Lao Rural Life

On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After a short rest, your half-day city tour this afternoon begins with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artefacts.  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

Could have the option to have dinner at Lao BBQ restaurant on the Nam Khan.

First, we visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpetre 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. This afternoon, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong                                                                                                                

River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching 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. In return, we disembark the boat to visit traditional villages and continue taking a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village famous for its hand weaving. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B)

Leave out stops at Ban Ouray, Ban Ou and Ban Thapene on the way to Kuang Sii.

This morning we drive to Ban Phong Van, 5 km outside Luang Prabang on the road to the Kwang Xi waterfall, among lush rice fields and overlooked by wooded hills and mountains to join in a Living Land Farm where they grow organic vegetables, salads, herbs and rice and supply leading restaurants and hotels in Luang Prabang. Coming here you will be shown how rice is grown on the farm, experience the life of a farmer and try your hand at some of the activities. Or just view it all from the comfort of our traditional Lao rice house balcony, which is surrounded by rice terraces and our organic vegetable farm. All the family can join in and there are great photo opportunities. Artisans du Mekong in Ban NongXai is located 20 minutes by boat or 15 minutes by minibus from Luang Prabang, Ban Nong Xai is a local village which produces traditional mulberry paper and textile. Artisans du Mekong was created to support local families who can show to the clients their skills in weaving or mulberry saa paper. Some workshops are organized to show the process of mulberry paper and also for textiles. This beautiful place with 2 traditional houses shows to the clients the final product like saa paper album, different textile or rattan basket. Artisans du Mekong can also organize a Baci ceremony inside the house or in the garden with dinner and traditional dances. (B)

Again need to look at the changes at Artisans du Mekong.  Should be a free afternoon after Living Land, to explore Luang Prabang, go to the night market or relax around the pool.

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)