Classic Overland Laos

On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Time permitting; your half-day city tour begins with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts.  We then head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture.  We also have time to visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. Overnight in Luang Prabang

The day starts with a visit to the Big Brother Mouse shop to select some books for the village visit. We then head north by car along route 13, before taking an unpaved road to Ban Khia Luang village. We then have ample time to visit the school, play with the kids and watch them enjoy their new books. We also take some time to explore the rest of the village, where you can see weaving and visit the local temple. We stop for lunch at the village, which can either be a western picnic lunch, or traditional Lao food such as sticky rice, lap, and fresh vegetables cooked by the villagers. After lunch, we say goodbye to the village and drive to Ban Khoklin, which takes us through some beautiful scenery of mountains and paddy fields. At Ban Khoklin we then board a private boat down the Nam Ou River for 30 minutes to Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims, and continue down the Mekong River back to Luang Prabang, arriving back there by late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B, L)

Today we cross the Mekong River by boat, to the picturesque village of Ban Chan, a pottery village. 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. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouray, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village, and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. This then takes us to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Today, we make the days drive through wonderful natural scenery to Xiengkhuang.  The journey will give you plenty of opportunities for photos and visiting hill tribe villages. Upon arrival, we transfer out to visit Site 1 of the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are scattered all over the plateau.  Overnight in Xiengkhuang (B)

This is a long journey better to leave Site 1 until the next morning.

This morning we have time to visit the interesting Central Market in Phonsavan, visit the MAG exhibition and Site 2 of the Plain of Jars before taking a short scenic trek to Site

3 via a Tai Dam and Lao Leum village. Following lunch we have a half-day morning tour seeing the old capital of Muang Khoun and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe and Tai Dam people. Overnight in Xiengkhuang (B)

You have included a visit to Central Market on days 5 and 6??

Include Site 1 this morning and leave Central market until tomorrow.

This morning we have time to visit the enjoyable Central Market in Phonsavan, and then we transfer to Vang Vieng by road, arriving there mid-afternoon. Overnight in Vang Vieng (B)

As part of our half-day tour of Vang Vieng, we explore the famous caves of Tham Jang, which were once used by the regional people as a hideout from Chinese invaders. We also cross the river to Ban Huai Ngai, a very friendly village where we can explore the different lifestyles of the locals. Following lunch, we head south to Vientiane, where we arrived before sunset. Overnight in Vientiane (B)

Include a visit and lunch at the organic Farm and try the roasted goat cheese and mulberry wine.

Your half-day city tour enables us to see the major temples of Vientiane, including the oldest, Wat Sisaket, a temple of thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit Lao national icon, That Luang Stupa, and we stop to take pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. The afternoon is at leisure. Overnight in Vientiane (B)

You will be transferred to the airport early this morning for your flight to Pakse. On arrival in Pakse, we drive south to Champassak to visit the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia’s most dramatically situated temples. We have time to explore these intriguing Khmer ruins, which are at the base of Mount Phu Kao. Following lunch, we continue our journey by road and long tail boat to the 4000 Islands area, where you have the rest of the day to relax. Overnight in 4000 Islands (B)

After early morning breakfast, we explore Khone Island. Here we begin by re-tracing the French colonial past at Ban Khone, where some old colonial houses still stand, and glimpse the first Lao railway with its locomotive. We continue our exploration of the area of the 4000 islands by boat and visit the beautiful Liphi waterfall, also known as the Samphamith, which forms a natural border between Lao and Cambodia. We return to Ban Nakasang and drive to the famous waterfall of Khone Phapeng – the largest waterfall in South East Asia, also known as the ‘Niagara of the east. Overnight in 4000 Islands (B)

This morning we leave Khone Island, and you will be met and taken by road west into the Bolivian Plateau, The Bolivian Plateau is known for its cooler temperature, being found high above the Mekong Valley. The area is famous for its many waterfalls, and the most beautiful of these falls, Tad Fan, we will be visiting.  Tad Fan waterfall is spectacular, with twin waterfalls plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by flourishing vegetation. A trip to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that can be seen en route. In the afternoon we arrive at Tad Lo, home to another scenic waterfall and numerous ethnic minority groups. We visit the villages of Alak, Nge, and Katu before returning to Pakse. Overnight in Pakse (B)                                                                            

Seems like a long day of driving, how about doing a coffee tour and village visits and staying at Tad Fane, leaving out Tad Lo? Or include Tad Ngeuan, where there is a Café and coffee tour.  They were also building accommodation at Tad Ngeuan last time I was there.

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Pakse Airport for your flight to Siem Reap. (B)