Laos Signature

Explore Vientiane by vehicle, visit a few main temples such as Vat Ho Prakeo which used to be the house of the Emerald Buddha, across the street is Wat Sisaket where more than ten thousand Buddha images are housed. Continue to Patuxai (similar to the Arc de Triumph of France). Here you are free to climb up to the top to get a great view of the city. Our last visit will be the Golden Stupa, which is well known as That Luang Stupa, and it is believed to contain a relic of lord Buddha.

A Baci is a ceremony to make good luck for a person or event. It is held when people are promoted in their work, move into a new house, or start a new job. Unique to Lao culture, a Baci involves transferring good luck through blessed strings that are tied to one's wrist. The strings must stay attached for at least three days for the good luck to remain. Baci starts at around 4pm and is organized in a Lao teakwood house, then afterwards you will enjoy a Lao Buffet dinner.

Lao cuisine relies heavily on the freshest produce and incorporates a range of intriguing flavours, many unfamiliar to the western palate. You will begin with an early morning tour of Luang Prabang's major food market where you will have the opportunity to investigate these ingredients and explain their uses. You will then later learn how to pound your ingredients in a mortar & pestle, and cook over and open fire. Recipes are provided for you to take back home!

You will be picked up by a private vehicle with your English speaking guide and transferred from Vientiane to Vang Vieng. Along the way you will stop at H’mong village market and Vang Xang to see Buddhist rock carvings.

Visit an organic farm in Phoudindaeng village just outside of Vang Vieng. This farm has introduced organic farming methods in an area where chemicals and deforestation were ruining the land.  It is a community development project that provides employment, information, training to preserve traditional Lao farming practices through several projects. Afterwards, your guide will take you back to town for a boat ride on Nam Song River.

Along the way admire the beautiful scenery and your guide will stop at points where you will have the chance to visit the local villages.

In the evening, you will be taken to visit a local market. Observe what the local sellers sell and how they sell their produce.

Continue on with your guide from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang which is about 250 km.

Explore Luang Prabang by bicycle. Visit former royal temples, Wat Visun where you can see the Biggest Buddha statue, Wat Xieng Thong the most beautiful temple in Luang Prabang with its mosaic decoration and the former royal carriage. Visit the Museum (former king's palace), then climb up Mt Phousi overlooking the city of Luang Prabang. Time permitting, take a ride around the outskirts of town.

Take a traditional wooden boat upstream to visit the famous caves of Pak Ou. The caves are perched on the sheer face of the cliff, offering impressive and stunning views of the Mekong and surrounding mountains. Inside the cave, there are more than one hundred Buddha images which have been attracting local people since the early 14th century when the cave was discovered. On the way, a short stop at Ban Xanghai, enjoy the taste of the local rice wine. Distilling rice wine and weaving are important economic activities for the majority of people in the village.

Laos was once referred to as ‘The Land of a Million Elephants” and you have the chance to get up and close with these gentle giants. You will be picked up from your hotel and proceed to the Nam Khan valley about 15 km out of town. The rugged mountains in front of you and the green countryside are the setting for the Elephant Village. Here you will find time to relax and learn about the Asian elephants. You will be introduced to the protected Asian elephants in the project area and go out for an amazing scenic ride. Enjoy the new perspective and the wonderful nature on this 1 hr. ride through the Nam Khan River and forest. Afterwards, a boat will take you to the amazing cascades and pools of the Tad Sae waterfalls. (Please note the waterfall dries out between February & August.) Lunch will be served at the Elephant Village while enjoying the views over the river and into the surrounding landscapes and mountains.  After a short instruction, you will experience the life along the Nam Khan River. It will be 4 hrs. kayaking back into town with a few rapids (depending on season). Even for inexperienced paddlers, this is an option to get into it. Village stops along the way are included as well as a pickup service at the arrival point in Luang Prabang.

Airport transfer with private guide, driver and vehicle.