Itinerary Summary

Day	Place	Highlights	Hotel Options
1 - 4	Luang Prabang	UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mekong River, French Colonial Buildings	Le Sen Boutique Hotel, The Belle Rive
4 - 6	Phonsavan	Plain of Jars, Hills of Paradise, Beautiful Landscape	Vansana - Plain of Jars Hotel
6 - 8	Vientianne	Mekong Valley, French Mansions, Blooming Bougainvillea-Lined Streets	Ansara Hotel, Settha Palace Hotel
8 - 9	Hin Boun	Hin Boun River, Relaxing Boat Rides, Nature Reserve Visit, Kong Lor Cave, Tribal Village Visits	Springriver Resort Hin Boun
9 - 10	Thakek	Mekong River, Local Market, Unusual Cuisine, French Colonial Buildings	Le Bouton D'or Boutique Hotel
10 - 13	Champasak	Beautiful Khmer Ruins, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bolaven Plateau, Riverside Province	La Folie Lodge, The River Resort Champassak

Itinerary Details

Day 1 - 4

International Arrival

Transfer from Luang Prabang Airport to Hotel

Luang Prabang

3 Nights

Luang Prabang is considered the jewel of Indochina, and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Included Activities

Day Trip To Kuang Si Waterfalls & Organic Farm
A 1hr drive southwards takes you to one of Luang Prabang’s most picturesque sights…Kuang Si Waterfall. En route halt at Phosy market…observe locals trading in fresh produce. Hike leisurely through the national park to Kuang Si Waterfall. Perhaps venture going up to the main waterfall and even swim in a large pool. Enjoy a picnic lunch before transferring by car to the Living Lands Organic Farm. Here, meet up with a local farming guide, where you will be invited to interact and experience step-by-step the rice harvesting operation; see also how different tools are created. End with a tasting of traditional foods using rice. You will leave with a new appreciation for rice, and an admiration for the Lao people who yet continue to harvest rice without modern machinery. Return to your hotel by mid-day.

Highlights Of Luang Prabang & Morning Alms Giving Ceremony
Arrange an optional pre-dawn start with your guide (0530 hrs) to witness Tak Bat, or alms-giving ceremony, to hundreds of saffron-clad monks – an awe-inspiring ancient ritual. Visit a bustling morning market before returning to your hotel for breakfast. Take a guided audio tour of the Royal Palace Museum, housing precious possessions of the former Lao Royal family. Explore various architectural feats, including 19th century Wat Xiengthong Temple, and Wat Visoun, nicknamed the watermelon stupa. Gain insight into the ethnic culture at the Arts and Ethnology Center, and head to the textile villages of Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek. Venture to the monk school of Wat Siphouthabath to interact with a young monk and ascend 328 steps up Mount Phousi to watch the sunset over the Mekong. Kindly note that the Royal Palace is closed on Tuesdays.

Hotel Options

Le Sen Boutique Hotel – Opt 1

Room	Deluxe Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

The Belle Rive – Opt 2

Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Day 4 - 6

Drive from Luang Prabang to Phonsavan (270 km, 5 hrs)

Phonsavan

2 Nights

Meaning the ‘hills of paradise’, Phonsavan is the lively new capital of Xieng Khouang Province, Laos.

Included Activities

Khmu Village, Buddha Cave & Old Russian Tank Visits (En Route From Luang Prabang)
Be fetched from your hotel by your guide at about 0800hrs and drive to Xiengkhuang, famous for the ‘Plain of Jars’. Follow a twisty mountain route before stopping at Ban Houi Hia with its panoramic mountain views. Continue further to Ban Kiu Kharm Pom, a Khmu village that you can explore before arriving in Phou Khoun for lunch. Continue the road journey into Xiengkhuang province, where you reach the highest altitude of the day – 1500m above sea level. With some extra time, make a stop at Ban Sonboun, a Hmong village. End the day with a visit to a hidden Buddha Cave that served as an army hospital during the Vietnam War. An optional stop can be to visit an old Russian tank. Arrive at the hotel by early evening.

Day Trip To Plain Of Jars
Visit the Mines Action Group (MAG) Office to discover the work of clearing remaining landmines and unexploded ordnance. In the Plain of Jars around Phonsavan, just a short drive away, you can see centuries old, giant stone jars scattered around and part of prehistoric burial rites. A short trek from Jar Site 2 will take you to Jar site 3, which has more than 150 jars. This is located atop a hill and offers you a breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside! Before you return in the afternoon, visit Jar Site 1 – the largest with more than 300 jars!

Hotel Options

Vansana - Plain of Jars Hotel – Opt 1

Room	Vansana-Deluxe Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Guest house

Day 6 - 8

Transfer from Hotel to Xiengkhuang Airport

Flight from Phonsavan to Vientiane

Transfer from Vientiane Airport to Hotel

Vientianne

2 Nights

Vientiane, located in the Mekong Valley, is the small, quiet and picturesque capital city of Laos.

Included Activities

Half Day Sight & Sounds Tour Of Vientianne
Enjoy a half day city tour starting with a leisurely stroll in Vientiane, a quaint and easygoing town. Admire French colonial architecture betwixt beautifully gilded temples. Start with a visit to Wat Sisaket, the oldest surviving Siamese temple containing over 8,000 Buddha statues, followed by the erstwhile royal temple of Wat Ho Phra Keo, former home of the Emerald Buddha statue, now serving as a museum of arts and antiques. Then, travel up Lanexang Avenue for photographic moments of the Patouxay monument or Arc de Triomphe, commemorating the dead of past wars – uncannily similar to its Paris sibling. Climb to the top for panoramic views of Vientiane. Continue on along Rue Singha 23 to Laos

Hotel Options

Ansara Hotel – Opt 1

Room	Savvy Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Guest house

Settha Palace Hotel – Opt 2

Room	Deluxe Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	International

Day 8 - 9

Drive from Vientianne to Hin Boun via Prabaht Ponsan & Khammoune

Hin Boun

1 Night

Picturesque and tranquil, Hin boun is located in the Khammouane district of central Laos, right in the heart of an eponymous nature reserve known for its natural wonders.

Hotel Options

Springriver Resort Hin Boun – Opt 1

Room	Bungalow Riverview
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Guest house

Day 9 - 10

Drive from Hin Boun to Thakek via Kong Lor Cave

Thakek

1 Night

Thakhek is the capital of the Khammouane province in central Laos and is located on the banks of the mighty Mekong River that forms the boundary between Laos and Thailand.

Included Activities

Kong Lor Cave Visit (en route from Hin Boun)
Explore mysterious caves! After a hearty breakfast, drive down to the Kong Lor village where you will find a private boat waiting to take you to the famous Kong Lor caves. Your guide will navigate you safely through the seven kilometer long cave, where you can stop to explore the spectacular stalagmite gallery on foot. Once you reach the other side of the cave, take a short walk to see the remote Ban Pom Ngam village. After you return through the cave, a car will drive you to Thakek. Arrive by late afternoon, just in time for a leisurely stroll where you can enjoy a stunning sunset over Mekong River.

Tham Pa Fa Cave Visit (En Route From Thakek)
Start early in the morning from your accommodation in Thakhek for your drive to Savannakhet. En route, you will visit the Tham Pa Fa (Buddha Cave), which has 229 centuries-old bronze statues. Only rediscovered in April 2004, this incredibly picturesque cave sits high atop a limestone cliff and offers magnificent views of the surrounding landscape. Continue southwards on your journey to arrive at Savannakhet by lunchtime. In the afternoon, set forth to visit the old French Quarters and the sacred That Inhang Stupa, before checking into your hotel. You can spend the rest of your day at leisure.

Hotel Options

Le Bouton D'or Boutique Hotel – Opt 1

Room	Super Deluxe
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Day 10 - 13

Drive from Thakek to Champassak

Champasak

3 Nights

Champasak is a quaint and unique riverside province in southern Laos.

Included Activities

Full Day Mekong River Boat Ride
Aquatic adventures await! After a hearty breakfast, step aboard a private boat for your full day tour of the 4,000 islands in Si Phan Don. At the picturesque island of Don Khone, you can take a bicycle ride through the French colonial-style remains, past abandoned railway tracks to the furious Liphi Waterfalls which is also called the Corridor of the Devil. The return journey will take you to the spectacular Khone Phapheng Falls which stretches for an impressive 10 km. Don’t’ miss your chance to see the rare Irrawaddy dolphins from a boat which takes you to the deep pools near the Cambodian border. In the late afternoon, a car will take you back to Khong Island.

Hotel Options

La Folie Lodge – Opt 1

Room	Superior Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

The River Resort Champassak – Opt 2

Room	Riverfront Villa
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

International Departure

Price & Inclusions

Option 1 From $ 3,390 /person
Option 2 From $ 3,690 /person

Prices are in USD and exclude international flights. This trip price is based on low season rates for accommodation and other applicable services, and may change depending on availability, currency fluctuations and number of people traveling together. For high season prices, please contact us with your exact travel dates and preferences.

Price Includes

Accommodation and meals, as specified in the itinerary
Activities and excursions, as specified in the itinerary
Transportation services, as specified in the itinerary
Your Trip Coordinator: a 24/7 point of contact supporting you during your trip

Not Included

Entrance fees and meals, unless mentioned in the itinerary description
Tips and personal expenses
Visa and tourism fees
Travel, health, and cancellation insurance
International airfare

Undiscovered Laos

Itinerary Summary

Ideal For

Itinerary Details

Luang Prabang

Phonsavan

Vientianne

Hin Boun

Thakek

Champasak

Price & Inclusions

Price Includes

Not Included