Comprehensive Laos

Upon arrival in Vientiane you will be met by your guide who will transfer you to your hotel where the remainder of your day is at leisure.

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 until 6pm.

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 departure for Vang Vieng, driving the picturesque route via Ban Keun, which is famous for its salt mine. Taking the opportunity to stop, you will learn about the daily working life of the local people. Continue on to Nam Ngum, a popular lakeside spot for people from Vientiane to visit, especially at the weekends.

Having taken a break for lunch if you wish, continue north to Vang Vieng, stopping at Tha Heua, a small village that specializes in dried fish, which you will see hanging in front of the houses. Arrive into Vang Vieng by mid-afternoon.

If time allows, visit the picturesque Tham Jang Cave, once used by the local people as a hideout from Chinese invaders and offering stunning views of over the Nam Song River and surrounding karst scenery. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Vang Vieng has grown considerably in recent years due to its location mid-way between Luang Prabang and Vientiane. In addition to the river based activities close to the town, there is some excellent caving and trekking opportunities in the surrounding limestone hills.

After breakfast, enjoy a cycle ride through the Vang Vieng countryside, along quiet tracks, taking in the stunning limestone karst scenery. A stop can be made at a Tai Dam weaving village. After cycling for an hour arrive at the ‘blue lagoon’: the perfect spot to cool off with a refreshing dip in the crystal clear waters. There is also the option of climbing up to Tham Phoukham Cave (‘Cave of the Golden Crab), which boasts a vast cavern and impressive stalagmites, some of which look like crabs (hence the name).

Swapping two wheels for four, drive back towards Vang Vieng and on to an organic farm where you’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch overlooking the Nam Song River.

Following lunch, board the awaiting kayaks and paddle back to Vang Vieng, along the Nam Song River. The river has only a gentle current and no rapids, so you are free to take in the beautiful scenery along the way.

Arrive back at your hotel in the late afternoon where the remainder of your day is at leisure.

After an early breakfast, travel north for Sayaboury, stopping at several points of interest en route. On arrival, board a small boat to cross Nam Tien Lake, to reach the Elephant Conservation Centre.

The centre is considered to be the first elephant hospital dedicated to victims of logging accidents as well as those affected by diseases. Staffed by an international team of elephant veterinarians, the hospital offers veterinary care services, an emergency unit and operating room as well as a laboratory.

Also on site is an elephant nursery; the HQ of an innovative reproduction project led by Lao mahouts in partnership with the centre. It relies on voluntary participation and aims to support mahouts working in logging by assisting with the cost of breeding elephants.

After lunch, take a guided tour of the centre’s facilities and learn about the excellent work being carried out by the team. You’ll then have the opportunity to meet the stars of the show, having your first interaction with the elephants whilst their mahouts show you how they mount and dismount these mighty creatures, and the commands they use. It’s fascinating to observe the unique bond between the mahout and his elephant. In the late afternoon, accompanied by the mahouts, walk the elephants into the forest to their night resting place.

Before dinner there is time to relax and soak up the scenic surroundings, take a swim in the lake, or enjoy a refreshing drink.

After breakfast, join the elephants for their daily exercise, a stroll through the tropical forest, to the Socialization Area. Elephants are extremely social animals and this area has been created for the elephants to freely interact and establish bonds as they would in their natural environment. It’s a unique opportunity to observe elephants behaving as elephants, without receiving any instructions from their mahouts.

After lunch, visit the elephant nursery: a peaceful spot for mothers and their new offspring; it has permanent access to water and plenty of natural fodder to graze on. The camp’s specialist team spends many years with each calf, helping them learn the vital skills of how to sustain themselves.

In the afternoon, having said goodbye to the elephants, transfer by car to Luang Prabang, arriving in the early evening. Check in to your hotel and 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!

Your day is at leisure.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast drive out of Luang Prabang to the Living Lands Organic Farm, a community enterprise, where you will meet the local farming guide for an informative, but fun morning.

Rice is an important part of life in Laos: it’s eaten at every meal and there are over 500 types of rice grown in the country. During your time at the farm, you’ll learn about each step of the rice harvest and cultivation process, and try your hand at the traditional techniques (and basic tools) that have been used for centuries.

The morning concludes with a rice tasting session, by which time you will have a much greater appreciation of the work and effort that goes into a simple bowl of rice!

Return to Luang Prabang where the remainder of your day is at leisure.

Morning departure by car for Nong Khiaw, taking the scenic route that passes amongst rolling hills enjoying intermittent views of the Nam Ou River. Stop at the mysterious Pak Ou caves which 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. Travelling through some dramatic landscape take time to stop and visit the villages of the H’mong and Khmu hill minority tribes before arriving at Nong Khiaw in the early afternoon.

Nong Khiaw is a remote village situated on the banks of the Nam Ou River and flanked on either side by stunning mountainous backdrops. The remainder of your day is at leisure so why not take a stroll along the river bank, wander through local villages, or just settle back with a Beer Lao and wait for the spectacular sunset.

After breakfast you will be collected from Nong Khiaw’s jetty for a cruise upstream on the Nam Ou River. This particular stretch of river promises stunning scenery and a sprinkling of remote villages, including Ban Sop Khing and Ban Sob Jaem, minority tribe villages that can only be accessed by boat. Stop to visit both villages as well as the fishing village of Muang Ngoi where you will enjoy lunch.

After a wander around Muang Ngoi, return by river to Nong Khiaw, arriving by mid-afternoon. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

After breakfast, head back by road to Luang Prabang, arriving into town by lunch time. Check in to your hotel and the remainder of your day is at leisure.

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