An Introduction to Laos

Upon arrival in Vientiane you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

In the evenings, there is a night market lining the river bank, with some excellent local food stalls found nearby on Chao Anou Road. Elsewhere in the city you will discover a wide array of dining and entertainment opportunities, with something to suit every taste and budget.

Overnight in Vientiane.

Your morning is dedicated to seeing the capital. First up is a visit to Wat Sisaket, the only temple to be left intact after the Siamese invasion in 1828. It’s arguably the most beautiful temple in Vientiane and houses thousands of miniature Buddha statues within its walls.

Next stop is Wat Phra Keo, built in 1565 to enshrine the Emerald Buddha statue, which was subsequently stolen by the Siamese and now sits in the Grand Palace in Bangkok, before moving on to the Patuxai monument - also called Anousavari. Here, you can climb up on the roof for fantastic panoramic views. Continue on to the golden stupa of That Luang, the holiest place in Laos.

Complete your morning with a visit to the excellent COPE exhibition centre, highlighting the Lao people's continued day-to-day struggle with the unexploded ordnance as a result of heavy bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War era.

Having returned to the hotel, your afternoon is at leisure.

South-East Asian cities are astonishing enough by day, but at night - as the air cools and day-jobs draw to a close - they are positively vibrant, especially around the street-food markets, which flower along the pavements as the sun sets. A trip to Laos wouldn’t be complete without savouring some of the country’s fantastic street-food. Accompanied by your guide, take a tuk tuk to the night market near That Luang. The market doesn’t see many tourists, but is a consistent favourite amongst the locals. As the stalls come alive with delicious aromas, your guide will help you pick out a selection of dishes to sample but save some room for the main event: a Lao-style BBQ, known as a Sin Dat. Take your cue from the locals around you, but essentially you BBQ at your table on a small charcoal burning stove that is covered with a metal domed griddle, selecting your menu from a wide array of meat and seafood.

After dinner relax in the tuk tuk for a leisurely ride back to your hotel.

Morning transfer to Vientiane Airport for your flight to Pakse. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide for the drive south to Champasak, a delightful Colonial riverside town.

At Champasak, make the short boat crossing over the Mekong River to Done Daeng, one of the most picturesque islands in this laid-back region. Whilst technically too far north to be considered part of Si Phan Don, a.k.a the 4000 Islands, this doesn't deter from the archipelago experience.

Upon arrival the remainder of your day is at leisure to explore, or just simply relax into the Si Phan Don pace of life!

After an early breakfast, cross over to the mainland and drive south to Ban Hatsaikhone where you take a local boat to the peaceful islands of Done Det and Done Khone, sites of the only railway ever built in Laos (end of the 19th century). Explore the island by bicycle, admiring some of the old French Colonial buildings and the beautiful Liphi Waterfall. After a stroll through the palm-fringed villages, continue to the southernmost part of Laos and the impressive Khone Phapheng waterfalls, one of the largest and most powerful waterfalls in Southeast Asia, just a few miles from the Cambodian border.

In the afternoon, return to Done Daeng via a good location to spot the region’s rare Irrawaddy dolphins.

The remainder of your day is at leisure to relax or explore the island further.

Make an early morning visit to the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phou that are located on the opposite side of the river and are one of South-East Asia's most dramatically situated temple sites offering superb views across the Mekong River.

Designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2001, the site dates back to the 5th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Whilst much of the origins of Wat Phou are unclear, it is believed that the original temple was built by the Khmer Hindus who eventually made Angkor Wat their capital.

This impressive temple offers a stunning sunrise view, and at this time in the morning it will be deserted. Continue on to Champasak for breakfast.

After breakfast, explore Champasak on foot. As you walk, your guide will explain about the rich history of this World Heritage Listed town, pointing out traditional and Colonial-style buildings of interest. Stops will be made at a potter’s workshop and at the Sisumang Buddha - a huge sitting image of the Buddha located on the remains of a Pre-Angkorian temple. At the temple of Vat Pa Non, follow the riverside path, passing ancient temples and a French-colonial era Catholic Church. You’ll meet local villagers and observe their traditional methods of making rice baskets and fish traps. Your driver will be waiting at the temple of Vat Kuang Kang to transfer you the short distance to the pier from where you board a boat back to Done Daeng, arriving around midday.

Your afternoon is at leisure.

Your day is at leisure until your transfer to Pakse for your flight to Luang Prabang.

Upon arrival you will be met by your guide for the transfer to your hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Luang Prabang, the ‘Jewel of Indochina’, is a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site and regularly voted as one of Asia's premier travel destinations. The ancient royal city is surrounded by mountains and is situated at a junction of the Mekong and Khan Rivers.

In the centre of the city is Mount Phousi, rewarding climbers of its 328 steps with stunning views of the surrounding temples and hills. A city where time has seemingly stood still, Luang Prabang is also an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional Lao architecture with structures built by the Colonial authorities in more recent times. Its unique, remarkably well-preserved townscape illustrates a key stage in the blending of these two distinct cultural traditions.

In the evening there are plenty of great restaurants to choose from - we also recommend the local river side stalls for some truly authentic Lao flavours, washed down with the excellent Beer Lao!

An option for early-risers is to rise before dawn to witness tak bat, or the giving of alms, to the lines of orange-robed monks leaving their pagodas to receive offerings of food from the residents of Luang Prabang. It’s an iconic sight and for many one of the highlights of their stay in Luang Prabang, and can be arranged on any early morning during your stay.

However, we are concerned that the volume of tourists all vying for space to witness, photograph and at times actually participate in this ceremony is detracting from what is a centuries old, important religious rite. We appreciate that observing tak bat is high on the list of most visitors to Laos, and would suggest speaking with your guide about how best to enjoy this experience in a respectful and culturally sensitive manner, which can involve watching from a less congested spot.

Your city circuit begins after breakfast at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, which gives a good overview of the local history. The next section of the tour takes in some of the city’s temples, beginning with Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-reliefs, before continuing on to Wat Xieng Thong, perhaps the most photographed temple in Luang Prabang, and the unique Wat Visoun, known as ‘The Water Melon Stupa’ due to its shape. Your last visit of the morning is the excellent Arts and Ethnology Centre which will give you further insight into the ethnic mix and culture of Laos.

In the afternoon visit the weaving and textile villages of Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek before returning to town to finish the day by climbing Mount Phousi, to enjoy the stunning views across Luang Prabang and the Mekong River as the sun sets.

In the early evening you have the opportunity to attend a Baci ceremony in the home of a local family. Its purpose is to call escaped spirits back to the body, a tradition that is very important for Lao people before major events such as weddings, births, travel or when welcoming guests. The ceremony itself is led by an older member of the family and involves gently tying cotton cords around your wrists, symbolizing friendship, good health and good luck on your journey ahead.

Your day is at leisure.

Morning drive to the village of Ban Khone Kham, around 1.5 hours from Luang Prabang, with a brief stop at the Nam Ou Bridge. After a chance to explore the village, board a private boat for a cruise down the picturesque Nam Ou River. During the morning you will pass amongst the stunning limestone karst scenery, making a stop at the village of Ban Had Kham, where they produce Lao Khao (the local rice whisky), before enjoying a riverside picnic lunch.

Back on board, continue cruising downstream to where the Nam Ou and Mekong Rivers converge and visit the incredible Pak Ou Caves. The caves house literally thousands of Buddha statues, hidden from the looting Chinese Haw in times gone by. The statues range from a few centimetres to the size of a human. During the afternoon additional stops will be made at the Khmu minority village of Ban Huay Kor, and a small island which is home to the monk and novices of Wat Donekhoun - an ancient temple that was a favourite stop of the King when he travelled to Pak Ou Caves, but is now rarely visited.

Continue on to Luang Prabang, arriving in the late afternoon.

Your day is at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your onward flight.