06 Days 05 Nites - Unveil Mystery Laos

Post date: Oct 28, 2011 5:00:31 AM

Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 2: LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU CAVES – KHOUANGSI WATERFALL (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner included)

With an optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (often in the form of sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual. You can also visit the morning Phosi Market where you can see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.

After breakfast at hotel, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city's oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a panaromic view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the small village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is distilled. We return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon, on the way we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a small village well known for its hand weaving.

After lunch at local restaurant, we continue towards Khouangsi Waterfall, enroute, we visit the local villages of Laotian ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Ban Ou, Laoloum and Ban Thapene, and drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall. Here we can take a dip in the inviting pools or walk along the forest trails surrounding the waterfall. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for silk handweaving and for traditional Saa Paper making. We return to the city by late evening to watch the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath.

Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 3: LUANG PRABANG – XIENG KHOUANG (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner included)

Breakfast at hotel, we begin our days drive through beautiful mountain scenery to Xieng Khouang, a province of Laos famous for its "Plain of Jars". There will be plenty of opportunities to stop off and visit the numerous villages along the way.

On arrival we check-in hotel, the evening is free at your leisure.

Lunch at local place in villages where we visit.

Dinner at local restaurant in Xieng Khouang. Overnight.

Day 4: XIENG KHOUANG – VIENTIANE (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner included)

Breakfast at hotel, we transfer out to visit the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site encompassing hundreds of large stone jars scattered throughout the plateau. In the afternoon there will be time to see the old capital of Muang Khoun Province and its nearby villages which are home to the Hmong hill-tribe and Tai Dam people who possess an interesting local culture and a vibrant history.

We have lunch in there, after that we board our short flight to Vientiane. On arrival we check-in hotel. After short rest, we will visit the Morning Market and the weaving village of Ban Nong Bouathong.

Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 5: VIENTIANE – CITY TOUR (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner included)

Breakfast at hotel, we see the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket, the temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to Lao's national icon, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop enroute to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph.

In the afternoon, after lunch at local restaurant then we transfer out to see Buddha Park, an enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, close to the Friendship Bridge. There are approximately 200 religious images dating back over 500 years, which were created by a mysterious monk spreading his philosophy on life and revealing his ideas about the universe. A spectacular view of over the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day.

Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 6: VIENTIANE – DEPARTURE (Breakfast included)

After breakfast at hotel, we check-out and transfer to airport for departure flight.