Exploring Northern Laos 11 Days

Greet and meet on arrival to Vientiane airport, the city of the moon - an ancient city, situated on the bend on the left bank of the Mekong as the largest city and the capital of Laos. Transfer to hotel for two-night stay and you have the rest of day free at leisure.

Today a city tour brings you the best sites of Vientiane, religious museums of Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple to have been survived from the Siamese war of 1828 and its cloister contains more than 8000 Buddha statues; Wat Ho Prakeo, 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 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 (Arch de Triumph), built quite recently in commemoration of those who died during the wars in the past and it is today as the landmark of Vientiane.

After breakfast, transfer to Wattay airport for departure by QV flight to Luang Nam Tha, a land of rugged mountains, pristine forests, and rich river plains with over 20 ethnic groups, make it the most ethnically diverse province in Laos. Upon arrival at Luang Namtha Airport, your guide will accompany you to your hotel. In the afternoon you start visiting without delay Luang Nam Tha provincial museum, drive outskirt of town to visit Ban Nam Leu, a small village of Lane Tane hill tribe and also visit Ban ThongchaiNeua, a silk-weaving village of Tai Dam. You have a restful night in Luang Nam Tha.

Following breakfast, we head north by car about 2-3hrs to Muangsing, a small town near Laos-China border where there are more hill tribes to be seen. There are lots of interesting villages of various ethnic groups such as Hmong, Aka…that you may visit. Check in at a good guest house and enjoy lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, you continue to drive to near China border area and visit villages of Ikor or Aka ethnic group as well as a village of Yao hill tribe where you will learn the more traditional way of rural life with their fascinating culture of these people. Dinner is at a local restaurant or guest house.

After early breakfast, it will be another highlight day to take a drive about 2-3 hrs to visit villages of various types of Aka hill tribe on the way to Xiengkok, a small village for the checkpoint on the Mekong to Burma It’s quite easy to see lots of ethnic Aka people, walking along the road. Arrival Xiengkok village, where you have lunch at local restaurant and take a view of Burma on the other side of the Mekong River. Return to Muangsing in the late afternoon and the rest of the day is spent free at leisure. Dinner is at the local restaurant.

Early morning visit Muangsing morning market, where there are lots of Aka people, who bring their forestry products to sell and also buy their necessary goods back home. Breakfast at local restaurant, it’s time to say goodbye to Muangsing, and drive back to Luang Nam Tha and you continue about 4 hours drive to Oudomxay, a good stop off point N or S surrounded by hills, linking China, Vietnam, Luang Prabang and Pakbeng, even it was razed during the war. There are also more villages of ethnic groups such as Hmong, Khmu that you may stop and visit along the way. There are a few good local restaurants where we can take a good simply lunch along the way. Arrive in Oudomxay, check in at a good guest house and relax after a long day drive. Dinner is also at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, it is also interesting visit the morning market in town, where some Hmong hill tribe people come to sell and buy things there, before we head south by car about 4 hours to Luang Prabang, the ancient first capital of Lane Xang kingdom, the center of religious life in Laos and today the World Heritage City. You also stop to relax and have a lunch at local restaurant. You en route stop to at Ban Pak Ou, a village opposite of Pak Ou cave in the side of a limestone cliff and the opposite of the mouth of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist of two large caves, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimeter to two meters in height. We cross the Mekong by small ferry boat to visit Pak Ou cave, and we cross back to Ban Pak Ou to continue our way to Luang Prabang. This afternoon is spent free for own experience of this charming town with kind people.

Breakfast at hotel, you take a sightseeing tour of the sacred city of temples, of which nearly fifty still remain in the town and surrounding areas. visit the National Museum, the former Royal Palace which houses the collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue, gifts received from foreign dignitaries…etc…; Visit Wat Visoun, the 16th century temple served as a small museum for religious artifacts; Wat Aham, the early 19th century temple, whose two guardian figures at the foot of the steps which represent two characters from the Ramayana - Hanuman, the Monkey God and a fierce Yaksa; drive outskirts of town to visit Ban Xangkhong, the well-known village for its wood papers and also Lao silk weavings with natural dyes. In the afternoon, we continue to visit Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple, which more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture, Hmong market in town, where some of the Hmong ladies still show their skilled embroidery works, climb Phousi Hill, the 328 steps leads to the summit of Phousi Hill that dominates the skyline of Luang Prabang overlooking the finest panoramic view in the whole Luang Prabang and watch sunset over the hill at Wat Phabat Tai on the bank of the Mekong river.

After breakfast, we take a drive (30 km South) to visit Kuangsi Waterfall, which, though not very high, is spectacular and really beautiful with its green surroundings as the preserved National park. You visit a fresh produced market namely Talad Phosy, where most of your food comes from and also visit Ban Na Oune, a small village of Hmong hill-tribe group. Just before arriving at Kuangsi waterfall, there is another village of Khmu minority group, Ban Tha Pane that you can visit. Your picnic lunch is served at the shady park nearby Kuangsi waterfall. There is plenty of time for relaxing and swimming in cool water if you like before you head back to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. The rest of the day is spent free for independent exploration on this ancient town.

Breakfast at hotel and today is totally free at leisure; you may opt for an Elephant Ride in Luang Prabang for an additional charge. This day trip from Luang Prabang takes you to discover the stunning landscape, tranquility and lush nature of Luang Prabang and experience riding an elephant. You will proceed to the fun excursion to the elephant camp about 15 km out of town and in the middle of the green, natural surroundings just on the banks of the Nam Khan river. After crossing the small river at the Lao Spirit Resort you will be introduced to the protected Asian Elephants and go out for a scenic ride. Enjoy the new perspective and the wonderful nature of this 2-3hr ride. On the ride, you make your way through forests and along the Nam Khan River. The ride brings you up to/from the amazing waterfalls of Tad Sae waterfalls. Here you can hang out for lunch and swim in the refreshing cascades. A short boat trip will bring you back to the elephant camp. After that, you will have a transfer back to your hotel in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, we spend a free morning for last chance to shop and visit local sights by own before you say goodbye to Luang Prabang. Transfer to Luang Prabang airport for departing flight.