16 Days Laos in Focus Tour with Elephant Sanctuary

ITINERARY

Day 1: Vientiane | Arrive Vientiane

International Flight: Excluded
Welcome to Laos! Upon arrival 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.

Ancient Buddha Parks

Accommodation: Settha Palace Hotel

Day 3: Vientiane – Vang Vieng | Road Trip to Vang Vieng | Leisure

Meals: Breakfast
In the morning, you take a VIP coach to Vang Vieng(approx 4 hours). Our guide will transfer you to the bus station. Along the way, you will have an opportunity to view the beautiful countryside of Laos.

When you arrive, our guide will greet you at the bus station and transfer to your hotel. Check in and enjoy the leisure time for the rest of the day. Your hotel would have a stunning view of the karts hills along the river.

Accommodation: Amari Vang Vieng

Day 4: Vang Vieng | Kayaking at Scenic Nam Song River and Caving

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Your tour guide and driver will greet you at the lobby and you will be transferred from Vang Vieng to the Khmu village of Vieng Samay, about 10 km north. After an introduction to the basics of kayaking, the Nam Song River offers various small but fun rapids on the way to the first stop at the cave of Tham Nam Thaem. This cave cuts straight through the mountain. After exploring the cave, you’ll emerge on the other side of the range for some panoramic views of the Nam Kouang valley. A trek back over a small pass leads up to a Lao style picnic lunch on the riverside where you’ll enjoy a noon meal.

The next paddle stop is at the Organic Farm, where mulberry tea and a variety of fruit wines are produced. The Tham Non Cave lies further downstream. As one of the biggest caves in Vang Vieng, it served as a rescue shelter for the villagers during the Second Indochina War. Today it is home to a bat colony and ‘The Magic Stone of Vang Vieng’. The final leg is a gentle paddle before returning to Vang Vieng in time to catch the sunset from the terrace of the Ban Sabai Riverside Bungalows.

Vang Vieng Landscape

Accommodation: Amari Vang Vieng

Day 5: Vang Vieng – Phonsavan | Road Trip to Phonsavan

Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, our guide and driver will assist you with a scenic mountain road transfer to Phonsavan. You will travel pass several Hmong Villages. Feel free to ask your guide if you want to visit the villages along the way. Arrive Phonsavan and check in your hotel to relax.

Accommodation: Vansana Plain of Jars Hotel

Day 6: Phonsavan | Uncover the Plain of Jars: Site 2 and 3

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning is at your leisure to relax.

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.

Plain of Jars

Accommodation: Vansana Plain of Jars Hotel

Day 7: Phonsavan | Explore 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 8: Phonsavan – Luang Prabang | Flight to Luang Prabang | Laotian Monasteries

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
In the morning, board a flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, our guide will greet and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

Your half day city tour begins in the afternoon 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’ll also visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai.

Wat Xieng Thong Temple

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 local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

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 9: Luang Prabang | Elephant Sanctuary Day 1

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, you’ll be transferred from your hotel to the Elephant Training Camp. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by the staff and provided with your mahout uniform. You’ll then be taught about the tradition of elephant training as well as learn the verbal and physical ‘commands’ used to control your elephant. Then you’ll meet your elephant’s mahout(an elephant trainer).

Next, with the assistance of your mahout, you’ll be taught how to control the elephant from on top. You’ll have some time to practice your new found skills before enjoying lunch at the camp restaurant.

After lunch, you’ll take a ride through the jungles and countryside where you’ll learn about guiding your elephant through various terrains including the river. At the river, the elephant will enjoy an elephant bath before you return back through the forest to the lodge. You’ll have an opportunity to go swimming or tubing on the Nam Khan River. You’ll spend overnight in the Mahout Resort.

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 10: Luang Prabang | Elephant Sanctuary Day 2

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Early in the morning, you’ll retrieve your elephants from the rainforest and lead it to the Nam Khan for a bath. Then you’ll ride the elephant back to the camp. Here you’ll learn about the elephant’s diet. After breakfast, you can join in either a trek to a Khmu hill tribe or enjoy kayaking/bamboo rafting. In the afternoon, you’ll receive your Certificate of Mahout Training. You’ll be returned to your hotel in Luang Prabang where you’ll have the evening at your leisure.

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 11: Luang Prabang | Kuang Si Waterfalls and Hill Tribe Villages

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we cross the Mekong River by boat, to the picturesque village of Ban Chan, a pottery village. We then visit the morning 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 Khouangsi 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 by late afternoon.

Kuang Si Waterfalls

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 12: Luang Prabang | Boat Trip to Pak Ou Caves

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.

Mysterious Pak Ou Cave – 16 Days Laos Focus Tour Elephant Sanctuary

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 13: Luang Prabang – 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 hotel 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.

Tadfane Twin Waterfalls – 16 Days Laos Focus Tour Elephant Sanctuary

Accommodation: The River Resort

Day 14: 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.

Accommodation: The River Resort

Day 15: 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 a world heritage site by UNESCO. Pakse and Champassak are tranquil towns where French colonial buildings are still standing.

Wat Phou Temple – 16 Days Laos Focus Tour Elephant Sanctuary

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. This 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. The temple was built by the rulers of the Khmer empire before the construction of Angkor Wat. The temple served as the most important economic and political center 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 woodcarving village of Ban Nong Bune.

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

Accommodation: The River Resort

Day 16: Pakse | 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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