10-Day Classic Laos Trip from Luang Prabang to Khong Island
Start in Luang Prabang and end in Pakse! With the Explorer tour 10-Day Classic Laos Trip from Luang Prabang to Khong Island, you have a 10 days tour package taking you through Luang Prabang, Laos and 4 other destinations in Laos. 10-Day Classic Laos Trip from Luang Prabang to Khong Island includes accommodation in a hotel as well as flights, an expert guide, meals, transport and more. Discover the bests of Laos featuring Buddhist traditions and unspoiled natural landscapes from a 10-day trip! With your private guide and driver, you will explore Luang Prabang famous for Royal Palace Museum, daily Alms, and Pak Ou Caves, Xieng Khouang featuring the mysterious Plain of Jars, – Vientiane with splendid Wat Si Saket, Pakse, and Khong Island popular for fascinating landscapes.
Max group size: 2
ITINERARY
DAY 1
Upon arrival in Luang Prabang you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
DAY 3
Spend the day outside Luang Prabang visiting two inspiring community enterprises. Your morning is spent in the company of local farmer Mr Laut Lee who will guide you around his farm, explaining the various crops he’s growing and the traditional farming techniques used. He’ll also give you a hands-on lesson on making Lao rice noodles, which you can of course then sample. After a picnic lunch at Kuang Si Waterfalls, continue onto a unique social enterprise: the first buffalo dairy in Laos! This unusual project helps underprivileged local farmers by renting their buffalo during milking season, offering them regular income from their buffalos which are being used less on the farm. From humble beginnings the dairy now employs 30 people and works with around 150 local farmers. Currently, the dairy produces yogurt, mozzarella, ricotta, ice-cream and cheese cake, which is distributed to local hotels, restaurants and supermarkets. After a tour of the dairy enjoy a tasting platter. Overnight in Luang Prabang
DAY 5
The scenic drive to Muang La is captivatingly picturesque, and there will be several opportunities to stop en route to soak it all in. Spend time in traditional H’mong villages, before continuing to Pak La Village and the gorgeous Muang La Resort. Famous for its geothermal springs, this is an oasis within the raw countryside where travellers can combine the area’s natural serenity with a blissful soak in the hot spring baths. The remainder of your day will be at leisure to enjoy the resort’s stylish warmth. Overnight in Muang La
Day 7
Depart Muang La for Phongsali. Break up the six-hour journey to the remote northern province of Phongsali with visits to a selection of tribal villages, where you can meet members of the community and see life from their rural perspective. Overnight in Phongsali
Day 9
Hop aboard a private boat to cruise down an uninhabited, and particularly picturesque, stretch of the beautiful Nam Ou River towards Muang Khua. Overnight in Muang Khua
Day 11
Your day will be at leisure to relax and explore your scenic surrounds. Overnight in Nong Khiaw.
Day 13
Your day is at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
DAY 2
Rise before dawn to witness tak bat – the giving of alms to the monks who leave their pagodas to receive offerings of food from local residents – from a respectful distance. Get an overview of the country’s history at the Royal Palace National Museum, take in the city’s iconic temples, and get a deeper insight into Laos culture at the excellent Arts and Ethnology Centre. See colourful textiles being woven in the surrounding villages and join the crowds climbing Mount Phousi for spectacular sunset views across the Mekong. If you’d prefer to avoid the steps, visit Wat Prabath Tai for an accessible sunset experience and see the monks and novices go about their daily rituals in Wat Aham’s colourful prayer hall. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
DAY 4
Early morning transfer to the Mekong River banks where you will board the Shompoo Cruise and begin your leisurely journey upstream along the Mekong River. It’s a stunning section of this mighty river that begins high in the Himalaya and passes through seven countries before exiting through its sprawling delta in Southern Vietnam. Relax and soak up the scenic landscape before arriving into Pakbeng early evening. Disembark and take a stroll through the streets before dinner in your lodge. Overnight in Pakbeng
DAY 6
Set out for a day in the hills, visiting minority tribal communities and learning about their cultural traditions. Today’s journey takes you to regions few travellers ever get to see, throwing in some stunning mountain scenery along the way. Overnight in Muang La.
DAY 8
Spend the day exploring Phongsali and its surrounds including the region’s famous 400 year old tea plantations, where some of the oldest tea trees in the world grow. Overnight in Phongsali.
DAY 10
Take a slow boat down the Nam Ou River, past unspoilt scenery and remote villages, some of which, such as Muang Ngoi, are only accessible by boat. Take a break in Muang Ngoi village, nestling at the foothill of a giant limestone outcrop, which has carved itself a place an ideal stopover for travellers coasting up and down the Nam Ou. Meet a local village guide who will lead you on a short trek through the rice fields to a nearby cave, visiting a Thai Daeng village en route. Return to Muang Ngoi, where you can join the locals for a cooling bathe in the river, before continuing to Nong Khiaw. Overnight in Nong Khiaw
DAY 12
Spend your day leisurely kayaking on the picturesque Nam Ou River. Picnic on the riverbank at Pha An, where the Nam Ou meets the mighty Mekong, overlooking dramatic limestone karst scenery. Visit the sacred Pak Ou Caves, before continuing to paddle downstream to Ban Pakxeuang. Here you will leave the kayaks behind and transfer by car to Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang