Splendeurs Nord Sud Laos

Luang Prabang arrival / visit and discovery of the Heritage City (-)

Arrival at Luang Prabang airport,
Welcome by our guide and driver, transfer to the hotel in the city center.

Luang Prabang was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1995, and has become a world-renowned tourist destination for its 32 temples built during the French colonial era.

After a short rest, we begin the city tour: Wat Visoun (Melon Stupa), Wat Sene, Wat Aham.

At the end of the day, ascend Mount Phousi to admire the beauty of the city and the Mekong valley at sunset.

Meals at leisure and overnight in Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves / visits and excursions (B,L)

Option: Wake up early in the morning to see the long lines of monks emerging from their pagodas to receive food offerings from the faithful. A unique spectacle in the country.

Breakfast at the hotel.

A short visit to Wat Xieng Thong, the prettiest temple in the city, then departure for a boat trip on the Mekong to the sacred Pak Ou cave, housing hundreds of gilded wooden Buddha statues.

On the way back, we visit the Lu a Baan Phnom weaving village, located on the banks of the Nam Khane river. Baan Phnom is renowned for the manufacture of silk skirts (Sin) and the tomb of the French explorer Henry Mouhot, the first French explorer. Return to the hotel at the end of the day.

Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang – Kouangsi Falls / visits and discovery (B)

After breakfast,
Visit to the former royal palace, transformed into a national museum where valuable objects and souvenirs dating from the old regime are exhibited.

Visit to Dala central market, and Phousi vegetable market.

The tour continues to visit the famous Kouangsi Falls (35km).

On the way back, visit to the ethnic minority villages: Ban Na Ouane (Hmongs), Ban Ou (Lao Loum) and Ban Thapene (Khmu) and we also have the opportunity to visit the weaving village of Ban Phnom, famous for its beautiful silk weaves and the tomb of Henri Muhot, the first French explorer.

We will end the day by admiring the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath Tai.

Meals at leisure and overnight in Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang – Xieng Khouang / visits and discovery (B,L)

After breakfast,
by car on National Road No 13, crossing mountain slopes, valleys and rivers to Xieng Khuang, one of the provinces heavily destroyed by American bombs during the Indochina War.

Throughout the journey, we have the opportunity to observe the beautiful landscape of Laos: ethnic minority villages, rocky mountains mixed with limestone cliffs of all shapes.

Stops at the large Hmong village in Kiow Kacham, then at the Sala Phou Khoune crossroads (former French military post).

We turn left and continue on Road No 7 through the mountainous regions towards Phonsavan.

A short stop to take photos and visit a sanctuary housing a Buddha statue (Tham Pha) dating back more than 200 years.

Arrival in Phonsavan, capital of Xieng Khouang province in the afternoon, transfer to the hotel and free time.

Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Phonsavan.

Xieng Khouang / market visits – Vang Vieng / visits (B,L)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit to Ponsavan market and the important archaeological sites of the Plain of Jars, aptly named, some can weigh 2 to 3 tons, the most plausible hypothesis being that they are funerary urns.

We leave these jars and continue on the road to the Sala Khou Khoune crossroads.

We turn left once more and take National Road No 13 south towards Vang Vieng, we pass the town of Kasi and the famous village of Ban Pha Tang.

Arrival in Vang Vieng in the afternoon, check-in at a hotel located on the banks of the Nam Song river.

Then visit the city where you can also admire the beautiful landscape of the Nam Song river.
Dinner at leisure and overnight in Vang Vieng.

Vang Vieng / excursions and visits - Vientiane (B)

After breakfast,
on the way to visit the Tham Chang cave, a refuge for local people during the Indochina War and the time of Ho pirates 200 years ago.

Continuation of the journey to Vientiane passing through Ban Namone, the fishing village of Ban Houei Mo, located at the extreme northwest of the Nam Ngum reservoir, the town of Phone Hong, capital of Vientiane province. 

Then we pass the Hmong village at km 62 and a small Mon-Khmer sanctuary at Vang Xang.

Arrival in Vientiane in the afternoon, transfer to the hotel, then free time.

Meals at leisure and overnight in Vientiane.

Vientiane / visits to Buddha Park, city walks (B/L)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit Vientiane - the capital of Laos, starting with the grand reliquary of That Luang, a symbol of the country and the Lao people.

Then we drive along Lane Xang Avenue, passing Patuxay, which is located at the northern end of the avenue. It has a silhouette similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the central market (Talat sao), and we arrive at the southern end of the avenue to visit Wat Sisaket and Wat Hophakeo, located to the left of the presidential palace.

In the afternoon, we head to visit the Buddha Garden, a collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures arranged along the Mekong River and the Friendship Bridge at km25, south of the city.

Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Vientiane.

Vientiane – Paksan – Hine Boune / visits and encounters (B/L)

After breakfast,
we head to Ban Na Kham, the crossroads of national roads No 13 South and No 8 towards Kham Keut (KM20).

We pass many Lao Loum villages living along the Mekong River.

A few stops to visit Wat Phabath, the city of Paksan, Pakkading, and Ban Na Hine (former camp of the Nam Theun 1 hydroelectric center).

Arrival at Ban Na Phouak, a small Lao Loum village, located on the banks of the Nam Hine Boune River.

By local boat on the river to Ban Phon Nheng (Hine Boune), arrival and check-in at a local hotel (Sala Hine Boune).

Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Ban Phone Nheng.

Hine Boune – Kong Lor Caves / visits and discoveries (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

The day is dedicated to a local boat excursion on the Nam Hine Boune River and exploration of the famous Kong Lor cave (a 7.5km long underground limestone cave, shaped by the floods of the Nam Hine Boune over many years).

Inside, we have the opportunity to see sparkling stalactites and stalagmites, and deafening waterfalls. Just in front of the cave, the water is so clear that you can see schools of freshwater fish. Here you can feel the freshness of the mountain water as well as the pure air of the tropical forest.

Return to Ban Phon Nheng (Hine Boune).

Meals at leisure and overnight in Ban Phone Nheng.

Hine Boune / walks – Savannakhet / visits – Pakse / rest (B)

After breakfast,
by boat back to Ban Na Phouak, where the car awaits us, then we continue to the city of Pakse, capital of Champassak province.

We pass the city of Thakhek, the city of Seban Fai, the village of Se Ban Hieng, the village of Ban Napong, famous for its grilled chicken (Ping Kai), the city of Savannakhet and Khongsedone, where you can taste good quality local wine.

Arrival in Pakse at the end of the day. Check-in at a hotel.

Meals at leisure and overnight in Pakse.

Pakse – Bolovens Plateau / discovery – Tad Lo / visits (B)

Breakfast,
and then we head to Tad Lo (120 km), located in the far northeast of the Bolovens Plateau, rich in crops such as tea, coffee, cardamom, vegetables, and fruits. On the plateau, we can also visit the villages of ethnic minorities: Alak, Lawe, Katu, Ya Heune… and a beautiful eco-tourism site in Pha Xuam.

Arrival in Tad Lo, check-in at a bungalow, located on the banks of the Sexet River in the forest. Then visit the surroundings (Alak, Lave villages).

Meals at leisure and overnight at Tad Lo Lodge.

Tad Lo – Champassak / visits – Khong Island / excursion (B)

Breakfast.
Transfer to the province of Champassak, famous for the pre-Angkorian site of Wat Phou. During the journey, visit the Thateng region, the city of Paksong: the coffee export center, the beautiful Tad Fan waterfall and the traditional tea production workshop at Km 32.

The next visit will be the Wat Phou edifice, which was built between the 9th and 13th centuries.

Then, visit the Champassak Historical Heritage Museum, we continue our journey en route to Khong Island - the largest island in the Mekong, with an area of about 16 km x 8 km.

Meals at leisure and overnight on Khong Island.

Khong Island - 4,000 Islands Region / excursions – Khone Island (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.
The boat excursion on the widest section of the Mekong, where nearly 4000 islets and peaks emerge during the dry season and give it the beautiful name of “Siphandon - four thousand islands”. During the walk, we will anchor at the peaceful island of Ban Khone to visit the remains of the French colonial period, the Liphi (Somphanith) waterfalls and the village of Ban Khone.

A walk around these villages provides excellent contact with the locals.

Meals at leisure and overnight in Done Khone.

Khone Island / walks - Khone Phapheng Falls (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Return by boat to the left bank of the Mekong at Ban Na Kasang, then we continue our journey south to visit the other Mekong waterfall - the famous Khone Phapheng, the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia (Niagara of the East), then Ban Veun Kham.

From there, you can observe the Mekong basin dolphins.

Meals at leisure and meeting for transfer to the airport for departure