The Miracle

At the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.   The rest of the day is at leisure, overnight in Luang Prabang.

Today, we enjoy a short guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. 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 time to explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.  Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a small village known for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Today we visit the National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace.  It displays a collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ou, a Hmong village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village, and Ban Thapene, all Khmu villages.  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. After returning to Luang Prabang by late afternoon, we continue to Ban Xang Khong, a village well known for its silk weavings and for its Saa (jute) Papermaking. We return to the city by late evening to admire the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

You will be transferred to the airport this morning for your flight to Pakse. On arrival in Pakse, we drive south to Champassak and 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 perched at the base of Mount Phu Kao. Overnight in Champasak (B)

Following breakfast, we head south by road and boat to Done Khone. 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. Then we return to Champasak to overnight (B)

Today you will be taken by road to the Bolevean Plateau.  The Bolevean Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. The area is famous for its many waterfalls, and the most beautiful of these falls, Tad Fan, we visit.  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 overnighting in Tad Lo. Overnight in Tad Lo (B)

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Pakse for catching your departure flight (B)