11 days Explore Laos

Greet and meet tours guide on arrival to Vientiane airport, the city of the moon – an ancient city, situated on the bend on the left bank of the Mekong as the largest city and the capital of Laos. Transfer to hotel for two nights stay and you have the rest of day free at leisure.

Today, a city tour bring you the best sites of Vientiane, religious museums of Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple to have been survived from the Siamese war of 1828 and its cloister contains more than 8000 Buddha statues; Wat Ho Prakeo, the former home-temple of the Emerald Buddha statue or Pra Keo, but today it contains a collection of Buddha statues, antiques and all artifacts found in around Vientiane; That Luang Stupa, the single most important monument in Laos, which was built to cover the original small stupa containing a piece of the chest bone of Buddha; Patouxay (Arch de Triumph), built quite recently in commemoration of those who died during the wars in the past and it is today as the land-mark of Vientiane.

Following breakfast, we head north by car about 2-3hrs to Muangsing, a small town near Laos-China border where there are more hill tribes to be seen. There are lots of interesting villages of various ethnic groups such as Hmong, Aka…that you may visit. Check in at a good guest house and enjoy lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, you continue to drive to near China border area and visit villages of Ikor or Aka ethnic group as well as a village of Yao hill tribe where you will learn more traditional way of rural life with their fascinating culture of these people. Dinner is at a local restaurant or guest house.

Early morning visit Muangsing morning market, where there are lots of Aka people, who bring their forestry products to sell and also buy their necessary goods back home. Breakfast at local restaurant, it’s time to say good bye to Muangsing, and drive back to Luang Nam Tha and you continue about 4 hours drive to Oudomxay, a good stop off point which surrounded by hills, linking China, Vietnam, Luang Prabang and Pakbeng, even it was razed during the war. There are also more villages of ethnic groups such as Hmong, Khmu that you may stop and visit along the way. There are a few good local restaurants where we can take a good simply lunch along the way. Arrive in Oudomxay, check in at a good guest house and relax after a long day drive. Dinner is also at local restaurant.

Breakfast at hotel, you take a sightseeing tour of the sacred city of temples, of which nearly fifty still remain in the town and surrounding areas. visit the National Museum, the former Royal Palace which houses the collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue, gifts received from foreign dignitaries…etc…; Visit Wat Visoun, the 16th century temple served as a small museum for religious artifacts; Wat Aham, the early 19th century temple, whose two guardian figures at the foot of the steps which represent two characters from the Ramayana – Hanuman, the Monkey God and a fierce Yaksa; drive outskirts of town to visit Ban Xangkhong, the well-known village for its wood papers and also Lao silk weavings with natural dyes. In the afternoon, we continue to visit Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple, which more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture, Hmong market in town, where some of Hmong ladies still show their skilled embroidery works, climb Phousi Hill, the 328 steps leads to the summit of Phousi Hill that dominates the sky-line of Luang Prabang overlooking the finest panoramic view in the whole Luang Prabang and watch sunset over the hill at Wat Phabat Tai on the bank of the Mekong river.

Breakfast, we drive out of town, takes you to discover the stunning landscape, tranquility and lush nature of Luang Prabang and experience riding elephant. You will proceed to the fun excursion to the elephant camp about 20 km out of town and in the middle of green, natural surroundings just on the banks of the Nam Khan river. Enjoy the new perspective and the wonderful nature on this 1hr trek. Overnight in Luang prabang.

After breakfast, we spend a free morning for last chance to shop and visit local sights by own, before you say good bye to Luang Prabang. Transfer to Luang Prabang airport for departing flight.