks for breakfast such as sweet desserts, mini corns or fruits (by your own account). Then say goodbye to Xieng Khoang, transfer to Vientiane via Paksan. On the way, we stop to visit the Ancien Buddha Statues at Wat Phiawat and Muong Khoun district. Continue driving to Vientiane and arrive in the late afternoon.
Note: due to traffic jams and the bad road, the driving may last about 8 hours
 

After breakfast, we start visiting the major sights of the capital; including the Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. Enroute to Lao’s national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.
Afternoon, transfer out to visit Buddha Park with thousands of Buddha Statues inspired by Hindu culture. On the way back, we visit Mrs. Carol Cassidy Weaving Studio to learn more about the Lao handicraft textiles. Visit Night Market on your own.
Overnight in Vientiane

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport for a short flight to Pakse.
Suggested flight: QV515 7:30 8:45
Upon arrival, our guide will meet you at the airport. Then we leave Pakse and transfer to Champasak District, visit the ruins of Wat Phou Temple Complex, 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 9th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. A festival of this site is held yearly during the full moon in February and attracts numerous pilgrims from all over southern Laos.
Then continue your way to 4000 Islands Region and Khong Islands – the largest island of the area. Spend time to walking around the area by yourself. Overnight in Khong Islands.

Following breakfast, we enjoy a visit to the surrounding countryside, and embark on a local boat tour to Don Khone, where we disembark and have the option of exploring the island by bicycle, which takes you to visit the remains of the French period and Liphi Waterfall or "the Corridor of the Devil". We also have chance to visit Don Det, a small Island nearby Don Khone.
We return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng. Khone Phapheng is considered the largest waterfall by volume in South East Asia; this is a really impressive site near the Lao-Cambodian border, set within an area which is teeming with wildlife, making this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos.  Then we drive back to Khong Island for your overnight stay.
 

Breakfast at hotel, we transfer back to Pakse and head for Saravanh province via Tateng Village. You will make a stopover en route to observe the locals making tea and coffee - have a cup of either before exploring the cultures and the way of life along the way to Boloven Plateau Area. We also visit Tad Phasoum, Tad Fan waterfall and have option to do zipline at one of the most breathtaking site in Laos (fee on your own account).
Upon arrival at Tad Lo Waterfall, you will pay a visit to villages of Alak, Nge, Katu ethnic minority group. Return to the town in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Pakse.

Breakfast at hotel. You will have free time till our guide meets you and escorts you back to Pakse airport for your international flight ongoing to the next destination.
End of services.