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Luang Prabang & Southern Laos

Within 13-day Luang Prabang & Southern Laos, you can see all the best Luang Prabang & Southern Laos has to offer. From the never fading culture to the nature beauties; from the ancient city to the amazing Kuang Si waterfalls, from the calm Pak Ou caves to the mighty Mekong river. Go south you will discover the mountainous area of Bolaven Plateau with plenty of colorful hill tribe village, amazing waterfalls, and green nature; the World Heritage Site of Wat Phou; or the exciting of 4000-island area. 

HIGHLIGHTS

Various activities on sites

  • Gentle city visits of the ancient town of Luang Prabang
  • Cruise on the Mekong River to explore Pak Ou caves & 4000-island area
  • Visit the Mandalao Camp, join the elephant walk/ride to explore the Nam Khan river. 
  • Soft trek in Bolaven Plateau to explore various waterfalls & local villages
  • Tuk Tuk tour around the 4000-island area to explore some interesting spots

Unforgettable moments

  • Walking along the small street of Luang Prabang and admire the local life
  • Watching the daily morning alms giving in Luang Prabang
  • The cruise along the Mekong River whilst the sun is setting behind the mountains
  • Sense the skins, the smell, and the breath of the elephants as close as you wish
  • Driving through the Bolaven Plateau with special jeep
  • Learning about the coffee production in Laos, something you cannot miss

Nature exploration

  • The beauty of the countryside of Luang Prabang
  • The untouched nature along Mekong River
  • The exciting Kuang Si waterfalls, and their surrounding jungle
  • The scenic green mountainous area of Bolaven Plateau with various watefalls, and plantation
  • The amazing Khone Phapheng waterfalls, one of the biggest waterfalls of the world

Culture experience

  • Attending the daily morning alms giving in Luang Prabang
  • Emerging into the local life with the Baci Ceremony
  • Visit some temple and museum along the way to learn about the culture of Laos
  • Visit plenty of local village in Bolaven Plateau to learn about the history of southern Laos

Map

Detailed schedule

Day 1 - Welcome to Luang Prabang - Baci Ceremony

On arrival at the Luang Prabang airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel.
Situated in the centre of northern Laos, Luang Prabang is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding cultural, historic and architectural values and its harmonious relationship between the natural and built environment.
Luang Prabang is the great place to start the new chapter of your life story.
After a soft rest, you may want to stroll around for the first impression of this ancient city stopping here and there to admire the local life and chat with the local people.
Late afternoon, join a private Baci ceremony at a local family. The Baci ceremony as a traditional ritual of the Lao people expresses the spirituality of the country and is a highly memorable experience and a deep insight into Lao culture for the participants.
Joining the ceremony will bring you luck and the endless happiness during your marriage life.
The day will be ended with a romantic candlelight dinner along the Mekong River under the starry skies.
Overnight in Luang Prabang

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Day 2 - Luang Prabang - City tour - Kuang Si waterfalls

After breakfast, we visit Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts.  
Our next stop in the city is the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. 
We then transfer to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. 
You have the rest of the afternoon to refresh at the waterfalls. If you wish, we also see up close Asiatic bears at the Bear Rescue Centre along the jungle walk to the waterfall.
Arriving back in town, we will take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, set serenely close to the Mekong, this beautiful, traditionally styled workshop, where weavers, spinners and batik makers produce top-quality fabrics, offers free tours every half-hour.
Transfer back to Luang Prabang, we ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River. 
The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang

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Day 3 - Mandalao Elephant Camp - Chateau Orientale

After picking you up from town or your hotel we will leave Luang Prabang around 08:30 for the nearby village of Xieng Lom. Upon arrival you are invited to have coffee or tea as your guide for the day provides an in-depth introduction to elephant behavior and the ways we should interact with them.
A quick boat ride across the Nam Khan River will deliver you to the waiting elephants. You will be introduced to your new friends and feed them some special treats - a sure way to begin an instant friendship.
Enjoy observing elephants from the riverbank as Mahouts wash them in the Nam Khan river. You can experience elephants washing, swimming and playing in the water. Please note this is voluntary activity for the elephants and Mandalao does not force them to get in the water. (On cold days the elephants are less likely to want to get wet.)
After 2 hours crossing through a beautiful stretch of traditional Lao gardens you will arrive at the jungle covered Huay Nok stream. As you walk alongside the elephants and crisscross through the cool water you will experience a profound sense of understanding, respect, and caring for these amazing animals. As you prepare to start your walk back to MandaLao, you will bid farewell to your new friends with more treats and goodbye hugs.
When you get back to MandaLao, you will head to the restaurant and enjoy a delicious fresh Lao meal made from our own organically grown produce. There you can relax, kick-back, and process the day’s experiences on the veranda overlooking the river and misty mountains.
Following lunch, you are free to stroll around the camp for your own exploration before walking to the nearby beautiful Chateau Orientale Resort, which may remind you about the faraway land lost in the mist of history.
Leisurely relax at the terrace overlooking the Nam Khan River or enjoy plenty activities offered by the resort.
Overnight at Chateau Orientale
 

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Day 4 - Free day at Chateau Orientale

You have the full day to relax at the resort or enjoy plenty of activities offer on spot including kayaking, cycling, or walking.
Overnight at Chateau Orientale
 

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Day 5 - Mekong River Cruise & Pak Ou caves

After breakfast, transfer to boat pier to take the Nomad Cruise upstream the Mekong River to Pak Ou cave 
Our first stop will be the remote island temple shrine of Wat Done Khoun Nelemith, 16 km from Luang Prabang. 
Surrounded by the Mekong River on all sides, this fascinating temple and its monks see very few visitors. 
We continue north to the famous Pak Ou Caves. These ancient shrines are filled with thousands of Buddha images and have long served as a pilgrimage for all, including the former Royal Family. Leave the dramatic karst caves and head back downstream, savouring a luscious lunch on board.
Arriving back in town, we will enjoy a traditional Lao massage at Lao Red Cross, which will help you recover from the exploration in the last some days. 
After that, stroll along the Mekong river to admire the sunset before joining the cinema at Amalea Restaurant to watch the 100-year-old Chang Movie, which is the oldest film about Laos. This is a silent film about a poor farmer in northern Nan Province (northern Thailand) and his daily struggle for survival in the jungle. 
The dinner will be served after that at the restaurant before transferring back to your hotel.
Overnight in Luang Prabang

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Day 6 - Luang Prabang - Flight to Pakse - Bolaven - Tadlo

After breakfast, we take the flight to Pakse, the biggest city of the southern Laos.
Upon arrival, we head east to Pakse and onto the Bolaven Plateau. The Bolaven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. 
We will drive to Tad Phaseum waterfalls, where we enjoy an easy trek to nearby villages of ethnic minorities villages like Laven, Alak, Taoy, and others.  
From there, we drive further to Tadlo Waterfalls, upon arrival, we will trekking to visit waterfall and other minority village near by Tadlo area of Ban Kiengtanglae and Ban Nanong. 
Overnight at Tadlo Lodge.
 

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Day 7 - Jeep tour - Coffee Trail Exploration

09:00AM, we will transfer you to Ban Lao Ngam, where we will meet the Jeep tour specialist.
After a short briefing, we will drive to Suay village, where we can find many traditional long house made by bamboo, which is shared by some generations of 01 family.
We then continue driving to Laven village to see their daily life and their paddy field. This is the first minority group found in Bolaven Plateau.
11:00 AM, we continue driving to the Coffee Farm of Mr. Khamsone via the 10KM bumpy and muddy road, which will take you 01 hour with your special Jeep car.
Upon arrival, Mr khamsone, the Coffee farm’s owner will take 1 hour to demonstrate about coffee roasting step and finishing by a coffee cupping to Savor the different kind of coffee (Robusta, Arabica and Typica).  
After that, we will hop on the Jeep and drive 30 minutes to Tad Moun waterfalls, where we can enjoy the fresh cool water, and visit the nearby vegetable farm.
Finally, we will drive to Paksong, where we will spend the night.

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Day 8 - Tad Fan - Wat Phou - Champasak

After breakfast, we departure for Champasak. 
Along the way, we will have chance to enjoy the scenery around Tad Fan waterfall, which is spectacular with twin waterfalls plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by flourishing vegetation. 
We will also see the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that are grown in the area. 
Arriving in Champasak, visit Wat Phou, an ancient Khmer religious complex dating back to the 5th Century. 
Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Wat Phou is a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits amidst the rice fields and waterways of southern Laos, which was built by the rulers of the Khmer empire before the construction of Angkor Wat. 
The temple served as the most important economic and political centre of the region and still is one of the Lao people’s most revered temples.
After your visit, we continue in to Champasak to see samples of French colonial architecture before transferring to your hotel in town to spend the night.

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Day 9 - Champasak - 4000 Islands

After breakfast, we take the boat to the other side of Mekong River at Ban Muang and transfer directly to Khong Island.
Here, we embark on a 1.5 hour long tail boat for venturing into the widest reach of the Mekong River, where during the dry season the waters recede and leave behind thousands of islets, giving this area a lovely name” Si Phan Done”. 
Upon arrival, explore the local peaceful villages of Ban Khone, where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with its locomotive. 
We continue to discover the 4000 islands area by tuktuk and visit the marvelous Liphi waterfall, also called the "Corridor of the Devil" one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking Lao border with Cambodia. 
If we are lucky, we may even see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone. 
Free for the rest of the day for your own exploration of the island. We recommend you take a bike for a ride around the island to see the local life and admire the sunset along the Mekong riverbank.
Overnight in Khone Island.

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Day 10 - Free day at 4000 Islands

You have a full free day to relax in Khone Island. Stroll around the small street or hang out at one of the riverside bars are some of the recommended activities.
You can either visit the nearby Done Det, which is famous among backpackers or spend the day sunbathing and enjoy the pool of the hotel.
Overnight in Khone Island.

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Day 11 - Khone Phapheng Waterfalls - Don Daeng

After breakfast, return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng, which is considered the largest waterfall by volume in South East Asia
Khone Phapheng is an impressive spot near the Lao-Cambodian border, set within an area which is teeming with wildlife, making this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos. 
Afterwards we drive back to Champasak, where we will take the boat to the isolated island of Done Daeng.
Free for the rest of the day to relax. You can either enjoy the pool of the lodge or cycle into the nearby village to admire the local life.
Late afternoon, we will join a sunset cruise along the Mekong river admiring the last beauties of the day.
Then cruise back to La Folie Lodge.
Overnight at La Folie Lodge

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Day 12 - Free day on Don Daeng

Full day free for your own exploration.
The lodge have free boat transfer to Champasak, free bicycle, and plenty of activities available to book on spot.
We recommend you join a traditional dance class within 1 hour and/or a cooking class at a villager home.
Overnight at La Folie Lodge

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Day 13 - Don Daeng - Pakse - Departure

Free before transferring back to Pakse to take the departure flight

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We believe you have the right to arm yourselves with as much information as possible before making any decision.

Check below our detailed tips & guide for every places to visit in Laos, recommendation regarding the inclusion in each theme you prefer, and what you can do based on the time frame you have.

PLACES TO VISIT IN Laos
Luang Prabang
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The ancient capital of Lane Xang Kingdom

Vang Vieng
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Vientiane
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The ancient capital of Lane Xang Kingdom

4000 Islands
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Phonsavan
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Nong Khiaw
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Laos PLANS BY TRAVEL THEME
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The combination of fun and educational activities

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Explore every corners of the destination on two wheels

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Easy excursions combined with unique experience making the long-lasting romantic memories

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Explore the least visited destinations and unknown experience on foot

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The combination of some must-see experience and the cruise tour along the mighty rivers

Unseen
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Reveal off-the-beatentrack routes, least explored destinations, and unknown tribe groups

Wellness & Leisure
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Easy excursion combined with week-long beach break

Laos PLANS BY TIME FRAME
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Laos BLOG ARTICLES

Taking a cruise on the fascinating Mekong River offers a unique and memorable travel experience. The Mekong River, one of the longest rivers in Asia, flows through several countries, including China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Each destination along the river offers its own distinct cultural, historical, and natural attractions. In this article, we will go over what you can expect when cruising the Mekong River. 

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Despite being open to tourism for the past two decades, Laos remains a destination brimming with hidden treasures and unexplored gems, awaiting the arrival of curious adventurers.

Among these remarkable places is the Xe Champhone Loop, an enchanting location that captures the essence of Laos.

In early September 2022, we had the privilege of embarking on an Educational Tour organized by the esteemed Tetraktys Organization. Our objective was to delve into the wonders of this loop and promote its allure to international tourists.

During our expedition, we were awe-struck by the captivating sights and valuable insights we gained. The area boasts an abundance of captivating natural landscapes, rich traditional culture, and warm-hearted hosts.

We have compiled comprehensive information about this captivating region below.

Stay connected to discover more about this hidden gem!

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The romance of train travel is alive and well in Laos. The recently-completed high-speed railway that stretches from Vientiane, through Laos, and into southern China is operating ‘full steam’ ahead. 

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Luang Prabang will celebrate the boat racing festival (Boun Souang Heua) in Namkhan River during Buddhist Lent Period, on August 26th, 2022.

A notice issued by Luang Prabang provincial office says that Luang Prabang will arrange Boun Hor Khaopadapdin, an annual festival held to feed spirits with home-made parcels of food, and the boat racing activities along Namkhan River. 

The province intends to promote the traditional festival and practices in hopes of attracting more domestic and foreign tourists, generating revenue for locals.

Traditional racing boats are made of a single tree and can accommodate up to fifty rowers.

The boats are considered sacred, are cleaned, and are given offerings which are believed to bring victory to the team.

In the downtown heart of Luang Prabang, there will also be gatherings and markets.

The festival will be held on August 26th, 2022, the same day with Boun Khao Padapdine.

Covid-19 put a stop to traditional customs and festivals for almost three years, but now that the measurements have been relaxed, tourist destinations in Laos expect to recommence festivities and offer hope for travelers.

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How long to spend in Laos may seem like a ridiculous question to address, but if you have plenty of time and aren’t sure how much to dedicate, this blog will definitely help you out. 

How long can you stay in Laos? 

Well, as long as you like! From 7 days to a month, there are various ways you can travel across Laos and uncover its secrets. Advising an ideal trip length for Laos is a bit of a complex challenge, as it depends on several factors such as the places you wish to visit, the activities you plan to join, or if you want to combine Laos with its neighbor countries. 

Stay tuned! We are going to sort all these things out including the step-by-step guide to create the best itinerary in Laos.

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The Rocket Festival (Boun Bang Fai) is a merit-making ceremony traditionally practiced by ethnic Lao people near the beginning of the wet season in numerous villages and municipalities, in the regions of Northeastern Thailand and Laos. Celebrations typically include preliminary music and dance performances, competitive processions of floats, dancers and musicians on the second day, and culminating on the third day in competitive firings of home-made rockets. Local participants and sponsors use the occasion to enhance their social prestige, as is customary in traditional Buddhist folk festivals throughout Southeast Asia.

The festival in Thailand also includes special programs and specific local patterns like Bung Fai (Parade dance) and a Beautiful Bung Fai float such as Yasothon the third weekend of May, and continues Suwannaphum District, Roi Et on the first weekend of June, Phanom Phrai District Roi Et during the full moon of the seventh month in Lunar year's calendar each year. The Bung Fai festival is not only found in Isan or Northeasthern Thailand and North Thailand and Laos, but also in Amphoe Sukhirin, Narathiwat.

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