LAOS DISCOVERY, 10 days / 9 nights (LTDIS10)

Meet upon arrival at Houei Say immigration checkpoint and transfer to the pier. Board a traditional riverboat for a cruise downstream the Mekong River towards Pakbeng (approx. 7 hours depending on the water level). The Mekong River has kept much of its untamed character with impressive rapids and lush jungles along each bank. En route, stop and visit some hill tribes’ villages such as the H’Mong village of Ban Houeilampene and the Thai Lu village of Ban Kouaytoune.

Picnic lunch on board.

Arrive in Pakbeng, a rustic town village that sits on a steep hillside and offers spectacular views on the Mekong River. Check-in at your hotel.

Overnight in Pakbeng.

After breakfast, continue your cruise along the Mekong River towards the former Royal capital of Luang Prabang (approx. 6 hours depending on the water level). On the way, stop at Pak Ou, at the confluence of the Nam Ou and Mekong Rivers, to visit the sacred caves of Tham Ting and Tham Phoum, home to hundreds of Buddha statues. Continue to Ban Xang Hai village where sticky rice wine distillation can be seen and then stop at Vat Longkhoune temple, famous for its 18^th century frescoes.

Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, transfer and check-in at your hotel.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, visit Vat Xieng Thong, considered as the most beautiful temple of Luang Prabang with roofs that sweep low to the ground, Vat Visoun temple with its Singhalese-style stupa, That Makmo, and Vat Aham, one of the city’s major tutelary shrines housing the puppets of the Lao ancestors. In the afternoon, visit the National Museum (former King’s Palace) displaying a collection of personal artifacts of the Royal Family. Continue to visit the nearby Vat Mai temple, which was the residence of a Buddhist patriarch before 1975, before climbing Phousi Hill to enjoy the sunset over the city and the Mekong River.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, excursion by car to the beautiful waterfalls of Khouang Sy nestled in the lush tropical vegetation. On the way, visit some hill tribes’ villages such as the H’Mong village of Ban Thinkeo and the Khmu village of Ban Thapaene. Return to Luang Prabang and continue to visit the weaving village of Ban Xang Khong, where traditional mulberry leaves paper is also produced. Time at leisure to stroll through the H’Mong market.

Overnight in  Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, time at leisure until your transfer to the airport to take your flight to Vientiane. Meet upon arrival, transfer and check-in at your hotel. In the afternoon, visit Vat Sisaket, the only original temple in Vientiane (built in 1818 – it is the sole survivor of a Thai invasion in 1828), the Ho Phrakeo, the former Royal

Chapel, where an Emerald Buddha at the early time of the Lane Xang Kingdom was enshrined, the Patouxai and That Luang stupa.

Overnight in Vientiane.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Pakse. Meet upon arrival at the airport, transfer and check-in at your hotel. Excursion by car to Tadlo on the Northern edge of the Boloven Plateau. En route, visit Yaheune and Lavai villages. Upon arrival in Tadlo, discover the Seset waterfalls and visit the surrounding Alack and Nge tribal villages.

Lunch at Tadlo Resort.

Continue towards Paksong. En route, visit a Kaleum village and a tea and coffee plantation in Paksong. Then stop at the impressive Tadfane Waterfalls before returning to Pakse.

Overnight in Pakse.

After breakfast, transfer to the pier and board a traditional riverboat for a 2-hour cruise downstream the Mekong River towards the former Royal capital of Champassak. Upon arrival, continue by car to Vat Phou (8 km from the city), a pre-Angkorian temple dating from the 6-13^th century,  classified as a World Heritage Site since 2002.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, continue your cruise along the Mekong River towards Khong Island (approx. 5 hours depending on water level). En route, stop at Ban Houei Thomo village and walk to the nearby ruins of the Khmer temple of Oum Moung, which is hidden in a thick forest. Arrival in Khong before  sunset and check-in at your hotel.

Overnight in Khong Island.

After breakfast, board a long-tail riverboat for a cruise through the maze of waterways into the tropical paradise of Siphandone “The 4,000 Islands”. During the rainy season, the Mekong River reaches a breadth of 14 km; when the water recedes, it leaves behind a myriad of islands and islets. Visit Det and Som Islands for a glimpse of  the way of life of the fishermen.

Arrive in Khone Island and enjoy a lunch at a local restaurant.

Discover Khone Island’s colonial vestiges, including an old railway, which was  built by the French in 1897 in order to bypass the powerful rapids that disrupt the navigation along the Mekong River. Continue to Liphi Waterfall, a home to a colony of fresh water dolphins, a rare and endangered species known as Irrawaddy Dolphins. Return to Khong Island.

Overnight in Khong Island.

After breakfast, cross the Mekong River and continue to the famous waterfalls of Khone Phapeng, the largest cascade on the Mekong River along its 4,350 km journey from the Tibetan Plateau to the South China Sea. Drive back to Pakse.

Picnic lunch en route.

On the way, stop at Ban Khiet Ngong village, populated by the Suay ethnic group, and take an elephant ride through the primitive jungle to explore the enigmatic ruins of Phou Asa temple. Upon arrival in Pakse, check-in at your hotel.

Overnight in Pakse.

After breakfast, drive towards the Lao-Thai border crossing of Chongmek and proceed through immigration. Continue to the Angkorian temple of Preah Vihear (8-10^th century). Its spectacular location on top of a cliff in the Dangrek range overlooks the Cambodian plains.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Transfer to Ubon Ratchatani airport for your departure flight.

End of our services.