Best of Laos – 7 days – Luxuy and Private tour.

This morning’s city tour. You are seeing the major temples of Vientiane including the oldest, Wat Sisaket, with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit the national icon of Laos, That Luang Stupa, stopping along the way to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph After lunch and time to relax we drive south from Vientiane city to see the Buddha Park, an enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures set in parkland on the banks of the Mekong close to the Friendship Bridge. Here we find over 200 religious images dating back some 500 years faithfully recreated by a mysterious Biddhist monk. Your evening is free to explore the Night Market and sample some local cuisine at one of the many restaurants the town has to offer. Overnight at hotel Accommodation: Laos Plaza Meals: Breakfast

After an early breakfast we depart the capital for our journey northbound. Our drive will take approximately 4 hours passing through spectacular countryside before climbing into the mountains. There will be photo opportunities along the way and a stop at a colourful local market where various hill tribes come to trade goods and buy provisions. We will arrive in the midst of the stunningly beautiful scenery of Vang Vieng in time for lunch. Next, we will visit the famous Tham Jang Cave, once used by local people as a hideout from Chinese invaders. Then embark on long tail boat for a relaxing cruise (~30mns) on Nam Song river. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore Vang Vieng by foot or bicycle, just relax by the pool at your hotel. Overnight at hotel in Vang Vieng Accommodation: Riverside Boutique hotel Meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive further into the mountains passing spectacular scenery and numerous hill tribe villages Ban Huai Ngai We will lunch at an altitude of approximately 1,300 meters above sea level surrounded by the endless mountain peaks of this remote region. After lunch we continue on along Route 13 stopping for photo opportunities and arriving in Luang Prabang early evening. Overnight in Luang Prabang Accommodation: Luang Prabang View hotel Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at your hotel we will see some of the highlights of Luang Prabang including a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts from the Royal period in Luang Prabang. Cycling on, we are seeing the city’s oldest temples, the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roof sweeping low to the ground, representing classical Lao architecture, the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham. After relaxing at your hotel to let you lunch settle we will pay a late afternoon climb to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred gilded stupa and to enjoy the panoramic view of the city and the sun setting over the Mekong River. Descanting the mountain your will find yourself in the midst of the famous Luang Prabang Night Market, where you can find a unique selection of handmade textiles and handicrafts locally made by both ethnic Lao and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang Accommodation: Luang Prabang View hotel Meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive to Khouangsi Waterfall stopping along the way to visit the morning Phousi Market, this where all locals of Luang Prabang come to do their daily shopping. You will see a variety of local foodstuffs and products including dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, fish, vegetables and fruit, everything needed for daily life in Laos. On arrival at the Khouangsi Waterfall you will have the opportunity to cool off with a refreshing swim in the topaz pools below the falls, walk along the forest trails and visit the Bear Rescue Centre. Upon return to Luang Prabang, we board our private boat for a pleasant and scenic cruise up on the Mekong River to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. These caves are an ancient ilgrimage site and contain thousands of gold lacquered Buddha images left there over hundreds of years. Returning to Luang Prabang we disembark our boat and have the option of taking a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village famous for its hand weaving or returning to the hotel for free time to relax. Overnight in Luang Prabang Accommodation: Luang Prabang View hotel Meals: Breakfast

This morning you have free time before being transferred to the airport for your afternoon flight. Goodbye Laos. Tour Ends