Laos Escape

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.

Your private guide will accompany you to the Railway Station, you will take the high-speed train heading to Vang Vieng  (no guide is proved on the train /  Travel time 1 hour).  Upon arrival at the Vang Vieng Train Station, your private guide will be waiting for you at the exit gate with your name sign.

With plenty of rock climbing, kayaking, and hiking options all around the village, Vang Vieng is a brilliant stop-over between Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Vang Vieng is a wonderful introduction to the countryside landscape that makes Laos such an unparalleled visual feast.
After breakfast at the hotel, your tour guide will take to to the north of Vang Vieng, where you'll first visit Tham Xang (Elephant Cave). This cave owes its name to a remarkable limestone formation and lies on the banks of the Nam Song River. Enjoy panoramic views from one of the vistas here.

The nearby Tham Hoi Cave (Snail Cave) winds its way deep into the mountain. You'll float through the cave on inflatable tubes, exploring its long corridors and wonderful limestone formations. A pool of cool spring water lies at the mouth of Tham Nam (Water Cave), giving you a great opportunity for a swim.

Following a picnic lunch, trek to a Hmong village, passing through rice paddies and vegetable gardens. Return to Vang Vieng by kayaking down the Nam Song, taking you through idyllic scenes of rural life, with limestone mountains in the background.
Rest of the day, you are recommended a short stroll down to the riverbank in time for sunset, where there are a number of areas to sit and take in dramatic scenery. Be sure to bring a camera to catch some amazing snaps.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before departing Vang Vieng for Vientiane. En route, make a stop for lunch at Nam Ngum Reservoir, one of the largest man-made lakes in South East Asia, and take a boat trip to visit local fishing communities. Continue on to Dongmarkhai Market, where among the market stalls, insects sell as local snacks. Arrive in Vientiane, and spend the rest of the day at leisure in this peaceful capital. Enjoy the numerous cafés, restaurants, and spas as well as shopping, including the evening market on the banks of the Mekong River.

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 housed the Emerald Buddha, who now reside in Wat Phra Keaw 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 onward flight.