The must-see of Laos – 14 days

Suggestion: Around 5 a.m., the monks silently walk through the streets of Luang Prabang to receive offerings from the local inhabitants. If you wish, you can wake up early to witness this unique spiritual moment. Afterwards, a visit to the morning market will allow you to experience the authentic atmosphere of the city as it wakes up.

Today is dedicated to the most important sites in Luang Prabang. We venture into Wat Visoun, the oldest temple in Luang Prabang founded in 1512. The temple has a nice selection of centuries-old Buddha statues in bronze and many religious objects. Then we continue on to Wat Aham, a temple from the early 19th century. Two guardians, laid at the foot of the staircase, represent two characters from the Ramayana (Hanuman, the monkey god and the ferocious Yaksa).

Our next destination is Wat Xiengthong, the most important temple in the city built between 1559 and 1560. It is one of the most important monasteries and remains an important relic to the spirit of religion, royalty, and traditional art. In the afternoon, we climb up the 328 steps of Mount Phousi leading to the sacred hilltop. This shady Mount dominates the sky of Luang Prabang and offers a splendid panorama of the surrounding villages and the Mekong River. As the day ends, you will no doubt enjoy wandering through the night market, where you can find a beautiful collection of textiles handcrafted by local tribes. Night at the hotel. 
Walk: 3h                  Night: hotel         

After breakfast, transfer to the elephant village, where you will enjoy a pleasant elephant trek experience. Then a boat trip will take you to Tad Se waterfall before returning to the village. This waterfall is particularly spectacular in the rainy season, feel free to go for a swim. Take a break for lunch at a local restaurant, before getting back to Luang Prabang in the afternoon and enjoy some free time. Night at the hotel.
Car: 30km         Boat: 1h       Night: hotel

After breakfast, drive south for about 30 km to a protected national park where are the Kuang Si Waterfall. These famous low waterfalls offer a spectacular and beautiful sight in their green setting. Stop along the way and explore Talad Phosy Market, famous for its fresh fruits from all over the region. Discover the village of Ban Na Oune, populated by Hmong, probably the most famous minority group in Laos. Continue your journey and just before getting there, explore the village of Ban Tha Pane, inhabited by the Khmu ethnic minority. Take a short walk to Kuang Si waterfalls. Have a picnic lunch in nature or at a local restaurant before returning to Luang Prabang. Enjoy some free time to wander through the old town and its local market.
Car: 60km/2 h               Night: hotel

In the morning, embark on a narrow, fast local boat, for an excursion on the Mekong River to Pak Ou. Many wonders await you on this journey: lush landscapes, typical villages and authentic local life. Pak Ou sanctuaries consist of two large caves and thousands of Buddha representations ranging from a few centimeters to two meters in height. Typical Laotian villages in the area are barely visible behind this thick screen of foliage. You will pass by slender canoes sailing near the shore, floats and bamboo poles marking the location of nets and fish traps. Take a break in Ban Muang Keo, a village well known for distilling traditionally Lao Lao whiskey rice. In the afternoon, get back to the city to visit the National Museum, once the Royal Palace and the residence of the King. This building houses a collection of valuables including the famous Buddha Prabang statue, as well as original and sometimes strange gifts given to the king by foreign dignitaries. Transfer by car to Nong Khiew, a small town-village on the banks of the Nam Ou River. Check-in at your hotel. 
Car: 140km/3h30        Boat: 3h       Night: hotel

After breakfast, board a small motorboat for a scenic cruise on the Nam Ou River towards the village of Ban Hat Sa Pheuy (approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes by boat). Upon arrival, you begin a 30-minute walk to explore the village of Ban Sop Chem, home to the Thai Deang tribe, nestled in the heart of beautiful landscapes. This small village has become popular among hikers and remains truly unspoiled. The inhabitants are subsistence farmers, as well as skilled hunters and fishermen. Lunch with a local family will give you a better insight into traditional cuisine. In the afternoon, return by boat to Muang Ngoi. Night at the hotel.
Boat: 2h                Night: hotel

After breakfast, take the boat again for a short trip downstream. From the village of Sopkhan, begin a hike through karst landscapes to reach a Hmong village. Lunch. Continue walking to discover a village of the Khmu ethnic group. Cross the Nam Ou River and return to Muang Ngoi.
In the afternoon, transfer by boat and then by car to Luang Prabang.
Car: 140km/3h30             Night: hotel

Free time to discover Luang Prabang at your own pace, then meet your driver for a transfer to the train station. Take a high-speed train to Vientiane. Upon arrival, you will be picked by your driver. Night at the hotel.
High-speed train: 1h     Night: hotel

After breakfast, visit of the most important historical and religious sites of the capital: Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple to have survived the Siamese war in 1828, with its cloister containing more than 8,000 Buddha statues; and Wat Phra Keo, the former royal temple turned into a museum of religious art, originally built to house the famous Emerald Buddha that the king had brought back from northern Siam.
Today, it displays a collection of Buddha statues, antiques, and artifacts found in and around Vientiane. On the way to the famous That Luang stupa, stop for photos at the impressive Patuxay monument, reminiscent of the “Arc de Triomphe” in Paris. The rest of the day is free for shopping at the Vientiane market. Night at the hotel.
Car: 30 km  Night: hotel

In the morning, transfer to the airport and take a flight to Pakse. Upon arrival, drive to Saravanh province via Tateng. Stop on the way to visit a local tea culture, and meet the villagers to discover the local lifestyle of the country's ethnic groups. Arrival on Bolaven Plateau, an area where growing coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other plants, is a major feature. Continue your journey and explore the wild beauty of this southern place: the waterfall Tad Lo, then visit the villages of Alak, Nge and Katu, ethnic minorities. Night at Tad Lo.
Car: 100 km/2h30  Night: hotel

After breakfast, your guide and your driver will pick you up at the hotel for a full day exploration of Pakse province. A short detour will allow you to discover authentic villages of the Laos ethnic minorities. The journey continues to Wat Phu in the vicinity of Pakse. Wat Phu is a unique site in Laos that houses Khmer remains dating from the 9th to the 12th century. A 2-hour tour will take you to explore these Khmer ruins located atop a green hill, a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO in 2001. The temple is divided into three main levels: the lower one is home to several reservoirs (ceremonial ponds) and a promenade; the middle level contains quadrangular pavilions and excavated galleries; and the upper level is the sanctuary itself. 
We continue driving toward Siphandone, where the Mekong stretches more than 14 km in width and creates a region of 4000 islands with waterfalls and rapids. We will transfer by local sampan to Khong Island, the most important island of this unspoiled site. Night at Don Khong.
Car: 150 km/2h30      Night: hotel

After breakfast, we cruise in a huge area named Si Phan Don, which means "the four thousand islands", famous for its biodiversity and its picturesque karst formations. Discover the falls of Lippi, which literally translates to "spirit trapper" in Lao. This refers to the local belief that currents act as a trap for evil spirits. There is a stop to explore an old colonial railway, built in 1897 by the French to facilitate the transportation of vessels, freight and passengers along the Mekong River where powerful rapids prevent navigation. We return to Ban Nakasang and head south to visit Khone Phapheng, the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia. Night on Khone Island. 
Boat: 2h              Night: hôtel

Free time on Khone Island to explore the beautiful countryside on foot or by bicycle. In the afternoon, return to Pakse. Night at the hotel.
Car: 120 km / 3h30  Night: hotel

Depending on your return flight, you will have some free time in Pakse (your room is available until 12 p.m.). Then, you will meet your driver for the transfer to the airport. End of our services.
Car: 10 km