Cultural Laos: 9 Days Exploring Luang Prabang & Pakse

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Unlike the bustling tourist hotspots of its neighboring countries, Laos maintains a captivating tranquility and calmness that has, for years, continued to allure discerning adventure and nature lovers with its hidden treasures. This 9-day "Luang Prabang & Pakse Exploration" tour package offers an insightful glimpse into the heart of this beautiful landlocked country. Primarily focusing on the enchanting UNESCO Heritage town of Luang Prabang and the natural wonders around Pakse, you will traverse different regions, collecting unique experiences from ancient temples to local villages, and from waterfall paradises to the laid-back 4,000 Islands area. By the end of this journey, you will not only have connected deeply with Laos's pristine nature but also gained a profound understanding of its people and their unhurried, peaceful lifestyle.

OVERVIEW ITINERARY

Here is overview itinerary. Please contact for more details and better offers. 

Day 1: Luang Prabang: Arrival & Leisure

Day 2: Luang Prabang: UNESCO Heritage City Tour

Day 3: Luang Prabang: Bamboo Immersion & Kuang Si Waterfall

Day 4: Luang Prabang → Muang Ngoi: Northern Rivers & Caves

Day 5: Muang Ngoi → Luang Prabang: Village Life & Sacred Caves

Day 6: Luang Prabang → Pakse: Southern Waterfalls & Coffee Country

Day 7: Pakse → Don Khong: Ancient Khmer Temple & Island Serenity

Day 8: Don Khong → Pakse: Mekong Falls & Island Exploration

Day 9: Pakse: Departure

DETAIL PROGRAM:

Day 1: Luang Prabang: Arrival & Leisure

• Meals: None

• Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

• Activities:

  • Upon your arrival at Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ), you will be greeted by your local guide and transferred comfortably to your hotel.

  • The remainder of the day is free for you to relax, settle in, or begin your independent exploration of this charming town at your own pace.

  • Meals for the day are on your own, offering flexibility for your dining preferences.

Day 2: Luang Prabang: UNESCO Heritage City Tour

• Meals: Breakfast (B)

• Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

• Activities:

  • Optional Early Start: For a truly immersive experience, you have the fantastic opportunity to participate in the serene daily morning alms giving ritual to saffron-clad monks. This ancient tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving this procession. Afterward, stop and visit the vibrant fresh local markets to witness daily life before returning to your hotel for breakfast.

  • Morning: Depart to visit Wat Visoun, a temple significant for its impressive Thad Makmo stupa, whose rounded dome stylistically exhibits Sinhalese rather than traditional Lao influence. Continue your spiritual journey to Wat Aham.

  • Then, visit the most photographed temple in Luang Prabang, Wat Xiengthong. Gracefully located at the end of the peninsula, near the confluence of the Mekong and Khan Rivers, this temple showcases exquisite traditional Lao architecture and craftsmanship.

  • Afternoon: Continue your exploration with a visit to the former Royal Palace, which now functions as the National Museum. Here, you can delve into the history of the Lao monarchy and view various royal artifacts.

  • Conclude your city tour at Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its striking golden bas-relief. During Pimai, the Lao New Year, the sacred Prabang Buddha statue (normally housed in the Royal Palace Museum) is brought here for public display.

  • Meals for the day are on your own, except for breakfast.

Day 3: Luang Prabang: Bamboo Immersion & Kuang Si Waterfall

• Meals: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L)

• Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

• Activities:

  • After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to a village venue overlooking rice fields for a unique Bamboo Experience (closed on Sundays). You will be educated on the versatile uses of bamboo in daily life and even get to play traditional childhood games with metal balls and crossbow arrows. Participate in a hands-on bamboo weaving course with expert teachers, where you'll spend about an hour weaving your own mat to take home as a keepsake.

  • Then, enjoy a fascinating cooking session learning how to use bamboo in various dishes, such as bamboo shoot soup and bamboo shoots wrapped in banana leaves with sticky rice. Afterward, savor your delicious creations in a traditional Laotian house (pavilion style).

  • Afternoon: Travel to the outskirts of Luang Prabang, driving through picturesque green rice paddies and farms. Stop to visit a few villages of H'mong and Lao Loum people. Your guide will introduce you to local residents, offering a wonderful opportunity to learn about their daily activities like wooden cotton spinning, weaving, rice harvesting, and green vegetable farming.

  • Upon your arrival at the stunning Kuang Si Waterfalls, enjoy the main waterfalls with their spectacular views. The surrounding area is adorned with orchids, and the falls cascade over many calcified tiers, descending hundreds of feet into a series of cool, inviting turquoise pools, perfect for relaxation and swimming.

  • Dinner is on your own.

Day 4: Luang Prabang → Muang Ngoi: Northern Rivers & Caves

• Meals: Breakfast (B)

• Accommodation: Guesthouse in Muang Ngoi (simple comfort)

• Activities:

  • This morning, embark on a scenic drive towards Nong Khiew.

  • En route, stop to visit Ban Nayang village and the vibrant Nam Park market, offering glimpses into local life and commerce.

  • Upon arrival in Nong Khiew, enjoy lunch on your own.

  • Visit Pa Thok Cave, a significant historical cave used as a shelter during wartime.

  • Then, embark on a boat trip to Ban Sojam. After a short walk to explore this local village, continue your serene cruise to Muang Ngoi, a tranquil village nestled amidst stunning limestone karsts.

  • Arrive and check into your guesthouse in Muang Ngoi.

  • Meals for the day are on your own, except for breakfast.

Day 5: Muang Ngoi → Luang Prabang: Village Life & Sacred Caves

• Meals: Breakfast (B)

• Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

• Activities:

  • After breakfast, enjoy a peaceful walk to visit some local villages surrounding Muang Ngoi, experiencing the unhurried rural pace of life. Afterward, walk back to Muang Ngoi.

  • Embark on a boat cruise back to Nong Khiew along the scenic Nam Ou River.

  • From Nong Khiew, begin your drive back to Luang Prabang.

  • On the way, make a significant stop to visit the Pak Ou Caves at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. These two mystical caves house hundreds of sacred centuries-old Buddha images, making them an important pilgrimage site, especially during the Lao New Year festivities around mid-April.

  • After exploring the caves, continue your journey to Luang Prabang. Arrive and check into your hotel.

  • Meals for the day are on your own, except for breakfast.

Day 6: Luang Prabang → Pakse: Southern Waterfalls & Coffee Country

• Meals: Breakfast (B)

• Accommodation: Hotel in Pakse

• Activities:

  • After breakfast, you will be transferred to Luang Prabang Airport (LPQ) for your domestic flight to Pakse (PKZ) in southern Laos.

  • Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by your local guide and transferred to begin your exploration of the Bolaven Plateau. As you leave Pakse, the road climbs in elevation, taking you onto this elevated plateau. The volcanic rock soil here is ideal for superb tea and coffee plantations, which thrive on the rich soil and cooler climate.

  • Visit the magnificent Tad Fane Waterfall, a beautiful double cascade plunging into a deep gorge.

  • A further 2km from Tad Fane, a pleasant walk or drive through the coffee plantations will lead you to Tad Yuang Waterfall, another stunning cascade perfect for relaxation.

  • Transfer back to Pakse in the afternoon.

  • Meals for the day are on your own, except for breakfast.

Day 7: Pakse → Don Khong: Ancient Khmer Temple & Island Serenity

• Meals: Breakfast (B)

• Accommodation: Hotel in Don Khong

• Activities:

  • After breakfast, enjoy a short city tour of Pakse before transferring to Champassak to visit the fascinating pre-Angkorian temple ruins of Wat Phou. This ancient Khmer temple, nestled at the base of a curiously shaped 1,416-meter mountain, holds unique architectural and spiritual significance with its engraved cliffs, elephant figures carved from natural rock, and Dvarapala gatekeepers. Enjoy a magnificent panoramic view over the Mekong River from the third platform of the ruins.

  • Afterward, head towards the serene 4000 Islands (Si Phan Don) area.

  • Upon arrival, check into your hotel on Don Khong, the largest island situated in the Mekong River in southern Laos. Spend your time discovering the tranquil beauty of this expansive island at your leisure.

  • Meals for the day are on your own, except for breakfast.

Day 8: Don Khong → Pakse: Mekong Falls & Island Exploration

• Meals: Breakfast (B)

• Accommodation: Hotel in Pakse

• Activities:

  • After breakfast, transfer to Ban Nakasang where you will embark on a delightful cruise to Khone Island.

  • Upon arrival, begin re-tracing the French colonial times as many remnants (old pier, stream railway tracks, French buildings) still stand today.

  • Continue your exploration to visit the gorgeous Li Phi Waterfall (also known as Somphamit Waterfall), a must-see for waterfall lovers, flowing between Don Xang and Don Khone islands and forming a natural border.

  • After enjoying the falls, cruise back to Nakasang village.

  • From Nakasang, you will head to your hotel in Pakse.

  • Meals for the day are on your own, except for breakfast.

Day 9: Pakse: Departure

• Meals: Breakfast (B)

• Accommodation: None (Departure Day)

• Activities:

  • After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy some free time depending on your flight schedule.

  • You will then be transferred by our driver to Pakse International Airport (PKZ) for your international departure flight.

  • Ends of services.