NORTHERN LAOS ADVENTURE

Today marks the first day of your incredible adventure through Laos. The trip begins in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang where a private minivan awaits you at the airport to take you to your accommodation. Enjoy a free afternoon to relax and aclimatize in preparation for the next adventure-filled days!

After breakfast visit Wat Xieng Thong, where you will have the opportunity to meet young novice monks just beginning their spiritual practice. Xieng Thong is one of the most outstanding Buddhist monasteries in all Laos, featuring a classic sim (ordination hall) and meticulous design.

Take a boat trip upriver to visit the Pak Ou Caves, famed for housing more than 10,000 statues of Buddha in a massive cavern overlooking the Mekong River. When an image of Buddha cracks or is damaged, it is bad luck to keep it around, but it cannot be destroyed. For hundreds of years, old Buddha in Laos have been retired to these caves, and the sight of so many in one place is quite incredible. The lower cave holds the vast majority, but you will also have a chance to see the upper cave, as it is the starting point for your one-hour trek to a local village. Before leaving the caves, make an offering, if you wish. The locals who protect and maintain the site greatly appreciate any donation.

This morning you may want to wake up early and participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black Alms-giving bowls being given offerings from the local people, including the ubiquitous sticky rice. After breakfast, you will visit the morning Phosi Market where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit the Ban Ouay, Hmong Hill tribe, Ban Ou, Lowland Lao and Ban Thapene of Khmu village. Continue driving to the beautiful Kuangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or walk along the forest paths, return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Phanom, a well-known weaving village, return to the city by late evening for observing the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang

After meet at the hotel and cycle downhill to the boat dock where we cross the mighty Mekong River to reach Ban Xieng Man village. Upon arrival we continue cycling to Ban Na Kham which is known for it’s sugarcane growing and also Khaolam (Sticky rice and coconut milk cooked in Bamboo). Here we take some time to look around the village and perhaps sample some of this famous snack before continuing onwards to Ban Houay Tan an ethnic ‘Khmu’ village. Upon arrival we take a short break and spend some time looking around before continuing onwards to Somsisomphou village where we stop for lunch. After our lunch, we take some time to have a break before transforming from biking to trekking and begin by heading off through rice paddy fields before crossing a stream and arriving in the forest. We continue on trekking for around two more hours before arriving in Ban Phou Luang Tai, a Hmong village. Here we stay the night with a local family in their house which is a truly great experience and cultural exchange.

After breakfast we start our day by trekking through the forest to Ban Houay Pong an ethnic Khmu village. Here we take some time to relax before eating a delicious Lao lunch with a local family. After this we continue onwards to Muang Kham village, here they harvest river weed which is then dried before being seasoned and fried which turns it into a tasty snack! From here we take a 20 minute boat ride back to Luang Prabang just in time to watch the sunset.

 

Today you will travel by bus from Luang Prabang to the scenic karst mountain town of Vang Vieng. The bus drive is a bit long (average 7hours), however beautiful mountain roads will entertain you all way long.

In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Vang Vieng bus station, where our driver will meet you to guide you to your hotel. Enjoy laidback afternoon to discover the town and relax in your hotel.

Over the past three years, our local team has been working with climbers from all around the world to develop climbing in the Vang Vieng area. Two areas were developed with a total of 50 routes ranging from 5a to 8a+ (French). So there are nice pitches for all skill levels from beginners to experts.  After the tour, relax and recover as tomorrow real challenging adventures will begin!

Today challenge yourself!! Go for a ‘real’ trek! Dare-devil ‘abseiling’ in a 50 m waterfall, more than 120 m long zip-lining & cross the mind-blowing ‘via ferrata’! Our tour takes off from Vang Vieng with a short drive via Pakpo village boat pier where we cross the Nam Song River, either by boat or a sling bridge. We then embark on a trek that leads us through rice fields. Depending on the season and corresponding water levels, we may have to cross some small streams with the help of ropes to navigate the rapids. As we reach the first mountain range we make some steep ascents. We hike further into the valley until the terrain gets steeper and steeper again. We may have to cross some streams, but secured by a belay if rainfalls were heavy the days before. Now is the moment to start zip-lining adventures! However, the real challenge of today starts at the bottom of the waterfall on a so-called ‘via ferrata’ and a crossing a gorge via a U-shaped cable bridge.  Once on top the views of the wonderful limestone scenery reconcile our senses and let us forget any hardship. A welcome rest will refill the energy we need for the next leg of our tour. Our next destination is a 50 m waterfall thundering down high up on the mountain face. Once having overcome these obstacles, we set up our small camp especially prepared for an overnight stay. To spend your night you can either sleep under the stars on the wooden platform offering a stunning view or in a small bamboo hut which offers three little rooms. Get ready for a relaxing evening, enjoying the great views and the refreshing cool water of the fall, with good chats and a nice dinner until a rejuvenating sleep over powers us.

Do not miss the sunrise that welcomes you with new day rising upon the limestone mountains! After a hearty breakfast, we begin the day with zip lining! Secured by top-class belay devices you will head from platform to platform, some of them up to 50 m above the ground anchored in the crown of a mighty tree. These cables run through the jungle passing through the towering trees and waterfalls. Then take the challenge to master a V-shaped cable bridge crossing another gorge. It looks easy but is it? For sure it’s a lot of fun! Continue zip-lining adventures almost all way down the mountain. Finally walk back through the rice fields in the same way we arrived the day before until the waiting transportation brings us back to Vang Vieng. Along the way, we take a great picnic lunch Lao style. The two-day challenge that most 0f us will never forget comes to an end, exhausted and tired – an achievement extraordinaire.

Today is the day to leave Vang Vieng and head next to the Capital city of Laos – Vientiane.
However it would be shame just to drive straight for 4.5 hours without making a stop at the beautiful Nam Ngum Lake. We arrive at Nam Ngum Reservoir at lunch time. Our lunch will be served at the boat restaurant on the lake. After lunch, we embark for a boat ride to visit fishing villages in the islands. After enjoying the boat ride we will continue our way to Vientiane. A small stop will be made at a traditional salt abstraction site at Ban Keun as well as at Dong Mark Khai Market where local people gather to sale large selection of insects. Let’s taste some! We will arrive in Vientiane in the late afternoon where our driver will guide you to your hotel. Enjoy evening to explore the downtown and relax.

Despite the relatively close proximity to the Vientiane city, you will certainly feel like you are a million miles away! Get away from everything and immerse in nature! A very nice 23km cycling on dirt trails through paddy fields, forest, and villages, followed by soft paddling on inflatable Kayaks down the Mekong to the city center of Vientiane…A great day out!
After the tour enjoys your last evening in Vientiane Capital.

Approximately: Cycling 30 km & kayaking Mekong 16 km

Today marks the end of your memorable adventure through Laos.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Vientiane airport for your onward flight.