In-Depth Laos Tour

Today you will fly to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by your guide and escorted to check in the hotel. 

The first visit today will be Wat Xieng Thong. This 15th-century wat is the most important in Luang Prabang and one of the most important in the entire country. Until the revolution of 1975, Wat Xieng Thong was a royal temple, supported by the royal family. During the 1960s, Wat Xieng Thong was completely remodeled and redecorated, becoming the splendid temple we see today. Walk down a few steps from the temple to the Mekong River, where you'll board a traditional slow boat for the next part of the journey.

We will stop to visit the holy Tam Ting Caves (also called the Pak Ou caves), where the Nam Ou River meets the Mekong. This is a site of ancient spiritual significance, both Buddhist and animist. Within the two caves of Tam Ting are stupas, shrines, and carvings of Buddha. Over 4,000 wooden figures of Buddha, many highly ornate, stand within the natural limestone caves, a testament to the skill of Lao craftsmen through the centuries.

From the boat landing, it's a short walk to Wat Mai (“New Monastery”) built in 1796. It was given its present name following the restoration undertaken by King Manthathourat in 1821. The most striking feature of the temple is the gilded relief panels covering the front facade.  Next to Wat Mai is the old Royal Palace (Haw Kham), which is now the National Museum (closed on Tuesday and Sunday afternoon). It houses many religious and cultural treasures, including the royal throne of the Lane Xang kingdom in its original splendor, and preserves some of daily royal life up to 1975. The museum provides information about its exhibits in English, and your guide will be able to offer additional explanations about the artifacts inside.

We'll end the day tour atop Phou Si Hill. The steps to the top of the hill are studded with small shrines. The gilded stupa at the top of the hill is built on a large rock outcropping. Next to the stupa is a small wiharn (chapel) for prayers. From the top, you'll enjoy a sunset view of the gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city and surrounding landscape, the meeting of two rivers, and the curve of the Mekong as flows into and around the town. Coming down the other side of the hill, we'll pass part of Wat Phra Buddabhat (Buddha's Footprint Temple) and its quirky statues.

Get up early to observe the Buddhist Alms Giving Ceremony at 5:40 am if you like. And then take a short visit to the Morning Market. In the afternoon, you will take a trip to local villages of Lao minority groups at Ban Ouay Village. Then drive to the wonderful Khouang Si Waterfalls where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or wander around in the forest trails. Later, go back to the city to catch the sunset at Wat Phabath.

Check out from the hotel, you will head to Phonsavanh, which is the capital city of Xieng Khuang Province, a well-known tourist destination for its famous Plain of Jars. Enjoy scenic views en route and visit one of the many Hmong villages in the region. The Hmong are an ethnic group from the mountainous regions of Laos. They are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao ethnicity in Southern China. Hmong groups began a gradual southward migration in the 18th century due to political unrest and a lack of arable land.

Upon arrival at Phonsavanh, you'll visit the mysterious “plain of jars", this high-altitude region exhibits a rich diversity and stands in contrast to the more tropical parts of Laos. The plateau itself is scarred by the legacy of the American bombing from 1964-1973. You'll spend the night in Phonsavanh.

Your tour will start this early morning, you will ride to the ruins of the old capital Muang Khoun, the former royal capital of the Xieng Khuang Region. Here, you'll enjoy a Laos noodle soup for breakfast. You will visit Wat Phia Wat and an old stone stupa.  On the way back to Phonsavanh you'll explore more of the Plain of Jars, either “Site 2” or “Site 3”.  Later, a domestic flight will bring you to the capital city of Laos, Vientiane.

Free at leisure until your guide comes and escorts you to the airport for your flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by your private guide and escorted to check in the hotel.

Enjoy this guided tour to discover the charms of Vientiane, the quietest capital of South West Asia. Our tour begins with Wat Sisaket which was built in the Siamese style of Buddhist architecture, with a surrounding terrace and five-level ornate roof, unlike the Lao style. Wat Sisaket has a fence wall with more than 2,000 ceramic Buddha images and silver. Our next visit will be Wat Phra Kaew built between 1556 and 1565, it was the first house of the Emerald Buddha, who now resides in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok. The temple was destroyed many times and was rebuilt for the third time by the French in the 1920s.

On the way to the famous sacred stupa of That Luang, a golden-covered Buddhist stupa, the most important national monument in Laos and a national symbol, we will visit the imposing monument of Phatuxay. The Victory Gate or the Triumphal Gate was built and dedicated to what was fought in the struggle for independence against France. Then we will visit COPE Centre. 

Our day will end with a visit to Sao Talat or Morning Market, where you can find an abundance of locally made handicrafts.

Free at leisure until your private guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Pakse. 

You’ll be transferred further south to Champassak to commence your explorations of the remains of Khmer history in the region. Champasak is a quaint town, with a few beautiful French colonial buildings and an attitude of relaxation. The town is positioned directly on the banks of the Mekong River and is only 10 km from the UNESCO world heritage temples of Wat Phou.

You will visit the ruins of Wat Phou, which is the most important Hindu sanctuary of the Khmer Empire. Your thorough 2-3 hour visit of the ruins include a steep climb to holy shrines of worship where many sacred Hindu, Buddhist, and Animist elements can be found. The Wat Phou Museum exhibition hall on the lower levels invites visitors to study the rich heritage of Khmer artists and Buddhist sculptures. 

You will then head to Don Khong Island by traditional local slow boat or Minivan.

You will explore Si Pan Don (4000 Islands ) this early morning. The Mekong River here is at its widest, stretching up to 12 km during the rainy season. Continue your visit to the Li Phi Falls (Somphamit Waterfall), which is one of the highlights of the 4,000 Islands. You can hear its unmistakable roar from a distance. These falls also famous for the Irrawaddy freshwater dolphins that swim nearby. Ban Hang Khon View Point, which is one of the few places on earth that can possibly spot those endangered mammals. You’ll also view the old locomotive, railway, and colonial bridge built by the French. 

You will leave Khong Island today. Check out from the hotel, you will continue your journey towards the Bolaven Plateau waterfall, located in the Annamite Mountain Range, which runs along Laos’eastern border with Vietnam. The renowned coffee of Lao PDR is produced in this region. The climate of the plateau, with its cooler temperatures and abundant rainfall, makes it the perfect place for coffee production. After viewing several cascading waterfalls - including the famous Tad Lo and Tad Fan Waterfalls, you'll return to Pakse for an afternoon walk or visit its local market.  

Free at leisure until your private guide escort you to the airport for your onward flight.