10 Days package from North to the South of Laos

Arriving Luang Prabang Airport, welcome on arrival and transfer to hotel for check in. Room is at your disposal from 14.00 onwards. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals included: No

After breakfast, we excurse around for some city sights visiting. We will come to Vat Mai Temple. Erected at the end of the 18th century, the temple is a capped sanctuary featuring a five-sided roof surmounted by three parasols. Another temple we will visit is Vat Visoun which is particular with its wooden windows designed according to the architecture of the Khmer Temple of Vat Phou.

Particularly, you will discover Vat Xieng Thong (means “The Golden City”) or Temple of the Royal city, the oldest, most important and most beautiful temple of Luang Prabang. It was built under the reign of the King Setthathirat (1559-1560). The temple is splendidly decorated with carving and mosaics within a picturesque scenery surrounding. Transfer to Vat Senna, the first monastery of which roof was covered with yellow and red tile that made it colorful.

Then we get on a board for a cruise upstream on the Mekong River and transfer 30km to the north for Pak Ou Caves exploration. Two hours upstream on the boat are the great time exploring and feeling the distinction of the Mekong River in Laos. From the far distance, limestone cliffs appear impressively among the intersection flow of Nam Ou River into the Mekong. That is where the “hiding” of the sacred Pak Ou Caves, associated with beliefs of Lao people for over 600 years. The cave is the home of more than 4000 Buddha statues which were brought to here reverently by the Lao to hide, throughout the centuries. Pak Ou is actually the common name for the two arch caves sheltered in the mountains: Tam Ting and Tam Phum.

At the first time entering the Tam Ting, visitors are extremely overwhelmed by countless Buddha statues with numerous genres, materials and dimensions. The system of statues here is evaluated to be diversified of many different forms of Buddhism. This is indeed a treasure of shaping art of Lao people with Buddha statues are made upon the style of “four spirit majesty”, that 4 postures are walking, standing, lying and sitting but their details were transformed to create 40 positions called Mudra.

Finishing 200 stairs located right outside the entrance of Tam Ting, you will find the Tam Phum situated at the top of mountain. The cave is deep into dark but closer inside, the space suddenly become spiritual by the magical light from the candles on the Buddhist altar. Thousands Buddha faces were manipulated by the sophisticated hands of Lao artisans, now appear more vividly and majestically than ever. It is hard to imagine the 300-year-ago scene in the chaos of invading, the people transferred by boat to hide the statues here every night. Pak Ou Caves, for long in the Lao belief, have been the sacred accommodation of Protective Gods.

On the way back to the city, stop at Ban Xang Hai village where you understand how Lao traditional rice whisky is distilled.  Transfer back to hotel. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

In the early morning, the local guide will guide you to witness the Tak Bat ceremony of monks before transfer to a local market, which is always tumultuous in the mornings. The sights, sounds, and smells you see will make you feel yourself like a local here. The market looks splendid with numerous colours of fruits, vegetables, meats, fishes or traditional herbs and spices.

Then we pay a visit to the Royal Palace which is now the National Museum built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family. In 1975, communist government overthrew the monarchy and the palace was then converted into a national museum.The museum is an ideal place for visitors to learn more about Lao history and culture.

Get in the car and follow the call of Khuang Sy, we drive through a beautiful road with some stops to visit ethnic villages such as Ban Na Oun Hmong hill tribe, Ban Naxom, and Ban Ou Lao Loum. Then, we continue the route until putting the first step at the area of the waterfall and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Khuang Sy is located in a fauna and flora conversation area of Laos, surrounded by lush jungle with many large and small falls. The roaring stream flows down from above, making spectacular scenery of brilliant rainbow among the sparkling sunshine. The waterfall attracts visitors due to not only the turquoise water but also its layer shape of terraces alike.

Transfer back to the city with time enjoying sunset at Wat Phabath. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel. 

Meals included: Brealfast, Lunch

Leave Luang Prabang for our next destination, Xieng Khuang, associated with the historic war between 1964 and 1973. Upon arrival, transfer to the Plain of Jars, the home of giant stone jars dated back at least 2000 years.

The plain contains thousands of big and small jars, the biggest one is 2.5m in diameter and weigh tens of tons. The others are in numerous different shapes, sizes and no one is alike. Most of them have no lid except one. Specially, its lid was carved with strange patterns which no expert can explain.

There are many mysterious stories behind this famous destination. Some people say it used to be the accommodation of giants but some others consider it a historic cemetery and each jar is a funeral urn.

Leaving the mysterious Plain of Jars, we transfer to a district in Muang Kham with stop to visit Tai Dam and H’Mong villages.

If time permits, transfer to a district in Muang Kham with stop to visit Tai Dam and H’Mong villages. Overnight in Xieng Khouang

Meals included: Brealfast, Lunch

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight to Vientiane. Welcome on arrival and transfer to Central Market for exploration. After hotel check-in, drive out of the town to visit the famous Buddha Park.

This artistic park is chaired to be built by Mr.Bounlua in 1958. He is not a monk but often wear all-white clothes like a shaman and is a person who deeply understands about Buddhism, Philosophy, Hinduism, Mythology and Symbolism. His art works are strange images which he built up by his feelings about Buddha, the gods and the things he realized from the practical life.

The park is home for over 200 statues of Buddha and characters of Hinduism made by concrete, especially the enormous Buddhist statue which is 40m in length propping its arm. Furthermore, there are many other statues in shapes of human, Godheads, animals and Lucifer. Visitors can get inside the enormous monuments in shape of a pumpkin through a monster’s mount which is 3 meters high. You can also visit all floors symbolizing for Hell, Underworld, and Heaven.

The artworks shelter the mysteries of people life, the human and periods. Thus, many statues seem not to enter the static meditation and peace, they exude the frustrating look that makes a lot of different emotions. More than a half century with rain and shine, the time has imprinted the mossy traces on the statues which helps them more fanciful and unique.

Transfer back to hotel. Meals on your own.

Overnight at the hotel. 

Meals included: Breakfast

In the morning, wake up with a nice breakfast and a following exploration around the city. Firstly, we will come to visit Vat Sisaket, located on Sethathirath Street near Lane Xang boulevard. Vat Sisaket is the temple that has been originally preserved since 1818 when it was built by King Chao Anou following to Xiem Buddhist architecture. Visitors will be impressed with its corridors of thousands Buddhist statues made by copper, rare wood, ceramics, golden and silver skins. The total of statues here is up to 6.840 with numerous dimensions.

Secondly, we will visit Vat PhraKeo which is built in 1565. Visiting the temple located in a pretty garden, we seem to be lost in an art world thanks to the Buddha under sloping, super carved wood panels. In Vientiane, Vat PhraKeo is also a famous important temple following That Luang.

Thirdly, we will transfer to the end of Lane Xang Street to visit That Luang, the symbol of Buddhist country Laos; it is also appeared on the bank-note of this nation. Built in 1566 on the ruins of 13th century Hindu temple, the temple has a gold-inlaid exterior. It is also the largest and most beautiful temple in Laos. Every year, there is a national festival called That Luang festival taking place here.

Finally, we will visit Patuxay (means Triumphal Arch) particular in Lane Xang Boulevard. It used to be called Anou Savary. Patuxay was built in 1958 with the subsection and exterior simulating the Arc de Triumphe in Paris but the above section and interior include the Lao architecture and embossment. Visitors standing on the highest stair can see panorama of Vientiane.

In the afternoon, we enjoy a walking excursion to visit the rest of Vientiane: Wat Ong Tue, Wat Inpeng and Wat Haisok. Pass by the major shopping areas before returning the Mekong Riverside for sunset contemplation. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel. 

Meals included: Breakfast

Following breakfast is short drive to airport for flight to Pakse. welcome on arrival and transfer to visit Wat Phou, dated back to the 5th century, is the most ancient temple in Laos and once being the center of Hinduism, in the honor of Shiva. It was recognized as a World Heritage by UNESCO in 2001. Wat Phou is also called “mountain temple” because it was constructed at the foot of Phou Kao mountain.

Existing more than thousands of years and being only ruins, but all of what was remained showed that Wat Phou is an important religious architectural complex and the repository of historical and cultural values of Laos. The main gate and the front of the temple are now ruins but they still imprint clearly the reliefs with carving images of Hindu Gods.

Passing the main entrance, over 100 Linga pillars lead you straight to the main monument. The end of road reaveals two main temples facing the east and opposite to each other. The buildings here are made from stone and brick carved with pattern sophisticatedly. Contemplating the architecture of temple, visitors will understand how much effort the former people made with wisdom and wealth to create the magnificent Wat Phou.

Continue our trip to Si Phan Don and overnight in the island.

Meals included: Brealfast, Lunch

After your breakfast, you will ride a bicycle to visit Done Det and Done Khone - where you could explore the ruins of French railway tracks and the beautiful Liphi Waterfall. Enjoy the tranquil atmosphere in the islands and take awesome photos of the local life and natural beauty.

In the afternoon, you will turn back to your hotel. Remainder of day is free at your leisure.

Meals on your own. Overnight in Don Det

Meals included: Brealfast

Leaving Don Khone, we continue the journey to Tadlo through the Boloven Plateau. Bolaven is a beautiful plateau covering parts of the Salavan, Attapeu and Sekong provinces. It is known as not only full of fertile farmlands specializing in coffee, tea, cardamom and fruit but also the common home of many particular ethnic groups: Laven, Alak, Katou, Ta-Oy, Houne, Ngai and Suk. Visit Tadlo waterfall and a tea farm before returning to Pakse for overnight

Meals included: Brealfast, Lunch

Enjoy a nice breakfast and free time at your leisure until we transfer to the airport for flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia or exit Laos overland to Thailand ỏ Vietnam. End of the tour!

Meals included: Breakfast