LAOS FAMILY TOUR 9D/8NT

Sabaidee! Welcome to Vientiane, Laos. You are greeted by your guide and driver at the airport for your transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free at your leisure. Overnight in Vientiane.

Visit to the city’s oldest temple, 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 thousands 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.

In the afternoon, take a short drive out of the city to explore the surreal and unique Buddha Park or Xiang Khouan as it’s known by the locals. A park filled with hundreds of Buddhist and Hindu statues that are definitely a world apart from your average temple visit. Back to the city and head to the riverside for a sundowner drink overlooking the Mekong River. Overnight in Vientiane.

Transfer to the airport for your early morning flight to Pakse, the provincial capital of Champasack where the Mekong and Sedon rivers meet. (Suggested flight: QV512 VTE – PKZ @ 0630 – 0715) 09:30 you transfer to a long tail riverboat for 2.5-hour-journey to Champassak. Upon arrival at the Vat Phou boat, cabins check-in. The highlight of the afternoon is the Wat Phou ruins. Located at the foot of a hill, Wat Phu reflects the Hindu culture of the pre-Buddhist Khmer society that constructed it. The summit, Phu Kao, immediately commands attention because of its shape, identified in ancient times with the linga, the phallic symbol of Shiva, from which originated its ancient name, Lingaparvata, and its reputation as a sacred hill. The permanent spring at the foot of the cliffs is probably one of the main reasons the ancient rulers of the area established a sanctuary to Shiva at this spot. As dusk falls, transfer back to your boat, enjoy the tropical sunset on the deck. Dinner is served on board, while the boat docks for the night alongside a remote Laotian village. Overnight on board.

Breakfast is on board as setting sail for the village of Huei Thamo. This is a small village a few minutes’ walk away from the mysterious hidden forest temple of Oum Muong. Afterward, you rejoin the boat to continue your cruise southwards. Lunch is on the deck, while leisurely sailing closer to the wild paradise of the “4,000 Islands”. Here, the Mekong can reach up to 14km wide during the rainy season and it is dotted with thousands of islands of various sizes. Late afternoon disembark from the boat to walk through Ban Deua Tia, a small Laotian Village where the traditional way of life has not changed in centuries. Your day’s cruise finishes at the most northern tip of Don Khong, the largest inhabited island in the river archipelago.
Overnight on board.

While you breakfast on the deck, the boat cruises the Mekong to the small village of Ban Veuthong, where you board a small boat to meander among the 4,000 Islands to Khone Island. You will visit the old French railway and walk across the bridge that links Khone and Det Islands. Continue on the boat back to the mainland for lunch at a local restaurant in a small fishing village, Xieng Di, on the banks of the Mekong. You then transfer by bus to the historically significant Pha Pheng waterfall, Southeast Asia’s biggest waterfall and is known as the Niagara of the East. Later back to Pakse and spend the rest day at your leisure. Overnight in Pakse.

After breakfast, you head out to Tad Fane, twin waterfalls plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by flourishing vegetation and Bolaven Plateau, a place high above the Mekong known for its temperate climate, coffee plantations and mist-shrouded waterfalls. Continue your drive to Ban Kok Phoung Tai to meet the Katou, an indigenous Mon-Khmer ethnic group. This area is also home to the Alak, Near ethnic groups. Reaching the charming village of Tadlo, you will enjoy swimming in the pool by Tadlo Waterfall, Back to Pakse and find the way to the airport for the flight to Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

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 the 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. Wat Xieng Thong is the largest and most splendid temple of Luang Prabang royal city, the temple is best known for its impressive Tree of Life mural depicting the Buddhist story. Next is the National Museum, housed in the former Royal Palace, showcases many treasures of Laos’ royal past and features the Prabang, the sacred Buddha image for which Luang Prabang was named. Continue to 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; Step up Mount Phousi, it 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.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

In the morning, you head out to the local farm of Luang Prabang and experience the local way of rice cultivation. After having an overview by visiting a small rice museum, you will learn how rice is farmed, using water buffalo for ploughing together with the traditional manual processes of ranking, transplanting, sowing, grinding, and pounding. A short drive will take you to Khuang Si Waterfall, the multilayer falls drop several hundred feet into a series of pools. You can climb up and view the falls from above. Bring a swimsuit if you’d like to swim.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.