Wake up as the sun rises, we will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, which dates to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temple to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets.
We then visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace which offers a glimpse into daily life, with vendors selling fresh produce, handmade crafts, and textiles. These experiences provide a unique and authentic cultural immersion.
After breakfast at the hotel, we ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the Mekong River.
From there, we will transfer directly to Buffalo Dairy Farm on the way to Kuang Si waterfalls, which offer the fun and interesting experience.
Then continue directly to the beautiful Kuang Si, which is the biggest waterfall in the Luang Prabang area with three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop into spectacular azure pools before flowing downstream. The pools also make great swimming holes and are very popular with both tourists and locals
There is also the chance to walk to the nearby village of Ban Thapene, and explore the hidden waterfalls, which is rarely visited by other tourists
If you wish, take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers.
On the way back to Luang Prabang, 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 your hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
ITINERARY DETAILS
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN LUANG PRABANG & BACI CEREMONY (-/-/D)
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.
After a soft rest, you may want to stroll around for the first impression of this ancient city.
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.
Dinner will be served after that for you to share with the host family, that gives you the best start of Laos culture exploration.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
DAY 2: ANCIENT TOWN - MEKONG RIVER - PAK OU CAVES (B/-/-)
DAY 3: MORNING ALMS GIVING - KUANG SI WATERFALL (B/-/-)
DAY 4: FARM LIFE EXPERIENCE - KUANG SI WATERFALL (B/-/-)
After breakfast, you will first visit Royal Palace Museum, which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family.
We then embark on a leisure cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious 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 village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine.
On arrival back in the city, we will visit the old Wat Sene and the nearby magnificent Wat Xiengthong a superb piece of Lao temple architecture, which presents a sweeping two-tiered roof and ornate mosaics including a beautiful ‘tree of life ‘glass montage on the rear temple wall.
If time permits, we will drive out of the city to visit Ban Xangkhong, the Thai Lue village, which is famous for its arts and crafts. We also visit the nearby village of Ban Xienglek specializing in making the traditional Saa paper.
You can either get to the nearby village and join a petanque game with the local team.
Late afternoon, we will make a stop at Wat Prabath to admire the sunset; this is the ideal place to catch the last beauty of the day.
The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Embark on today's exploration of daily life in Laos by venturing to a community-based rice farm situated in the serene countryside beyond Luang Prabang. Nestled amid mountains and rice fields, you'll immerse yourself in the authentic rural experience, engaging in various farm activities or simply observing them from the vantage point of a traditional Lao rice house balcony, surrounded by rice terraces and an organic vegetable farm.
Take the opportunity to visit nearby workshops where local artisans practice their crafts, including bamboo weavers, blacksmiths, and sugar cane processors. Afterward, delve into a tour of the organic garden, discovering the uses of natural herbs in traditional medicine.
Free to stroll around the town before transferring out to the airport to take the departure flight