Arrival in Luang Prabang and welcome by your English-speaking guide.
Luang Prabang: former capital of the kingdom of Lane Xang, a peaceful little provincial town that retains its status as the spiritual capital of Laos. The road traffic there is so calm that you can see trotting through the city, the monks dressed in their orange robes sheltering from the sun under their umbrellas. Luang Prabang has been claimed by UNESCO to be “the best preserved city in South East Asia”.
Orientation tour in the most beautiful areas of the city and transfer to your hotel in Luang Prabang. Free time for rest.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day dedicated to the visit of the heart of the city where the main temples are located among the fifty that Luang Prabang shelters. Visit of the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum and where the “Prabang” is housed, the tutelary statue of the city, also a collection of religious art and gifts offered by ambassadors to the sovereigns of Laos. Wat Xieng Thong, from the 16th century, whose architectural elegance makes it the jewel of the city. Lunch at local restaurant. In the early afternoon, Continuation of the visit of Luang Phrabang
Vat Sene: the city’s first monastery with a roof covered with yellow and red tiles in the modern Thai way. Vat May: building with side galleries, topped with a five-sided roof, one of the most beautiful jewels of the city. It was the residence of the highest dignitary of the Laotian Buddhist Church before it was transferred in 1975 to Vientiane. The Vat Aham, from the 19th century, and whose guardians are Hanuman and Yakça, two of the mythical characters of the Ramayana. Vat Visoun, the oldest temple in the city which is unlike any other with its windows with wooden balusters, inspired by the Khmer temple of Vat Phou.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Departure for an ascent of the Mekong by boat to the caves of Pak Ou, enclosed in the limestone cliffs which overhang the river at the confluence of the Mekong and the Nam Ou. Two caves form this sanctuary. The first, Tham Ting is open and houses thousands of Buddha statuettes, some of which reach two meters in height; the second, Tham Poun is a closed cave which contains a relic of the Buddha.

Lunch at Ban Pak Ou located next to the caves.

In the afternoon, then visit some villages hidden by the foliage. Along the banks, you will discover bamboo rafts, traps and traditional fishing nets. The village of Ban Xang Hai, is known for its production of rice alcohol. Visit the weaving villages in Ban Xang Khong, Ban Xieng Lek, known for their fine quality of weaving products.

Overnight at the hotel.

Option: ASSISTANCE AT THE BACCI CEREMONY and TRADITIONAL DANCE.

The Baci ceremony is a mixture of animism and Buddhism, popular practiced by Laotians in all important circumstances of daily life: marriage, birth, departure or commemoration of the birthday of an ancestor. Supplement: 150 USD per group (10 – 19 pax)

Supplement: 180 USD per group (20 – 30 pax)

Suggestion for early risers: station yourself in the city center at sunrise (around 6:00 a.m. – 6:30 a.m.) to watch the daily quest of the monks in saffron robes.
Departure for Kuang Si (35 km), about thirty minutes by car from Luang Prabang. The waterfalls are not very high but are very beautiful and are famous for their beauty and for their environment. The whole has become a national park for the protection of biodiversity.
On the road, stop at Talat Pho market, visit ethnic minority villages: Ban Na Oune, inhabited by a Hmong population. Then to the populated village of Khamu, Ban Tha Pane. Ban Na Ouan with Lao Loum…
Picnic lunch near the waterfalls.
After lunch, swim in the natural pools of Kuang Si, or walk around.
Return to Luang Prabang. Ascent of Mount Phousi, whose temple is at the top of 328 steps and from where you will have a breathtaking view of the Mekong, the Nam Khan river and the royal city.
Walk to the evening market where the populations of the mountain minorities sell their productions: crafts including chiseled or embossed silver objects, embroidery, and pieces of woven silk.
Overnight at the hotel.

National road 13 for Vang Vieng with some stops to admire beautiful landscapes and to take photos.
Vang Vieng: The city of Vang Vieng is the favorite stopover for travelers on the road from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. This small town was built on the banks of the Nam Song and is surrounded by an impressive karst relief full of caves to explore. Even if the place has lost some of its charm due to the influx of tourists, you just have to leave the city to realize that the Lao people have lost none of their soul. The farmers work in the fields, the women weave and the children keep their indelible smile!
Lunch at a local restaurant en route.
Arrival and transfer to hotel in Vangvieng.
In the afternoon, boarding a canoe for the karst landscapes along the Nam Song River. Continue to visit the Tham Jang cave, which the local people took to shelter during the defense against Chinese invaders in the early 19th century.
Walk in town to realize that the Laotian people have lost none of their soul. The farmers work in the fields, the women weave and the children keep their indelible smile.
Overnight at the hotel.

Head to Vientiane.
Vientiane, the capital of Laos has managed to remain a city on a human scale and has retained the charms of its colonial past. The provincial town atmosphere that reigns there contributes to making Vientiane the most peaceful capital of Southeast Asia.
Lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon, discovery of the capital with the main religious sites:
Vat Sisakhet, the oldest temple that resisted the sack of Vientiane by the Siamese in 1828. The cloister is particularly interesting with its niches housing nearly 8000 Buddha statuettes. The Ho Prakéo, which once housed the Emerald Buddha but which still houses a fine collection of bronze or stone statues and many other pieces of religious art. The That Luang, the great stupa of the city, symbol of the Lao nation and which is supposed to house relics of the Buddha. The Patouxai, or “arc de Triomphe” built in commemoration of the unknown soldier, the monument of Victory with panoramic views of the city. Stroll to Tala Sao, the largest market in the country which is full of traditional objects, tasty dishes, and souvenirs.
Dinner accompanied by traditional dances.
Overnight at the hotel.

Transfer to Vientiane airport. Flight to Pakse.
Champasak was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Funan and Chenla from the 1st to the 9th century. Then, at the time of Angkor, Champassak was part of the Khmer Empire. In the 15th c. the city passed under the control of the Kingdom of Lane Xang and did not know its independence until the 18th century.
Departure towards Khong Island. Visit of the Wat Phu temple, a pre-Angkorian temple from the 6th century. listed as UNESCO Heritage. It served as a place of worship and a place of human sacrifice. The temple consists of two parts: the lower part where the remains of two palaces are located and the upper part used as a Hindu sanctuary. Later, it was transformed into a Buddhist temple decorated with Hindu sculptures and lintels.
Embark on traditional boats to cross the Mekong to Khong Island.
Overnight at the hotel on Khong Island.

Whether Phane Done or “4,000 Islands”. It is the widest part of the Mekong River from the Tibetan Plateau to the China Sea. This region is about 50 km from the Cambodian border. In the rainy season, the Mekong can reach up to 14 km. In the dry season, the lowering of the river leads to the formation of hundreds, even thousands of islands, the largest of which is Done Khong. To the south of the site, from December to May, the waters are populated by Irrawaddy dolphins (rare species of freshwater dolphins). Canoe trip in the region of Si Phane Done, the widest sector of the Mekong, where nearly 4000 islets and peaks arise during the dry season and give it the beautiful name “Siphadon – four thousand islands”.
Disembarkation on the peaceful island of Done Det and walk to meet the locals. Crossing an old colonial bridge, built by the French, to reach Done Kone Island. It is renowned throughout the country for its coconuts, bamboo and kapok. Visit the fishing village of Ban Khone, where there are vestiges of the French railway, the old locomotive… Continuation of the walk to the Liphi waterfalls, known for its impressive rapids and its intensity.
Lunch during the excursion.
Return to Khong Island by boat and bike ride.
Overnight at the hotel.

Departure to visit the Khone Papheng waterfalls, the largest waterfalls in Laos, located in the extreme south of Laos near the Cambodian border to try to see the Irrawaddy dolphins (freshwater dolphin). Continuation of our way to Pakse. Stop on the way for an elephant ride at Ban Kiet Ngong. Lunch during the excursion. Visit the ruins of the pre-Angkorian temple of Oum Moun. Arrival in Pakse at the end of the afternoon.
Overnight in Pakse.

If time permits, visit Wat Luang and Wat Tao. Walk in the local market of Paksé.
At the confluence of the Mekong and the Sedone River, Pakse is the most important southern city in southern Laos. It is an important center for Vietnamese communities and if you visit the city during Tet or the Vietnamese New Year, don’t be surprised if several shops are closed. Pakse is an interesting small town with some colonial and Chinese buildings but above all a huge local market where you can find a lot of fresh food but also all kinds of products mainly from Vietnam, Thailand or China.
Transfer to the airport for the flight to the other destination. Trip ends.