Visitez Luang Prabang, et le reste du Laos

9d / 8n: People of northern Laos

Benolaos — 2012-07-02T17:27:04Z

This 9 day / 8 night journey will show you a part of the real Northern Laos, between the high holy centre and the simple wild life around. We will first have a visit of Luang Prabang, the jewel of the Mekong, the city of a thousand pagodas. We will then explore further north, in a remote area region, one of the cradles of Laos.

Itinerary at a glance:

Day1. Luang Prabang city - Centre visit
Day2. Luang Prabang - Kuang Si Waterfall
Day3. Luang Prabang - Pakbeng
Day4. Pakbeng - Oudomxay
Day5. Oudomxay - Muang Khua - Muang Ngoi
Day6. 1st day trek, overnight in homestay in a village
Day7. 2nd day trek, back to Muang Ngoi
Day8. Muang Ngoi - Nong Khiaw - Luang Prabang
Day9. Departure

Detail of the journey

Day 1. Luang Prabang city-centre visit (../../..)

Your guide will be meeting you at 8.30am at your hotel to have a 1st day visit of the centre-town. This town, world heritage since 1995, have a charm of an old and preserved jewel. The numerous pagodas all around and their hundreds of novices give to the area a saffron colour that inspires the eyes and the feelings.

We will start with the National Museum (and former Royal Palace) which displays a lovely collection of artifacts, which reflect the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. We will continue with the temple close by the museum, the Wat Mai temple, one of the most important of Luang Prabang.

We then will walk or drive to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre to discover the diversity of the Lao culture with more than 100 ethnics in the country.

After that visit, we can learn about the secret war with the UXO Centre (close Saturday & Sunday) dedicated to their work consisting on clearing the Unexploded Ordnances that kills every year in Laos.

Lunch at your own.

We will take the road to the weaving village of Ban Xang Khong.
On the way, we will stop to visit the Wat Visoun and its stupa, the That mak Mo, and later on a stop to visit the unique Wat Phon Phao temple.

Ban Xang Khong is then our next visit. This village is specialised in weaving silk, and the Saa paper production, made by the bark of a local tree.

We will return in term to have time to climb the Phousi Hill to explore the sacred, gilded stupa as well as capture a beautiful view of the city and admire the sunset that get reflected on the Mekong River. From there, we visit the Night Market, where you can browse a lovely selection of handmade textiles, made by the local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 2. Luang Prabang - Kuang Si Waterfalls (B/../..)

We will start today with the visit of the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents the typical classical Laotian architecture.

We can continue by the visit of the Phosi Market, the biggest market of Luang Prabang and more generally from Northern-Laos.

Close by the Weaving living Centre of Ock Pop Tok, proposing exhibition, explanations about the silk weaving process including the dyeing, the spinning.

We are then driving around 1 hour toward Kuang Si Waterfall; en route, we can stop in some villages to visit local Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village.

We then drive to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest trails after having explorer the new Rescue Bear Centre hosting numerous specimen.

You can choose to also visit the Butterfly Park (not included in the tour), or pay a visit to the Elephant on the way to the waterfalls.

You will find many restaurants around, local one, and the new Carpe Diem located in a waterfalls environment.

We return to Luang Prabang by mid-afternoon before sunset, to enjoy this moment in Wat Phabatthai temple.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 3. Luang Prabang - Pakbeng (by boat) (B/L/..)

Today early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. We will have prepared everything for you to participate yourself, introducing first to the tradition, and having all material for your maximum comfort and respect.

Before back to hotel, you will have the opportunity to visit the morning market with all the exotic products coming from the jungle around the ethnic group propose very early in the morning to be back home as soon as possible.

After breakfast, it will be time to go west by cruising 1 day the Mekong River to the village of Pakbeng, a beautiful view point located in a natural curve close to the mouth with the Beng River.

Your private boat will be setup for you. With drinks and appetizers, lunch on board.
After 1 hour cruise, you will stop to visit the 2 sacred caves of Pak Ou hosting hundreds of representation of Lord Buddha.

You will then have around 8 hours cruise upstream, with possible stops on the way to visit ethnic villages situated on the bank of the river.

Arrival in Pakbeng before sunset.

Overnight in Pakbeng

Day 4. Pakbeng - The elephants - Oudomxay (B/../..)

After breakfast, you will cross the Mekong River to discover the elephant camp of Pakbeng which is dedicated to the protection of elephants and offers a wonderful opportunity to discover the life of an animal who historically lived in horde in this area.

We will then be back in the minivan for around 3 hours of drive to connect Oudomxay and the superb Nam Kat Yorla Pa Resort located in the jungle where a lot of ethnic groups originally live. The area is now protected, nature is there particularly living, the rare old essences of wood are still easily reachable, and the Resort provide all activities suiting for all kind of adventurers.

Overnight in Nam Kat Yorla Pa Resort.

Day 5. Oudomxay - Muang Khua - Muang Ngoi (B/L/..)

We will drive on the morning around 3 hours to reach the village of Muang Khua, located on the bank of the Nam Ou. A boat will be awaiting you to go downstream to the village of Muang Ngoi, through karst formations.

We will have lunch on board

We will arrive before sunset to the village, after having done some stops in villages before

day 6. 1st day trek, overnight in homestay (B/L/D)

We will have a 2 days to meet the people living out of the roads, out of the navigate rivers, in wild part of the countryside, still living as they always have done. If most of the villages have now access to water, they almost don't have electricity but with generators using petrol bought in Muang Ngoi.

For these 2 days, we will cross little plateaus, rice fields, in a karst formations area where caves were protecting the local between the "secret war", when American planes where constantly dropping bombs... Depending on health condition, we will adapt the number of hours of walk (2 - 6 hours per day).

We will have a night in one of the village around (Ban Houey Sen, Ban Na, or Ban Kiou Khan, depending on the selected option)

Overnight in homestay

Day 7. 2nd day trek, back to Muang Ngoi (B/L/..)

We will probably wake up early, when the houses start to prepare the breakfast. We will spend a part of our morning observing the local way of life, before walking back to Muang Ngoi (2 - 5 hours of walk).

Belonging to our plan, we can propose options: visit the waterfalls, or navigate down the Nam Ou from Sopjam to Muang Ngoi in kayak through landscape you already discovered by boat 2 days before.

Arrival in Muang Ngoi before Sunset.

Overnight in Muang Ngoy

Day 8. Muang Ngoi - Nong Khiaw - Luang Prabang (B/../..)

After your breakfast, a boat will be chartered for about 1h cruise, down the Nam Ou River to Nong Khiaw. Our chauffeur will be awaiting us to come back to Luang Prabang (3 hour drive).

Before leaving Nong Khiaw, we will pay a visit to the Patok Caves where administration were living for a decade during the secret war. We then start our last ride. After 30 minutes of drive, we will do a detour to visit Ban Na Ngane, a Tai Lu village specialized in the production of famous cotton textiles, natural cultivating, hand spinning, weaving, to finish with indigo natural dyeing.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 9. Departure (B/../..)

Day free.
2 hours before landing, your chauffeur will be meeting you at your hotel to assure your transfer to the airport.

Inclusive to the program:

Private transportation in private air-conditioned
Accommodation in twin shared in Oudomxay and Muang Ngoi
Private boat trip as stated in above sights
English speaking guide
Local guide assistance for the 2 day trek
Admission fee to indicated sights
Meals : daily breakfast at hotel
Government tax and service charge
Luggage handling
2 bottles of drinking water per day during the tour
2 cold tower per day during the tour

6d / 5n: Luang Prabang - Vientiane

Benolaos — 2012-06-27T07:38:19Z

This 6 days / 5 nights journey in northern Laos will show you the main jewels of a naturally preserved area, home to ethnic groups still living at ancestral lifestyle. We will visit Luang Prabang, the Pearl of Asia, before exploring one of the mysteries of southeast Asia, ending in Vientiane, capital of Laos, a city located on the bank of the Mekong River.

Itinerary at a glance:

Day1. Arrival - Luang Prabang
Day2. Luang Prabang - Pak Ou cave - Khouangsi Waterfall
Day3. Luang Prabang - Xieng Khouang
Day4. Xieng Khouang - Vientiane
Day5. Vientiane - City Tour
Day6. Vientiane - Departure

Detail of the journey

Day1. Arrival - Luang Prabang

On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquillity and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. After a short rest, we visit the impressive Stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai; we then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, Gilded Stupa as well as capture a beautiful view of the city and the watch the setting sun as it is reflected on the Mekong River. From there, we visit the Night Market, where you can browse a lovely selection of handmade textiles, made by the local and hill-tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day2. Luang Prabang - Pak Ou cave - Khouangsi Waterfall (B/.../...)

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. You will visit the morning Phosi Market where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpetre among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weaving.

AM: After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing 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 stop at the small village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is distilled. We return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon, on the way we take a short drive to Ban Phanom, a small village well known for its hand weaving.

PM: We continue our excursion toward Khouangsi Waterfall, en route, we visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest trails. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and continue to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for silk handweaving and for traditional Saa Paper making.

At 5:30, we will enjoy the experience of the diner-cruise on the Nava Mekong, a luxury boat cruising during the sunset. You will assist to a traditional dance representation, on board.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day3. Luang Prabang - Xieng Khuang (Road) (B/.../...)

After breakfast we visit the The National Museum (close Tuesday) at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artefacts, which reflect the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. Today we leave this charming town and drive to Xieng Khouang, an area once devastated by American bombings between 1964 and 1973. These back roads are a great way to explore the real Laos. We see very few other travellers, mostly rural dwellers who are just as interested in finding out about our lives as we are of theirs. The drive is very long, but we can make many stops at our pleasure, to stretch our legs and take some wonderful photographs. In the afternoon there will be time to see the old capital of Muang Khoun Province and its' nearby villages.

Overnight in Xieng Khuang

Day4. Xieng Khouang - Vientiane (flight) (B/.../...)

Following breakfast at Hotel, we transfer out to visit the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site encompassing hundreds of large stone jars scattered throughout the plateau. In the afternoon there will be time to see the old capital of Muang Khoun Province and its' nearby villages which are home to the Hmong hill tribe and Tai Dam people who possess an interesting local culture and a vibrant history. We then board our short flight (30min) to the charming and fascinating Lao capital Vientiane. On arrival at 16:10, transfer without guide at your hotel we check in to the hotel.

Overnight in Vientiane

Day5. Vientiane - City Tour (B/.../...)

After breakfast, we see the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket, the temple 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 Lao's national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop en-route to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph.

In the afternoon we transfer out to see the Buddha Park, a scattered enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, close to the Friendship Bridge. There are approximately 200 religious images dating back over 500 years, which were created by a mysterious monk spreading his philosophy on life and revealing his ideas about the universe. A spectacular view of over the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day.

Overnight in Vientiane

Day6. Vientiane - Departure (B/.../...)

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our departure flight.

Our tariffs:

On demand.
Depends on the category of hotel
Optional way Xieng Khuang - Vientiane by road
Optional visits, and 1/2 day with handicraft professional.

Example of accommodation in 3 stars Boutique Hotel:

in Luang Prabang, Le Bel Air* (bungalow riverside)
in Xieng Khuang, Vansana* (Deluxe rooms)
in Vientiane, Mandala Boutique Hotel* (Superior rooms)

Inclusive of above program:

English speaking guide
Private transportation in private air-conditioned
Accommodation in twin shared
Pak Ou cruise in private boat
Flight Xiengkhouang (plain of jars) - Vientiane
Admission fee to indicated sights
Meals : daily breakfast at hotel
Luggage handling
2 bottles of drinking water per day during the tour
2 cold tower per day during the tour
Government tax and service charge