HTS Tour – Lao Expedition 8 days 7 nights
Day 1 – Luang Prabang Arrival
On arrival at the airport in Luang Prabang, you are greeted by our guide and transferred to your hotel. After a short rest, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai; we then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa and witness a beautiful sunset view of the city and Mekong River. After we explore the Night Market, where you can find a collection and handmade textiles made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Meals: N/A.
Accommodation: Hotel in LuangPrabang
Day 2 – Luang Prabang – Pakou – Wat Xieng Thong – Pak Ou Caves – Tribal Village
After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represent the classical architecture of Luang Prabang’s temples. We then board a cruise up the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the scenery and tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysteries of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes.
Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they distill local rice wine. On return, we take a short drive to Ban Xang Khong and Ban Xienglek, well known for its handmade Jute Sar paper.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Day 3 – Kuang Si Waterfalls – Hill Tribes Tour
This morning wake up early and participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks collecting, and being given alms, offerings from the local people, including sticky rice. After breakfast, you will visit the morning Phosi Market where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit the Ban Ouay, Hmong Hill Tribe, Ban Ou, Lowland Lao and Ban Thapene of Khmu village. Continue driving to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can swim or splash around in the crystal clear pools or walk along the forest paths, returning to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Phanom, a well-known weaving village, returning to the city by late evening, in time for sunset at Wat Siphouthabath.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.
Day 4 – Luang Prabang – Vientiane – Wat Sisaket – That Luang Stupa
The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture, dating back to the days of the early Kings, right through to the last sovereign. The National Museum and Central Market are not to be missed. Today, we visit these sights before catching a flight to Vientiane. After checking into the hotel, we are met by our guide to start exploring this capital city. We begin visiting the major sights including the oldest Wat, Sisaket, with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former Royal Temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image.
On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane.
Day 5 – Vientiane – Pakse – Champassak – Wat Phou (Wat Phou Cruise)
In the early morning at 6:30am, we board a flight to Pakse. On arrival you are met and transferred to Vat Phou for our 10:00am cruise to Champassak. We then board a local long tail riverboat, zigzagging through mild rapids and sand banks, arriving in Champassak for a guided tour of the mysterious pre-Angkorian 10th century temple of Wat Phou, the boat’s namesake. As dusk falls aboard the Vat Phou, we enjoy a relaxing cruise down-river, enjoying the tropical sunset and dinner on board, while the boat docks for the night, alongside a remote Laotian village.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight on Wat Phou Long Tail River Boat.
Day 6 – Huei Thamo – Oum Moung Temple – Khong Island (Wat Phou Cruise)
Breakfast is served on board as we set sail for the village of Huei Thamo, only a few minutes’ walk away from the Atacular hidden forest temple of Oum Moung. After some exploring, board the boat for a cruise southwards and lunch on the deck, as we continue our leisurely sail to the wild paradise of the “Four Thousand Islands”. We arrive near to Khong Island at Ban Dua Tae and visit this Laotian Village where the traditional way of life has not changed in centuries. We shall dine on board for a quiet dinner under the stars, serenaded by the songs of the buffalo toads.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight on Wat Phou Long Tail River Boat.
Day 7 – Ban Veuthong – the “Niagara of the East” – Xieng Di – Pakse (Wat Phou Cruise)
Breakfast is served on the deck, while cruising to the small village of Ban Veuthong where we will board a small long-tail boat to Khone Island. After our visit, take a long tail boat back to the mainland amid the by-gone splendor of another age; colorful French colonial houses and an old customs post, alongside a stone quay. Take a minivan to the amazingly scenic splendor of the Khong Pha Peng Waterfall, “the Niagara of the East“, close to the Cambodian border. We arrive back to “civilization”, and after a two hour ride to Pakse, arrive about 3:30 pm and transfer to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Pakse.
Day 8 – Pakse departure
Have breakfast at the hotel then enjoy a free morning before driving to the airport to catch your onward flight.
Meal: Breakfast
