On arrival at airport you will be met and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Vientiane.

After breakfast we will visit the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we will stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

We then board speed train to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage City Luang Prabang. On arrival, transfer to hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

You have the option to wake up before dawn to witness and participate in offering alms to hundreds of saffron-robed monks – an awe-inspiring sight. Please tell your guide a day in advance if you wish to make an offering so he/she can prepare some food for you to hand over to the monks. This early morning ritual dates back generations in Laos. Watch the town come to life in the morning then return to the hotel for breakfast or join the locals for a bowl of delicious noodle soup after the alms giving ritual. (If you do not wish to make an offering, please keep an appropriate distance and observe the ritual in silence. Dress appropriately – shoulders, chest and legs should be covered).

After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the National Museum at the Former Royal Palace displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. Continuing to the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.  Along the way, we stopped at the small village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is distilled. We came back city in the afternoon, stop to visit Ban Xang Khong, famous for Saa paper making. This evening is free on your own to stroll around the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of textiles made by the local and the hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Breakfast at hotel. Rooms available until 12h00. Free at leisure until transfer back to Luang Prabang airport for departure flight.