Laos Essentials 8 days

Welcome to Vientiane, the riverside capital of Laos, blending Laotian and French colonial cultures!

Upon your arrival, you will meet your local tour guide and take a private transfer from the airport to the city center for check-in. The rest of the day will be free and easy, so you can recover from jet lag.

Enjoy the Vientiane city tour today to get a snapshot of the city and Laos' history, culture, and religion. Visit Wat Sisaket, one of the most attractive temples in Vientiane, which remained intact after the Thai invasion in 1828 because it was built in the Siamese architectural style. Then, visit the Haw Phra Kaew, which has been a Buddhist shrine since 1565 and now serves as the national museum housing the finest Laotian artifacts. Next, you will visit That Luang, the most important religious stupa in Laos. Pha That Luang is the place that holds many Buddhist ceremonies in Laos. During the temple festival every December, thousands of Buddhist monks and Lao people gather on the grounds for ceremonies and to pay respects. 

In the afternoon, travel to Buddha Park where lying roughly 200 statues of Buddhism and Hinduism deities. Dating back to 1958, the shaman priest Bunleua Sulilat created this Buddha Park reflecting his philosophy. Back in the city center, you will make a short stop at the Patuxay, one of the places to visit in Vientiane. This Arc de Triomphe is the place to commemorate the Lao people who died in the war. 

Drive 150km (93 miles) from Vientiane to Vang Vieng this morning. On the way, stop by a H’mong village and the Nam Ngum Reservoir. Boarding a local boat over a picturesque, giant lake or a Laotian beach, you can admire the nature and visit a local fishing village on the islands. After around 1.5 hours of sailing, have lunch at a boat restaurant. Thereupon, carry on the journey to Vang Vieng. The rest of the day will be at your own leisure. 

In the morning, you will begin the hike over a green valley in the East of Vang Vieng. The paths reveal rice paddies, karst mountains, and the Heouysan Waterfall in the jungle. Enjoy the picnic lunch and a break, then go down through the valley, taking in picturesque scenes. Upon arrival in Ban Phonexai, you will meet your driver and travel back to the hotel in Vang Vieng. Have free time to relax at the hotel or chill out at a riverside cafe and admire the sunset over the Nam Song River.

Free time on your own this morning. It’s optional to ride the RTV to Blue Lagoons, the countryside of Vang Vieng, for further exploration of the area. After check-out, you will travel to Luang Prabang in about 4 hours. Check into the hotel and overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will meet up with your guide and local tuk-tuk driver in Luang Prabang to explore this charming city. The first stop of the day is Wat Mai, which means “New Temple”. Wat Mai is one of the richly decorated temples in Luang Prabang, adorned with red and black lacquer and gold leaf. In a short distance from Wat Mai, you will find the Royal Palace in Luang Prabang, built in 1904 as the home of King Sisavang Vong and the royal family during the colonial era. After the Laotian Communist Party took power, it turned the palace into the National Museum, where precious relics, royal images, and diplomatic gifts from other countries remain on display. Next, walk to Wat Xieng Thong, a complex comprising several sim and chapels displaying elegant carvings and elaborate decoration. 

In the afternoon, you will embark on a local boat and sail to the sacred Pak Ou Cave on the limestone cliffs and face the confluence of the Ou River and the Mekong River. Hiking up to the caves, you will find shrines displaying thousands of Buddha statues. Then, you will sail downstream back to Luang Prabang town and enjoy the sunset on the boat.

Early in the morning, you will get to a pagoda or temple to observe the religious Alms Giving Ceremony in Luang Prabang. After the chanting ends, the monks and nuns in saffron robes will walk in a line through the streets of Luang Prabang to collect offerings from local people. Then, you will have a hike of roughly 300 steps to Phousi Mount right in the Luang Prabang town center to enjoy the panoramic view of the Luang Prabang ground and the rivers. After a short stroll around the local morning market in Luang Prabang, you will return to your hotel, have breakfast, and relax. 

In the afternoon, you will drive for around 40 minutes from Luang Prabang town to Kuang Si Waterfalls, with terraced crystal pools nestled in the lush jungle. On the way back to the hotel in Luang Prabang, you will pay a brief visit to Ock Pop Tok, a social enterprise showcasing Laos' finest textiles. Touring the colorful and cozy place, you will learn more about weaving and brocading in Laos. 

At leisure until a good time, you will meet your tour guide in the hotel lobby and take a private transfer to Luang Prabang Airport for your flight to your next destination.