Essentials of Laos - 5 Days

On arrival in Vientiane, you will be met by our staff and transferred to your centrally located hotel. After a short rest, we see the major sights of the capital, including Wat Sisaket, which contains more than 8000 Buddha statues, Wat Ho Prakeo the former home of the Emerald Buddha statue and That Luang Stupa, the single most important monument in Laos. We also see the Patuxay (Lao Arc de Triomphe), which was built in commemoration of those who died during past wars. We will make sure to watch the sunset by the Mekong Riverside and spend the evening absorbing the city’s nightlife. Overnight in Vientiane. Lao Orchid Hotel or similar

Today, we transfer to the airport for a short flight to Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. After checking into your hotel, we visit the impressive stupa, Wat Visoun and the shrines Wat Aham and Wat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for a beautiful view of the city and the Mekong River at sunset. From here, we explore the Night Market, where you can browse through a lovely selection of handmade textiles. Overnight in Luang Prabang. Villa Chitdara Hotel or similar Note: as per local regulations, only vehicles of 16seaters are allowed in the city of Luang Prabang

After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour of the city, seeing the things we missed the day before. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which gives us a panorama of the tranquil countryside. We’ll stop at the Pak Ou Caves, sanctuaries consisting of two large caverns, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images. On our way back to the city, we take a short drive to Ban Xang Khong and Ban Xieng Lek - small villages well known for silk weavings and Saa (jute) Papermaking. Overnight in Luang Prabang. Villa Chitdara Hotel or similar

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily alms giving ritual to saffron-clad monks. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. After breakfast, we first visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture throughout its history, and then move onto the Central Market for some sightseeing. Afterwards we fly to Vientiane. After checking into your hotel, we transfer out to Buddha Park, a scattered enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures near the Friendship Bridge. There are approximately 200 religious images here. A spectacular view of the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day. Overnight in Vientiane. Lao Orchid Hotel or similar

After breakfast, we visit the Morning Market and the weaving village of Ban Nong Bouathong (if time permits). The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure. Good bye and see you again!