Uncover Laos Hidden Gems in 16 Days

Upon your arrival at Luang Prabang Airport, you’ll be swiftly transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang, nestled in northern Laos and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasts a unique blend of culture, history, and architecture, all in perfect harmony with its natural surroundings. Today is at your leisure, allowing you to explore this ancient city at your own pace.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, join a guided city walking tour in Luang Prabang to explore its traditional architecture, including Lao houses on stilts, colonial-era buildings, classic French colonial structures, and old Chinese shophouses. Visit local highlights like Wat Sene, Wat Xiengthong, the Royal Palace Museum, and Wat Mai. In the afternoon, climb Mount Phousi for sunset views and conclude your day with a visit to the Night Market.

Meals included: Breakfast.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Wake up early to join the sacred morning alms giving to Buddhist monks. Visit the morning market near the former Royal Palace before breakfast. Then, head to the Buffalo Dairy Farm to learn about dairy production from buffalo milk. Continue to Kuang Si Waterfalls, the largest in Luang Prabang, with azure pools for swimming. Optionally, explore hidden waterfalls near Ban Thapene and visit the Bear Rescue Center. On your return to Luang Prabang, visit the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, known for quality fabric production and sunset views.

Meals included: Breakfast.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, take a leisurely cruise on the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Caves, a 16th-century cave monastery filled with Buddha images. Visit Ban Muang Keo village for traditional Lao rice whisky distilling on the way. Return to Luang Prabang, then explore the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center, gaining insights into Lao ethnic culture. Attend a seminar on “Ethnic Diversity and Cultural Change in Laos,” delving into ethnic communities, history, and livelihoods, led by TAEC’s Founder.

Meals included: Breakfast.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, an 8-hour journey takes us to Xieng Khuang, known for the Plain of Jars and its history of heavy bombing during the Indochina War. Along the way, we make stops in villages, witnessing rural life and encountering ethnic minorities like the Hmong. Highlights include panoramic views at Ban Kiew Nya, observing H’Mong and Khamu communities at Ban Phoudam, exploring the H’Mong market in Phoukhoun, and visiting Tham Pra, a former wartime hospital. Check-in at Phonsavanh, the provincial capital. 

Meals included: Breakfast.
Overnight in Xieng Khuang.

Early morning, we explore Phonsavanh’s Central Market. After breakfast, a half-day trip to Muang Khoune, the undestroyed old provincial capital from the secret war era, reveals unique sights like the sitting giant Buddha, ancient pagodas in ruins, and the standing foundation and columns of Wat Pia Wat, along with an old 30m stupa from the Lan Xang/Lanna period. In the afternoon, we visit the UXO Information Centre, highlighting the impact of unexploded ordnance, and then explore the famous Plain of Jars at Site 1, taking caution due to wartime remnants. The day ends with a glimpse of local life in Xieng Khuang.

Meals included: Breakfast.
Overnight in Xieng Khuang.

Early morning, we explore Phonsavanh’s Central Market, witnessing the bustling trade among various hill tribe communities. Then, we embark on a scenic drive to Vang Vieng, a charming town nestled along the Nam Song River, surrounded by pristine limestone landscapes. Along the way, we visit Tham Pra, formerly an army hospital during the Indochina Wars, and the vibrant hill tribe market at Phoukhoun’s T-junction. We capture panoramic views from Phou Phiengpha peak, visit the Khmu village of Ban Phouhin Lekphay, and enjoy a photo stop at Phatang Mountain viewpoint before arriving in Vang Vieng.

Meals included: Breakfast.
Overnight in Vang Vieng.

Surrounded by limestone cliffs and valleys, Vang Vieng boasts numerous caves, including the famous Tham Jang cave, once a refuge from Chinese invaders. We then cross the Nam Song River for a visit to the refreshing Blue Lagoon. Later, we depart Vang Vieng, traveling via the Vang Vieng – Vientiane highway, and arrive in the capital, Vientiane, which is characterized by its diverse cultural influences and scenic Mekong River setting.

Meals included: Breakfast.
Overnight in Vang Vieng.

Begin your morning at Wat Si Muang, renowned for its supernatural significance, before heading to the unique Buddha Park, also known as Xieng Khuan, featuring over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues. Visit the Lao Disabled Women Development Center, where disabled women find support and livelihood opportunities through crafts. Explore the holiest site in Laos, That Luang, with its magnificent golden spire, followed by a climb up Patuxai for a panoramic view. Continue your journey along Lane Xang Avenue, visiting serene temples like Wat Sisaket and the religious museum Wat Phra Keo. Conclude your day by the Mekong River, enjoying the sunset and local food stalls. 

Meals included: Breakfast.
Overnight in Vientiane.

Take a morning flight from Vientiane to Savannakhet, then drive to Champhone District. Begin your journey with a visit to That Kou, a pre-Angkorian shrine. Witness endangered soft-shell turtles at Turtles Lake in Ban Done Daeng and participate in a Traditional Phoutai indigo fabric workshop. Enjoy lunch at one of the lakeside huts. Explore Taleo Old Temple and its museum, delving into the impact of the American Secret War. Listen to Phoutai ethnic group tales at the village’s protective tree. Stroll through Taleo village, learning about cotton thread production and visiting a Lao lao distillery for a tasting. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Overnight in Champhone Loop.

Depart from Taleo Village. Engage in a Banana Leaf offering workshop in Ban Nonglamchan for an offering at the Namlamchan Library. Explore Ban Dongmouang’s forest, feed monkeys, and discover local cooking and medicinal plants. Lunch options include dining with a local family at Ban Donyeng or having lunch on a boat on Soui Lake, where you’ll hear legends of the serpent spirit and the golden boat. Walk through Phoukor Temple’s forest to learn about life theories and consequences for bad behavior in the afterlife. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Overnight in Savannakhet.

Explore the picturesque Bolaven Plateau, a mountainous region known for its hill tribes, waterfalls, and coffee and tea plantations. Visit Ban Houay Houn to witness Katu textiles and unique weaving techniques. Discover Tad Lo’s captivating waterfalls, including Tad Hang and Tad Lo, with Tad Suong upriver. Journey through Paksong and the cooler Boloven Plateau, surrounded by lush forests and spectacular waterfalls like Tad Fan. Experience local crop cultivation. Afterward, transfer to Champasak via Pakse for an overnight stay.

Visit Wat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and ancient Khmer temple dating back to the 5th Century. Explore the pre-Angkorian marvel amidst lush rice fields, a vital economic and political center in its time. Continue to Champassak to view French colonial architecture before heading to Done Khong. Stroll the island, then embark on a 1.5-hour Mekong River boat ride to “Si Phan Done,” a charming cluster of islets formed during the dry season. Reach Khone Island for a captivating sunset. 

Explore Ban Khone’s serene villages, showcasing French colonial relics and remnants of the first Lao railway. Continue your 4000 Islands discovery with a tuktuk ride to the stunning Liphi Waterfall, known as the “Corridor of the Devil.” Return to the mainland at Ban Nakasang and head south to witness Khone Phapheng, Southeast Asia’s largest waterfall by volume, teeming with wildlife near the Lao-Cambodian border. Then, drive back to Pakse. If time allows, ascend Wat Phou Salao for panoramic city views at sunset. 

Meals included: Breakfast.
Overnight in Pakse.