From north to south, the best of Laos

Today upon arrival in Luang Prabang you will meet your guide who will take you to your hotel downtown. Start your visit with the ethnology museum for a better understanding of the ethnic diversity of Laos and of its cultural richness. At the end of the afternoon, you will climb to the top of Mount Phousi, for a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings, at sunset. End your first day with a ceremony in your honor: traditional Baci. The Baci praises to happy events of life (meetings, weddings…) or is simply celebrated in honor of a person, a family, to bring security, happiness and prosperity.

After breakfast, begin your day with a tuk-tuk tour of the main monuments of Luang Prabang, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995: The Royal Palace, which has become the National Museum, Wat Mai, and the House of Heritage that will allow a better understanding of the protection, enhancement and preservation policies of the city of Luang Prabang.
After your lunch visit Vat Xieng Thong one of the most beautiful temples in the area, then return to your hotel for a free afternoon to relax and enjoy the swimming pool.

Today, get up early to attend the offering to the monks which takes part every morning around 5:30-6:00 a.m. in the streets of the city. Return to the hotel for breakfast via the morning market, then drive to the beautiful Kuang Si waterfalls, located 32km from the city. On the way you will see landscapes of rice fields.
After lunch stop along the way at a buffalo farm. The buffalo remains an emblematic animal of the Asian countryside and Laos is no exception. Then visit a textile workshop (Ock Pop Tok).
At the end of the day, if you wish, take part in a game of pétanque with the locals: a real local experience guaranteed, full of fun and a unique moment to share! Be careful, Laotians are excellent players!

After breakfast transfer to the pier for a private cruise on the Mekong. You will stop at the Mekong Eden Farm, accessible only by boat, in the heart of splendid and peaceful landscapes on the banks of the Mekong. The traditional Lao lunch will be served on board the boat, or on a beach, depending on the weather.
This afternoon, head north to reach Pak Ou caves. You will visit the legendary caves where hundreds of Buddha statuettes are piled up. These caves remain a privileged place of pilgrimage for Laotians, in particular at the time of the Lao New Year in mid-April.
The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure.

This morning it is time to leave Luang Prabang for more discoveries. You will head for Vang Vieng by road (~6 hours), but will be punctuated by several stops. Stop at Phou Piengfa for lunch, a few kilometers from Phou Khoun (village of Hmong ethnic groups). Phou Piengfa offers a 360 degree panoramic view. Upon arrival in Vang Vieng, check into your rooms before taking a canoe trip (~30 minutes) to enjoy the natural setting on the peaceful Nam Song River, especially at sunset.

This morning, you will go to the organic farm of Phou Dindaeng which aims to promote responsible, organic agriculture as well as to perpetuate various traditional market gardening techniques as well as goat breeding. Lunch on site. The goat cheese is excellent!
Depart for Vientiane, the capital for 450 years! (~ 3 hours drive).

Today leave your hotel for Manichanh garden, located about 40 minutes by car, a real little peaceful oasis lost in the countryside! On the way, you will stop at the local market of Dongmakkai, where you will discover some ingredients and spices necessary for Laotian cuisine, and especially to taste some specialties that make the reputation of this market: Grilled insects!
Once you arrive in Manichanh you will meet the chef who will guide you in preparing the dishes: grilled pork, traditional Lao salad, Lao sauce, rice… It will then be time to move on to the tasting! Return to Vientiane, to discover the main monuments which make the reputation of this peaceful and charming little capital.

Early rise, breakfast, then leave direction south of Laos, by road. You will pass the towns of Paksan (where the Nam Xan River flows into the Mekong) and Pak Kading (great view of the Kading River). After lunch you will gradually arrive in a mountainous area that you will cross towards the Vietnamese border. Magnificent viewpoints will be offered to you, made of karstic reliefs as far as the eye can see. After your arrival at the village of Konglor in the early afternoon, installation at your hostel, by the river, then reach the entrance of the famous Konglor Caves, which you will explore by canoe, in the dark by the light of your flashlight.

Early breakfast, then hit the road again by Lak Sao and Thalang to reach after about 5 hours of travel the small town of Thakhek, nestled on the banks of the Mekong opposite the Thai town of Nakhon Phanom.
15 km from Thakhek is a place of first order for Buddhism in Laos: The cave of Tham Pa Fa (known as the cave of the Buddhas). More than 200 representations of Buddha are to be found there. This cave was recently discovered, in April 2004, by a villager.

After breakfast, take the road to Savannakhet, about 3 hours away, by a small rural road along the Mekong. You will make a first stop 6 kilometers south of Thakhek, at Wat Sikhottabong, one of the most sacred sites in Laos, on the banks of the Mekong. Visit That Hing Hang, a sacred place for Buddhism near Savannakhet. Arrival in Savannakhet, then discover the city and its center which dates from the French era.
End of the day with a stroll at sunset along the Mekong, admire, again, the old colonial buildings that make the reputation of the city, a real commercial hub of southern Laos

Breakfast in town, thentake the road towards Pakse. Free lunch en route, or in Pakse (depending on the timing), then ascent of Mount Phou Salao offering a wide panoramic view of the city.
Rest of the day at leisure.

Today, you will spend your day with a “local host”. No guidance strictly speaking as you have already experienced it so far, but rather personalized support. Depending on what you want to see and do, there is no predefined route. You will meet the locals and explore places with a marked soul and identity. You will use transports adapted to the profile of the local host; Tuk-Tuk, songtheo (tarpaulin van), personal car, scooter or bicycle.

This morning, head to the Bolaven Plateau and more specifically Paksong, the coffee capital of Laos. Upon arrival change vehicles to board an old Soviet or Chinese 4*4 jeeps (not the nost comfortable, but reliable and solid. A unique and memorable experience) and head to the Tad Moun falls.You’ll have the opportunity to swim and relax before continuing with a relatively easy 4km hike to Mr Khamsone’s farm.
Around noon, you will arrive at Mr Khamsone’s farm where you will be expected for lunch. You will learn more about coffee through a coffee explanation, roasting and tasting session. This session will end with a small walk of about 45 minutes which will lead you to caves used during the war by the inhabitants to protect themselves then you will enjoy the view and the sunset from the top of Phou Sanark before you return to the farm to participate in the preparation of dinner.

Breakfast at the farm around an excellent “homemade” coffee. You will then board the jeeps to go to a village of the Suay ethnic group. Along the way, a stop will be made at a cooperative that brings together local producers. A second stop will be made at the Tad Kador waterfalls then visit a village. Continuation of your route to Tad Maihear’s falls where you will enjoy a picnic. Take a 45 minute walk to the main road at Ban Bang Junction where a mini van will be waiting for you to take you to Paksong for the night.

This morning head to the impressive twin falls of Tad Fane, before reaching the colonial village of Champassak.
In Champasak, you will see beautiful houses of colonial architecture, often abandoned. It will then be time to explore the jewel of southern Laos: the temple of Vat Phou, listed as a World Heritage Site since 2001. Its style is pre-Angkorian. Then cross the Mekong to reach Done Daeng. Installation at La Folie Lodge, in an exceptional natural environment, with its swimming pool overlooking the river.

Today is a day without any service to take some time to rest at the swimming pool or explore by yourself.

Breakfast at the hotel, then you will go up the Mekong to reach Ban Muang and take the direction of Ban Kiet Ngong where you will spend the night. Arrival in Ban Kiet Ngong and transfer to your lodge.

After breakfast, head south, board a motorized canoe in the village of Ban Hat Xai Khun, which will take you to the “4000 islands” of the Mekong in about 2 hours. You will reach the islands of Done Det and Done Khone, peaceful lands with a very marked French colonial past with its buildings, its bridge connecting the 2 islands as well as its railway line which allowed the transshipment of goods on both sides of the cataracts.
Installation at your hotel, then hop on a bike to discover the Lippi waterfalls, locally called Tad Sompamit (very easy level, flat route) while taking the peaceful rhythm of the island. An ideal and calm way to observe, capture and soak up local and rural life.

Today is your last day in Laos. After breakfast at your hotel you will cross the Mekong to reach the mainland before driving to the Khone Phapheng waterfalls, further south, on the border with Cambodia. They are among the most impressive waterfalls in this region of Asia. Short transfer to the Lao-Cambodian border, exit formality from Laos then it will be time to say goodbye to your Lao guide.