6 Days Hidden Gems Of Laos And Mekong Serenity

Pick-up at Luang Prabang International Airport. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

If you’re able to wake up before dawn (5:30 am) to witness and participate in offering alms to hundreds of saffron-robed monks - an awe-inspiring sight dating back generations in Laos. Optional walking through the morning market where all local products are being sold, watching the town come to life in the morning then returning to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, drive south to one of Luang Prabang’s most picturesque sights, the Kuang Si waterfall. On arrival, take a leisurely hike through the national park towards the Kuang Si waterfall. For the more adventurous, continue to the top of the main waterfall where you may choose to swim in a large pool

In the afternoon, start your visit to the Royal Palace, which is now a National Museum and houses the precious exhibits that used to be possessions of the former Laos Royal family. (Open from 8:30 am to 11.30 am and from 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm daily except on Tuesdays) Continue with the exploration of the main Buddhist temples of Luang Prabang including; Wat Visoun, a 16th-century temple which serves as a small museum for religious artifacts; Wat Aham, built in the early 19th-century temple and Wat Xiengthong, a 16th-century temple that epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture. Take the opportunity to interact with the monks at the Wat Mai temple before ending the day with a climb of 328 steps to the top of Phousi Hill where you can watch the sunset over Luang Prabang town. Transfer back to your hotel by private vehicle. Free time to explore the colorful night Bazaar. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Embark on a two-hour cruise in a long-tail boat on the Mekong River and visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. En route, typical Laotian villages are barely visible behind thick foliage. Wooden canoes bobbing by the shore attached to bamboo poles can be seen everywhere while floats mark the location of nets and fish traps. Arrive at Pak Ou and explore the sanctuaries which consist of two large caves. Both repositories house thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimeters to two meters in height. Returning to Luang Prabang by car.

Have free time in the afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the bus station to go to Vientiane. Upon arrival at the bus station, pick up and transfer to the hotel. Check-in and relax. Overnight in Vientiane.

Embark on enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city’s major historic sites including the religious museums of Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple that survived from the Siamese war of 1828 with its cloister containing more than 8000 Buddha statues; Wat Ho Phra Keo, the former home-temple of the Emerald Buddha statue or Pra Keo, but today it contains a collection of Buddha statues, antiques and all artifacts found in and around Vientiane; That Luang Stupa, the single most important monument in Laos, which was built to cover the original small stupa, containing a piece of the chest bone of Buddha; Patouxay (Lao Arc de Triomphe), built quite recently in commemoration of those who died during the wars in the past and it is today the landmark of Vientiane. Heading out for one-hour drive southeast of the city to Buddha Park. It is a fanciful sculpture garden full of Buddhist and religious images dating back over 500 years. Of particular interest is a giant concrete pumpkin, its interior consists of three levels representing hell, earth, and heaven.

Have free time in the afternoon. Overnight in Vientiane.