SPLENDOUR OF LAOS - 8 DAYS/ 7 NIGHTS - From: 601$

Upon arrival at Vientiane Airport, you will be greeted and transferred to the hotel for checking in. Room is available from 2.00pm onward. Have your first meal of lunch here on your own. The remainder of day is free for you to discover the city on your own pace or simply have relaxation. In the evening, move to Phatoke Laoderm Restaurant to enjoy a Lao Cabaret in Vientiane for dinner. Night at the hotel.

Spend your day for an exceptional opportunity of discovering the culinary art of Vientiane. At 8.00am, meet up with your team and together go to the Vientiane’s largest fresh produce market. Through this tour you will have authentic experiences of tasting seasonal Lao produce, as well as be introduced about Lao people and their customs. A short break with tea or coffee will be taken after that. Then, ready for the cooking class – the next step in your culinary discovery – as you travel to another pretty and enchanting place. Try the feeling to be a real Laotian cook by using traditional cooking implements to make many other dishes and some scrumptious courses. Have a seat at a table after your cooking and enjoy the unforgettable feeling of tasting your own creation in this beautiful garden.

The arternoon is for the capital city of Vientiane. Particularly, you will visit :

Vat Sisaket – the largest and most beautiful temple in Vientiane which, inspired from the Siamese, presents its own unique architecture.  Its old ‘Bangkok’ style has actually saved it from destruction.

Vat Phra Keo - erected in 1565 to commemorate the Emerald Buddha it holds. It was rebuilt exactly the same in 1942. The Buddha it shelters now stands under sloping, excellent carved wood panels.

Pha That Louang - a cloister guarding a big stupa, luckily saved when the Siamese raided this city. The Ho plunderers demaged it in 1873, but in 1930 it was restored by the French. It is officially the iconic image of the nation, representing both Lao’s sovereignty and Buddhism. This relic is really a masterpiece of Laotian architecture.

Patuxay - a monument built to remind the intense war against France. From its top we can see a panorama of Vientiane.

At the end of the afternoon, take a stroll along the Mekong River. Have your own discovery into the capital’s cuisine for dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

This morning, we will drive 5 hours (180km) northward towards Vang Vieng passing by beautiful Nam Ngum Reservior. Stop en route to have a brief look at daily life of local people in a local market. Another stop is at Ban Keune to pay visits to a homely Iodized Salt Factory and its old rock salt mine.

About 2.5 hours from the moment we leave Vientiane, you will reach Nam Ngum Lake – the largest man-made lake lying amongst forested hills and mountains. Enjoy lunch while having a nice boat cruise.

After lunch, continue our drive towards Vang Vieng. Situated on Route 13 between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, by the Nam Song river's banks, Vang Vieng is surrounded by a spectacular landscapes of the Karstic mountain range and the Vang Vieng region. Once checking into your hotel, you will take a stroll around the city and have a ‘beer break’ with Beer Laos. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Rise up early this morning for relaxable moments on boat downstream the Nam Song River amongst a beautiful landscape of karst rocks reminding the spectacular Halong Bay in Vietnam. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere before your transfer back by private vehicle.

Afterwards, have a long drive of 6 hours (227 km) towards Luang Prabang – the ancient royal of Luang Prabang – a world heritage site recognized by UNESCO, with some stops at beautiful local villages. Upon arrival at the city, you have the balance of day free at your leisure. All meals are on your own. Spend your night at the hotel.

In the morning, join another cooking course at Tamarind Restaurant, neighboring Apsara Hotel on the Nam Khan River’s bank. Starting from there, you will have a tuk-tuk tour guided by the chef towards the local market, where offers you a diversity of fishes, meats, vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices. After getting enough ingredients for your cooking, transfer 8 km away from the city to the cooking place, which provides a garden with some kinds of vegetables and belongs to Tamarind Restaurant. You will have the opportunity to get to know how different flavors of different regions can be combined together. You will also learn how they prepare traditional dishes and directly cook a dish. Enjoy the fruits of your labour for a remarkable lunch.

After lunch, visit Luang Prabang, situated on the left bank of the Mekong River, by another tuk-tuk tour. Used to be a religious capital, Luang Prabang has more than 100 beautiful temples. Specially, you will discover:
Vat Xieng Thong – contains numerous holy buildings (or Temple of the Royal City – the finest temple in the city)

Vat Visoun – the city’s most ancient temple with wooden windows designed under influences of the Vat Phou’s Khmer temple.

Vat Aham – Vat Visoun’s neighbor, set in frame by two large Banyan trees

At the end of the trip, you will enjoy the magnificient view of sunset on Mount Phousi Mount then discover the H’mong Night Market. Have meals by your self. Overnight at the hotel.

You will visit the Royal Palace – nowaday the National Museum – in early morning before having a 70 km journey towards Khuang Sy waterfall via a beautiful road bordered by rice paddies and villages. Stop en route at some of the villages and a countryside lunch will be served at the waterfall. Swimming is allowed in the waterfall as long as  weather permits. Transfer back to Luang Prabang and on the way, pay visits to a couple of craft villages, including a village of traditional Sa paper and a weaving village. Have your own dinner in the city. Overnight at the hotel

Rise up early in the morning at around 5.30 to 6.30am, then departure for to Vat Nong temple to observe the Tak Bat ceremony (procession of monks). During the ceremony, locals stand on the sidewalk carrying foods in their arms in order to offer them to the walking-by monks wearing orange robes. You’ll be in awe of culturally momentous scenes as they take place in a peaceful and respectful ambiance and there will be total silence among the monks and locals. You have to make sure to wear suitable clothes (not too revealing) and photos should be taken from a distance to show your respects. That's just a little bit experience we offer, get yourself more as we go for a local market, very lively in the morning. All your senses will absolutely wake up to feel all those sounds, smells and typical sights. Wandering along, you will have chances to sample and enjoy some local snacks. Upon your wish, you can have a light breakfast at a coffee shop for more (or proper breakfast can be served at your hotel).

Board a traditional boat afterwards to take a cruise along the Mekong River. Enjoy lunch on boat, stop en route to visit the holy Pak Ou caves which protects hundreds of Buddha statuettes. From the caves you will have an impressive view of the Mekong at the confluence with Nam Ou River. Some delicious home-cooked dishes will be served for lunch.

On the returning way, stop to visit Ban Xang Hai to observe directly the manufacturing process of the famous rice wine: "Lao". It’s also possible to taste this special wine. Eveningtime is spent for traditional baci ceremony with dance show. Dinner is served at a local house. Overnight at the hotel.

Enjoy your last free time here before your transfer to the airport where your onward flight is ready to take off. The room is available before noon only. Meals on your own. OUR SERVICES END HERE.