Classic Laos with Konglor Cave

Upon arrival at Vientiane, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. 

Time permitting, 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. Overnight in Vientiane

You will be picked up from your Vientiane Hotel this morning and travel south along route 13. En route, we stop at Prabaht Ponsan, an Ancientstupa dating back to the 15^th Century. It is also home to the AncientBudhhas footprint, discovered in 1933, and now it is an important religious site in Laos. Following lunch, we continue onwards into Khammoune province and into the mountainous area, where a stop at a view point near Khoun Kham offers a breathtaking view over the surrounding area. We eventually reach Ban Naphouak and continue driving to Sala Hinoun by passing some stunning limestone karst scenery, as well as many villages with smiling waving children. We reach your accommodation for the night in Sala Hin Boun, in the late afternoon.  You have the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at Sala Hin Boun (B, L)

After breakfast at Sala Hin Boun, we continue by boat upriver to Kong Lor village, where you have the chance to explore. Before boarding a smaller ship into the famous Kong Lor Cave. We navigate through the cave, which is over 7km long and includes a spectacular cavern over 100m high, following lunch in a remote village on the other side of the cave. We return to Sala Hin Boun before sunset. Overnight at Sala Hin Boun (B, L)

Following breakfast, we set off by road to Naphouak, before heading south by boat through some of the most spectacular gorges found in Southeast Asia. Along the way, we make a stop for lunch and a picturesque Lao Loum village, and then we are picked up by car and transferred directly to Vientiane airport for your evening flight to Luang Prabang.  Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, Overnight in Luang Prabang (B, L)

First, we 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 Ou, a Hmong 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. Your half-day city tour this afternoon 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 (B

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, laap, 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)

Depending on your flight, you may have time at leisure before you will be transferred to the airport in time for your departing flight. (B)