LAOS ELEPHANTS & HIGHLIGHTS 12D/11NT

Luang Prabang Arrival
Sabaidee! Welcome to Luang Prabang, Laos. You are greeted by your guide and driver at the airport for your transfer to the hotel. You then climb the 328 steps leading to Phousi Hill. Mount Phousi cuts a distinctive figure in the center of Luang Prabang skyline. The hill, with spectacular 360-degree views, is popular as a place to watch the sunrise or set. The Night Market here is a great place for wandering, offering a lovely variety of handmade textiles crafted by local and hill-tribe people, along with street food, knick-knacks, and friendly banter.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang
Today you explore Luang Prabang by bicycle, a fun and eco-friendly way of exploring the town. Visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, a peaceful temple featuring the much-photographed Watermelon Stupa; Wat Aham, the site of Luang Prabang’s most important spirit shrine; Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang’s largest and most splendid temple, is best known for its impressive Tree of Life mural depicting the Buddhist story. Continue to the small Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center (closed on Monday) has over 400 objects representing over 30 distinct ethnic groups. You can view the collection, comprised of traditional clothing and domestic textiles, jewelry, religious and ritual objects, and other items. You then head out to Phone Say village, specializing in the weaving textiles, remains one of the most intact traditional Lao villages in the area. Though it cannot be reached by car, it is only a 20-minute walk away from the main road. You will meet Ms. Ting who learned her hand-weaving skills from her mom and who now teaches young Laotian women the valuable skill. After visiting her workshop, you will be treated to a home-cooked lunch by her younger sister Mrs. Bounkhong, who teaches cooking at a college in Luang Prabang. Lunch on the hand-made bamboo terrace by the Mekong River is another memorable experience and a taste of real Lao traditions. Visit the Ock Pop Tock weaving center, run by an organization that offers local weavers the chance to earn a decent income with their weaving skills.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang: Kuang Si Trek
Option: Early wake-up call possible to join the locals giving food to hundreds of Buddhist monks returning from morning prayers. Take a stroll through morning market and take part in this everyday ritual. Breakfast at the hotel or join the locals for a bowl of delicious noodle soup after the alms giving ritual. You then transfer 40km outside of Luang Prabang to Ban Long Lao Mai, home to Hmong community. Set in a valley between many large karst limestone mountains, you will explore this village and interact with the local to learn more about their culture. Following is a nice walking trail from Ban Long Lao Mai to Kuang Si waterfall. At the famous Kuang Si Waterfall, a short walk brings you down to the abrupt waterfall where you will have time for a swim or simply relaxing by the water’s edge.
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang – Sayaboury
Leave for Sayaboury and Elephant Conservation Center, the land of Asian Elephant. Upon arrival, you will visit the Center and our veterinarians tell you about their work here and take you around the facility. Then, you will have further opportunity to see, observe and learn about the mysterious pachyderm at the museum and at the mahout school. The Mahouts will then show you the three different ways to mount and dismount an elephant the traditional way (bareback) and basic commands used to control an elephant. You will be proposed to ride at the elephant yard to implement your fresh knowledge.
Overnight in Elephant Conservation Center

Elephant Conservation Center
This morning, you will join the elephants for their daily exercise, an hour walk in the surrounding tropical forest. Stay close to the elephant, it will show you the way. Afternoon, you will visit our elephant nursery. It is located inside the forest where the baby elephants are learning how to sustain themselves closely watched by mum. You will receive information about the reproduction program set up by the NGO Elefant Asia while watching them play. An Elephant Bath will help you learn more about the unique bond between the mahout and his elephant. Take a boat trip on the lake to watch the sunset over the islands while enjoying a fresh drink and snacks. Before dinner, you will have some time to visit the elephant museum, swim or simply relax on the lakeshore.
Overnight in Elephant Conservation Center

Sayaboury – Luang Prabang
This morning, we will lead you for a half day trekking through the forest to discover the hidden sacred Buddha footprint… You can learn about local customs and fall in love with the beauty of the forest and landscapes. After lunch, transfer back to Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang – Vang Vieng
Today you will travel by road to Vang Vieng. The journey takes you through stunning landscapes of steep terraced fields and hill villages, and you will stop at some villages to interact with the friendly Khmu and Hmong people. Vang Vieng is a small village nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River, where you will visit the famous Tham Jang Caves, once used by the local people as a hideout from Chinese invaders. Overnight in Vang Vieng.

Vang Vieng – Vientiane. This morning, spend your half-day at Organic Farm where you will have interesting local interaction with the farmers planting Mulberry Tea, Wine, and Goat raising as well as making goat-cheese. Continue your expedition back to Vientiane. Overnight in Vientiane

Vientiane
Drive to the outskirts to Buddha Park, an enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures scattered in a meadow along the Mekong River near the Friendship Bridge. The approximately 200 religious images here were created by a mysterious monk spreading his philosophy on life and revealing his ideas about the universe. The park’s signature piece is a large but very flat reclining Buddha.

Later visit COPE educational centre, a heartbreaking but compelling place that teaches us about Laos’ Hidden War. Afterwards is Wat Sisaket, the city’s oldest temple. Dates back to 1818, Wat Sisaket is the most important heritage temple now standing in Laos. It houses thousand of Buddha images from many countries, long lost architectural styles, sculptures and paintings; Wat Prakeo, former royal temple of the Lao monarchy and originally built in 1565, is home to the Emerald Buddha image, Buddhist sculptures are displayed along the perimeter wall, including a 6th to 9th century Dvaravati-style stone Buddha and several standing and sitting Buddhas. En route to Lao’s national icon, That Luang Stupa, stop at the Patuxay Monument, an irresistibly photogenic structure which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe. Dinner is arranged at Makphet restaurant. Sample the modern Laos food in this training business run by the Friends Program ‘Peuan Mit’, a project for marginalised children in Lao PDR. Overnight in Vientiane

Flight to Pakse
Transfer to Wattay airport for your flight to Pakse, the provincial capital of Champasack where the Mekong and Sedon rivers meet. Today you will explore the ruins of Wat Phu. Built by the Khmer, Wat Phu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 5th century, and a highlight of Southern Laos. After that, you’ll drive to the King Fisher Ecolodge, a spacious bungalow-style lodge with an open-air restaurant overlooking the Pha Po wetland in Xe Pian National Protected Area. Overnight in Ban Kiet Ngong

Ban Kiet Ngong hiking. Xe Pian National Protected Area (NPA) is one of the most important nature reserves in Laos. Your local guide, who has a wealth of knowledge about area wildlife and the medicinal and food uses of local forest plants will provide a briefing on your trekking route. Trekking through forest deep into the reserve, you may see elephants in the jungle not too far from the village. Along the way you will have a picnic lunch. After some time to relax, you’ll continue, while observing and listening to the many birds inhabiting the canopy and lower sections of the forest. If you are lucky, you may see monkeys. Your guide will show you the “Big Hole”, once used by local people to catch wild elephants. On the loop back to the village, you will stop at Phou Asa temple on the plateau close to ban Kiet Ngong. Overnight in Ban Kiet Ngong. Hiking duration: 4-4.5 hours

Pakse Departure. Transfer to Pakse airport for your onward flight. We wish you have a pleasant flight. End of service.