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7 DAYS LAOS DISCOVERY

LUANG PRABANG – VIENTIANE – PAKSE - UBON RATCHATHANI

Private tour (LD7): Daily departure from Luang Prabang with English, German or French speaking guide. 

ITINERARY:

DAY 1:LUANG PRABANG – ARRIVAL (L,D)
Meet upon arrival at Luang Prabang airport, transfer and check-in at the hotel. The crown jewel of Laos and former Lanexang, Luang Prabang, is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in South East Asia. Magical and charming, it has preserved its long-standing reputation as a stronghold of Lao culture with its splendid natural scenery and sense of timelessness. In 1995 UNESCO voted Luang Prabang as a World Heritage City.  Lunch at local restaurant.
Visit Vat Visoun, the site of an impressive stupa, That Makmo, stylistically more Srilankalese than Lao. Then walk to the nearby Vat Aham, which is one of the city’s major tutelary shrines, dedicated to Deveta Luang (spirit) Pu Gneu Ya Gneu (ancestors).  Climb Vat Phousi hill for an outstanding view over the city. Continue to visit Vat Mai, built in 1796, famous for the five – tiered roof of its wooden sim built in the standard of Luang Prabang style. Sunset at Vat Prabht Tai located along the Mekong River. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

DAY 2: LUANG PRABANG (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the National Museum (former King’s Palace) displaying a collection of personal artifacts of the Royal Family. Departure by road to the Khuang Xi Waterfalls (30 kms, approx. 1 hour drive). The waterfalls tumble over multi – tiered limestone formations into cool, clear pools ideal for swimming and relaxing. On the way to the waterfalls, visit the Khmu minority village of Ban Thapaene for a glimpse into their lifestyle.  Picnic lunch nearby the waterfalls. Return to Luang Prabang. On the way, visit Ban Xom, a lowland Lao village known for its cotton production. Stop at Ban Xang Khong village to see how traditional Sa paper is made. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

DAY 3 :LUANG PRABANG (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Vat Xieng Thong, considered as the most beautiful temple. The sim of the Vat represents the classic Luang Prabang temple architecture with roofs that sweep low to the ground. In the compound stand several small chapels housing bronze Buddha images, which were displayed in Paris in 1911. Near the East gate stands the Royal Funeral Chapel. Inside are an impressive 12-meter high funeral   chariot   and various funeral urns of each Royal Family’s member. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts a semi-erotic episode from Ramayana.    Then board a traditional riverboat for a trip upstream the Mekong River to visit the famous caves of Pak Ou housing thousands of statues representing Lord Buddha.  Picnic lunch at a bamboo cottage overlooking the confluence between the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers.  Return to Luang Prabang by boat and continue by car to visit Ban Phanom, a weaving village populated by Thai Lu who originally came from Sipsongpanna in Southern China. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG – VIENTIANE (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for Lao Airlines flight to Vientiane. Meet upon arrival at Vientiane Wattay airport, transfer and check-in at the hotel. Vientiane’s major attractions are the serene Buddhist monasteries that dominate the center of town. The city has kept its timeless charm with tree-lined avenues, brightly painted temples and quaint French architecture. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Vat Sisaket, the oldest original temple in Vientiane. Built in 1818, Vat Sisaket is the sole survivor of an invasion in 1828. Vat Sisaket features remarkable frescoes and 6,840 Buddha images. Nearby is Ho Phra Keo, once the royal temple of Lao monarchy. Built in 1565, Ho Phra Keo has been used as a museum since 1970 and contains some of the finest Buddhist sculptures and artifacts in the country. Special displays include antique brass drums and palm leaf manuscripts. The main structure originally housed the famous Emerald Buddha that now resides in Bangkok’s Wat Phra Keo. One of the most photographed images of Vientiane is Patousay, the victory gate also known as Anousavari. Constructed in 1958, its architecture is inspired by the Arc of Triumph in Paris. Another famous Vientiane landmark is the That Luang Stupa. King Setthathirath built this great sacred stupa in 1566. Its central structure is 45 meters tall and echoes the curving lines of an elongated lotus. The original stupa was said to contain relics of Lord Buddha. Dinner at local restaurant. Accommodation at the hotel.

DAY 5: VIENTIANE – PAKSE (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning transfer to the airport for Lao Airlines flight to Pakse. Meet upon arrival at Pakse airport, transfer and check-in at the hotel. Excursion to Tadlo, located on the Northern edge of the Boloven Plateau. Tadlo is touted as an eco - friendly resort near the Xeset waterfall. Lunch at the resort. Continue to visit Alack and Nge tribal villages. Drive back to Pakse via Paksong and visit a tea and coffee plantation. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

DAY 6: PAKSE (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Board a long-tail riverboat for a cruise on the Mekong River towards the former royal capital of Champasak and continue by car to the pre-Angkorian Vat Phu Temple (6th-13th centuries). Vat Phu Temple lies on a hillside and offers spectacular views on the surrounding plains and on the Mekong River. UNESCO listed Vat Phu Temple as a World Heritage site in 2002. Hindu Khmer probably chose the site because of the spring that flows from near the top of the hill. Historians say that Phu Pasak was in fact sacred to the pre-Angkorian Kingdom of Chenla (6th century) and may have been the site of human sacrifices. The temple is divided in two parts. The lower part consists of two ruined palace buildings at the edge of a pond, which was used for ritual ablutions. The upper section, the temple sanctuary itself, once enclosed a large Shiva phallus (linga). It was later converted into a Buddhist temple but much of the original Hindu sculpture remains. The lintels feature various forms of Vishnu and Shiva as well as Kala, the Hindu god of time and death. The naga stairway is lined with plumeria (Dokchampa), the Lao national flower. Lunch at local restaurant. Continue by car to Ban Khiet Ngong village and take an elephant ride to reach the enigmatic Phu Asa temple, which lies amidst the dense jungle. Return to Pakse. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

DAY  7: PAKSE – CHONGMEK - UBON RATCHATHANI (B,L)
 Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Pakse Museum, which displays artifacts from the different ethnic groups of the Boloven Plateau.  Then drive to Chong Mek immigration checkpoint (border crossing to Thailand) and continue to Preah Vihear Temple. Lunch en route. Visit the Angkorian temple of Preah Vihear (8-10th centuries). Although physically standing on the Cambodian territory, the only practical access is from Thailand. Its spectacular location, on top of a cliff in the Dangrek range, overlooks the Cambodian plains. Continue to Ubon Ratchathani airport for departure (air-ticket not included in tour price).

HOTEL ADDRESSES:

Our tour prices are inclusive of transfer and tour by air-conditioned car / minivan / coach with English, German or French speaking local guide, transfer and sightseeing in Thailand, entrance fees, meals as specified in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner), accommodation in twin shared rooms with private bathroom, domestic air tickets and domestic airport taxes, service charges, room tax and baggage handling.

Not included are arrival and departure flights, Laotian visa fee upon arrival (US $30 per person + two photos), International airport tax upon departure (US $10 per person), all other meals not mentioned above, drinks, tips and other personal expenditures such as telephone, laundry, and personal travel insurance.

NOTE: Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road and/or river conditions, flight schedules and room availability.