7 Days package from the South to the North of Laos

Arriving in the airport, you will be picked up and transferred to a pier for a cruise by a traditional boat to Champasak. Once disembarking, we drive to visit a famous site. 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 reveals 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.

In the afternoon, we continue the route by car to 4000 islands. If lucky, you can find the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins which symbolize the magnificence of the Mekong River and its continued high biodiversity. Stop en-route to visit the ruins of Oup Mong, a Khmer Temple. Overnight in Si Phan Don.

Meals included: No

Wake up with an early breakfast, we visit around the area to some local villages and particularly the relics from the French colonial era including an old railway. Embark a boat and cruise to Liphi waterfall, one of the most beautiful falls in Laos. Continue the trip to Ban Nakasung, we transfer by car to Khone Phapheng, biggest in Asia and maybe the widest in the world.

In the afternoon, drive towards Pakse with stop to visit an 18th-century temple. If we have more time and there are available elephants, we can enjoy the experience of riding them through forest paths. We reach Pakse when the sunset covers the town. Transfer to hotel for check in. Overnight at the hotel. 

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we have a delightful adventure to Tadlo with stop to visit Boloven 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.

En route, you have chance to visit ethnic villages in Ban Tatung where you have an exhaustive look at the traditional lifestyle of some minorities. Reaching Tadlo, you will be transferred to Tadlo resort for overnight.

Meals included: Breakfast

Following your breakfast, we check out and drive to the airport for flight to Vientiane. Welcome on arrival and transfer to hotel for check in before enjoying a city tour. 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 Phra Keo 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.

Contemplate the sunset panorama by the Mekong River and we drive back to your hotel. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel. 

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, free time at your leisure until we transfer to the airport for flight to Luang Prabang.

Upon arrival, welcome and drive to hotel for check in. Enjoy another city tour at this charming city.

We will visit Vat Visoun which is particular with its wooden windows designed according to the architecture of the Khmer Temple of Vat Phou. Let’s climb Mount Phousi to contemplate the fantastic panorama of surrounding area and visit Wat Phousi which is situated at top of mountain. Next, 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.

On the way back to hotel, we will visit the H’mong Night Market for exploration and buy some lovely souvenirs. Transfer back to hotel. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

Luang Prabang used to be a religious capital of Laos, thus it is the concentration of more than 100 temples. Particularly, visitors 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 Sene, the first monastery of which roof was covered with yellow and red tile that made it colorful.

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.

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. Certainly, visitors are free to sample its flavour. We also take a visit to Ban Phanom, the famous village of hand weaving.

Transfer back to hotel. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel. 

Meals included: Breakfast

You are free at leisure before transfer to the airport for departure flight. Meals on your own. Room is at your disposal until noontime only. End of the tour!