Luang Prabang 5 days 4 nights

Day 1: Arrival into Luang Prabang

Your expert guide will meet you at Luang Prabang International Airport while your private transportation brings you directly to your chosen hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 2: Luang Prabang – City tour, and Pak Ou Caves (B)

Today, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temples of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well as exploring the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims. Along the way, we will stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is produced. On return, we take a short drive to another small village Ban Phanom, which is famous for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 3: Luang Prabang – City tour, and Khouangsi falls (B)

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.

After breakfast, we visit the National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace.  It displays a collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign. There will also be time for us to look around the Central Market. We then continue towards Khouangsi Waterfall, en route, we visit the local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Ban Ou, Laoloum and Ban Thapene, and then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall.   Here you 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 hand weaving and for traditional Saa Paper making. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 4: Luang Prabang – Elephant encounter (B, L)

• 8:30 am – 9:00 am:  Pick up by our English speaking guide from your hotel lobby
• Arrival at the Elephant Village Camp: Welcome and greeting by our camp manager and participate in short briefing about elephants
• Ride the Elephant: Enjoy the impressive experience of a 3 km elephant ride on the howdah (elephant seat) or on your elephant’s neck!  2 per elephant
• Mahout Training: Receive your basic mahout training on how to control an elephant!
• Lunch: Dine at our Elephant Camp restaurant.  Buffet lunch served with coffee / tea and drinking water (vegetarian options available)
• Bathe Your Elephant: Take your own elephant down to the Nam Khan river for an exhilarating and once in a lifetime bathing experience!
• Boat trip to the Tad Sae Waterfall: Take a traditional Lao long boat to the Tad Sae Waterfall and relax, dip your feet or take a swim in the clear, cool water
• Depart:  Transfer back to your Hotel in Luang Prabang between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 5: Luang Prabang – Departure

After breakfast, free and easy at own leisure until time to transfer to the airport for your outbound flight to the next destination. End tour in Laos!