Laos culture indepth 8 days

Sabaidee, Welcome to Vientiane, the capital and the largest city of Laos, which means “city of sandalwood”. This enchanting town features French architectural influences and Buddhist serenity sites. Upon your arrival in Vientiane, the starting point of your 8-day Laos culture tour, you will meet your local tour guide and travel from the airport to your hotel to rest. 

Today, you will explore the hidden gems of Vientiane, a city close to the border with Thailand. Visit Wat Sisaket, the only intact temple in Vientiane to survive the Siamese attack in 1828. Wat Sisaket is the largest and most beautiful temple in the city. Next, you will enter the Haw Phra Keo temple, a fine sample showcasing the fine art of Laos and Khmer. Surrounded by a garden, this tranquil temple is home to an Emerald Buddha, as well as wooden panels and colonnades. Then visit the Pha That Luang, a symbolic shrine of Laos representing Buddhism and Lao sovereignty.

This afternoon, head to Buddha Park or Wat Xieng Khuan, a 30-minute drive from Vientiane. This unique park, constructed in 1958 by the monk Luang Pu Bunleua Sililat, displays a collection of over 200 statues of Buddhist and Hindu deities.

You will check out of the hotel and then travel to Vientiane Airport for a morning flight to Xieng Khuang, home of the mysterious prehistoric stone on the Plain of Jars. In the afternoon, visit the mulberry farm in Xieng Khuang and learn the 26 steps of making silk by the local people. This social enterprise training provides work for local people, and also encourages sustainable traditional weaving works and organic fertilizers to replace opium production, forest burning, and the use of harmful chemicals.

In the morning, traverse from Phonsavan, the capital city of Xieng Khuang Province, with a stop at Muang Khoun, and visit the ruins of the royal kingdom. Carry on to the Xieng Khuang Plateau for the famous Plain of Jars, reminiscent of Stonehenge in England. Explore the massive jars, believed to be funerary urns, across a vast plain. Those clusters of stone jars, or appearing singly, can be found at the largest site 1; then move on to the other sites 2 and 3. 

Leave the Plain of Jars in the morning. You will take a 30-minute flight from Xieng Khuang to the UNESCO World Heritage Town of Luang Prabang. Upon your arrival in Luang Prabang, you're welcomed by your local tour guide and travel to the hotel for check-in and rest.

Late afternoon, your tour guide will escort you to a local home and participate in the traditional Baci Ceremony, one of the important ceremonies in Laos, or “Soul calling,” which is indispensable to the Laotian people on many life occasions, including weddings, health, birth, death, the Laotian New Year, etc. During the ritual, participants’ wrists will be tied with a white string to preserve good luck.

Delve into the heart of Luang Prabang today, exploring highlighted temples and Pak Ou Cave! Begin with charming Wat Mai, a beautiful pagoda with an exceptional 5-floor roof. Wat Mai, or the "New Monastery," features a graceful, gold-gilded veranda and shining walls carved with lively images of the Jataka Vesantara Buddha, showcasing Laos' fine arts. Within walking distance of Wat Mai is the Royal Palace, an intriguing place to observe the Laotian Royal family's residences. In 1976, the Palace became the Lao National Museum, displaying precious items belonging to members of the Royal family, relics, Buddha statues, and so on.

This afternoon, you will see Wat Xieng Thong, one of the oldest and most beautiful pagodas in Luang Prabang, with a history spanning over 450 years, with impressive structures, and the glittering mosaic Tree of Life. Wat Xieng Thong was the place where celebrating Royal crowing ceremony and funerals. Thereupon, take a leisurely 2-hour boat cruise on the Mekong River toward Pak Ou Cave, making a stop at the whiskey village on the way. Upon arriving, you can hike up to the upper and lower caves on the limestone cliffs, where over 4,000 Buddha statues are preserved. Afterward, cruise downstream and return to the hotel for relaxation. 

Woke up early this morning to visit a local temple and observe the Tak Bath ceremony. The monks in saffron-orange robes will walk in a line around the town of Luang Prabang, where local people waiting on the sidewalk will offer food. Then, you can stroll to Luang Prabang central market, a lively market where you can find locally grown plants, vegetables, and animals from the mountains, and various types of local produce. Afterward, return to your hotel for breakfast and rest at leisure.

At a good time, you shall drive roughly 40 minutes to the appealing Kuang Si Waterfalls, one of the most outstanding places in Laos tour packages. Khuang Si Waterfalls, around 26km (16 miles) from Luang Prabang, is a fantastic natural attraction in Laos, with layers of crystal-clear cascades nestled in the jungle. Swimming in the waterfall is possible, and changing rooms are available on site. Afterward, return to the hotel to rest. Tonight, you shall visit the Luang Prabang night market, which is colorful with local handicrafts, beautiful Lao lanterns, Lao souvenirs, etc.

Have a free and easy time on your own to rest at the hotel for massages, chill at a riverside cafe in Luang Prabang, or visit other Laos temples in Luang Prabang. At a convenient time, you will meet your tour guide for the transfer to the airport for your flight to your next destination.