Fascinating Laos Guided Tour

Luang Prabang

Duration

11 days

Tour Type

Private

Price From

£2,190 pp

Overview: Fascinating Laos Tour

Discover the warmth of the Lao people and experience a fascinating insight into everyday life on this immersive 11-day guided tour with Emperor Tours. From peaceful riverside moments and traditional ceremonies to local cooking, forest landscapes, and encounters with Laos’ rich wildlife, this itinerary offers a unique opportunity to experience the country at a relaxed pace.

Tour Highlights:

Explore Luang Prabang’s beautiful temples, including Vat Xieng Thong and Vat Visoun, and visit the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre
- Cruise along the Mekong and enjoy a peaceful sunset with cocktails and local snacks beside the river
- Learn to prepare traditional Lao dishes during a cooking class at a local home, followed by lunch overlooking a small waterfall
- Visit the sacred Pak Ou Caves and stay at an eco lodge near a traditional Khamu village
- Experience a Baci ceremony and discover one of Laos’ most important cultural traditions
- Visit Shangri-La camp, ride elephants through teak forests to Tad Sae Waterfall, and return by bamboo raft along the Nam Khan River

The Fascinating Laos Tour offers a memorable opportunity to experience the country’s people, traditions, landscapes, and wildlife through a diverse and immersive itinerary.

Day 1 - UK departure

Depart the UK with international economy flight to Luang Prabang, Cambodia.

Day 2 - Luang Prabang Arrival

Day 2 - Luang Prabang arrival

Arrival at Luang Prabang Airport and transfer to the hotel to check in. Overnight at the hotel.

Dinner

Day 3 - Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is a provincial city where time seems to stand still. As part of the UNESCO reconstruction plan, new buildings have been limited and old houses and streets are reconstructed to keep Luang Prabang as magical as it has always been. Visit this city found on the left bank of the Mekong River by tuk tuk. Previously a religious capital, Luang Prabang showcases more than 100 temples, considered amongst the most beautiful in Laos. In particular, you will discover Vat Xieng Thong, Vat Visoun temples and Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre.

In the afternoon we drive to the pier and embark a traditional boat to cruise up along the Mekong River. The Mekong River is the magic symbol of Indochina. In Laos, it still offers a peaceful atmosphere of an untouched nature where you feel the wonderment of a wild world. After a long day with full of activities, relax on the Mekong river bank to enjoy a glass of cocktail and some local snacks, contemplating the beautiful sunset. It will be an unforgettable moment of your journey, where you will enjoy peacefulness and beauty from this area.

Breakfast

Day 4 - Luang Prabang / Kuang Sy

In the morning, head off to Khuang Sy Waterfall on a return journey of around 50 miles. Arrival at a local house where your cooking class will begin. The hostess as well as your chef will help you to prepare the cooking. As she grows all the ingredients herself, there is no visit to the market included. However, you can directly see the vegetable and fruit gardens on spot, and she will give you an overview about all kinds of food. The table in the open air kitchen is full of unusual ingredients to discover Lao food, such as banana flowers, mini-eggplants, sticky rice, exotic flowers and more. The recipes are very healthy and exploit medicine food. After the preparation of four different dishes you will have lunch together with her in the dining area viewing over a small waterfall.

Afterwards, spend time to enjoy the waterfall which scatters into many basins where you can swim. On the way back, we could make a stop en-route to visit some local villages where traditional Saa paper as well as traditional weaving textiles are made.

Breakfast

Lunch

Day 5 - Luang Prabang / Baci ceremony

In the morning, you will visit the Royal Palace, which is today the National Museum, then continue to visit Vat May – built at the end of the 18th century, a capped sanctuary featuring a five sided roof surmounted by three parasols and Vat Senna – the first monastery whose roof was to be covered with yellow and red tiles.

Then return to the hotel to relax.

In the late afternoon, we invite you to attend a Baci (Soukhouan) ceremony, one of the most popular traditions in Laos, which comes with any important life event: weddings, funerals, births, illnesses, trips, etc. This ceremony usually takes place amongst a handful of people, with one or two

Breakfast

Day 6 - Luang Prabang / Pak Ou Caves - Kamu Lodge

Day 6 - Luang Prabang / Pak Ou Caves to Kamu Lodge

This morning we drive to the pier and embark a traditional boat to cruise up along the Mekong River. En-route visit the sacred caves of Pak Ou, which shelter hundreds of Buddha statuettes. The caves offer a splendid view of the Mekong which, here, mixes its water with those of the Nam Ou River. Then make a stop at a charming village facing the Mekong River to enjoy lunch which is prepared by villagers and set up on the beach giving guests a chance to try some local food and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

Continue up river until reaching your Eco Lodge located nearby a Khamu village. The Mekong is at the bottom of a steep-sided valley, with tropical forest invading its banks, and from time to time a village appears out of the forest. The famous Mekong giant catfish live on this part of the river and it is not unusual to see fishermen waiting patiently for their chance. Arrive at your lodge, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation in the heart of the Lao jungle – a perfect hideaway for people who want to get away from it all.

Once settled down in your own tent, we leave the lodge for visiting the neighbour Ban Nyoy Har village, where 63 families make a living in traditional Kamu fashion. Walk about the village and witness for yourself the life as the Kamu live it: children are at play, everywhere delighted by your visit, a villager braiding strips of bamboo into a cylinder for rice, another scooping harvested peanuts from a tarp to a bamboo basket and yet another shaping a door frame. And everywhere, dogs and pups, pigs and piglets, chickens and chicks…. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon for dinner.

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 7 - Kamu Lodge

In the morning a western set breakfast is served at the restaurant. Afterwards, you will join in a 3 hour forest trek (trekking grade: easy/moderate). Picnic lunch to the waterfall or lunch at the restaurant.

In the afternoon, you are free to enjoy leisure activities available on site (bath in the Mekong, one hour Lao traditional massage, and “petanque” contest). This evening enjoy a candle lit dinner.

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 8 - Kamu Lodge - Luang Prabang

Day 8 - Kamu Lodge to Luang Prabang

This morning is spent freely at your leisure. After lunch, we leave the lodge and cruise back to Luang Prabang with the rest of day at leisure.

Breakfast

Day 9 - Luang Prabang - Shangri-La camp

Day 9 - Luang Prabang to Shangri-La camp

This morning, transfer by air conditioned VIP van to the Shangri-Lao Explorer Camp 15 km outside Luang Prabang. On arrival, leave your luggage at the reception and receive an introductory tour of our elephant camp. Your expedition begins with 5 km elephant ride through teak forests, dense jungle and over rolling hills to reach the beautiful Tad Sae Waterfall. Along the way, stop at the scenic overlook to take in the amazing scenery of the Nam Khan River Valley. Relax at the Tad Sae Waterfall and enjoy this beautiful atmosphere with its limestone cascades and blue pools in the forest. Refresh and swim in the natural pools. Down at the Nam Khan River bank, a luxury bamboo raft is waiting to take you back. Enjoy the taste of typical Lao food for lunch on board, relax and watch the traditional village life of farmers and fishermen along the river. Slowly floating down the river, the relaxing 1 hour journey will bring you back to the camp.

At 2:00 pm, your room is ready for Check-In. Spend the afternoon at the Jacuzzi swimming pool, go for a walk with your guide in the beautiful surroundings or visit the local village nearby.

In the evening, a delicious barbeque dinner will be served under the starry sky. Retire for the night in your luxury style tent which will touch all of your senses with its unique decor and surroundings.

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 10 - Shangri-La camp - Luang Prabang

Day 10 - Shangri-La camp to Luang Prabang

Early morning, you may watch the elephants taking their daily bath in the river. Your guide will teach you about elephants and you may feed them or talk with our veterinarian in the hospital.

Following breakfast you check out from your luxury tent. We then leave the camp and return by air conditioned VIP van to Luang Prabang where your guide will drop you off at your hotel. The rest of day is free at your leisure.

Breakfast

Day 11 - Luang Prabang Departure

Today we say goodbye to a wonderful holiday and transfer to Luang Prabang Airport for the departure flight.

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner