Sabaidee! Welcome to Luang Prabang, Laos. You are greeted by your guide and driver at the International airport for your transfer to the hotel.
Explore Luang Prabang by bicycle, a fun and eco-friendly way of exploring the town. Visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, a peaceful temple featuring the much-photographed Watermelon Stupa; Wat Aham, the site of Luang Prabang's most important spirit shrine; Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang's largest and most splendid temple, is best known for its impressive Tree of Life mural depicting the Buddhist story.
You then climb the 328 steps leading to Phousi Hill. Mount Phousi cuts a distinctive figure in the center of Luang Prabang skyline. The hill, with spectacular 360-degree views, is popular as a place to watch the sun rise or set.
The Night Market here is a great place for wandering, offering a lovely variety of handmade textiles crafted by local and hill-tribe people, along with street food, knick-knacks, and friendly banter.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
After breakfast, your full day tour starts with a 45min Tuk Tuk journey to the kayaking area of Ban En, a small village. On arrival, you commence kayaking downstream on the Nam Khan River, passing stunning karst mountains and viewing daily activities in various small villages along the way, passing over some small and fun rapids.
En route stop by Tad Sae, a beautiful waterfall situated in the forest with a natural swimming pool where you can escape the humidity by immersing yourself in the cool waters. Enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the waterfall.
After lunch, you will continue downstream, stopping to visit the tomb of French explorer Henri Mouhot, who stumbled across Angkor Wat in 1860 but succumbed to malaria in Luang Prabang on November 10th the following year.
Paddling back to Luang Prabang, you will take road transport to Ban Phanom, a well-known weaving village of the Tai Lue, who once made woven silk textiles for the Lao royal family. You then kayak back down to Luang Prabang, arriving by a late evening just before sunset.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Kayaking details:
Duration: 5 hours
Transportation: 1.5 hours transfer
Note: The Rivers are very low and much slower towards the end of the dry season. The best time for kayaking and rafting is from June to December. These are also the best months for visiting Tad Sae
Start kayaking in the Khmu village of Ban Houayleuang, a 1.5hrs drive north of Luang Prabang. Encounter several easy rapids in the first hour. You will visit Ban Sibounhom along the way, a Khmu village on the riverbank which is one of the few remaining without electricity and direct road access.
A picnic lunch is served on a sandbank. After a relaxing break and a swim, the afternoon is spent paddling a calmer section of the Nam Ou, with plenty of time to watch the villagers fishing and harvesting river weed in and along the Nam Ou. The kayaking ends at Ban Somsanouk, where you will transfer back to Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Kayaking details:
Duration: 5 hours
Transportation: 1.5 hours transfer
Today you will travel by road to Vang Vieng. The journey takes you through stunning landscapes of steep terraced fields and hill villages, and you will stop at some villages to interact with the friendly Khmu and Hmong people.
Vang Vieng is a small village nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River, where you will visit the famous Tham Jang Caves, once used by the local people as a hideout from Chinese invaders.
Overnight in Vang Vieng
From Vang Vieng you will be transferred 10km north to the Khmu village of Viengsamay. After an introduction to kayaking basics, you will set out on the Nam Song, passing several small fun rapids on the way to Tham Nam Thaem Cave. This cave cuts straight through the mountain, so one emerges on the other side of the range for panoramic views of the Nam Kouang Valley.
A trek back over a small pass ends with a Lao style picnic lunch on the riverside. Your next paddle stop is at the Organic Farm, which produces mulberry tea and a variety of fruit wines. Tham None Cave, further downstream, is one of the biggest caves in Vang Vieng and served as a shelter for the villagers during the Second Indochina War. Today it is home to a bat colony and 'The Magic Stone of Vang Vieng'. Your final leg is a gentle paddle before returning to Vang Vieng in time to catch the sunset.
Overnight in Vang Vieng
Kayaking details:
Duration: 2 hours kayaking + 4.5 hours caving
Transporation: 15 minutes vehicle transfer
Note:
*The above itinerary can only be done in the dry season (October-April).
** In the wet season (May-September), start from Pathang village, which is 8km further than Viengsamay village. Lunch will be served at Viengsamay village. Only one cave will be visited, Tham Xang (Elephant Cave) due to the fast water running.
Breakfast at hotel then leave for Vientiane. Along the way we make a stop to visit Vang Xang, a famous archeological site dating back 11th century
Afterwards, you continue on to Wat Sisaket, the city's oldest temple. Dates back to 1818, Wat Sisaket is the most important heritage temple now standing in Laos. It houses thousand of Buddha images from many countries, long lost architectural styles, sculptures and paintings; Wat Prakeo, former royal temple of the Lao monarchy and originally built in 1565, is home to the Emerald Buddha image, Buddhist sculptures are displayed along the perimeter wall, including a 6th to 9th century Dvaravati-style stone Buddha and several standing and sitting Buddhas.
En route to Lao’s national icon, That Luang Stupa, stop at the Patuxay Monument, an irresistibly photogenic structure which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe.
Overnight in Vientiane
After an early breakfast, you will transfer to Wattay airport for your flight to Pakse, the provincial capital of Champasak where the Mekong and Sedon rivers meet.
Today you will explore the ruins of Wat Phu. Built by the Khmer, Wat Phu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 5th century, and a highlight of Southern Laos.
Overnight in Pakse
Departing from Pakse, you will head for the Four Thousand Islands or Si Pan Done. From Hat Saykhoon Village you will start kayaking, paddling with the flow of the Mekong.
Passing peaceful islands with villages and coconut trees, you will stop on an island shore for a picnic lunch. You continue on to Don Khone Island, spending the night in a guesthouse with idyllic sunset views.
Overnight in Ban Hang Khone
Duration: 4.5 hours kayaking
A short morning walk will bring you the remnants of the first Lao railway with its locomotive. Continuing on, you paddle toward the stunning Liphi Falls. You will stop in a safe place above the waterfall, then go to the falls for a closer look. Carrying your gear around Liphi Falls, you will get back onto the kayak below the waterfalls. After stopping for lunch and a swim, you will continue paddling down the Mekong to a spot where you may see dolphins that congregate close to the border with Cambodia.
Overnight in Ban Hang Khone
Activity details:
Kayaking duration: 2.5 hours
Hiking duration: 3 hours
In the morning, take your bicycle for a leisurely circuit around Don Khone Island. After lunch a short boat ride will take you to Don Ae, and you will paddle from here for about 1.5 hours on the Mekong. You will kayak into a huge class 1-2 rapid where you are washed downstream into a long section of large whirlpools. These whirlpools have kept people out of the area for centuries, so the surrounding forests shelter a surprising variety of wildlife.
From here, you will drive to view Khone Phapheng Waterfall, the largest waterfalls in Southeast Asia, also known as the Niagara of the east. Drive back to Pakse
Overnight in Pakse
After breakfast, say good bye to 4,000 islands you transfer back to Pakse airport for your onward flight. We wish you have a pleasant flight.
End of service.
