Classic Overland Laos 12D11N

Day 1: Arrival – Luang Prabang – Half Day City Tour (D)

On arrival at Luang Prabang International Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After you have had time to rest and freshen up we will head off on bicycles to see some of the highlights of Luang Prabang including a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts from the Royal period in Luang Prabang. Cycling on, we are seeing the city’s oldest temples, the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roof sweeping low to the ground, representing classical Lao architecture, the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham.

Your evening to free to explore the town and Night Market or relax at the hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 2: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves – Xiengmene (B/L)

Today we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, stopping at Ban Xiengmene, Wat Long Khun and the limestone cave of Tham Sakkarin.

Following a picnic lunch we continue our boat journey the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. These caves are an ancient pilgrimage site and contain thousands of gold lacquered Buddha images left there over hundreds of years.

Returning to Luang Prabang you have the option of visiting Ban Xiengkek and Ban Xangkhong where villagers making jute paper and continue to visit the textile village of Phanom, a small village known for its hand weaving or returning to your hotel to relax. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 3: Luang Prabang – Khouangsi Waterfall (B)

After breakfast back at the hotel we begin our journey to Khouangsi Waterfall stopping along the way to visit the morning Phousi Market, this where all the locals of Luang Prabang come to do their daily shopping. You will see a variety of local foodstuffs and products including dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, fish, vegetables and fruit, everything needed for daily life in Laos.

On arrival at the Khouangsi Waterfall you will have the opportunity to cool off with a refreshing swim in the topaz pools below the falls, walk along the forest trails and visit the Bear Sanctuary. Returning to Luang Prabang your afternoon is free to explore or relax at the hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 4: Luang Prabang – Xieng Khouang (B)

Today we depart early for a drive through spectacular scenery to Xiengkhouang Province, the home of the Plain of Jars. There are many stunning photo opportunities along the way and a couple of stops to explore hill tribe villages. After check in at your hotel in Phonsavan there will be time to go for a wonder through town, visit the MAG Centre or chill out over a drink at the hotel. Overnight in Xiengkhouang

Day 5: Xieng Khuang – Plain of Jars & Muang Khoun (B)

This morning we head out to explore the Plain of Jars. We will be visiting Sites 1, 2 & 3 as well as taking a short trek to a Tai Dam and Lao Leum village along the way.

Following lunch we drive on to explore the old capital of Muang Khoun and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe and Tai Dam people. Overnight in Xiengkhouang

Day 6: Xieng Khuang – Vang Vieng (B)

On our way out of town this morning we have time to visit the interesting Phonsavan Central Market and then drive on to Vang Vieng arriving there midafternoon.

After check in at your hotel you can explore the town or relax at the hotel and enjoy the stunning views as the sun sets behind the limestone kryst mountains across the river. Overnight in Vang Vieng

Day 7: Vang Vieng – Half Day tour – Vientiane (B)

Beginning our morning tour of Vang Vieng, we explore the famous caves of Tham Jang, which was once used by the local people as a hideout from Chinese invaders. We then cross the river to Ban Huai Ngai, where we can wonder through the village and observe the locals going about daily life.

At the Organic Farm you will have the opportunity to visit the goats, pigs and other wildlife, observe mud brick making and sample roasted goat cheese and mulberry wine. Follow lunch here we head south to Vientiane, where we will arrive before sunset. Overnight in Vientiane

Day 8: Vientiane – Half Day city tour (B)

This morning’s city tour enables you to see the major temples of Vientiane including the oldest, Wat Sisaket, with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit the national icon of Laos, That Luang Stupa, stopping along the way to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph, from there you visit COPE Center. The COPE was created in response to the need to provide UXO survivors with the care and support they required, namely by way of orthotic and prosthetic devices. This museum was set after in 1997 to help covering the victim during Indochina war.

The afternoon is free for you to explore the city, go shopping, take a stroll along the waterfront or relax at the hotel. Overnight in Vientiane

DAY 9: Vientiane – Pakse – Khong Islands (B)

We depart early this morning to head to the airport for our flight to Pakse. On arrival in Pakse, we drive south to Champassak and to visit the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia’s most dramatically situated temples. We have time to explore these intriguing Khmer ruins, which are perched at the base of Mount Phu Kao.

Following lunch, we continue our journey by road and long tail boat to Khone Island in the 4000 Islands area, where you have the rest of the day to relax. Overnight in Khone Island

Day 10: Khong Islands – Surrounding (B)

After an early morning breakfast, we explore Khone Island. Here we begin by re-tracing the French colonial-past at Ban Khone, where some old colonial houses still stand and you glimpse the first Lao railway with its own locomotive.

We continue our exploration of the area of the 4000 islands by boat and visit the beautiful Liphi waterfall, also known as the Samphamith, which forms a natural border between Lao and Cambodia.

We return to Ban Nakasang and drive to the famous waterfall of Khonephapheng Waterfall- the largest waterfall in South East Asia, also known as the ‘Niagara of the East’. Overnight in Khone Island

DAY 11: Khong Islands –Tad Lo – Pakse (B)

This morning we leave Khone Island and head for the refreshing mountain climate on the Bolevan Plateau. The area is famous for its many waterfalls and we will visit two of the best, Tad Fan, with its impressive twin falls cascading over 100 meters to the valley floor below and Tad Ngeuan, with its pristine pools for taking a refreshing dip and coffee shop and plantation where you can sample some real Lao coffee.

Along the way you will see the rich soils of the region being cultivated for coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops before our return to Pakse late afternoon. Overnight in Pakse

Day 12: Pakse – Departure (B)

After breakfast you will be transferred to Pakse Airport.