10-Day Laos Discovery Tour With Pakse

Welcome to Luang Prabang, a sleepy blend of red-roofed Buddhist temples and French-colonial architecture nestled in the lofty green mountains. Upon arrival, a friendly local guide will greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is yours to soak in the mystique of this former mountain kingdom.

This morning, your journey of discovery begins with a serene cruise down the Mekong, idling past scenes of rural riverside life and spectacular mountain scenery until you reach the Pak Ou Caves. Nestled among the limestone cliffs where the Mekong and and Nam OU rivers meet, the caves are split into two: one called Tham Ting; and the other Tham Theung. Both are filled with thousands of Buddha images and statues which have been deposited here over the centuries.

A short distance away from Pak Ou Caves, we visit the village of Ban Xang Hai, which has for centuries made the clay jars which are used to ferment Lao wine. Nowadays, the village also specialises in producing a wide range of ‘Lao Lao’ whisky and ‘Lau Hai’ wine. Be sure to try just a little before we head back down to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.

After your trip to the caves, enjoy private tour of the city, calling in at Wat Xiengthong, Luang Prabang’s stunning Golden City Temple, Wat Aham, with its depictions of Buddha’s life painted on the walls, and the Royal Palace Museum, where you’ll have the chance to learn more about Lao history and culture. In the evening, you’re free to relax, or do a little exploring on your own.  

You’ll start the day by observing the early-morning alms ritual of the saffron-robed monks that call this city home, perhaps even receiving a blessing. After breakfast at your hotel, you will head to explore more of Laos’ natural beauty at the stunning Khouang Si Waterfalls. After lunch in a local restaurant, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a variety of Lao Minority Group villages, learning about their unique traditions and cultures, experiencing a totally different way of life. Spend the evening relaxing in your hotel, or venture out on your own.

After breakfast in your hotel, your guide will drive you to the Elephant Village outside of town. Laos isn’t called the Land of One Million Elephants for no reason; and while there sadly aren’t as many animals as was once the case, they can still be seen here. Upon arrival at the village, you’ll be welcomed by the camp manager before participating in a quick briefing. Next it’s time to tick something off the bucket list! Enjoy an hour-long elephant ride on a Howdah (elephant seat), after which you’ll take a return boat trip to the Sae Waterfall and, if you would like, spend some time swimming in the crystal-clear water at its base. Once you return to the Elephant Village, you’ll sit down to a local lunch and relax before driving back to Luang Prabang.

Spend the evening enjoying an Ethnic Fashion Show, in which twenty Lao models parade down the catwalk in 95 different outfits, many with intricate designs, including traditional wear and ceremonial outfits from the different ethnicities. THe last segment includes a collection by Phaeng Mai Gallery (Laos’ top silk designer). The remainder of the evening is yours to relax in your hotel.

This morning can be spent at your leisure, until your tour guide collects you and takes you to the airport for your flight to Vientiane, a charming backwater capital of smiling locals and steaming noodle stalls. Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport and taken to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is yours to soak in the city’s rich delights.

After breakfast at your hotel, your journey of discovery starts with a fantastic city tour, beginning with the fascinating National Museum, where you’ll have a chance to gain a foundation understanding of Lao history that will help you get the best of the sights you’ll see later on the trip. After the museum, it’s on to Wat Sisaket, the oldest wat (temple) in Vientiane serving as home to a host of gorgeous murals and a beautifully ornate ceiling. The final stop of the morning is Wat Prokeo, housing some of the country’s finest sculptures.

After lunch, you’ll be driven the short journey northeast of the city to Pha That Luang, the most important national monument in Laos. This beautiful golden temple sits at the centre of a high-walled  cloister with tiny windows and is said to enclose a piece of Buddha’s breastbone. After the Lao national icon, you’ll call in on a more recent monument, erected after Laos claimed independence from France, as you make your way back to the city. You’ll round off the day with a trip to Wat Si Muang, famed for its supernatural powers. The rest of the day is yours to relax, perhaps taking a sunset stroll along the Mekong before retiring to your hotel.    

Spend the morning relaxing until your tour guide collects you and takes you to the airport for your flight to Pakse, a city rich in history to the country’s south a mere stone’s throw from the borders with Thailand and Cambodia. After check-in at your hotel, you’re free to wander this entirely walkable city, perhaps checking out the vibrant New Market and its hundreds of vendors.

After breakfast in your hotel, you’ll be driven to explore the enigmatic Wat Phou, a collection of ancient ruins scattered on the slopes of 1,500-metre high Phou Asa Mountain near the Cambodian border. The ruins are some of the the most exquisite of Khmer temples outside of Cambodia, the mountain having been thought of as prime real estate by the Khmer Empire when it was at its mightiest. None of the other Khmer temples can compete with the views from this one, which are utterly incredible. Allow a gentle giant from a nearby elephant camp help you to the top for endless views of the surrounding jungle scenery. Once you’ve descended, there’s time for lunch at a local restaurant before your guide will drive you to 4,000 Islands. The evening is yours to unwind in your hotel.

You’d be right in thinking that Laos is entirely landlocked, but that’s not to say the country has been deprived of islands, with some 4,000 having been carved out in the mighty Mekong. Enjoy a day-long cruise, soaking in the beauty and serenity of this bewitching, little-visited location. You’ll arrive at Don Khon Island, where a small group of Irrawaddy dolphins are known to frequent (if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of these curious freshwater mammals). The island itself is home to some of the most impressive waterfalls in all of Asia; Khone Phapeng and Li Phi Falls. After lunch at a local restaurant, the remainder of the day is yours to do some exploring at your leisure, or simply relax in this river-island paradise.  

After breakfast in your island resort, your guide will take you back to Pakse, where on arrival you will complete a short hike to the Bolaven Plateau, passing by local villages, the ‘Hanging Bridge’, huge boulders and incredible epiphytes. After the tour you will be driven to the airport for your ongoing flight, leaving this beautiful country with many wonderful memories and stories to share with your loved ones back home.

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