Laos - A Journey within 19 days

Morning

After checking in at the hotel, the group tour will transfer to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong which shows the traditional Laotian temple. 

Then move to the renowned French architectural masterpieces found throughout Laos, the Royal Palace Museum. Here, visitors will witness a variety of royal displays throughout many thousand years. 

If we have more time, we can choose to walk around the city and watch the living of local people and especially visit Heuan Chan's 100-year-old traditional house. 

Afternoon 

Begin the afternoon by climbing up to the top of Mount Phousi to challenge yourself as well as view the enchanting sunset scenery of the city and Mekong River. 

Next, we will take part in a private Baci ceremony with a local family. This ceremony is deeply rooted in Lao tradition, embodies the nation's spirituality, and offers participants a profound and unforgettable insight into Lao culture.

Evening

Dinner is provided for you together with the host family. This is the best opportunity for you to feel the local life and meal. 

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Morning

Departing at 08:00, visitors cycle from the hotel to the river bank and board a ferry to transfer from the Mekong River to Ban Xeng Mene. Taking some pictures along the road before coming to the village at Ban Nakham. 

The village at Ban Nakham is outstanding with sugar cane and Kaolam (sticky rice and beans in bamboo). Bicycle across other villages of Khmu and Lao Loum till get to the beautiful waterfall Tad Hoi Khua. Picnic lunch will be served there to enjoy the meal with the sound of nature in Luang Prabang. 

Afternoon

In the afternoon, we embarked to climb the top of Tad Hoi Khua waterfall following the local guide. Enjoy mountain views, and explore the waterfall's pool and ancient trees once on the top. Learn about local tales and vegetation. Visit the wild field protection, taste fresh veggies, and relax briefly at a coffee shop.

Cycle back to your Luang Prabang hotel. 

Morning

Firstly, we will visit the ethnic Khmu village of Ban Longlao Nung then head to the nearby Hmong village of Ban Longlao Song. See how they live and work together daily and even share an educational environment. 

Along the way, we continue to explore a cave that worked as a local bomb shelter during the Second Indochina War.  An additional hour of trekking leads us to a spring feeding Kuang Si waterfalls, where a pool is full of sacred fish. 

After going down from the waterfalls, the group tour has lunch amidst the stunning natural landscape.

Afternoon

Spend all afternoon bathing and relaxing around the turquoise pools next to the waterfall. Before returning to Luang Prabang, you can visit the bear protection center near there and take a short walk to Khmu village of Ban Thapene. 

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Morning

In the morning, we start our discovery of the Northern by traveling to the most area of Laos, Muang Hiam via Pakxeng, Samsoun, and Vieng Thong.

Then go to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves by small motorboat. Our group will turn back the road via Pakxeng and Samsoun, the unpopulated area of Laos. We can see very few familiar passionate travelers along the road, to finding a new heaven.

If time permits, visitors may make a short stop to admire the view, visit local villages, or simply stretch your legs. 

Evening

Go back to Muang Hiam late afternoon and spend the night at a private guesthouse.

Morning

Depart to Ban Sonkhua, where you are free to discover Nam Et-Phou Louey NPA (National Protected Area). There are a few activities you can try at the Nam Nern Night Safari here: stay ecolodge from the local community, investigate wildlife conservation, medicinal plants, traditional agriculture, and the history of the Secret War. 

Learn about the animist tradition of appeasing the village spirit from village guides and boatmen at the ethnic Khmu Village in Ban Son Koua. Chance to spot monitor lizards and bird life while learning about upland rice cultivation on the way to the park substation on the Nam Nern River. 

In addition, have a small lesson about protecting tigers and their prey. Around the middle of the afternoon, you will begin for the night safari. 

Evening

Follow the boats, go back to the dinner site, which has flat sand where you can have dinner. After dinner, tourists have a chance to see Sambar Deer, Otters, Barking Deer, various species of Civets, Slow Loris, Porcupine, and Owls on a quiet boat. This a unique and fascinating activity in Laos that you shouldn't miss! 

Night at camp in Ban Son Koua. 

Morning

Listening about the use of medicinal plants and explaining the history of the site during the Secret War. Then, the guide will take you back to the village on an engine off the boat, and see our birds fly along away. You can try earthen jar rice wine (lao hai) here. 

Afterward, stop at Xieng Khouang to have lunch. This town, locally called “ Phonsavan “ is the gateway to the Plain of Jars, was completely rebuilt after being destroyed during the Secret War in Laos. 

Afternoon

Our group tour will visit the Plain of Jars to view this overwhelming scene of plains, which is located just 3km from the town.

Morning

Visit to Muang Khoun, which is the old provincial capital, was not ruined by the American bombings during the Secret War. Tourists can witness the unique sitting giant Buddha as well as some old pagodas that lie in ruins like Wat Pia Wat. 

Then, we will follow the southern road via Thathom, and Nam Cap to Paksan. Stay the night in a hotel at Paksan. 

Morning

In the morning, our guide will pick you up to begin the adventure south along Route 13. After 3 hours of movement, we have a quick stop at Wat Prabath Phonsane (Temple of the Footprint of Buddha) and then reach Phou Hin Poun NPA (National Protected Area). Spectacular scenery with limestone karsts, forests, and rice paddies along the road. 

On arrival in the small town of Ban Kong Lok, you will check in, clean up, and prepare to explore the famous Kong Lor Caves. To enter the caves, you will take a long-tail boat through the length of this spectacular cave along an underground section of the Hin Boun River.

This large cave, up to 90m wide and 100m high, serves as a shortcut for locals compared to mountain routes. Once out on the other side, you are free to pick up some refreshments and walk to local villages, view the beautiful scenery, and learn more about simple life here. 

Come back to Ban Kong Lor by boat through the cave. 

Morning

Our guide and driver pick you up in Ban Thalang and the first destination is Ban Thabak. Passengers can experience a boat ride on the Nam Theun River, the boat is handmade from old oil barrels and can carry up to 3 people. 

Afternoon

After a simple lunch, we will drive further to Ban Nam Yen, to cool off and enjoy the natural swimming pool. 

Some exciting areas nearby like the beautiful village Tha Lang in Nakai District, Tham Mangkon (Dragon caves), and the simple Sabaidee Guesthouse can be added to our itinerary if you want to see them. 

The rest of the afternoon is free for your own exploration. You can choose to walk along the river to admire the sunset, or go fishing near Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Dam).

Morning

Prepare your breakfast with the host house of Sabaidee Guesthouse owner. Then, we arrive at Thakhek, the populated town of Khammouane Province. Visitors here listened to information about this Hydropower project. 

Continuously, we will travel to Ban Nakhang Xang for a trek with the village guide. Throughout the journey, we trek through a secondary forest, woodland products to make food resources, and an outstanding valley surrounded by towering cliffs and forests. 

Afternoon

We continue the trail in the afternoon, following the shoreline of Nong Thao Lake, where we were able to see local fishermen at work. 

The rest time we reach Buddha Cave, which was rediscovered in April 2004. The cave contains 229 bronze Buddhas that are said to be over 300 years old. 

Go back to Thakhek and check in before the sunset is gone. 

Morning

After eating breakfast, we go on our journey to the beautiful 16th-century temple of That Ing Hang before entering Savannakhet. The central stupa and Buddha statues resemble the style of Wat Sisaket in Vientiane. That Ing Hang is a revered Laos temple known for its annual 'Boun Phathat' ceremony in December. 

Savannakhet is the city well known as the place where the father of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was born (Lao PDR), Kaysone Phomvihane. Walking the architectural highlights include French villas the striking St. Teresa Catholic Church, exciting Dinosaur Museum. 

Afternoon

After having lunch in a local restaurant, move to Pakse which lies on the confluence of the Mekong and the Sedone Rivers. 

Pakse is home to the Vietnamese community so if you visit this town during the Tet (Vietnamese New Year), do not be surprised if many shops are closed. This small city has a mixture of Chinese and French architecture and some lively markets.

Morning

In the morning, visitors will see some nice remnants of the French period of the Pakse city tour. 

Then straight to Wat Phou, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is a spectacular pre-Anngkorian temple. The temple was once one of the important economic and political centers and a revered sacred temple of the Lao people. 

Afterward, tourists go to Champassak to admire ancient French architectural samples, then continue to depart for Ban Khiet Ngong. This place nests inside the Xe Pian NPA, the hidden charm of southern Laos. 

The rest of the day, you are free to walk around and play in the village.

Morning

After a leisurely breakfast, our guide will take you to explore the surrounding village of Ban Khiet Ngong. The 2-hour trek to an expansive wetland is perfect for bird watching. 

You should bring binoculars with you to watch water birds fly. Along the way, you will pass the Giant Rock (Hin Houa Yak in Lao), a sacred place with a superb view. 

Stay overnight at Ban Khiet Ngong.

Morning

After eating breakfast, move to the south of Laos, Khone Phapheng, which is known for being the largest waterfall by volume in Southeast Asia. The waterfall with majestic beauty, is located near the border of Laos and Cambodia. 

We continue to explore the local peaceful villages of Ban Khone and see more relics from the French colonial building and remnants of the first Lao railway. 

On the way to 4000 islands by tuk-tuk, we will witness the superb Liphi Waterfall, which is considered the “Corridor of the Devil”.

After your visit, we turn back to Ban Nakasang and arrive at Champasak then cross the Mekong River to the quiet island of Daeng by boat. Dinner will be prepared by the host family here while folk tales are told.

Morning
After eating breakfast, we say goodbye to our friendly host family before boating back to Champasak. 

First of the journey is the Bolaven Plateau, a mountainous area with hill tribes, waterfalls, and coffee and tea plantations. From the bridge, you probably see Tad Lo, Tad Hang, and Tad Suong in the distance. The most attractive one is Tad Suong, located a further 10km drive away with the wonderful scenery of the waterfall. 

The next location we will go to is Ban Houay Houn, famous for its Katu textiles. Here you have the opportunity to watch the women weaving by using their legs to stretch the fabric. 

Continue the trip to Bolaven Plateau which has cooler temperatures located high above the Mekong Valley. 

Morning

After breakfast, our group tour will depart for Paksong around 08:30. Then, meet the Jeep tour guide at Chai Coffee, and make conversation while enjoying coffee. 

Afterward, we will hop on the Jeep and transfer 30 minutes to Tad Moun Waterfalls. Here, visitors can immerse the fresh cool water and walk around the nearby vegetable farm. 

At 11:00, you will go to the coffee farm for 1 hour driving a Jeep car. Upon arrival, the host will explain to you the coffee roasting step and finish with a coffee cupping to Savor the different kinds of coffee (Robusta, Arabica, and Typica). 

Afternoon

Picnic farm lunch on the farm around 13:30 then departs to nearby refugee cave, which is used as the shelter for local villages in the Wartime. 

We continue to walk along the farm to witness a volcano mountain Phou Sanark. Here, you can enjoy the view of the farm and nearby areas while watching the sunset before learning to cook Laos food with the host’s family for dinner. 

Morning

Around 09:00, we continue to transfer to Laven village named B Setkhord by Jeep. There are 500 families now living here around 100 years old from French Indochina. 

Upon arrival, our guide will tell you more stories of the village. Then drive to Tad Say Waterfall for lunchtime before moving to Suay Village named Darsia. 30% of houses here are still traditionally built longhouses, and 60% is the traditional house, where many generations will share together. 

The rest of the day we arrive and take a break in the hotel of Paksong.

Morning

After eating breakfast, we continue to drive to a small ethnic village and take a little time to explore this village. Then heading off trekking through the Bolaven Plateau which is the location of many tea and coffee plantations. 

Continuously, we went onward to the amazing rock shape of Xing Sai Limestones and the towering Champi waterfall to have a picnic lunch. At the waterfall, we'll swim and unwind in the stunning environment. 

Afternoon

Afterward, we trek through dense forest till get to the village of Ban Lak 38, where we regroup with a driver and turn back to Pakse. 

Enjoy the rest of the day exploring the town on your own.

Have breakfast at your hotel. Free time until driver picks up you at lobby then take you to airport for your departure flight.

Thanks for joining us and we hope to see you again in the future.