Classic Laos (8 days)
Summary
A
luxurious wander through extraordinary Laos, starting out in the intensely spiritual town of Luang Prabang and leading down through the country visiting hill tribes, riding on elephants, traversing wild forests, discovering ancient temples, and relaxing on the islands of Don Khone. An unforgettable voyage through a land of enlightenment.
Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Luang Prabang
You’ll enjoy VIP treatment within the airport while your immigration proceedings are dealt with and then be escorted to your private vehicle that will take you onward into the idyllic township.
Day 2: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves
Head for the banks of the Mekong where we set out from the shore on a private half-day cruise along the river, gliding by traditional long tail boat to our destinations along the way. we will take to the waters of the Mekong River to visit the Pak Ou Caves, lined with thousands of golden Buddha statues. We dine at l’Elephant, one of the foremost haute cuisine establishments in the city.
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si
It’s worth the early rise to witness the wordlessly beautiful monks’ procession at dawn and excursion to Kuang Si Waterfall with stops en-route at indigenous villages.
Day 4: vientiane
Take our leave from the transcendental world of Luang Prabang and board a short domestic flight to the national capital of Vientiane. A sleepy city forever stamped with the romantic architecture of the former French administration.
Day 5: Champasak
From this day onward, you will be exploring parts of Laos rarely seen by travelers from the outside world, visiting some of the remotest and most scenic corners of Southeast Asia.
Day 6: Champasak
In a copse of large trees standing between the Mekong and the rice paddies of Ban Nakham Noi lies an almost ruined temple called Um Tomo, a Khmer-style structure with some exquisite carvings well worth the refreshing morning hike to get to the ancient site.
Day 7: Don Khone
Depart the Champasak heartland by boat and drift down the Mekong to the great inland archipelago of Si Phan Don, coming to a stop on the largest among its 4,000 islands, Don Khone.
Day 8: Departure
You will then take a private transfer to the airport to connect with your outward flight.
Hotel de la paix Luang Prabang
Settha Palace Vientiane
La Folie Lodge Champasak
Auberge Sala Don Khong
Itinerary In Details Day 1: Luang Prabang
You’ll sense the soporific aura of Laos immediately as you touch down in Luang Prabang, the soul of the nation: remote, lush, verdant, profoundly spiritual. You’ll enjoy VIP treatment within the airport while your immigration proceedings are dealt with, and then be escorted to your private vehicle that will take you onward into the idyllic township. Luang Prabang is so enchanting that the entire city area is designated a world heritage zone. You’ll take a short trip outside the
suburbs to an elephant camp where you will be instructed in elephant handling as a mahout before experiencing the exhilaration of trekking through the jungle astride its back like a king of ancient days. Stop by a sacred temple nearby where a monk will deliver a private blessing to you for
your inspiration during your week in this amazing country. At the peak of Mount Phou Si, you’ ll take a picnic lunch and witness some of the most spectacular vistas of the city of Luang Prabang and the great Mekong river that stretches from here down to southern Vietnam. Picnic lunch is included. Accommodation in Hotel De la Paix.
Day 2: Luang Prabang
It’s worth the early rise to witness the wordlessly beautiful monks’ procession at dawn, a parade of color unlike anything you’ll have seen before. With the first lick of the dawn’s light, the queues of monks in their saffron robes file out from their temples of worship and walk through the streets of Luang Prabang in bare feet, collecting alms and offerings of food from the locals and passers-by. The whole processions speaks of the deeply-held spiritual beliefs of the people of this region. Next, head for the banks of the Mekong where we set out from the shore on a private half-day cruise along the river, gliding by traditional long tail boat to our destinations along the way. Our objective is to visit the Buddhist grottoes in the Pak Ou caves with their thousandfold gilded idols both in miniature and life-sized. Entering the caves, you will sense the awe of being in this holy place, only to have this instinct confirmed as you turn out to observe the resplendent view above the Mekong and Nam
Ou rivers. It is no wonder this is a frequently-visited site of pilgrimage. In the evening, you will experience the soul of the region from a different vantage, via its signature cuisine. You will be instructed in the use of the local produce—which is organic by default—to whip up a popular Lao dish you’ll be able to recreate any time you miss your days spent here in future. Dinner is included at the cooking class at the hotel Accommodation in Hotel De la Paix.
Day 3: Luang Prabang
The spiritual power that pervades Luang Prabang extends beyond the faithful and their religious structures and extends to the natural environment surrounding the town. You’ll enjoy the tranquil serenity at the Kuang Si waterfalls and then embark on a trek through the woods where the full beauty of the dense jungle shall be unveiled as if it were itself a holy shrine. There’s a sharp slope to the summit of the waterfall that is a rewarding
lookout for those more energetic, with a perfect vista of the turquoise pools formed by the falls far below, which are also ideal for swimming – although dressed with due respect for the modest local culture. You will make your gradual return to your resort passing through majestic rural scenery and stopping by a small Khmu hill tribe village, where you will take picnic lunch and learn about their centuries-old cultural traditions and folklore directly as they openly share their blessings. In the afternoon, you’ll pay a visit to Luang Prabang’s main temple, the 16th century Xieng Thong pagoda. You will be receiving a private session with a monk here to learn more about Buddhist beliefs and life in the monastery. Picnic lunch is included. Accommodation in Hotel De la Paix
Day 4: Vientiane
We reluctantly take our leave from the transcendental world of Luang Prabang and board a short domestic flight to the national capital of Vientiane. A sleepy city forever stamped with the romantic architecture of the former French administration, you’ll first come to appreciate its traditional culture at the golden Pha That Luang stupa, the very symbol of the entire nation that has a history of over 1800 years. From the pagoda, you’ll branch out into the neighborhoods and visit the Talat Sao Market, a labyrinthine infrastructure of stalls selling wares from throughout the region—the ideal location to pick up some comfortable local sarongs, made with special fabrics that you will come to understand further at the local textiles museum. There, the silk designs of Carol Cassidy—a prominent public figure who has become an international ambassador for the Lao silk weaving tradition—take pride of place. You’ll have the evening to reflect on your journey thus far at your luxury resort. Accommodation in Settha Palace
Day 5: Champasak
From this day onward, you will be exploring parts of Laos rarely seen by travelers from the outside world, visiting some of the remotest and most scenic corners of Southeast Asia. You’ll take a morning flight to Champasak Province, where you will witness postcard vistas of rural rice growing areas and waterways flowing near the Thai/Cambodian border region. Once again you will ground yourself in the spirituality of the area at the temple complex of Wat Phu, an ancient architectural masterpiece within which an expert historian will guide you through its cultural contexts. From here, you’ll dine at Ban Wat That Village, one of the area’s more relaxed townships set against the idyllic backdrop of the Laotian countryside. After a lazy afternoon at the village, you will travel to Dong Daeng Island, where you will check in to your room for the evening, replete with calming views over the river and beautiful gardens to stroll through as the mood takes you. Lunch is included in the local restaurant. Accommodation in La Folie Lodge
Day 6: Champasak
In a copse of large trees standing between the Mekong and the rice paddies of Ban Nakham Noi lies an almost ruined temple called Um Tomo, a Khmer-style structure with some exquisite carvings well worth the refreshing morning hike to get to the ancient site. You will find more traditional carvings, this time in wood, at the nearby village where you will see how an ancient culture bears impact on its contemporary legacy. What you will instinctively recognize to be true is spelled out in far more detail at the local Champasak Provincial Museum in Pakse. The insights you will gain into history here will present a tableau of the continuity of this country’s evolution that will entirely unravel the mystery of its deep spirituality. You’ll return to your hotel having gained a rare insight into the soul of Laos few travelers ever arrive at. Accommodation in La Folie Lodge.
Day 7: Don Khone
Today you will depart the Champasak heartland by boat and drift down the Mekong to the great inland archipelago of Si Phan Don, coming to a stop on the largest among its 4,000 islands, Don Khone. These are the playground of the Irrawaddy dolphin; you may spot them leaping about the mangroves on these brackish waterways. There are multiple remote villages on the island, and your private guide will introduce some of these to you by bicycle as you ride through the hills of the island plains, stopping at one of the more picturesque locations for lunch by the river. This is your last full day in Laos, and your free exploration of Don Khone will bring home just to what extend the country remains suspended in its history, lost in an ancient meditative state that has continued unabated into the modern era.
You’ll have further opportunity to reflect on what you’ve learned at your floating resort, looking out over the wide stretches of the Mekong, the holy mother river of the entire Indochinese region. Picnic lunch is included Accommodation in Auberge Sala Don Khone
Day 8: Departure
Shake off your sleep and get out on the banks of the Mekong as the morning emerges; you will shortly pack up and head out for nearby Pakse, from where you’ll be taken to the airport for your connection to your onward international flight. You can be certain that Laos will remain in its trance, awaiting your return.
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