ITINERARY
Day 1: Welcome to Laos | Arrive in Luang Prabang
International Flight: Excludes
Meals:
Welcome to Luang Prabang, the cultural capital of Laos!
Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to Belmond Resident Phou Vao for check in their Garden View Suite with private terrace, shaded by tall trees. After a short rest at the hotel, enjoy a guided orientation in the ancient town. After dusk, take a walk along the colorful Night Market to meet friendly Laos people and see the local handicrafts.
Hotel: Belmond Resident Phou Vao
Day 2: Luang Prabang | Luang Prabang Heritage and Kuang Si Waterfalls
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Rise up early to take part in an ancient custom of Luang Prabang—the Alms Giving. A procession of monks solemnly files past your hotel while you may place balls of sticky rice into their bowls.
After breakfast, visit the Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings purchased by locals. 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.
During the afternoon, visit 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. Next, visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai.
Then ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset over the Mekong River. Finally, the tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by the surrounding hill tribes.
Hotel: Belmond Resident Phou Vao
Day 3: Luang Prabang | Boat Trip Along Mekong River & Discover Pak Ou Caves
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
During the morning, we embark on a cruise up the Mekong River. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the tranquil shores and hills. 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. The caves are 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 local spicy wood that is edible. On return, we leave the boat to visit a traditional weaving village of Ban Phanom, which is famous for its decorative hand weavings.
Hotel: Belmond Resident Phou Vao
Day 4: Luang Prabang | Elephant Village
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, transfer to Elephant Village. It is 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:
- Riding an elephant – you’ll have the opportunity to ride directly on the neck of an elephant
- 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.
Note: Elephant Village no longer uses Howdahs(Elephant Seats) due to the harm this can cause to the elephants. You will have the choice of riding the elephant’s neck or walking alongside the elephant, depending on what you prefer.
Hotel: Belmond Resident Phou Vao
Day 5: Luang Prabang | Discover Ethnic Hill Tribes Around Luang Prabang
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Today will be an active day in the countryside and mountains North of Luang Prabang to discover the remote ethnic hill tribe villages. Our first stop is the knife-making village of Hath Hien. We then continue through rice fields to the Khmu village of Bannatan. Here you can observe remote village life. Then continue to Banpohei village where our guide will prepare lunch for you. Continue to the Nam Pa River where you can take some time to rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Then transfer by vehicle further into the mountains where the H’mong reside. Explore their gardens and coffee plantations. Also get a course from the village shaman on traditional Laos herbs and their medicinal uses. Then return back to Luang Prabang for some leisure time.
Hotel: Belmond Resident Phou Vao
Day 6: Luang Prabang – Home | Departure
International Flight: Excludes
Meal: Breakfast
Enjoy some leisure time until your flight. Our guide will escort you to the airport and bid you a fond farewell.
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