Day 1: Vientiane- Arrival by flight
Welcome to Vientiane, the capital city of Laos
Upon arrival at the International Wattay Airport, our guide and driver will be waiting to provide transport to the hotel for check in. After checking in, enjoy the remainder of the day free at leisure to explore Vientiane independently.
Day 2: Vientiane City tour
After breakfast at the hotel, head out with the guide for a discovery tour of Vientiane. The tour begins at the Serene Wat Sisaket, one of the most beautiful temples in the capital, before continuing to the nearby Wat Phra Keo. Acting as a religious museum, the site displays a unique collection of both Lao and Khmer works of art. Although only visible from the outside, the nearby Presidential Palace offers some excellent insight into the colonial history of Vientiane. Next, we will make a stop at Wat Simuang. The most popular and venerated temple in Vientiane is considered to be the guardian of the spirit of the city. Following the temple visit, we will head to COPE, an association working to help landmine victims. A visit to the center will provide in-depth information about the history of the American/Vietnam war, the lasting impact of unexploded ordinances (UXO) in the area, and the efforts underway to clear them.
In the afternoon, continue to the Patuxay monument. Laos’ version of the Arc de Triomphe, it is possible to climb the stairs of the monument where breathtaking views over the city await. The tour wraps up at That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. Constructed by King Setthethirat in the 16th century, the temple is one of the city’s most iconic thanks to its towering golden spire. Head back to the hotel. Overnight in Vientiane
Day 3: Vientiane - Buddha Park - Luang Namtha by QV 601 VTE-LXG at 1355 – 1455
Breakfast at your hotel before check-out.
After breakfast and followed by an hour-long visit to Xieng Khuan Buddha Park, located just 15 miles (25 km) from the city. Also known as Spirit City, the park was created in the 1950s by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, a shaman and priest. Today, the fanciful sculpture garden is a testament to his vision of a religion-themed park with more than 200 Hindu and Buddhist statues. Explore the park with your knowledgeable guide who will point out its top attractions, such as the 390-foot (119-meter) reclining Buddha. Whether they’re reposing or saving maidens in distress, the other statues of humans, gods and animals are just as captivating. One is even interactive: You can walk into a demon’s mouth and climb your way from hell to heaven! If you work up an appetite on the transcendent journey then transfer to the airport or Train Station for departure by QV flight or by Train to Luang Namtha, a land of rugged mountains, pristine forests, and rich river plains with over 20 ethnic groups, making it the most ethnically diverse province in Laos.
Upon arrival at Luang Nathan airport, our guide will accompany you to your hotel for check-in. Afterwards, (if time permits) we can visit Luang Nathan provincial museum, drive outskirts of town to visit Ban Nam Leu, a small village of Lane Tane hill tribe and also visit Ban Thongchai Neua, a silk-weaving village of Tai Dam and drive back to Luang Prabang then you have free time to explore the town and its night market. Overnight in Luang Namtha.
Day 4: Luang Namtha - Ban Paknamla - Ban Namla ( Lanten Tribe )
Breakfast at your hotel before check-out.
- 8:30 am: Make sure you arrive at our office to prepare for your time to adventure on a 2-days Trek and Cultural experience with Lanten Tribe Home Stay.
- 9:00 am: Meeting with your guide and departure from the office by Tuk-Tuk
The trek starts at Ban Paknamla a Hmong village. Here you will meet a hunter guide, who will assist you all the way trek. Before deep in the forest your guide will introduce you to the local life and customs, working together with the villagers to conserve and regenerate the forest. It takes 2 hrs to arrive the scenery of landscape and prepare the jungle picnic lunch here. After enjoying lunch, we continue to deep inside the NPA area. You will start moderate trekking to head deep into the primary forest.
Your guide will point out plants used for medicine and some places where you can wildlife spotting, the hike enjoyable and then we have to walk down and cross a small river more ten times to Namla village This is a small village where you can learn to do weaving, dyeing the cotton and do bamboo paper making, and we will spend the night with a local family. You will enjoy cooking class with organic food for your dinner. After dinner, you will receive a special Lantan Basi ceremony style that is traditionally given to their guests when they join their village for the night.
Day 5: Ban Namla - Ban Phouluang - Ban Houana - Luang Namtha
Enjoy a nice cup of tea or coffee, then you will have breakfast. First, the second step you have to try to dress in Lantan clothes, then we go uphill for a while before the terrain gets flatter. Only during the rainy season may it be a bit slippery from time to time, we continue to cross a few small and beautiful streams, we will stop and spend some time wherever we find something interesting and our experienced local guide will do the explanations. At noon, we will enjoy a Local picnic lunch with traditional Lantan food, accompanied by the music of bird songs and chirping cicadas. After lunch we walk up and down to a small village on trail, which will bring us through to some Mountain rice fields with some good views, we descent down to the last minority village of Khmu tribe which the Tuk-Tuk waiting to bring us back to Luang Namtha and you have free time at leisure. Overnight in Luang Namtha
Day 6: Luang Namtha - Oudom Xay by Train D85 at 10.43 - 11.18 ( Second class )
Breakfast at your hotel before check-out.
Transfer to the Nateuy Railway station for your departure by Train D85 at 10.41 from Luang Namtha to Oudom Xay. Upon arriving at the MuangXay Railway station, our driver is waiting for transport to the hotel for check-in.
Afterward, transfer to discover the beauty of Chom Ong cave is the largest cave in northern Laos, featuring over 16 km of natural tunnels adorned with shimmering stalactites, massive stalagmites and intricate limestone formations. Its vast chambers create a stunning underground landscape that captivates visitors with its sheer scale and beauty with ceilings reaching up to 50 meters high, the cave also has a stream flowing through its chambers. You can reach this natural attraction after about a 50-minute walk from Ban Chom Ong village. The journey offers a scenic route before reaching the cave. After visiting and drive back to your hotel for relaxing and Overnight in Oudom Xay.
Breakfast at your hotel before check-out.
Enjoy a half day trekking towards Namkat Waterfall organized by the Resort. Departure will be at the tour information’s Center before 09.00am. We will be trekking towards Namkat Waterfall. When reaching the entrance, we will trek pass the jungle and walk over 13sky bridges total about 7km. Have lunch and take your time at the waterfall. Trekking again about 1.5km. passing the jungle to see Giant trees after that trekking to the entrance and driving back to the tour information center. Afterwards, Transfer to the Muang Xai Railway station for your departure by Train D87 at 14.00pm to Luang Prabang. upon arrive at the Luang Prabang Railway station, you will be met our diver and transfer to check – in and the rest of your day is free at leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 7: Oudom Xay - Luang Prabang by Train D87 at 14.00 -14.54 ( Second class )
Transfer to Luang Prabang by train.
Day 8: Luang Prabang City tour - Kuang Si Waterfall
Breakfast at your hotel.
Your morning will begin with a tour of the enchanting World Heritage Town of Luang Prabang. The tour starts at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, and continues on to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief. The next stop is Wat Sensoukarahm. Built in 1718, it boasts a dazzling golden façade. We will then continue to the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre. This museum is dedicated to exploring the rich diversity of Laos’ ethnic minorities, displaying traditional costumes, tools, and artifacts. (Note: This museum is closed on Monday). In the afternoon, we will go by private car to visit Kuang Si waterfall. En route, we will visit local ethnic minority villages and then drive to the beautiful Kuang Si waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along forest trails.
In the late afternoon, we will return to Luang Prabang and climb the nearby temple-topped hill of Mount Phousi where you can catch a spectacular view of the town and river. From there, you can explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of textiles handmade by locals living in the areas surrounding Luang Prabang.
Head back to the hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 9: Luang Prabang - Pakou Caves
Breakfast at your hotel.
A private car will take you to the boat pier to embark on a private boat journey upstream along the Mekong River. The trip will offer a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside and include a visit to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. The two linked caves contain thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. En route, we will stop at Ban Xang Hai, a village where the local specialty of rice wine is produced. On our way back to Luang Prabang we will stop at Ban Chang Khong, a village known for its weaving handicraft and Sa paper making. Free time at your leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 10: Luang Prabang - Farming Activity - Sak Yant by Monk
For early risers, there is a very special dawn visit to watch the monk’s collecting alms. As the sun begins to rise, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents. Return to the hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, this morning we drive to Ban Phong Varn, about 5 kilometers outside Luang Prabang on the road to the Khang Xi waterfall, through lush rice fields and surrounded by wooded hills and mountains. There, we visit a Living Rice Farm where they grow organic vegetables, salads, herbs, and rice, supplying top restaurants and hotels in Luang Prabang. At the farm, you’ll see how rice is cultivated, experience a day in the life of a farmer, and try some of the activities yourself. Alternatively, you can relax and enjoy the view from the balcony of our traditional Lao rice house, which is surrounded by rice terraces and our organic vegetable farm. Everyone in the family can participate, and there are great photo opportunities.
After the activities, we’ll have lunch at the farm, featuring a selection of typical Luang Prabang dishes and fresh fruit.
Following lunch, we will head to meet Monk Sathou Ta at Wat Phouchangkham for Sak Yant (Secret Tattoo), a process that takes about 5 hours. This is located on the outskirts of Luang Prabang, east of the city, passing by Luang Prabang Airport and continuing to Xienglek village, a new settlement area. After the Sak Yant ceremony, we will transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 11: Luang Prabang - Vientiane Departure
After breakfast at your hotel, you can enjoy free time before being picked up to travel to the Luang Prabang International Airport for your flight to Vientiane. Your driver is waiting at the airport, transferring to the town for shopping and visit some markets (or other places in town as your wish), then drive back to the airport for your departure flight
