Pure 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
After breakfast, you will be exploring Luang Prabang on foot. 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 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 Satri House 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. You will head back to your hotel for breakfast. 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 – Muang La
After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel for a 4-hour drive to Muang Xai (Oudomxai) through a beautiful mountainous area where a number of Khmu and Hmong villages are located. The communities are at high altitudes, you can go off for a walk through one of the settlements. Life here is still very traditional, which is immediately evident in the clothing. You arrive late morning in Muang Xai (Oudomxai) from which it still is a short transfer to the village of Muang La. Upon arrival, you will check into your accommodation and you can head out to explore Muang La. We recommend a visit to Wat Pha Chiao Kham Sing, a very famous temple with a sacred Buddha statue. Highly recommended for the evening is the famous "hot tub" of the Muang La Resort. The bath is filled with water from the nearby hot springs, is refreshed every day. A well-deserved relaxation after a few heady days. Dinner and overnight at Muang La Lodge.

Day 5: Muang La
After breakfast, you will head off to meet the ethnic groups of northern Laos. You set off to visit villages of the Ikhos, Hmong & Khamu people; three of the many ethnic groups in Laos. Your route climbs to 1,000m above sea level and offers some magnificent views of the stunning mountain scenery. Your first visit is a completely isolated Ikhos village; this ethnic group originates from Tibet and Yunnan Province in China. You learn about the daily life of the village and how the villagers still follow customs passed down through the centuries. You will be going with your picnic lunch and enjoy the amazing surroundings. After lunch, an optional short walk (20 minutes) takes you to an abandoned Hmong village with a stunning 360° panorama. You continue on to visit a Hmong village - this ethnic group originates from the high steppes of Tibet and you will learn about their way of life; the importance of their livestock and the care that they give to their animals. In the evening you will return to Muang La Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Muang La – Muang Khua – Nong Khiew – Luang Prabang
After breakfast, you will be leaving Muang La, and drive towards Muang Khua, which will take 2,5 hours, upon arrival you will embark on a superb river cruise. The descent of the Nam Ou from Muang Khua to Nong Khiaw is, without doubt, one of the most picturesque cruises in the region! From the comfort of your private boat, you see numerous villages dotted along the banks of the river and some stunning limestone formations as the sheer cliffs rise from the water’s edge. You will enjoy a picnic lunch on one of the sandy beaches along the river. Upon arrival in Nong Khiaw, you will be transferred directly to Luang Prabang (about 3,5hrs). On arrival, settle into Satri House for leisure and overnight.

Day 7: Luang Prabang – Vang Vieng
You will enjoy an early breakfast and at 8:30 A.M., you will meet your guide and the driver at your hotel for transfer (about 6-7 hours) to Vang Vieng. On the way, you will stop to visit the Hmong village at Ban Phou Khoun village. Late afternoon arrival Vang Vieng, check-in at Riverside Boutique Resort, and the rest of the time free at your leisure.

Day 8: Vang Vieng
After breakfast, you will be picked up at 09:00 am for a tour around Vang Vieng. Your day will start with a leisurely kayaking trip on the Nam Song River, for about 2 hours. You will reach a local Khamu village where you are invited by a welcoming family to have a typical Khamu lunch in the family's garden. Here you will also learn the traditions and culture of animism that is practiced by many ethnic minorities in Laos. You will also learn how the local rice wine, "Lao Hai" is produced and you will get a chance to make your own personalized knife, using techniques that have been used for generations. Definitely, a unique souvenir to take back home! Later in the afternoon, your guide will lead you through rice paddies to a cave on the other side of the river, passing by farmers working on the fields. On the way back to the village, you will be taking a rest in one of the local rice huts and try some of the rice wine, while learning more about the importance of agriculture in Laos. Once the sun slowly sets, we continue back to the village and you will be transferred back to Riverside Boutique Resort for leisure and overnight.

Day 9: Vang Vieng – Vientiane  
After an early breakfast, you will be transferred at 08:30 am to Vientiane which will take roughly 1,5 hours. After your arrival, you will visit the important sites of Vientiane‘s past and present. Visit Wat Sisaket, which is the only structure to survive the Siamese invasion of 1828 intact. Across the street, sits Wat Ho Pha Kheo, reconstructed in the 1930s on the site of the original building. It housed the Emerald Buddha which now lives in Bangkok. Amongst the more modern structures is Patouxai, the Lao Victory Monument. Also, visit Wat That Luang - the most sacred structure in all of Laos. In the evening you will check in to Ansara Boutique Hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 10: Vientiane 
After breakfast, you will be heading out for an exciting tour to discover the street food culture of Vientiane. You will start the food tour by visiting a local fresh market, where you will taste some traditional Lao coffee, laughing cookies, and buffalo eye cookies (creative translation). You will continue walking through the market where you will be amazed by all the different colors and smells from all the various herbs and ingredients. Your guide will explain where all the typical food products are used and how the local people use them in their dishes. After visiting the market you make your way to a nice quiet restaurant to see how a traditional Kao Piak soup and papaya salad are made. Be surprised by the wonderful and tasty Lao flavors! Finishing your foodie experience, you will drive alongside the Mekong River and have a cold beer Lao with some impressive views. In the evening transfer back to Ansara Boutique Hotel for leisure and overnight.  

Day 11: Vientiane – Pakse – Bolaven Plateau
Today you will be picked up at 05:00 am as you are heading out to catch a flight to Pakse. Upon arrival at Pakse Airport, you will meet your guide and take a drive around the Bolaven Plateau for a full-day tour. Travel through the Lao countryside to Paksong province, where you can find the famous coffee fields and visit the local market if it’s on. Continue on to Tad Fane for a glimpse at the huge breathtaking twin waterfalls that plunge 200 meters down a gorge. Further stop at Tad yang and the Paksong local market, before you have lunch at Sinouk Coffee Resort. After lunch, you visit Ban Kok Phuomh. Here you observe the many different ethnicities which define the area, such as the Katou, who are part of the indigenous Mon-Khmer people but also Khmu, Alat, Ngae, Kalung, Lavane, and Katung live here. On your way back stop at Tad Lo Falls, before you continue to Pha Suam to visit the National Ethnic Museum. After so many impressions you will return to Sabaidee Valley Resort at Bolavwen Plateau for leisure and overnight.

Day 12: Bolaven Plateau – 4000 Islands
After breakfast at 08:30 am, meet your guide and continue to visit Wat Phou temple.  The partly grew Khmer temple complex dating from the sixth to the eighth century and is older than Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Archaeologists suspect that the Wat Phou was at that time the power and religious center of a large Khmer Empire. From the central temple on a hill, you can look out over the Mekong River and the frangipani trees that grow gracefully along with the steps of the compel. After that, transfer to visit the Khone Pa Pheng waterfalls, the biggest waterfalls of Asia. Then, continue to Ban Nakasang, a small fishing village, and take the traditional long trail boat to Done Khone. On arrival at Done Khone in the late afternoon, check-in at Sala Done Khone and spend the rest of the day free at leisure.

Day 13: 4000 Islands
After breakfast, you will be heading out to explore more of Don Khone by bicycle. Don Khone Island played a pivotal role in the French colonization of South East Asia. During this half-day exploration with your guide, you will bike through rice paddies, small villages, and organic gardens, to visit the old narrow-gauge railway that was built by the French colonists enabling them to bypass the waterfalls, the Liphi waterfalls themselves, and walk around an old railway engine car. You’ll also cruise across the river to Cambodia to have an Angkor Beer and spot the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, which are some of the only freshwater dolphins on earth. This afternoon you will join one of the local fishermen to experience the 4000 Islands from the local perspective. Board one of the wooden boats and head out to the fishing grounds, equipped with some fishing nets which you can try throwing gently out into the water and try your luck to catch some fish for dinner. Enjoy a cold drink while floating on the river, surrounded by small islands and birds that are about to settle for the night. At dusk continue to a secret spot where you will be welcomed by a crackling bonfire while enjoying the sunset and listening to fairytales and other local myths from your guide. Later in the evening, a private BBQ with local specialties will be prepared for you, just how it is done in many villages around Laos. Whenever you are ready, you will be brought back to Sala Done Khone by boat.

Day 14: 4000 Islands – Pakse
After breakfast, check out and you will be heading to the main road by traditional long trail boat, meet your driver and drive back to Pakse Airport for your departure flight.