Family Fun in Laos

Arrive in Luang Prabang. Welcome to the spiritual capital of Laos.

A private car and guide will meet guests and transfer them to the hotel for check-in and a chance to freshen up.

This afternoon, the guide will lead guests through the town for a brief orientation tour, allowing them to get a taste of the unique atmosphere of this UNESCO-listed town. Wedged between the mighty Mekong River and its tributary, the Nam Khan, Luang Prabang is a beautiful blend of French colonial buildings and Lao architecture. Stop to join in a game of petanque with the friendly locals. This is the perfect way to interact with Lao people, gaining an insight in to their lifestyle, which mixes ancient traditions with colonial influences. It is also a good opportunity to try sample Beerlao (for the adults!) and local snacks.

Finish the half-day tour by climbing the 328 steps to the top of Mount Phousi to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding countryside. Stop at the evening hill tribe market.

Enjoy dinner at Coconut Garden. This is a great introduction to Lao food which also caters for western tastes and children.

Today, take a half-day guided tour of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The guide will pick up guests from their hotel after breakfast.  

Start the city tour at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, where guests will be able to discover the history of Laos. Continue on foot to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief, and Wat Sensoukarahm, which features a beautiful dazzling golden façade. Finish the tour at Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang. Located at the end of the peninsula, close to the Mekong, this temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat and is decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics.

Lunch at Tamarind restaurant. Enjoy a fresh menu of Lao dishes in a family run restaurant dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of the local cuisine. As guests order, the friendly staff will explain the ingredients and customs of the cuisine. (Note: closed on Sundays)

This afternoon is free at leisure.

Today, follow the footsteps of Dr. P Neis who on October 14^th 1883 explored the Nam Khan River.

At 0830 the English-speaking guide will meet guests at their hotel in Luang Prabang and transfer them to the Explorer Camp located 15km outside the city.

The guide and a local veterinarian will provide information about the elephants, before guests have a chance to feed the elephants or simply relax by the riverside.

Then it’s time to start an elephant ride through forests and over hills to the protected Huay Sae hidden valley. Here, guests leave their elephant to spend the night.

Enjoy a luxury lunch of traditional Lao food by a secluded waterfall. Swimming in the natural pools may be possible, depending on the water level.

After lunch, continue trekking for 1.5 hours on foot. The adventurous trail crosses bamboo bridges and passes waterfalls with blue pools in dense jungle. As guests reach the end of the valley, traditional horses from the hill tribes will be waiting for you to carry their bags. They will accompany guests for another 30 minutes’ trekking along fields and forest to the Nam Khan River.

Board a luxury bamboo raft and slowly float downstream, which is a relaxing 1.5-hour journey with an optional 30-minute stop at the Tad Sae Waterfall.

At 1630 the guide will meet guests and transfer them back to Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, take a short transfer through the Luang Prabang countryside to the Kuang Si Waterfalls. Along the way, the drive will pass through beautiful landscapes of rice fields, hills and small villages. There are also viewpoints overlooking the Mekong River.

Stop en route to visit a small village which is home to one of the area’s many ethnic minorities. Guests will have an opportunity to learn about their traditions and culture, much of which has remained unchanged for centuries.

Upon reaching Kuang Si Waterfall, relax and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. The water tumbles down a large drop and cascades gently in to several cool, clear pools, where guests can enjoy a refreshing swim (please dress modestly).

Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch next to the falls.

For the adventurous, it is possible to walk to the top of the falls via a steep track where stunning views await at the top.

Guests might also like to visit the bear sanctuary which is next to the falls, run by Free The Bears Fund Inc. There are currently 23 Asiatic black bears living in the sanctuary, which has saved them from poaching. The main threat to these bears is poaching due to the use of their bile in Chinese medicine. Guests can read about the bears’ habits and observe their playful nature, whilst learning about the difficulties they face.

On the way back to Luang Prabang, guests will stop at the Kuang Si Butterfly Park to visit the beautiful garden filled of hundreds of Laos’ butterflies! (Note: closed on Tuesday)

Then, depart for a drive down the spectacular Route 13 towards Vang Vieng. Stop in Kasi, a fruit-growing area along the way. This journey passes through spectacular scenery and guests might want to stop regularly for photos. Please be aware that there are numerous sharp bends, steep climbs and descents along these mountain roads.

Arrive in Vang Vieng, a small town on the banks of the Nam Song River surrounded by spectacular limestone karst scenery.

The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure.

This morning, the tour begins by crossing the Nam Song River for a short drive to Tham Pou Kham (Golden Crab Cave) and the Blue Lagoon. Guests might like to go for a cold swim in the Ka River's waterhole. The water is clean, deep, and safe if guests feel brave enough to jump in. There is also a slide for kids and life jackets are available.

Transfer back to the center of Vang Vieng, with an optional  stop at a local village where women still weave on traditional looms.

Take a local long-tail boat (two people per boat) to cruise for approximately one hour upstream on the Nam Song River, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way.

Arrive at the extensive Organic Farm, which specializes in refreshing mulberry tea as well as having a range of livestock and organic crops. Take a short tour of the Organic Farm and enjoy a delicious lunch there.

In the early afternoon guests will be driven back to their hotel.

The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before starting the drive to Vientiane. Roughly 1.5 hours from Vang Vieng guests will reach Nam Ngum Lake, the largest in Laos and a very beautiful spot.

This artificial lake was built to produce electricity and was the first hydroelectric dam ever built in Laos. The dam generates 160 mega watts of electric power (electricity being one of the most significant sources of income in Laos).

From here the drive to Vientiane takes around 2.5 hours and the rest of the day is free at leisure.

Enjoy dinner at Xang Khoo restaurant which offers a tempting selection of Lao dishes and Western meals, including French crepes.

This morning, drive out to Buddha Park. The drive takes around 45 minutes along a road which serves as an important link between the Lao capital and Thailand. On the way, stop and take photos of the Friendship Bridge which was built by the Australian government in 1994 and links Laos and Thailand.

Arrive at Buddha Park and enjoy a stroll around the park. Also known as Xieng Khuang, this unusual park is filled with more than 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues. The quiet and tranquil setting along the Mekong River is a contrast to the slightly eccentric sculptures which were built in 1958 by a Lao shaman. The concrete sculptures are bizarre but intriguing, sitting majestically in the peaceful park.

After visiting Buddha Park, start the drive back to Vientiane.

Next, guests will stop at the serene Wat Sisaket - the only temple left intact after the Siamese (Thai) invasion in 1828. It is one of the most beautiful temples in the capital and its breezy teak covered hallways are filled with thousands of miniature Buddha statues.

Continue on to the nearby Wat Phra Keo. Used as a religious museum, Wat Phra Keo displays a collection of both Lao and Khmer works of art. Also nearby is the Presidential Palace. Although guests are not allowed inside, it provides a good glimpse of the town’s colonial past as this building formerly served as the French governor’s palace.

Enjoy a delicious Lao-style lunch at Makphet Restaurant. Established by Friends International (www.friends-international.org), Makphet is a charity-run restaurant which aims to train the area’s street children in the hospitality industry. Professional chefs from around the world have volunteered their time in developing the menus and training the staff. The food is excellent and the staff excel in bringing true Lao hospitality into their service.

After lunch, the rest of the day is free at leisure.

This morning guests will be met by their driver and guide in Vientiane, to begin the journey south along Route 13. This first leg of the journey takes around three hours and it is interesting to have a quick stop at Wat Prabath Phonsane (‘Temple of the Footprint of Buddha’).

Lunch will be included at a local restaurant.

The drive then leaves Route 13 and enters the Phou Hin Poun NPA (National Protected Area). The scenery will become much more spectacular, featuring limestone karsts, forests and rice paddies. From leaving the main road to reaching the destination will take approximately two hours.

Upon arrival in the small town of Ban Kong Lor the rest of the day is at leisure for guests to admire the views.

This morning guests will be met by their driver and guide for a short drive (5-10 minutes) towards the Kong Lor Caves. Life jackets and head torches will be provided before a short walk to the main entrance of the cave. Upon entering the cave, guests will board a long-tail boat for a journey through the length of this spectacular cave, along an underground section of the Hin Boun River. It will be 7.5km before guests see daylight again!

The river flows all-year-round and reveals vast formations of stalactites and stalagmites, which can be explored partly on foot whilst inside the cave. In places the cave is up to 90 meters wide and 100 meters high. The cave is still used by local villagers as an access route to the region beyond (it is far quicker than climbing over the mountains through which this cave cuts!).

Once out on the other side, guests can stop for refreshments and walk to local villages, enjoying the scenery and observing a simple way of life (guests can discuss with the guide how far they would like to walk).

Return by boat, travelling ‘downstream’ through the cave to Ban Kong Lor. Enjoy lunch (on  own account) and take some time to relax.

After breakfast guests will be driven back to Vientiane, a journey of approximately five hours. After this adventure guests will probably appreciate the excellent cafes and restaurants which are available in the capital!

Arrive in Vientiane and check-in at the hotel.

This afternoon is free at leisure.

After breakfast, guests are free at leisure until the guide and private car pick them up from the hotel for the transfer to the airport for the departure flight.