Kong Lor: Epic Journey into the Cave of a Thousand Mysteries

Vientiane arrival / visits and discovery (-)

Upon your arrival in Vientiane,
You will be greeted by the driver and guide and transferred to the hotel. 

If time permits, we will explore the capital of Vientiane with the major tourist sites of the capital: the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the ancient royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image.  En route to Laos' precious national heritage; the famous sacred structure of That Luang, you will have the opportunity to take some photos of the Patuxai monument, which is also known as Vientiane's Arc de Triomphe.

The last visit of the day will be the COPE exhibition center, which summarizes the aspect of Laos and the major problems the population faced every day from the bombing of the countryside during the Vietnamese war.

Dinner at leisure and Overnight in Vientiane.

Vientiane – Hin Boun / walks and discovery (B,L)

After breakfast,
you will be picked up this morning at your hotel and transferred south on Route 13 towards the central province of Laos, Khammoune. 

En route we will stop at Prabaht Ponsan, a very ancient stupa.  It is also home to the Buddha's footprint, discovered in 1933, and now an important religious site in Laos. 

After lunch, we will continue into the province of Khammoune and into the mountain region, a stop at a viewpoint near Khoun Kham offers breathtaking views of the surroundings. 

We finally reach Ban Naphouak, where we will embark on a local boat on the Hin Boun River. 

The upstream journey passes through superb karst landscapes, as well as many villages shaken by children's laughter. 

We will arrive at your accommodation for the night at Sala Hin Boun in the afternoon. 

You have the rest of the day at leisure.

Lunch and Dinner at leisure and Overnight at Sala Hin-Boun.

Hin Boun – Kong Lor / visits and discovery - Thakhek (B,L)

After breakfast at Sala Hin Boun
And we will continue by boat upstream to Kong Lor village before boarding a small boat to the famous Kong Lor cave. 

We will navigate into the cave, which is more than 7km long and 100m high.

After lunch in an isolated village on the other side of the cave, we will return through the cave and then transfer by car to the Mekong riverbank towards the city of Thakek, in the early evening.

Lunch in a local restaurant. Dinner at leisure and Overnight in Thakek.

Thakhek – Buddha Cave / visits, walks and light hiking (B,L)

After breakfast,
And we will depart from Thakek by tuk-tuk and follow the tracks of the old French railway that was never completed.

We continue our journey through impressive landscapes, you arrive in the village of Nakhang Xang and meet the village guides who will accompany you on your hike. Passing through the forest, your guide will point out the forest fruits that form an important part of the local population's food resources.

Crossing a cave, you will enter a valley surrounded by high cliffs and forests.

The trail follows the shore of Nong Thao Lake where you can see local fishermen at work. Arriving at the Nong Tham Paseum cave, the more adventurous navigators can explore the cave.

The cave is 400 meters long and contains spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.

Back in daylight, the journey continues to the famous Khammouane Buddha cave for a traditional lunch of Mekong fish, sticky rice and spicy papaya salad. 

After lunch, visit Tham Pa Fa or the Buddha cave, which was discovered in April 2004. The cave contains 229 bronze Buddhas dating back 300 years!

If time permits, you can canoe locally in the cave. Your guide will accompany you back to the village on a different route through the forest and you will return to Thakek in the afternoon.

Lunch in a local restaurant. Dinner at leisure and Overnight in Thakek.

Note: moderate trekking, a good level of physical fitness is required. During the rainy season (May-September), the program may be changed without prior notice to accommodate local conditions. 

Thakhek / walks and Vientiane – Luang Prabang (B)

This morning, after breakfast,
And we will depart from Thakek, heading north for the five-hour drive to Vientiane.
We will be in time for your afternoon flight to Luang Prabang.
Or by TGV depending on schedule and visits

Upon your arrival in Luang Prabang, welcome and transfer to the hotel.

Meals at leisure and Overnight in Luang Prabang.

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

After breakfast,
we will visit the Royal Palace Museum which houses a series of interesting artifacts.

We will begin our visit of the most beautiful temples on foot through the city.

Depending on your program, this may include Wat Visoun, Wat Sene, the oldest temples in Luang Prabang, the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, with its roofs sweeping the ground, typical of Luang Prabang. We will make a stop at Kinnaly Gallery, where your guide will introduce you to the different minorities living in Laos.

In the afternoon, we will stop at Yensabai, where you can see traditional Lao stencils made with Saa paper.

From Wat Mai you will climb Phousi Hill for a pleasant exploration of the sacred and golden stupa and enjoy a beautiful sunset view over the city and the Mekong River.

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

Meals at leisure and overnight in Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang / Ban Thinkeo - Ban Thinkeo Waterfalls (B)

After breakfast,
We will visit the Phousi local market, the place where all locals visit and you will discover the different goods.

We will stop at Ock Pop Tock, a silk weaving center. Here, your guide will explain the silk weaving process. 

Then, we go to Ban Thinkeo, a Hmong village and we will hike with the villagers. 

Your guide will explain the use of plants by the Hmong people. You will go to the garden to pick vegetables and herbs with the villagers. When you arrive at the village, you will learn to cook some local dishes in a traditional house. Lunch will be your collective efforts! Afterwards, the villagers will show you a Hmong Khène show and local games.

In the afternoon, on the way to Kouang Si and relax at this magnificent multi-tiered waterfall.

Then, we return to Luang Prabang, at the end of the day.

Meals at leisure and overnight in Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang / free time – departure (B)

After breakfast,
Free time and check out around noon.
Meeting with a single driver for transfer to the airport for departure.