Enchanting Luang Prabang (4 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 temple. 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: Luang Prabang
You will then take a private transfer to the airport to connect with your outward flight.
Hotel de la paix Luang Prabang
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. This is a city of spirits where devotees of the Buddhist faith in saffron robes wander the streets as if they still belong in this world—
although their souls have long since been dedicated to the great beyond. You’ll gain a spectacular vista here at the peak of Mount Phousi while the setting sun turns the plains and hills all around a rich amber, before descending into the busy evening markets far below.
We dine at l’Elephant, one of the foremost haute cuisine establishments in the city, before your private transfer back to your luxury hotel. Dinner is included. Accommodation in Hotel de la paix.
Day 2: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves
Enjoy the peace of the locale as you rise for breakfast and 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. The rivers serve as the principal form of transportation in this region, and your boat will slip naturally through the river traffic granting you insider access to the cultures along the shores. You will watch the dance of the fishermen as they gracefully toss their nets into the river; you will stop by local villages to see
how the people of this magnificent land spend their hours within the folds of its forested wilderness. As the boat pulls back into Luang Prabang, you are greeted by private car to deliver you to your lunch at the old 3 Nagas hotel. Eat well; following on from there, we set out to explore the town, a fascinating world heritage-listed settlement that was once the seat of royalty in the region, based on the upper stretches of the Mekong. Taking a private half day tour through streets lined with charming Franco-Lao heritage architecture, you will be escorted through the National Museum and the 16th-century Xieng Thong temple. You’ll learn more about Laotian history, art, and fashion by visiting the Traditional Art Ethnic Centre with a 30 minute lecture by the founder of this museum. The evening’s entertainment is presented by the Royal Ballet Theater tasked with preserving the culture of this extraordinary
region in dance. The performance will depict episodes from the Lao-Ramayana as well as rural dances from folk and tribal culture. The show starts at six, although later schedulings occur from time to time. (The show begins at 0600pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Subject to change without prior notice from the company) Overnight in Luang Prabang Accommodation in Hotel de la paix.
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si
It’s worth the early rise to witness the wordlessly beautiful monks’ procession at dawn, a parade of colour 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. After breakfast at your resort, venture once more into the town to explore further. You will be enraptured by the restored Wat Visoun, the temple regarded as the most spiritually profound in the whole city and home of the famous watermelon-shaped stupa. The rebuilding isn’t recent, however—work dates from 1887 following the destruction of the original by invading Chinese forces. Beyond this, you will wander past the 16th century Wat Aham and continue to Wat That, the sanctuary of the ashes of King Sisavang Vong. 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, taking a simple picnic lunch in the midst of the seeming wilderness, 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 among visitors, 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 to the modest local culture. The charity in the hearts of the people can be seen with respect to nature at the Free the Bears sanctuary, where a small colony of bears lives under protection from poachers who hunt them for their bile, a valuable ingredient in certain Chinese medicines. Likewise at the nearby Kuang Si Butterfly Park (closed Tuesdays) you will sense the charms of the infinite in the play of the hundredfold butterflies dancing through the air around you. You will make your gradual return to your hotel passing through majestic rural scenery and stopping by a small hill tribe village, learning about their centuries-old cultural traditions directly as they openly share their blessings. Accommodation in Hotel de la paix.
Day 4: Luang Prabang
Your last day in this land of enlightenment will be enjoyed at the inspiring Heritage House, dedicated to the teaching, communication, and preservation of the heritage of the region. Now that you have experienced the magic of this place, you will appreciate more deeply the importance of sustainable community-based preservation projects here. You will then take a private transfer to the airport to connect with your outward flight. Luang Prabang will always be waiting for your return.
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