Laos Explorer 10 Days, 9 Nights

Upon arrival to Vientiane, our guide and driver will be waiting to transfer you in private car to the hotel for check in. After checking in to the hotel, time to relax.

After breakfast, take the 45-minute drive to Buddha Park. On the way, stop and take photos of the Friendship Bridge linking Thailand and Laos.

Arrive at Buddha Park and enjoy a stroll around the park. Also known as Xieng Khuan, this unusual park is filled with over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues. The quiet and tranquil setting along the Mekong River is a contrast to the slightly eccentric sculptures which were built in 1958 by a Lao shaman.

After visiting Buddha Park, start the drive back to Vientiane. En route, stop at the Lao Disabled Women Development Center. This center aims to bring practical skills to disabled women so that they can become self-sufficient, confident members of the community.

Lunch is at local restaurant. After lunch, start with a tour to the 16th century That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. Then enjoy a panoramic view over the city after climbing the stairs to the top of Patuxai, Vientiane’s own “Arc de Triomphe”.

Continue to Wat Sisaket, one of the most beautiful temples in the capital, followed by a visit to the nearby Wat Phra Keo. Used as a religious museum, Wat Phra Keo displays a collection of both Lao and Khmer works of art.

After an early breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Pakse. Upon arrival travel by road to the Khmer ruins of Wat Phou and the local museum before continuing to picturesque Khong Island.

Around Si Phan Don, meaning ‘4,000 islands’, the pace of life is slow and easy and the river views are gorgeous. See the magnificent Khone Phapheng Waterfall and pop over to Khone Island to discover its charming colonial buildings and see Liphi Waterfall, nicknamed the Devil’s Corridor. Depending on the season, you may see local fisherman in action.

Khone Phapheng Waterfall: The largest in Southeast Asia and the main reason the Mekong is not fully navigable into China. The fall is characterized by thousands of islands and countless waterways, giving the area its name Si Phan Don or ‘The 4,000 islands’.

Liphi Waterfall: nicknamed the Devil’s Corridor, a roaring collection of powerful falls spilling down at odd angles along a branch of the characteristically coffee-colored Mekong River.
Return to Pakse. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

We arrive at Ban Nongluang after a 1 hour drive from Pakse, stroll for a while through the village and chat with the people. The village guides who will accompany us for the next two days give important first safety instructions. We then hike through coffee plantations and vegetable gardens until wild semi-evergreen forest gradually takes over. The trail winds down for a while, sometimes quite steeply, passing ravines, beautiful waterfalls and flower-studded plateaus. Along the way, the guides explain the plants traditionally used in the village kitchen or as herbal medicine.

A breath-taking canopy walkway high in the trees and crossing a steep river valley is a first challenge. We pass the huge ‘Tiger’ waterfall and reach the giant ‘Kamet’ fall (name of a monkey), where the water plunges more than 100 m down into a relatively narrow, densely forested valley basin with waterfalls apparently everywhere. Here is where the zip-lines start and the real thrill takes its course. Brace yourself for an adventure of a lifetime!

We take our lunch in the wilderness, explore the forest secrets of the area and may take a cooling swim before mastering the unbelievable zip-lines. The cables crisscross the valley in front of the majestic water wall, stunningly high and us perfectly cooled by the spray of the water. Enjoy the sensation of being weightless and truly one with nature. Let your adrenaline rush come to a maximum. It’s joy, sheer joy!

After a day of great activity, we finally settle for the night in the wonderful camp with restaurant nearby. For dinner, local food and absolutely delicious barbecues are on the menu. Chatting and recollecting the gorgeous experiences of the day, or just relaxing and dreaming under the stars about the incredible wonders of life, we finally retire into our own tree house almost 10 m above ground. These houses designed in traditional style, made of wood, bamboo, and grass, can only be reached by — a zip-line. Bathrooms near the restaurant offer hot and cold water. An instant cozy sleep shrouded by the fiddling sound of the forest crickets is guaranteed.

We wake up amidst the warbling, piping, chirping, twittering of the innumerable birds in the dense canopy around us. A simple European-style breakfast prepares us for an easy 30-minute trek through great forest before reaching the first cable. Be ready for extended flights through the jungle with the longest zip-line of 400 m as a real highlight. Its speed, its felt infinity, the proximity to the usually invisible upper stratum of the forest is an amazing and unforgettable experience.

Have a simple lunch at the village then we will go back to Pakse.

The first stop today is Golden Buddha – Perched high on Salao Hill, the impressive Phu Salao, Golden Buddha surveys the panoramic landscape of the region. Part of Phu Salao Buddhist temple complex, the summit can be reached by ascending a multitude of steep steps (note that these are poorly maintained) for the more athletic travelers, or by a road that winds around the hill to the site. Look out for other small golden Buddha statues, neatly arranged nearby.

Have lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch you will have a short visit to Wat Luang – Wat Luang is the main temple within the center of Pakse. It lies on the banks of the Se Don river just near the main bridge over the river and to the airport. The temple was established in 1935 and also serves as a Buddhist (sangha) colleges as well. The old building that houses the college is one of the more interesting in the temple compound. The carved plaster decorations are quite fanciful.There are several funerary reliquaries lining the front of the compound. The largest of these houses the ashes of a former prime minister from pre-revolutionary times.

You are transfer to airport for the flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival at Luang Prabang, you are welcomed by our local tour guide and transfer to hotel in to downtown. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel.
• 8:00 am – 8:30 am: Pick up by our English speaking guide from your hotel lobby within Luang Prabang
• Arrival at the Elephant Village Camp: Welcome greeting by your guide and participate in a short briefing about elephants
• Bareback Elephant Ride: Enjoy the impressive experience of a 1 km bareback elephant ride! 1 person per elephant
• Boat trip to the Tad Sae Waterfall: Ride in a traditional Lao long boat to the Tad Sae Waterfall and relax or swim in the clear water (swim suit recommended!)
• Lunch: Dine at our Elephant Camp restaurant. Buffet lunch served with coffee / tea and drinking water (vegetarian options are available).

After lunch we will go to Kuang si waterfall. The Kuang Si Falls, sometimes spelled Kuang Xi or known as Tat Kuang Si Waterfalls, is a three tier waterfall about 29 kilometres south of Luang Prabang. These waterfalls are a favourite side trip for tourists in Luang Prabang. The waterfall falls in spectacular pools with bright turquoise water. The lower pools are perfect for swimming in and the bridge at the base of the main 60metre waterfall offers the perfect photo opportunity. If you’re fit, climb up alongside the waterfall to the very top where you can view the waterfall from the top. You can swim in the turquoise pools or walk along forest paths.

Finish the tour then transfer back to your hotel in to Luang Prabang to relax. Freetime afterwards.

After breakfast, start the morning with a visit to Wat Xieng Thong, the most photographed temple in the city. Afterwards, board a traditional wooden boat for a relaxing cruise along the mighty Mekong River. Enjoy the beautiful passing scenery before reaching the Pak Ou Caves.

Sitting at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers, these twin caves are carved into the surrounding limestone cliffs, filled with hundreds of ancient Buddha images and statues. After visiting the caves, moor near the cliffs for a local-style lunch, featuring a range of traditional Lao dishes. After lunch, cruise back to Luang Prabang.

Returning in the afternoon, climb to the top of Phousi Hill and enjoy panoramic views of the city and Wat Mai, with its beautiful gilded facade. Later visit Wat Visoun, one of the oldest temples in the city, followed by Wat Aham.

As the day comes to a close, participate in a traditional Baci ceremony. These ceremonies are deeply rooted in Lao culture, and are used to celebrate a special occasion- whether a wedding, an annual festival, or as a welcome.