Laos Discovery 10 Days 9 Nights

DAY 01: ARRIVE CHINA (BOTEN) – UDOMXAY
Arrival in the morning at Mohan (China) – Boten (Laos) border, (assuming that we arrive at the border at around 8.30 am), we crossed the border to Laos’ side, welcome by your guide and transfer to Udomxay, you can enjoy the nice scenery along the road. Lunch is at local restaurant along the way. Afternoon will be our free time at leisure. Late afternoon we take part in Petanque game with drinks at a local beer shop next to the airport. Truly local experience, and “welcome to Laos” style memorable time! Dinner is at the local restaurant: Sinh dat meal, dine like a local. Accommodation in Udomxay

Meal: Lunch, Dinner
Tour guide: English speaking guide

DAY 02: UDOMXAY – MUANG LA TREK
Khmu Trekking Tour in La District via Tanong Po. Meet up at 8.00 and get some food for pinic. Leave for Muang La and visit Samakkhixay Village. Start walking up the Valley passing rice fields to Sing Kham Budda cave. Picnic lunch is served on the way. In the afternoon, walk to Khmu Village Ban Tanong Po, visit the villagers and learn about traditional cooking. Have dinner with the family. Overnight in Muang La

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tour guide: English speaking guide

DAY 03: MUANG LA – MUANG KHUA
In the morning, we have breakfast before trekking to Luang Cave and then come back to Tanong Po. After lunchtime, we walk down to the main road at Samakeexai village. Take Tuk tuk to Oudomxay Town. End the trek at about 4 pm. Then continue your trip by road to Muang Khua where you will spend the night. Dinner is at a local restaurant. Accommodation in Muang Khua

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tour guide: English speaking guide

DAY 04: MUANG KHUA – MUANG NGOI
After breakfast, embark on board and cruise down the Nam Ou River to Muang Ngoi. Do not miss the beauty of the river along your way (we recommend you to wear warm clothes as it might be cold along the river). On arrival, we check into your accommodation in Muang Ngoi, and lunch at the local restaurant. The rest of day is free at leisure to enjoy the peace and quiet surroundings and to enjoy the beauty of the region. Dinner is at the local restaurant & accommodation in Muang Ngoi

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tour guide: English speaking guide

DAY 05: MUANG NGOI TREK – BAN KIOUKHAN
This trekking tour offers all the best of overnight trekking from Muang Ngoi to ethnic villages for exploring authentic rural life. Mountain trail gives all trekkers very good chance to admire the most beautiful unspoiled nature, particularly mountains capes along Nam Ou River. In the morning, begin to trek uphill, which is about 1200 m above the sea level, to Ban Kioukhan (about 4-5 hours), a Village of Khmu ethnic group. On the way, stop to visit Tham Kaang, the former sheltering cave for local villagers during the last Indochina War (1960 – 1972) which has never damaged with beautiful surroundings. A long the way, it is particularly picturesque of mountain views. After picnic lunch, we arrive in Kioukhan in the afternoon. Explore local people’s working and living conditions. Dinner and overnight at the villager’s homes

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tour guide: English speaking guide

DAY 06: BAN KIOUKHAN TREK – MUANG NGOI CRUISE TO NONG KIAU
Breakfast at villagers’ homes; continue to trek downhill through beautiful natural surroundings to visit Ban Hadsapheai (about 4-5 hours), a small village of Khmu ethnic group which is on the bank of Nam Ou river. Continue to take a boat ride downstream to Muang Ngoi. Between Ban Hatsaphuai and Muang Ngoi, it is said to be one of the most beautiful views on the Nam Ou River with rock cliffs and rock formation rising dramatically above rain forest. Lunch is at the local restaurant in Muang Ngoi. After lunch, continue short boat ride to Nong Kiau. Once in Nong Kiau, we check in and to enjoy an hour traditional Lao massage, foot and shoulder or body massage to relax after your trek. Dinner is at the restaurant of the hotel. Overnight in Nong Kiau

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tour guide: English speaking guide

DAY 07: NONG KIAU CRUISE DOWN TO LUANG PRABANG
Enjoy a morning visit to the beautiful small town by your own, morning our guide will pick you up and cruise down to Luang Prabang. Lunch is served on board. Visit Pak Ou caves on the way down, thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues are crowded into the two caves carved out of a towering limestone cliff. They range in size from a few centimeters to the size of a human. The boat arrives in Luang Prabang before sunset. On arrival to Luang Prabang enjoy visit to the beautiful Vat Long Khoun and Vat Chomphet. Then cross the Mekong to Luang Prabang town and drive to your hotel in town for check in. Option: tea degustation on boat (5 types of tea). Dinner at Tamnak Lao restaurant & overnight in Luang Prabang

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tour guide: English speaking guide

DAY 08: LUANG PRABANG – KUANG SI
After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sen and the magnificent Royal palace now transformed into the National Museum (closed on Tuesday). Our stroll will also lead us at Wat Mai. Lunch is at a local restaurant. We continue our excursion toward Khouangsi Waterfall, en route, we visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest trails. The Kuang Si Waterfall setting really illustrates the paradise. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon. Dinner is at Roots & Leaves restaurant with Lao traditions dance during the dinner. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tour guide: English speaking guide

DAY 09: INSIDE THE HEARTS OF ELEPHANTS” FULL DAY TOUR
For those who want, early wake up to attend the alms giving procession in the streets of the town at 5: 30 am and then pursue with a visit of the fresh market before breakfast at your hotel. Option: French breakfast at Café Wat Sene or Le Banneton Bakery. Around 8:30 am, we drive to Xieng Lom Village and start our elephant day care full day tour: “Inside the hearts of elephants”

Upon arrival you are invited to have coffee or tea as your guide for the day provides an in-depth introduction to elephant behavior and the ways we should interact with them. A quick boat ride across the Nam Khan River will deliver you to the waiting elephants. You will be introduced to your new friends and feed them some special treats—a sure way to begin an instant friendship. Then, you will enjoy observing elephants from the river bank as Mahouts wash them in the Nam Khan river. You can experience elephants washing, swimming and playing in the water. Please note this is voluntary activity for the elephant’s and Mandalao does not force them to get in the water. (On cold days the elephants are less likely to want to get wet.) After 2 hours crossing through a beautiful stretch of traditional Lao gardens you will arrive at the jungle-covered Huay Nok stream. As you walk alongside the elephants and crisscross through the cool water you will experience a profound sense of understanding, respect, and caring for these amazing animals. You and your elephant companions will continue walking past a lovely stretch of rice fields and enter a patch of forest where you can rest, relax, and eat. Lunch will be served in traditional Lao fashion, eating on bamboo mats on the forest floor. Then, you will visit Tad Kuang Song Waterfall, which was named after a Golden Deer spirit seen standing on its crest many centuries ago. If you like, you can take a cool dip, wade, stand under the soft showers of the waterfall, and spend time meditating and admiring the private beauty of this rarely seen natural treasure. You will sit, watch, and learn as the MandaLao mahouts show how they communicate and listen to their elephants. This will highlight the special skills each elephant has and give you deeper insight into their individual personalities. After this, you can take what you have learned from the mahouts and guides throughout the day and spend quiet, uninterrupted time with the elephants—reading their emotions just as they read yours. You will experience first-hand why humans and elephants have shared such an unwavering bond for thousands of years. Along with the mahouts, you will bring your elephants to their nighttime feeding grounds. Take time for a long goodbye and in knowing that the connection you have built is not only felt by you, but by your new friend as well. Enjoy a few moments to think about your experiences from the day as you look out at the vast Luang Prabang mountain range from the terrace at MandaLao. We will then drive you back to town. Arrive at your hotel at approximately 4:00pm. Dinner at the House Bar & Restaurant. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tour guide: English speaking guide

DAY 10: LUANG PRABANG
Free time is at leisure till your transfer to the airport for your flight to the next destination. End of services.

Meal: Breakfast
Tour guide: None
 

TRIP INCLUSIVE

Accommodation in twin/double sharing with breakfast
Private transfer with air-conditioner van
Shared or public transport as indicated
Regional English speaking guide
Drop off/pick up at the hotel in the city
Local drinks and snacks where indicated
Meals as indicated (without beverage) B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
Admission fees as indicated
Any indicated train tickets

TRIP EXCLUSIVE

All International & Domestic Airfare.
Any passenger service charges at airport.
Personal expenses i.e. laundry, telephone billing, tipping, etc.
Beverages during meals.
Visa fee and its arrangement.
Optional tours
Travel insurance
Tips and gratuities
Peak season surcharges by hotels/Compulsory dinner if there is any
Early check in & late check-out at all hotel
Note:
* Check in time: 02.00pm – Check out time: 12.00pm