Classic Laos

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

Day 2: 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. You will head back to your hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, you will go for a city tour by bike through this historic and charming town. Transfer to begin your journey at 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 head back to Satri House for leisure and overnight.

Day 3: Luang Prabang
After breakfast, you will head out to the village of Ban Long Lao where you will meet the ethnic minority of the Khamu, and the ethnic Hmong. Continue on foot along the trail, which leads you through rice paddies, vegetable farms, and orchards, before you reach the mountain forest. Along the way, you explore a cave that was used as a bomb shelter by the locals during the second Indochina war. After this intermediate hike of around 3,5 -4 hours, you will arrive at the top of the famous Kuang Si Waterfalls, where locals will collect some plants and vegetables and prepare a lunch at a beautiful spot near a small stream. After lunch, continue further down 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 Satri House for leisure and overnight.

Day 4: Luang Prabang
After breakfast, your guide will take you to the local market, where you will meet your chef and teacher for today, Mrs. Noy. After learning about local produce you will soon be boarding a boat to cross the Mekong River where you will be greeted by friendly villagers and the family of Noy. Don’t expect a star awarded kitchen but a simple private cooking lesson in the family’s home with local specialties. After you have enjoyed your lunch in the local village, you will continue by boat downstream to visit some more villages where the famous river weed snacks, rice crackers, and other delicates are produced. Afternoon while floating gently down the water, enjoy a Lao rice whiskey tasting while slowly approaching Luang Prabang. In the early evening, you will be treated to a private Baci ceremony in a small village called Ban Mano. In the evening head back to Satri House for leisure and overnight.

Day 5: Luang Prabang - Don Deng Island
After breakfast, meet your driver and transfer to the airport for your flight to Pakse. Upon arrival in Pakse, you’ll meet your guide, and get transferred to Bolaven Plateau, a high area known for its waterfalls, ethnic minorities, and also the home to Lao coffee and tea production. Continue to visit the majestic cascades of the Tad Yuang Waterfall for a dip if you like. Afterward, visit the Katou people, the indigenous Mon-Khmer population. Continue your drive to Champasak and arrive in the early evening. The rest of the day is spent at leisure at La Folie Lodge.

Day 6: Don Deng – Don Kone – Don Deng
After breakfast, you will meet your guide and private transfer by road to Nakasgn’s boat pier, where a private local boat (long trail boat) will be waiting for you, continue by private boat to the peaceful islands of Don Det and Don Khone on Mekong River. Arrive at Done Khone, and visit Lippi waterfalls and Done Det. Impressive is the perfect word to describe these stunning falls wedge between Cambodia, rocks, and Don Khone. Tad Somphamit or locally Lippi waterfalls are sacred for locals because it means “trap spirit” and that the falls act like that for bad spirits. In the afternoon continue to visit the huge waterfall of Khone Phapheng. In the late afternoon, you will return to Champasak for leisure and overnight at La Folie Lodge.

Day 7: Don Deng – Pakse
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and cross the Mekong River to travel with your guide to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wat Phou. This ancient Khmer temple actually predates Angkor Wat! Around noon you will be transferred to Pakse airport for your departure flight.