LAOS

Day 02 - Vientiane

Today, visit the serene Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple in town. Continue to Wat Ho Phra Keo, the former home of the Emerald Buddha statue. Next stop is That Luang, considered to be the symbol of Laos and Patouxay, also known as the Arc de Triomphe, which was built in the 1960’s in commemoration of those who died during the wars of the past.

This visit to the weaving home-studio of an American textiles expert, as part of a United Nations project to promote traditional weaving.

Day 03 - Vientiane

Visit the Phou Khao Kway National Park which is home to exceptional flora and fauna, including wild elephants and over half of Laos’ wild orchid species. Then, departs for the village of Ban Hatkhai and meet with the local villagers. Start the trek with your community guide and visit waterfalls, bamboo forests and tropical rain forest. Orchids grow throughout the park and your guide can tell you more about these delicate flowers. Around midday enjoy a simple lunch that is set up in natural surroundings where you will be able to relax and absorb the tranquility of the park. Continue your walk towards Tad Xay waterfall, which is also the final stop of your trek. Take a refreshing dip in the streams before returning to Vientiane.

Day 04 - Vientiane / Houei Xai via flight

Take the flight to Houei Xai, then drive to Bokeo Nature reserve and the Gibbon Experience center in the late morning. After your initial briefing, depart with fellow travelers to the forest sanctuary to begin your adventures. 

Guides and caretakers are present to be at your service. The exploration of the forest is a leisurely activity without a set program. The guide can assist you to take part in various activities, depending on interest. Spend overnight in Houei Xai.

Day 05 - Houei Xai

Enjoy a full day in the jungle surrounded by gibbons. These beautiful animals are very social, yet territorial. The Gibbon Experience aims to protect the animals from poaching and illegal wildlife trade as they are already an endangered species. Learn all you want to know about the project, the animals and the forest from the local community while hiking through the sanctuary. Lunch and dinner are served by the local community whenever you feel it is time to eat. Spend one more night in the canopy of the forest.

Day 06 - Houei Xai / Luang Namtha

Bid farewell to your hosts after a hearty breakfast and transfer to Luang Namtha which takes around five hours. Upon arrival in Luang Namtha, check into your hotel and enjoy a free afternoon in the beautiful surroundings. You may also opt to take a herbal steam sauna or Lao massage. Other activities to engage with in the afternoon are kayaking on the river. 

Enjoy dinner at the hotel and prepare for a day out in the forest tomorrow. 

Day 07 - Luang Namtha

Start the day with a short drive of 40 minutes to Ban Nam Yang. Start an easy trek following the forest trail towards Muang Sing. This trek through forest and upland fields leads to the highest point of the trek, where an Akha village can be found. After lunch, descend the hill gradually and continue along a small provincial road up to another Akha village of Nam Yang. Here you will have a chance to learn more about the life of the Akha in the hills. Return the same way and take some time to visit to the Black Tai village of Nam Ngaen where villagers make Lao Whisky. Return to Luang Namtha for the night.

Day 08 - Luang Namtha / Muang Khua

Visit the local market in Luang Namtha where the people from the surrounding area exchange their goods and products. Observe the local way of doing business and continue with a drive to Muang Khua via Oudomxay, where you will stop for lunch. Afterwards continue a spectacular drive, following the stunning Nam Pak River through dense forests covered in vines and jungle canopy that clings to the steep mountainsides. Pass by small minority villages along the road and witness the ever apparent views of the river as it winds its way towards Muang Khua. This is certainly one of the best drives in Laos.

Day 09 - Muang Khua / Muang Ngoi

Morning, take a journey by slow boat over the Nam Ou River to Muang Ngoi. Make a stop and visit one of the villages which will give you a good insight into Laos’ hill tribe lifestyle. Continue to Muang Ngoi, a quaint village at the foothill of a giant limestone outcrop. Home to only about 700 people, this village truly defines the Laotian spirit and way of life. Enjoy an eco-tourism trek in the afternoon to the Tham Kang and Tham Pha Kaew caves, situated north of the town. The caves were used bomb shelters during the Vietnam-war era. Return to Muang Noi for dinner and stay at a simple guesthouse. 

Day 10 - Muang Ngoi / Nong Khiaw

After simple breakfast, board a long tail river boat for a cruise on the Nam Ou River towards Nong Khiaw. Before arriving in Nong Khiaw, prepare for a half day trip and cruise through fantastic landscape, remote villages, caves and onto waterfalls. Make a stop at Sop Kong waterfall. The falls are located a 1 hour trek away from the pier. Trek through mountain landscape and paddy fields. Enjoy a swim and take your time to unwind in this little paradise before we hike back to the boat and visit a small cave near the river. Explore the cave and head onward to Nong Khiaw. 

Day 11 - Nong Khiaw / Luang Prabang

Transfer for a 3.5 hour drive through breathtaking scenery of rural villages and terraced paddy fields to Luang Prabang. This charming town received UNESCO World Heritage status in 1995 and has a pleasant mix of French colonial and traditional Laotian architecture. 

Check into hotel on arrival and remainder of the day is free at leisure.

Day 12 - Luang Prabang

Depart for a one hour drive south to one of Luang Prabang’s most picturesque sights, the Kuang Si waterfall for a leisurely hike through the national park towards the Kuang Si waterfall. Continue to the top of the main waterfall where you may choose to swim in a large pool. Then, visit Wat Mai, Luang Prabang’s oldest Pagoda and Wat Xiengthong with its classic Laos’ style roofs, which are a magnificent sight to behold. End your day with a short climb to the top of Mount Phousi, admire the wonderful view from the top of the town across the Mekong and Khan river as well as the surrounding mountains

Day 13 - Luang Prabang

After breakfast, depart for the Tad Sae waterfall. Enjoy a local lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Tad Sae waterfall. This afternoon, it is time to get up close and personal with some of nature’s biggest and most friendly creatures – elephants. Trek through the jungle on the back of an elephant for approximately one hour. This soft adventure activity provides fun for the day and you will also learn about these animals from their trainers. 

Return back to Luang Prabang this afternoon and enjoy a final evening at leisure.

Day 14 - Luang Prabang departure via flight

Check-out of your hotel no later than 12:00 noon and transfer (approx. 30mins) to the airport for your onward flight to next destination or returns your home.