Laos from North to South - 13 Days - LOB03

Luangsay Cruise boat will leave Houeisay pier at 9:00am for a cruise down the Mekong to Pakbeng. Stop en route to observe rural life along the Mekong and visit ethnic minority groups. Buffet lunch on board. Arrive in Pakbeng before sunset and check-in at Luangsay Lodge. You can enjoy your dinner on the terrace overlooking the Mekong River.Overnight at hotel in Pakbeng.

Enjoy breakfast at the lodge and go on an optional walk to Pakbeng market, where people from the surrounding minority villages gather to  exchange their goods.

At 8:30am board for the second leg of the cruise. Make a short stop to discover a Hmong village before having a buffet lunch on board. Continue to Pak Ou village situated at the mouth of Nam Ou River, and visit Pak Ou cave the "Cave of a thousand Buddhas". On the way to LuangPrabangmake a brief stop to learn about the traditional process of producing local rice wine. Arrive in LuangPrabang before sunset.Overnight at hotel in LuangPrabang.

Breakfast at hotel. Start your tour of the city at Wat Vixoune influenced by Tai-Lu architecture then make your way to That Makmo, the watermelon shapedstupa. Wat Aham is next, then Wat Sipphoutthabat with its fine carved doors and view over the Nam Khan River. Walk through small lanes to Wat Xieng Thong, the most beautiful templeof LuangPrabang dating back to the 16th century. The roofs of the main chapel sweep low to the ground and coloredglass panels adorn the walls of the chapels. Lunch at a local restaurant.In the afternoon the tour continues at the National Museum, which was once the king’s palace and Wat Mai with its five-tiered roof and exquisitely carved veranda. In the heart of the city, climb MountPhousi for a panoramic view over the city and its mountainous backdrop.  Overnight at hotel in LuangPrabang

In the morning youwill cross the Mekong by boat to visit the picturesque pottery village of Ban Chan. You then head to Phousi Market, where a plethoraof goods, ranging from dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter to chickens, vegetables and hill tribe weavings, are being sold. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and you will see those being made at local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups. Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Oua Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. You then head to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim or walk along the forest trails. Return to LuangPrabang by late afternoon. Overnight at hotel in LuangPrabang.

Breakfast at the hotel, before your drive to Xieng Khuang. On the way you will stop to visit ethnic minority people and learn about their culture and lifestyle. Continue your trip past huge mountains covered in jungle and sticky rice fields, dotted with small tribal villages. Upon arrival, you will explore Muang Khoun, a former Laotian capital and stronghold for the Xieng Khuang royal family that was destroyed during the Indochina War. The town was rebuilt after 1975 with rows of wooden Laotian houses and a market area. It is surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. Overnight at hotel in Phonsavanh

Breakfast at the hotel before heading to the Plain of Jars. Thisis an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of jars were carved into large stones and lay strewn all over the field. These huge jars date back more than 2,000 years, but archaeologists still don’t know what their use might have been: funeral rites, storage of goods on trade routes, it remains a mystery. The day will be spent exploring this fascinating site and visiting some hill tribes. The area is populated by Hmong people who are very poor,  buthave a vibrant and distinctive local culture. Youmake your way to Vang Vieng. This quiet little village has grown rapidly with ever increasing numbers of tourists, but the beauty of the landscape, with its mixture of tranquil water and limestone outcrops, has remained unchanged for centuries. Depending on the road and traffic conditions, your car should reach VangVieng in the afternoon. Overnight at hotel in VangVieng.

.Start walking around the bustling central market before taking a bamboo raft along Nam Song River for a taste of adventure. VangVieng is home to numerous caves. the most famous of which is Tham Chang, which servedas defense against Chinese invaders in the early 19th century. You will cross the river to reach Ban Huai Ngai, a little village typical of Laotian rural life. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will leave VangVieng and head toVientiane, the capital of Laos located on the banks of the Mekong River with its fusion of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese and French culture. Overnight in Vientiane.

After breakfast, start your tour of Vientiane with a visit to the major sights of the capital, including the oldest temple Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple WatPrakeo, which once housed the famous Emerald Buddha Statue. En route to Laos’ precious national heritage, the famous and sacred That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposingPatuxay Monument, which is known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon you continue your tour of Vientiane on foot. VisitWatOng Tue,WatInpengand WatHaisok.  Pass by the major shopping area and continue to Vientiane Central Market Talad Sao and TaladKouad where various goods for sale, including fresh food, household goods, souvenirs, textiles, gold, silver and antiques. Overnight at hotel in Vientiane

Morning flight to Pakse. You will be welcomed by your guide and head west to the Bolevean Plateau.The Bolevean Plateau is known for its cool temperatures as it is located high above the Mekong valley. The area is famous for its many waterfalls, the most beautiful of which is Tad Fan. You will visit Tad Fan’s, spectacular twin waterfalls plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by lush vegetation. A trip to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to observe the cultivation of coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops en route. In the afternoon you will arrive inTad Lo, home to another scenic waterfall and numerous ethnic minority groups. You then head south to Xi Pian National Parkand the Kingfisher eco-lodge for the evening. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at Kingfishereco-lodge

Notes: Kingfisher Ecolodge will remain closed on 14 - 16th April and during the months of May and June

Today you have the unique opportunity to learn how to ride an elephant at the Kingfisher ‘Elephant Rider School’. The morning is spent learning basic techniques, so that in the afternoon you can put your new foundskillto use, by leading your new friend up Phou Asa mountain. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at Kingfisher eco-lodge

Today you will leave Kingfisher eco-lodge and travel to visit the fascinating pre-historic ruins of WatPhu, one of Southeast Asia's most dramatically situated temples. You will have time to explore these intriguing Khmer ruins perched at the base of Mount Phu Kao. After lunch, you willcontinuey our journey by long tail boat to DoneDaeng home to La Folie Lodge where you have the rest of the day to relax or explore the island. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant.Overnight on Done Daeng.

Following an early breakfast, you willhead south on a long tail boat to Don Khone.Here you will re-trace the French colonial past at Ban Khone, where some old colonial houses still stand and you can get a glimpse the first Lao railway with its own locomotive. Continue your exploration of the 4000 Islands area by boat and visit the beautiful Liphi Waterfall, also known as the Samphamith, which forms the natural border between Laos and Cambodia. Return to Ban Nakasang and drive to the famous waterfall of KhonePhapeng, the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia, also known as the 'Niagara of the East'. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight on Done Daeng.

After breakfast; you will be taken back to Pakse for catching your flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia or exit Laos overland at theChongmekinternational checkpoint to UbonRatchathaniin Thailand. Asiatica Travel’ services end here