Day 1: Luang Prabang Arrival
Welcome to Luang Prabang! Upon arrival, our local English speaking guide will meet you at the airport and then escort you to your hotel for check-in.
Late afternoon, we will climb up 328 steps of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. We then will explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the hill tribe and local people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 2: Luang Prabang - Ancient Town - Pak Ou Caves (B/L)
You have the option to wake up before dawn to witness and participate in offering alms to hundreds of saffron-robed monks – an awe-inspiring sight. Please tell your guide a day in advance if you wish to make an offering so he/she can prepare some food for you to hand over to the monks. This early morning ritual dates back generations in Laos. Watch the town come to life in the morning then return to the hotel for breakfast or join the locals for a bowl of delicious noodle soup after the alms giving ritual. (If you do not wish to make an offering, please keep an appropriate distance and observe the ritual in silence. Dress appropriately – shoulders, chest and legs should be covered).
We then visit the Morning Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.
After breakfast at hotel, we visit the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we will make a stop at Ban Xang Hai villagewhere rice wine is distilled. We will visit the caves of Tham Ting and Tham Phoum which house hundreds of Buddha statues.
Lunch at local restaurant. We return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon, continue to visit Ban Xang Khong, a village well known for silk hand-weaving and traditional Saa paper-making. The rest of day is free at leisure.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 3: Luang Prabang - Rice Experience - Kuang Si Waterfall (B/L)
Breakfast at hotel. Spend a morning on a community based living rice farm situated in the idyllic countryside and surrounded by mountains and rice paddies. Experience the life of a farmer and try your hand at some activities. Or just view it all from the comfort of our traditional Lao rice house balcony, which is surrounded by rice terraces and our organic vegetable farm. All can join in and there are great photo opportunities. While there, spend some time to visit some local handicraft workshops like bamboo weaving, blacksmith work, and sugar cane processing. Finally, join a tour of the organic garden with explanation on how natural herbs are used in traditional medicine. Lunch at Living Land Farm.
After lunch, transfer by private vehicle to Kuang Si waterfall. On the way, you can visit to the Lao ethnic minority group at Ban Na Ouane Village, H’Mong Village. Once at the waterfalls, take a leisurely hike through the national park towards the Kuang Si waterfall and pass by the Asian Bear Rescue Center. You will enjoy feeling the mist of the cool, turquoise waters of the different waterfalls. Swimming in the refreshing waters is possible. We also have chance to visit the Butterfly Park (closed on Tuesdays) nearby. Return to the city by late afternoon to catch the sunset at Wat Phabath.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 4: Luang Prabang Departure (B)
After breakfast at hotel, we enjoy a short-guided tour visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace where displays a lovely collection of the artifacts, reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. Afterthat, we visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center (close on Mondays) where you are able to observe valuable artifacts and traditional clothing and implements from each of the 20 ethnic minority groups which inhabit the Luang Prabang area. Next, we will visit Wat Visoun, the holiest temple of the city, which was entirely rebuilt in 1887 after being destroyed by the invading Black Flags from Southern China. In the courtyard of Wat Visoun stands the Watermelon Stupa shaped like the fruit from which it takes its name. Continue past Wat Aham, which was first built in the 1500s.
Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
