13 Days Laos Adventurous Honeymoon Trip with Plain of Ancient Jars

ITINERARY

Day 1: Vientiane | Arrive Vientiane

International Flight: Excluded

Welcome to Laos! Upon arrival in Vientiane, our guide will greet you at the airport welcome area and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

Accommodation: Settha Palace Hotel

Day 2: Vientiane | Buddha Park and Highlights

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you’ll visit the Buddha Park, an enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, near the Friendship Bridge. There are approximately 200 religious images dating back over 500 years, which were created by a mysterious monk spreading his philosophy on life and revealing his ideas about the universe. We then come back to the town to visit the city in the afternoon, including the oldest Wat Sisaket, a temple of thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit Lao national icon, That Luang Stupa, and we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

Accommodation: Settha Palace Hotel 

Day 3: Vientiane – Pakse | Flight to Pakse | Tadfan Waterfalls and Knife Making Village

Internal Flight: Included

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Board a morning flight to Pakse. Upon arrival, our guide will greet and transfer you to your resort next to the Mekong River for check-in.

In the afternoon, you’ll go to visit a small village which is famous for knife making. See how knives are produced using traditional techniques before continuing onwards for another 14km to visit some tea plantations, here we see how tea is grown and produced, after which we carry on once again until arriving at the stunning Tad Fan waterfall. Here we take some time to look around and explore the local area which is home to coffee plantations.

Accommodation: The River Resort

Day 4: Pakse | Explore Mekong Dolphins by Kayak

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, we transfer to Nakasang village. From here we board a local boat which takes us down the mighty Mekong and through some beautiful scenery until arriving at Don Khon Island. From Don Khon Island we walk along the island to see the old French train and the amazing Liphi waterfalls. At the waterfall, we take a short walk to above the falls where we enjoy lunch together amongst some beautiful surroundings!

After our lunch and taking some time to relax, we begin kayaking down the Mekong to an area near the Cambodian border where we will have the chance to see Mekong Dolphins. After spending some time to try and spot the dolphins, we will return back to your hotel in Pakse. The evening is at your leisure.

Mekong Dolphins – 13 Days Laos Adventurous Honeymoon Trip Plain Ancient Jars

Accommodation: The River Resort

Day 5: Pakse | Wat Phou Ancient Ruins

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Discover the hidden charm of Southern Laos in this half-day tour, which encompasses visits to an ancient temple ruin and quaint colonial town. Wat Phou is a ruined Khmer Hindu temple complex which has been inscribed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Pakse and Champassak are tranquil towns where French colonial buildings are still standing.

After breakfast, a short walking city tour of Pakse will show you some nice remnants of the French period before transferring by road to Wat Phou. The journey takes approximately 1 hour.

Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Wat Phou is a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits amidst the rice fields and waterways of southern Laos. The temple was constructed in three levels: the bottom level is focused on the baray (water reservoir) and promenade, the second level features quadrangular pavilions and galleries of carvings, and the top level is the sanctuary itself. It was built by the rulers of the Khmer empire before the construction of Angkor Wat. This temple served as the most important economic and political centre of the region and still is one of the Lao people’s most revered temples.

Pass through Champassak, driving through streets lined with French colonial buildings, and continue on to Ban Kiet Ngong. Stop en route at the wood carving village of Ban Nong Bune.

When the tour ends, you will be escorted back to your hotel in Pakse.

Accommodation: The River Resort

Day 6: Pakse – Luang Prabang | Flight to Luang Prabang

Internal Flight: Included

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Morning is at your leisure to relax.

In the afternoon, board a flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

Feel free to explore the beautiful city of Luang Prabang on your own to discover night markets selling local tapestries and souvenirs.

Evening dinner at Hive Restaurant with “Ethnik Fashion Show” – a modern fashion show with a twist – ethnic wedding garments from over 100 ethnic groups in Laos on a show by Hmong underprivileged university students(all donations go to support their families and education).

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 7: Luang Prabang | Kuang Si Waterfalls and City Highlights

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you’ll start with a visit to the Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. This then takes us to the beautiful Khouang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang.

In the afternoon, your half-day city tour begins with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We also have time to visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai.

A visit to Luang Prabang would be incomplete without ascending the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by the hill tribes surrounding Luang Prabang.

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 8: Luang Prabang | Befriending the Gentle Giants of Asia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, transfer to Elephant Village – an elephant sanctuary with a focus on rehabilitation and care of rescued elephants. Here you’ll meet the camp manager and receive a short briefing about the elephants. Throughout the day, you’ll take place in the following activities:

• • Mahout Training – learn about the commands of how to communicate to the elephant
  • Enjoy lunch at the outdoor garden restaurant
  • Bathe your elephant – Go down to the nearby Nam Khan River to bath your elephant; perhaps the elephant will bathe you as well!

Then return to your hotel for leisure time.

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 9: Luang Prabang | Pak Ou Caves by Boat

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make Laos rice wine and rice whiskey. You’ll be able to try some and see the process they use to make it. Then we’ll reach the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.

Lunch will be served nearby the caves. During lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to try a local dish called “Orlam” which is a soup with vegetables and features a spicy wood that is partially edible. On return, we disembark the boat to visit a traditional weaving village of Ban Phanom, which is famous for its hand weaving.

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 10: Luang Prabang – Phonsavan | Mountain Road Trip to Xieng Khong | Plains of Jar Site 2 & 3

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Transfer to Phonsovan by vehicle through scenic mountain roads and visit several (H)mong villages on the way.

Arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon. Check-in your hotel and take a rest.

In the afternoon, you’ll begin unfolding the mysterious Plain of Jars. There are more questions than answers. Who made these giant stone large jars? Why did they do it? What happened to them? You’ll visit the Plain of Jars Site 2 and Site 3 today where jars are found which are believed to be around 3,000 years old. Here you’ll see two areas where these jars are found along with a large stone disc at each site. Then you’ll return to Phonsavan. At 6:00 PM, you’ll visit the UXO visiting center and watch an impressive movie about bombies – a civilian bomb used during the Secret War. Tasting Tour: Be sure to try the buffalo and vegetable medley dish, unique to Phonsavan valley.

Accommodation: Vansana Plain of Jars Hotel

Day 11: Phonsavan | Uncover the Main Site

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Continue uncovering the mysterious Plain of Jars today. First, however, you’ll start with a visit to the local market where you can see many colorful fruits, vegetables, and meat on display. This market specializes in pastries similar to donuts found in Phonsavan. (Tip: If you try something from the market, be sure to immediately eat a slice of uncooked ginger or a fresh garlic clove to ensure you don’t get sick from local bacteria. These have proven effective in killing many foodborne pathogens in studies.

Then you’ll go to visit one of the quarry sites where the jars were made out of large boulders. The nearest quarry site is 40km away from the place where the jars are found! You’ll find more questions here, how did they transport these large jars? What did they use to carve them with? If you have the energy, climb up to a cave used during the secret war(1,017 steps) for impressive views of the countryside.

After lunch, visit the Plain of Jars Site 1 and a cave which was bombed during the Secret War. At this site, there are over 300 jars. Also, the largest jar is found here which is said to be 2 meters by 2 meters and weighs nearly 6 tons! One of the jars has what appears to be a carving on the side adding more questions. After the tour, you’ll return to the hotel for the evening.

Accommodation: Vansana Plain of Jars Hotel

Day 12: Phonsavan – Vientiane | Flight to Vientiane

Internal Flight: Included

Meals: Breakfast

Board a morning flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

After check-in, then you’re able to relax or enjoy a few drinks watching the sunset over the Mekong River, explore the Night Market, and experience some of the city’s nightlife.

Accommodation: Settha Palace Hotel

Day 13: Vientiane | Farewell!

Meals: Breakfast

Today our guide will transfer you to the airport before your homeward flight and will bid you a fond farewell. Thank you for traveling with us!

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