See Northern Laos

Arrive and be met at Prabang airport. Check in to the hotel, where your room is available anytime after 1:30 p.m. In the afternoon, explore this city on the left bank of the Mekong River. Previously a religious capital, Luang Prabang is home to more than 100 temples, some considered among the most beautiful in Laos. Visit Vat Visoun, the oldest temple in the city, distinctive because of its wooden windows inspired by the Khmer Temple, Vat Phou. See Vat Aham just next door, which is framed by two large Banyan trees. 

 We suggest early risers enjoy the sunrise at the crossroads in town around 6 a.m., when monks in saffron robes from Luang Prabang’s many temples walk in long silent processions taking food offered to them by the faithful. Please respect them, watch them in silence and refrain from disturbing them.

 The whole day is for you to discover Luang Prabang. You’ll visit:

● Vat Xieng Thong, the Temple of the Royal City, a vast collection of sacred buildings, one of the jewels of Laotian art and the most beautiful temple of the city.

● Vat Senne, the first monastery with a  roof covered with yellow and red tiles.

● The Royal Palace, today the National Museum (closed on Tuesdays).

● Vat May, built at the end of the 18th century, a capped sanctuary featuring a five-sided roof topped by three parasols.

 At the end of the afternoon, climb Mount Phousi to admire the sunset. Coming down, discover the H’mong Night Market which sets up every day in the main street between 5 and 10 p.m, where you can stroll among all the stalls, try your hand at bargaining and bring home some beautiful Laotian handicrafts.

In the morning, visit the Royal Palace, which today is the National Museum, before heading off to Khouang Sy waterfall, a journey of about 30 km. The road is bordered by villages and rice fields. You’ll stop in some of these villages and continue on to the waterfalls. As you approach the falls, you will feel cooler as the  area is in higher altitude and surrounded by a forest. Have a countryside lunch at the waterfall. These places are frequented by locals and villagers. The waterfall is spectacular, scattering into many clear, turquoise basins in which you can have a swim.  Return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon. 

You’ll go to the pier and embark on a very beautiful traditional-style cruising boat for a Mekong River cruise. Visit the sacred caves of Pak Ou, which shelter hundreds of Buddha statuettes. Continue upriver to Pakbeng. The countryside is incredibly beautiful: The river is pierced in places by abrupt limestone rock outcrops. Numerous villages are found on the Mekong’s riverbanks: This "mother of waters" is a major thoroughfare. Entire lives are lived on it. You’ll have lunch onboard and arrive at Pakbeng at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at Pakbeng Lodge, a charming establishment where all the rooms have a magnificent view of the Mekong from their balconies.

The morning is devoted to the discovery of the Mekong Elephant Camp. First, you cross the Mekong River to attend a show of elephant bathing. And then, you ride an elephant for about two hours through ethnic villages not yet on tourist routes. Return to Pakbeng Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you’ll take a tuk-tuk to visit the local market, Pakbeng. On the way, you will visit the beautiful village of Xang Keng Khmus, situated on the edge of the forest. As you return to the hotel in the late afternoon, you also visit the local temple Wat Chom Si Cheng, which overlooks Beng River. 

Depart in the morning for Oudomxay, a small borough taking the form of an N or an S that is surrounded by a range of mountains. Along the road, you’ll visit villages inhabited by Lu and Khmou hill tribes. Arrive at Oudomxay around midday and have lunch at a local restaurant. Continue toward Muang Khua, stopping at Muang La, seat of the Lu hill tribe’s sacred Grand Buddha (Pra Ongtu). Meet people from the minority groups Egor, Hmong Lai, Yao and Khmou. Here, modern life is far away. You’ll revel in the beautiful countryside and discover the daily lives, traditions and history of different ethnic minorities along Nam Pak. Arrive at Muang Khua at the end of the day.

In the morning, board a traditional slow boat to travel the Nam Ou River for about three hours to Muang Ngoi. The abrupt limestone cliff landscapes partly covered by vegetation are imposing. Stop at the beautiful village Thai Ed, then arrive at Muang Ngoi. This charming village stretches along the Nam Ou and has a tropical ambience with its coconut palms and thatched cafes. Leave immediately to walk around Muang Ngoi in the middle of rice fields and limestone outcrops reminiscent of Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay. Depending on the season, see different stages of rice growing. Have a late lunch at a local restaurant, then continue down the Nam Ou to Nongkhiaw. 

Leave by road toward Luang Prabang. Visit Lu villages at Bane NaYang and Bane Hat Kho. Lunch at a local restaurant. Arrive at Luang Prabang in the afternoon, check in to your hotel. You’ll then have free time to personally discover Luang Prabang. The town has much charm and it is sheer pleasure strolling along the riverbank and watch villagers going about their daily life or simply sipping a smoothie in a colonial-style cafe.

Early in the morning, leave by minibus for a long road journey. The road winds its way way through splendid mountain landscapes. With occasional stops along the way, you’ll be able to visit local villages and meet local people. Have lunch at a restaurant. When you arrive in Phonsavanh, you will check in to the hotel. Phonsavanh is the main city of Xieng Khoang province, known as the Plain of Jars, one of the names that marked the two Indochina wars. The region’ sparse population and flatness evoke a sense of immensity one doesn’t often feel in South-east Asia.

The morning is devoted to visiting the archaeological site the Plain of Jars (the No. 2 site in Laos) which has a 1,000-year-old civilization. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Muang Khoun, the old capital of the Phouan kingdom which was known for its splendid temples; however, few withstood the bombings aiming at uncovering the famous Ho Chi Minh trail. You’ll visit Vat That Foun – considered as a “‘relics and ashes of Buddha”’ storing place, and Vat Phiavat, buit in the 16th century, but reduced to a ruin by a 1966 bombing. Both places emanate a strong energie, though.

Walk in the local market where local tribes (Thai Dam, H’mong, Phuan) bring their products each morning. Then fly to Vientiane where you’ll be met and transferred to the town. Vientiane is the quietest capital of South-east Asia. Although in recent years, Vientiane has been a bit waken up by the vertiginous development of neigbouring countries, it has retained much of its leisurely pace, content with its large boulevards and charming villas –a heritage of its colonial past, alongside a number of old, interesting Buddhist temples. You’ll visit Patuxai, a monument erected in memory of war victims. There’s a panoramic view of Vientiane from its summit. Then visit Talat Sao, also known as “the morning market,” where you can find all kinds of imported and local items. At the end of the day, walk along the banks of the Mekong River. 

 Continue your visit of Vientiane, seeing:

● Vat Sisaket which, in spite of its Siamese influence, presents an architecture all its own. The largest temple in Vientiane, it is considered the most beautiful, and its old “Bangkok” style has saved it from destruction.

● Vat Phra Keo, built in 1565, celebrates the Emerald Buddha it shelters. It was rebuilt identically in 1942. Located in a pretty garden, it shelters the Buddha under sloping, superb carved wood panels and elegant colonnades built in typical Lao style and with a northern Siamese roof.

● Pha That Luang, a cloister guarding a large stupa that was saved when the city was raided by the Siamese. Damaged by the Ho plunders in 1873, it was restored by the French in 1930. It has become the symbol of the nation, representing both Buddhism and Lao’s sovereignty. This large relic is a masterpiece.

● The peaceful Vat Inpeng with its facade mosaics of That Luang, considered one of the most important religious monuments of the country.

At the end of the day, transfer to Vientiane airport for your departure. Your room is available for you anytime up until noon.