Put down the iPad and step into a real life adventure worthy of the Discovery Channel. You will kayak, explore caves, swim in waterfalls and ride on elephants through the stunning Laos scenery. Get to know the friendly local people and visit the elementary school sponsored by JWOC. This is a family trip that no one will forget.
Day 1 Vientiane: Arrival and Dinner Dance Show
Catch your flight – Laos Airlines QV442 departing Bangkok at 09:35 & arriving in Vientiane at 10:35 – where you will be transferred to check in to your hotel. In the evening you will be picked up for a traditional dinner including a Lao music and dance performance.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at Green Park Boutique Hotel – 1 Double Deluxe Suite with 2 Extra Beds
Day 2 Vientiane: Full Day City Tour
After breakfast, meet your guide who will take you to Thong Kham Kam Market. Here you will witness how the locals do their early morning food shopping in this large market. Perhaps you will feel adventurous enough to try some of the local delicacies. Afterwards, you will visit the weaving center of Carol Cassidy. Carol Cassidy, founder and owner of Lao Textiles, has been working with Lao weavers since 1989. The center is home to the creation of her internationally revered textiles. The shop’s staff, or Carol herself, will be available to inform you about this art form and the importance of it to Lao women. Afterwards enjoy lunch at Makphet Restaurant, which trains homeless youths to wait tables and cook. Here you can also pick up a couple of last minute gifts for loved ones at their shop that sells handmade handicrafts from underprivileged families. Stop by the COPE center to learn how they are helping the disadvantaged in Laos. Take a tour of the main temples and sites of the city including Haw Pha Kaeo, Wat Si Saket, Pha That Luang, Patuxai and Si Muang. In the late afternoon you can choose to be dropped off in the center of town or at your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Green Park Boutique Hotel – 1 Double Deluxe Suite with 2 Extra Beds
Day 3 Vientiane to Vang Vieng
After breakfast, enjoy the north-bound drive through beautiful landscape before reaching Vang Vieng in the early afternoon. Once you have reached Vang Vieng check in to a quaint riverside bungalow. Enjoy lunch before bicycling through the countryside and across the Nam Song River. Your first stop will be at one of the most famous caves, Tham Jang. It was used as a bunker during defense against the Chinese in early 19th century. The view from the cave, surrounding landscape and tranquil pools make this a must see. Then you will head out through the village of Ban Na Thong on a scenic dirt road for approximately 6km until you reach Tham Phu Kham. The Lao consider this the most sacred of the caves in Vang Vieng and it contains a bronze reclining Buddha. After your decent from the 200m climb, cool off with a dip in the inviting blue lagoon before heading back to town for the evening.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Thavansouk Resort – Ban Lao 1 Room
Day 4 Vang Vieng: Kayaking on Nam Song River
In the morning you will be transferred from Vang Vieng to the Khmu village of Vieng Samay, about 10km north of Vang Vieng. After an introduction to the basics of kayaking, the Nam Song offers various small but fun rapids on the way to the first stop at the cave of Tham Nam Thaem. This cave cuts straight through the mountain, so you will emerge on the other side of the range with panoramic views of the Nam Kouang valley. A trek back over a small pass leads up to a Lao-style picnic lunch on the riverside. Paddle on to the next stop at the Organic Farm, where mulberry tea and a variety of fruit wines are produced. The Tham Non Cave lies further downstream. As one of the biggest caves in Vang Vieng, it served as a rescue shelter for the villagers during the Second Indochina War. Today it is home to a bat colony and ‘The Magic Stone of Vang Vieng’. The final leg is a gentle paddle – before returning to Vang Vieng in time to catch the sunset from the terrace of the Ban Sabai Riverside Bungalows, if desired or a short walk back to the resort. Please note that trekking to the caves will be a long walk and you will have to climb an incline. Make sure to bring along sturdy shoes for that portion.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Thavansouk Resort – Ban Lao 1 Room
Day 5 Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang
After an early breakfast continue by private van with a new guide through the winding mountainous roads of the north. Stop and have lunch at a local noodle shop in Phou Khon.
Please note: The scenery on this drive is some of the best in the whole country but this long journey on the winding roads can be difficult at times. If you become car sick , we recommend bringing medication to prevent nausea.
Arrive in Luang Prabang in the early evening and unwind with a massage or take a stroll through the night market.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Kiridara Villa – Kiridara Villa-Visoun
Day 6 Luang Prabang: City Tour and Kuang Si Waterfall
After breakfast, your guide will meet you and take you on a tour of the city including The National Museum, Wat Sen, Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Visun and Wat Aham. You will then leave the city and your guide will take a scenic drive to the gorgeous Kuang Si Waterfall, you may stop along the way to visit local villages and see traditional Lao communities. Before reaching the waterfall you can visit the Kuang Si Butterfly Park and the Free the Bears Projects to learn about the work that these local organizations are doing to educate on and protect native species. Once you reach the falls, enjoy a picnic lunch amongst the beautiful scenery and then wind down with a relaxing afternoon dip in the serene pools.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Kiridara Villa – Kiridara Villa-Visoun
Day 7 Luang Prabang: JWOC Village School Sponsorship
Meet with a Laos Journeys Within Our Community (JWOC) representative for lunch and to discuss the JWOC’s ongoing projects in Luang Prabang. Before you leave town, you will be prepped on the day’s activities in which you may participate in at the village school. Then you will leave town and head out to a picturesque village hidden away in the hills surrounding Luang Prabang. When you arrive in Phik Noy (Little Pepper Village) you will visit the primary school which JWOC supports through donations like yours. During your visit your will have the opportunity to interact with the teachers and students through a little English lesson and an art activity.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Kiridara Villa – Kiridara Villa-Visoun
Day 8 Luang Prabang: Shangri Lao Full Day Expedition
Relive the footsteps of the historic 19th century French explorer, Dr. P. Neis, with this original and authentic colonial style expedition. You will be picked up early morning from your hotel and transferred to the Shangri Lao Camp, located 15km outside of Luang Prabang. On arrival, you will get an introductory tour of the camp, the elephants and their hospital. After you meet your elephant you will begin your 5km ride in a traditional Howdah seat with roof through the river, jungle and mountain tops. You will want to have your camera handy to take pictures of the majestic landscape that surrounds you. Stop for a secluded lunch of traditional Lao food and wine in the jungle Sala beside the cascading waters of the Huay Sae River. After lunch you will trek through the jungle for 5km passing waterfalls, limestone cliffs, bamboo bridges and turquoise pools while learning about this important ecosystem. Once you leave the valley you will finish with an uphill section of the trek through farmlands, fields and plantations. Once you reach the Nam Khan River you will board a luxury bamboo raft. Enjoy coffee or tea while you float down river for 5km taking in the traditional village life of farmers and fishermen. When you reach the camp you will then be transferred by minibus back to your hotel in Luang Prabang.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Kiridara Villa – Kiridara Villa-Visoun
Day 9 Luang Prabang: Departure
You will be transferred to the Luang Prabang airport in time for your flight – Laos Airlines QV633 departing Luang Prabang at 07:40 & arriving in Bangkok at 09:20.
Meals included: Breakfast
Tour Rate: $ 9.860.00 for a family of four travelers (2 adults & 2 children)
Price includes:
- Air tickets Bangkok – Vientiane / Luang Prabang – Bangkok
- Boat tickets as specified above
- Accommodation as specified above
- Air-conditioned car/van with driver
- Licensed English speaking guides
- Tours and admission fees as mentioned above
- Meals as specified in itinerary, including water
Price excludes:
- Personal expenses
- Visa fees
- Airport tax
- Drinks (except water) and meals not mentioned in itinerary
- Tips
