Laos
To get our mini brochure for this holiday please click here, and we will email you a PDF copy.
Day One: Arrive in Laos
On arrival at the Luang Prabang airport, you’ll take a private transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to enjoy this beautiful city, with its setting where the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers collide. Speckled with ancient Wats, busy with robe-clad monks and packed with street food stalls, crumbling French villas and chic boutiques and restaurants, Luang Prabang is one of our favourite places to spend a few days.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
We offer a variety of hotel classes to suit different budgets. You can choose the style that’s right for you.
Select from Classic, Premium or Deluxe when booking, and click hotel name below for more details.
Classic - Le Sen Boutique Hotel
Premium - Kiridara Hotel (Deluxe Room)
Deluxe - Satri House (Deluxe Room)
Meals included: None
Day Two: Exploring; temples and caves
Chance to explore Luang Prabang on your own this morning or take an optional local discovery tour with a private guide this morning (for related costs see the Extras tab). Climb the steps that cut through lush forest to the top of Mount Phousi for views across the city; you’ll visit its oldest temple, Vat Visounnarath, as well as the Royal Palace and temples of Vat Xieng Thong and Vat Mai; head to the city centre and the vibrant Hmong market.
In the afternoon, it’s time to head out by speedboat (2 hours) to the famous Buddhist site of the Pak Ou caves. Cruising along the Mekong River, you’ll travel past soaring limestone cliffs and tiny villages until you reach this sacred spot, where thousands of buddha statues face out towards the water. You'll return between 5 and 6pm and have a free evening to grab some dinner - your guide can give recommendations dependent on your preferences.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Classic - Le Sen Boutique Hotel
Premium - Kiridara Hotel (Deluxe Room)
Deluxe - Satri House (Deluxe Room)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Three: Waterfall Walks
Meet your guide for the short drive through lush, village-speckled valley towards the Hmong ethnic community of Ban Long Lao Kao. Spend time taking in the sights of the village, before beginning a hike towards the gracefully flowing, jade-coloured waterfalls of Kuang Si (3hrs 30mins). You’ll pass through vegetable gardens, paddy fields and forest en route, before sitting down to a picnic in an unforgettable setting by the water. Then there’s the chance to swim or just relax, before heading back to Luang Prabang for a free evening. In the evening, you might choose to attend an optional Baci ceremony, a ritual of tying bands around people’s wrists to celebrate important life events such as birthdays, joining the monkhood or weddings. During the ceremony at a local house, the person officiating will recall your souls (the people of Laos believe we each have 32) to attract beneficial influences. You’ll then enjoy dinner and find out more about this special ceremony. For related costs see the Extras tab.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Classic - Le Sen Boutique Hotel
Premium - Kiridara Hotel (Deluxe Room)
Deluxe - Satri House (Deluxe Room)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Four: Luang Prabang
Day is free at your leisure. Chance to discover one of the most beautiful cities in South-East Asia at your own pace.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Classic - Le Sen Boutique Hotel
Premium - Kiridara Hotel (Deluxe Room)
Deluxe - Satri House (Deluxe Room)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Five : Onwards to Pakse
After breakfast, you’ll meet your driver and travel to the airport for your onward flight towards Pakse, gateway to the incredible landscapes of Champasak province in southern Laos. You’ll check in to your hotel here, with the rest of the day free to settle in and explore.
Overnight in Pakse
Classic - Champasak Grand Hotel (Superior Room)
Premium - Champasak Grand Hotel (Superior River View Room)
Deluxe - Champasak Grand Hotel (Suite)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Six : Mekong River Cruise
After meeting at the Sinouk Coffee House in central Pakse at 9:30am, we transfer you to our cruise boat via long tail riverboat, for your 2.5 hour journey to Champassak. Settle in to your cabin and have lunch on deck: this afternoon, you’ll explore the evocative ruins of the 10th-century temple complex of Vat Phou. Return to the boat in time for a stunning sunset, then enjoy dinner before docking in a remote Laotian village to spend the night onboard.
Overnight on the boat (Vat Phou Cruise)
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Day Seven: Mekong River Cruise Continued
This morning you’ll set sail for the village of Huei Thamo, a few minutes away from the mysterious forest of Oum Muong with its hidden temple and namesake stream. Continuing your cruise, you’ll then disembark to walk through Ban Deua Tia, a small traditional Laotian village where life moves slowly. Your journey culminates for the day at the most northern tip of Don Khong, the largest island in Si Phan Don, the 4,000 Islands archipelago. You’ll have a freshly cooked dinner aboard the boat, fuelling up for a day of exploring tomorrow.
Overnight on the boat (Vat Phou Cruise)
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Day Eight : 4000 Islands and Champasak
It’s breakfast on board today as your boat cruises along the Mekong to the little village of Bat Veuthong, where you’ll transfer onto a smaller vessel to explore the serene 4,000 Islands archipelago. Disembark to wander the sleepy islands of Don Khone and Don Det, before heading back to the mainland by boat for an authentic lunch in the fishing village of Xieng Di. After your visit to Pha Pheng waterfall you will be transferred back to Pakse by bus, for an onward car journey to the River Resort in Champasak. The River Resort is an enchanting hotel , a collection of spacious villas by the lush banks of the Mekong, bordering paddy fields and with a stunning infinity pool and open-sided restaurant.
Overnight in Champasak
Classic - The River Resort (Deluxe Pond/Garden Villa)
Premium - The River Resort (Deluxe Riverfront Villa)
Deluxe - The River Resort (Deluxe Riverfront Villa)
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch
Day Nine : Pakse - Vientiane
Last chance to enjoy the scenary of Southern Laos country side before heading to Pakse airport for your flight to Vientiane, the capital city. You’ll have the option to explore the countryside on a two-hour bike trip (for related costs see the Extras cost). Cross paddies and zig zag mountains, passing grazing water buffalo, busy farmers and peaceful villages as you experience life in the slow lane Laos-style.
On arrival in Vientiane, you'll be met and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight in Vientiane
Classic - Mandala Boutique Hotel (Superior Room)
Premium - Ansara Hotel (Savvy Room)
Deluxe - Settha Palace Hotel (Deluxe Room)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Ten : Explore Vientiane
Today you'll have chance to explore the capital city of Laos which has been marked by French colonization yet retains strong Asian identity.
The artist Marie-Do will welcome you in her traditional stilt house, to enjoy a unique and creative moment. Take your inspiration from the beautiful surrounding landscape and paint lotus leaves with the colours of your choice. You will complete this experience with a selection of French tapas in the company of Marie-Do and her husband Mair, both well-travelled artists, to get another interesting point of view of daily life nowadays in Laos.
Overnight in Vientiane
Classic - Mandala Boutique Hotel (Superior Room)
Premium - Ansara Hotel (Savvy Room)
Deluxe - Settha Palace Hotel (Deluxe Room)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Eleven : Last day in Laos
Last morning in Vientiane before transferring to the airport for your departure flight.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overall meals included:
10 Breakfasts; 4 lunches; 3 dinners
Whats included:
- Private English-speaking guides unless stated otherwise
- Private transfers unless stated otherwise
- Meals as listed
- Mandatory taxes and service fees
- Entrance tickets and permits unless stated otherwise
- All internal transport and accommodation
What's not included:
- International flights to/from experience:
call 0208 432 0885 for AX specially negotiated flight rates
- Optional extras listed
- Tips for guides, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff
- Any visa, customs, airport taxes or similar charges before or after the tour
- We cannot guarantee the included hotel breakfast for early departures
- Drinks during meals unless stated otherwise
- Personal expenses, such as laundry
SUITABILITY FOR FAMILIES : Suitable for families with kids over the age of 4 years.
If you intend to travel solo, contact us on 0208 432 0885
GETTING THERE
Typical return Economy flights from London cost around £700 per person.
Experience start point: Luang Prabang (LPQ). Arrive anytime (hotel check in 2pm)
End point: Vientiane (VTE). Depart anytime (hotel check out 11am).
Ready to book