Grand journey to Laos

Houeixay – Luang Namtha (-)

Upon your arrival in Houeixay,
You will be welcomed and transferred by road north towards the Chinese and Burmese borders to Luang Namtha, known for its diverse ethnic minorities.

Along the way, your guide will provide essential information about the history of the various places you pass through.

Meals at leisure and overnight in Luang Nam Tha.

Luang Namtha – Muang Sing / walks and visits (B,L)

Breakfast at the hotel,
Meet at the departure point for Muang Sing, the former first capital of the "Lu" principality (50 km).

During the journey, stop to visit the villages of different ethnic groups in Ban Lak Khammai, Ban Kolakham, Ban Thin That and finally the town of Muang Sing and its surroundings.
Lunch and dinner at leisure. Overnight in Muang Sing.

Muang Sing / local hike for discovery and encounters (B,L)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning visit to the Muang Sing market, at the gates of China and Burma, which remains a meeting place where mountain tribes come to exchange agricultural products and news.

Then, a minibus and walking tour through the villages of ethnic minorities: Yao, Akkha, Lanten, located around Muang Sing.

Arrival at the hotel at the end of the day.
Lunch and dinner at leisure and second night in Muang Sing.

Muang Sing – Luang Namtha / walks – Muang Xay / rest (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet at 08:00 and then we take the road south towards Oudomxay, a province also populated by ethnic minorities.

We pass through Ban Na Teui, Namor, Ban Tawan, … which are populated by Lao Houei, Yao, Lanten, Hmong.

Arrival in Muang Xay - the provincial capital and transfer to the hotel.

Meals at leisure and overnight in Oudomxay.

Muang Xay – Mouang La / visits – Muang Khua (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Mountain road to Muang Khua passing through Muang La.

Muang La is located in the heart of the forest and surrounded by mountains.

Arrival in Muang Khua, although it is called Muang (town), it is a village nestled in the spectacular landscape of the Nam Ou valley.

Meals at leisure and overnight in Muang Khua in a local guest-house.

Muang Khua – Nong Khiow / walks and visits - Pak Ou Caves / visits – Luang Prabang (B,L)

After breakfast,
Meet at 08:00 and transfer to the pier, then we take a boat trip on the Nam Ou River, one of the important tributaries of the Mekong.

We pass numerous waterfalls and rapids, fishing villages, located on both sides of the river until the mouth of the Nam Ou River with the Mekong.

Stop to visit the sacred Pak Ou caves which open into the cliff face on the right bank of the Mekong. Visit the sanctuary caves of Tham Ting and Tham Poum, housing thousands of Buddha offerings accumulated over centuries, and the village of Ban Xang Hai, specialized in rice alcohol distillation.

Arrival in Luang Prabang at the end of the day and transfer to the hotel.
Dinner at leisure and overnight in Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang / visits, walks and discovery of the heritage city (B)

Option: Wake up early in the morning to see the long lines of monks leaving their pagodas and receiving food offerings from the faithful. A unique spectacle in the country. Breakfast at the hotel.

Today, explore the ancient royal capital and its famous temples: Wat Visunaram, Wat Senaram, Wat Aham and others.

The weaving village of Ban Xang Khong, Ban Xieng Lek, known for the production of silk skirts (Sin for women and Salong for men) to then finish the day with the Wat Mai.

Ascend 328 steps of Mount Phousi for a superb panoramic view of the city and the Mekong valley.

In the evening, stroll around the night market where visitors can buy various snacks and appetizers or bargain for mountain clothing or wood carvings.

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

Luang Prabang / visits - Kouangsi Waterfalls / visits and discovery (B)

Breakfast at the hotel,
then visit the former royal palace, converted into a national museum where we can admire the Prabang statue, the attributes of royal power and other valuable objects.
From the Phosi vegetable market, we will depart to visit the famous Kouangsi waterfalls (35Km), where you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the forest.

Along the way, we visit the villages of ethnic minorities M'Hongs in Baan Na Ouan, Lao Loum in Baan Ou, Khmu in Baan Thapen.

Lunch at leisure on site

On the way back, you will visit the Lu weavers' village in Baan Phnom, located on the banks of the Nam Khane River. Baan Phnom is very renowned for the handmade production of silk skirts (Sin).
Dinner at leisure and overnight in Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang – Vang Vieng / visits and discovery (B,L)

After breakfast,
today, we take National Road No 13 North, crossing mountain flanks, valleys, and rivers.

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

Stops at the Hmong village in Ban Kiouw Kacham, the crossroads of Sala Khoukhoun, the town of Kasi, and the famous village of Ban Pha Tang.

Arrival in Vang Vieng in the afternoon, check-in at the hotel, located on the banks of the Nam Song River. Visit the town and Tham Chang cave.

Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Vang Vieng.

Vang Vieng / excursion and visits - Vientiane (B)

After breakfast,
we continue our journey to Vientiane, passing through Ban Namone, the fishing village of Ban Houei Mo, located in the far northwest of Nam Ngum Lake, the town of Phone Hong, capital of Vientiane province.

Then we pass through the Hmong village at Km 62, a small Mon-Khmer sanctuary in Vang Xang.

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

Meals at leisure and overnight in Vientiane.

Vientiane / visits and city walks (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Meeting at 08:00 for the exploration of the capital of Laos - Vientiane, starting with Vat Sisaket: it is the only temple intact after the Siamese invasion in 1828 and filled with a thousand Buddha statues. Vat Ho Phra Keo: this temple is renowned for its precious Buddha statuette, the Emerald Buddha, which its former royal chapel held from 2565 to 1779.

Wat Simuang: this temple is one of the most popular in the city: according to legend, it brings happiness and fulfills the wishes of the faithful who come to pray there.

In the afternoon, shopping at Talat Sao, the Morning Market: embroidered fabrics, silver jewelry, carved wooden objects, souvenirs that will satisfy everyone's desires.

That Luang: this stupa is the most popular monument in Laos and is both a religious symbol and a symbol of the country's unity.

And in the afternoon we will visit the weaving workshops, among them: that of Ban Phontong, of Latsanikone Nanong and that of Carol Cassidy: of American origin, she preserves the traditional Lao hand-weaving method, while developing modern production methods. Patuxai: this curious monument strangely resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. From its roof, we can admire all of Vientiane.
Meals at leisure and overnight in Vientiane.

Vientiane and flight to Pakse / Bolovens Plateau (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Pakse.

Then, on the way to Tad Lo (120 km), located in the far northeast of the Bolovens Plateau, rich in its culture of 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 to a bungalow, located on the banks of the Sexet River in the forest. Visit the surroundings (Alaki, Lave villages).

Meals at leisure and overnight at Tad Lo Lodge.

Tad Lo (Bolovens Plateau) / discovery and visits – Wat Phou – Khong Island (B)

After breakfast at the hotel,
Travel to Champassak province, famous for the pre-Angkorian site of Wat Phou. During the journey, visit the town of Paksong: the coffee export center, the beautiful Tad Fan waterfall, and the traditional tea production workshop at Km33.

The next visit is the Wat Phou edifice, which was built between the 9th and 13th centuries, before the erection of the Angkor Wat complex in Siem Reap, then the Champassak historical heritage museum. We continue our journey to Khong Island.

Meals at leisure and overnight on Khong Island.

Khong Island / excursion and visits – 4000 Islands region – Khone Island (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

The boat excursion to the widest sector of the Mekong, where nearly 4000 islets and peaks emerge during the dry season and give it the beautiful name "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 waterfalls (Somphanith) and the village of Ban Khone.
Meals at leisure and overnight on Khone Island.

Khone Island / walks and visits to Phapheng Falls - Vientiane (B)

Breakfast at the hotel,

And then return to the left bank of the Mekong at Ban Nakasang, departure for the famous Khone Phapheng Falls, the most important on the Mekong route (Niagara of the East).
Return to Vientiane in the afternoon.
Meals at leisure and overnight in Vientiane

Vientiane / free time - departure (B)

Breakfast at the hotel,
Free time and check out around noon
Meet with the sole driver for transfer to the airport for departure.