8 Days Lifetime Laos Tour from Vientiane to Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang

Day 1: Arrival – Vientiane

Day 2: Vientiane City Tour –

Day 3: Vientiane train to Vang Vieng

Day 4: Vang Vieng Sightseeing Tour

Day 5: Vang Vieng – Train to Luang Prabang

Day 6: Luang Prabang City Tour

Day 7: Luang Prabang tour to Kuangsi Waterfall and Pak Ou Caves

Day 8: Luang Prabang – Departure.

Day 1: Arrival – Vientiane

Upon landing at the airport of Vientiane. You’ll be welcome by our tour guide then escorted to your hotel for a check-in.

The rest of time, you’ll be free on your own to relax or self-discover charming beauties of this ancient city.

Overnight in Vientiane

Day 2: Lifetime Laos Tour from Vientiane to Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang: Full-Day Vientiane City Tour (B) 

After breakfast, We start visiting the major sights; including the oldest Wat Sisaket, the temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image.

Enroute to Lao’s national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

Afternoon, we transfer out to see the Buddha Park, an enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, near the Friendship Bridge. There are approximately 200 religious images dating back over 500 years, which were created by a mysterious monk spreading his philosophy on life and to reveal his ideas about the universe.

Overnight in Vientiane

Day 3: Vientiane to Vang Vieng by Express Train (B)

After Breakfast, transfer to train Station for Express Train, Vientiane – VangVieng (C92) 09:20 – 10:15    

Upon arrival at the train station in Vang Vieng, you’ll be welcome by our local guide there then accompanied to your hotel in Vang Vieng.

In the afternoon, you’ll be free to hang around this great mountainous city to explore local things around with markets, rivers, residential areas ….

Overnight in Vang Vieng

Day 4: Lifetime Laos Tour from Vientiane to Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang: Vang Vieng Cave & Kayak Explorer (B,L)

Highlights

Experience Vang Vieng’s famous river and explore it in a kayak. Paddle past limestone mountains and through small rapids, seeing the best of the Nam Song

Explore ancient limestone caves to discover stunning formations and learn about the important role these caves have played in the history of the area his one day tour combines the best activities that Vang Vieng can offer: kayaking on the Nam Song River surrounded by rugged karsts and beautiful rural scenery as well as discovering the secrets of the limestone caves

We depart from Vang Vieng to the start of the kayaking. After some paddling instructions and a safety briefing we set off down the beautiful Nam Song River. We will paddle down a few small sets of rapids along the way to our first stop at Tham Xang, the Elephant Cave. We will walk up to the massive theater like cave while learning about the local history of the area!

After emerging from the cave a short kayak will lead us to a picnic spot on the riverside where we will enjoy a picnic lunch. After lunch we shall continue down the river until the next stop at the Organic Farm where mulberry tea and a variety of different fruit wines are produced.

Continuing on down stream we arrive at Tham None Cave which is one of the largest caves in Vang Vieng! It served as a bomb shelter for local villagers during the Second Indochina War. Today it is home to a group of bats and the ‘Magic Stone of Vang Vieng’. Our guides will explain how the magic stone works and the history of the cave. The final leg of the journey is a gentle paddle downstream to Vang Vieng where we will arrive in time to catch the sunset.

Approximately: 15 min. transfer, 4.5 h. (wet season) 3.5 h. (dry season) kayaking, 1.5 h. caving/walking, 1 h. lunch stop.

Expect a full day of kayaking. The river is mostly gentle with some small, manageable rapids. You do not need previous kayaking experience for this tour but you need to be able to swim 20m unassisted. In dry season (October – April) the river level is much lower and requires starting at a different point on the river. Dry season trips do not include visiting Tham Xang, but we visit Nam Them.

Overnight in Vang Vieng

Day 5: Vang Vieng – Train to Luang Prabang – City Tour (B)

After breakfast, transfer to train station for Express train EMU C82 leaving at 08:23, arriving at 09:29AM.

Upon arrival at the train station in Luang Prabang, you’ll be welcome by our tour guide then accompanied to your hotel

Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. After checking into your hotel, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai, we then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, gilded stupa as well as have a beautiful view of the city and the Mekong River at sunset. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can browse a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the local people and hill tribes surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 6: Lifetime Laos Tour from Vientiane to Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang: Luang Prabang to Pak Ou Caves and Kuangsi fall (B)

We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well as exploring the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims.

Along the way, we will stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is produced. On return, we take a short drive to Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. Today, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temples of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture , we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai, we then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, gilded stupa as well as have a beautiful view of the city and the Mekong River at sunset. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can browse a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the local people and hill tribes surrounding Luang Prabang.

We then visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village.  This then takes us to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 7: Luang Prabang – Free & Easy (B)

Today, you’ll be free to explore more hidden charms of this ancient citadel (No more services)

Overnight at hotel

Day 8: Lifetime Laos Tour from Vientiane to Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang: Luang Prabang – Departure (B)

After breakfast at hotel, you’ll be free to discover Luang Prabang or take time for shopping.

Transfer to Luang Prabang airport for your onward departure flight.

End of Services!!!

Notice:

+ Train Schedule & Fare is subject to be changed by Lao-China Train from time to time without prior notice

+ All tour prices exclude all surcharges for Christmas and New Year period: TBA

+ Peak Season surcharge:

1. Villa Maydou (Deluxe Garden) on 21Dec-5Jan: US $. 10/pax / night
2. Satri house (Deluxe) on 23Dec-3Jan: US $.20/pax/night

*3-star hotels in use:

• Vientiane: Lao Orchid hotel (Superior room) https://m.facebook.com/laoorchidhotel or similar ones
• Vang Vieng: Silver Naga Hotel (Standard room) https://silvernaga.com/ or similar ones
• Luang Prabang: Villa Chitdara hotel (Deluxe room) http://www.villachitdara.com/ or similar ones

*4-star hotels in use:

• Vientiane: Salana Boutique Hotel (Superior room) https://www.salanaboutique.com/ or similar ones
• Vang Vieng: Amari Vang Vieng Hotel (Superior City View) https://www.amari.com/vang-vieng or similar ones
• Luang Prabang: Villa Maydou Hotel (Heritage Deluxe room) http://www.villamaydou.com/en/homepage/ or similar ones

*5-star hotels in use:

• Vientiane: Settha Palace Hotel (Deluxe room) setthapalace.com or similar ones
• Vang Vieng: The Riverside Boutique Hotel (Classic Room) riversidevangvieng.com or similar ones
• Luang Prabang: Satri House Boutiques Hotel (Deluxe room) satrihouse.com or similar ones

* Inclusive of above prices:

• Transportation in private with air-condition
• Accommodation in Double/Twin shared room
• Local English speaking guides
• Entrance fee at indicated sights
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch & D = Dinner
• Gov’t tax and service charge
• Luggage handling, drinking water and cold tissues on tours
• Train Ticket, EMU Express Train Vientiane-Vang Vieng & Vang Vieng-Luang Prabang
• Private boat trips as programmed

* Exclusive of above prices:

• Visa stamping fee on arrival
• Travel Insurance in all kinds
• Single room (quoted separately)
• Other foreign language guide
• Peak tourist season or special event rates
• Tip, drinks and other personal expenses
• All airfare
• All other meals & beverages are NOT mentioned in the program.