Best of Luang Prabang

Day 1: Luang Prabang
Upon arrival at Luang Prabang International Airport, your guide will be waiting for you and transfer you to The Luang Say Residence for free time at leisure.

Day 2: Luang Prabang
After breakfast at 10:00 A.M. Meet Francis Engelmann, a writer and independent consultant living in Luang Prabang who work closely with UNESCO. He will give a deep dive presentation in the gardens of one of the oldest mansions, the wooden heritage house of Ban Xieng Mouane. He will first touch base about the architecture of the place and the influences of colonial times. The second part of the presentation will take place in the exhibition room of the Buddhist archives Centre and he will explain more about the origin and significance of the unique collection of more than 35000 photos. You will have lunch at the Past Lao restaurant before continuing to explore this historic and charming heritage town.  You will start with a visit to the most popular of temples – Wat Xieng Thong. This 500-year-old temple is exquisite and is the best example of the classic Luang Prabang style. From here, explore small side streets, along back alleys, and through temples – a city that could have been designed with slow travel in mind. Continue wandering up the peninsula, stopping at temples and other sites as you wish. Visit the National Museum, which is the former Royal Palace. Relics from Laos’ royalist past remain here. Overlooking the palace is Phousi Mountain. It is said that those who do not climb the 328 steps up have not really made it to the city. Venture up the hill and be rewarded with remarkable views of the area. In the evening you will be heading out to the Mekong River Banks with your guide, where you will enjoy the sunset with a nice glass of wine or local rice whiskey. Your special hosts for the night will give you a truly unique insight into Luang Prabang’s culture and history through the art of storytelling. The stories are told in English, with live musical accompaniment, to offer an evening of cultural insight and entertainment. After this special ending of the day, you will head back to The Luang Say Residence for leisure and overnight.

Day 3: Luang Prabang 
Early morning at dawn, you will head out with your guide to witness the sacred ritual of monks on their alms rounds, known locally as Sai Bath. Long lines of barefoot monks go true the streets to receive their morning rice from the local villagers. Afterward, visit the Morning Market and see an array of meats, vegetables, and spices the locals use in their cooking. You will head back to your hotel for breakfast. At 08:30 am, you will be picked up for a therapeutic trek. Upon arrival at the MandaLao Elephant Conservation, you will have a coffee and an introduction to elephant behavior. A quick boat ride across the Nam Khan River will take you to see the elephants. Enjoy observing elephants from the river bank as Mahouts wash them in the Nam Khan river. After 2 hours of crossing through a beautiful stretch of traditional Lao gardens, you will arrive at the jungle-covered Huay Nok stream. As you walk alongside the elephants and crisscross through the cool water you will experience a profound sense of understanding, respect, and caring for these amazing animals. For lunch, you will enjoy a delicious Lao meal made from their own organically grown products. After lunch, you will go for a short ride back to Luang Prabang and continue further down to Kuang Si Waterfall, where you will enjoy the famous falls. On the way back to the town, you will stop to visit the Buffalo Dairy, known for its sustainable approach to local farming. In the evening transfer back to your hotel for leisure and overnight. In the late afternoon, you will be treated to a private Baci ceremony in a small village called Ban Mano. After this, you will continue to a hidden temple that is rarely visited by foreign travellers. Here it is time for a special encounter with the monks who will teach you the fundamentals of meditation. After getting your insight on the techniques of meditation, you will have the opportunity to join the monks in their daily chanting. In the evening head back to The Luang Say Residence for leisure and overnight.

Day 4: Luang Prabang
After breakfast, you will be picked up for a transfer to Luang Prabang International Airport where you can catch your international departure flight.