Luang Prabang on the Kids Path

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

Your private car and guide will meet you and after all formalities are completed transfer you to your hotel for check-in and a chance to freshen up.

This afternoon, your guide will lead you through the town for a brief orientation tour in order to let you taste the unique atmosphere of this UNESCO town. Wedged between the mighty Mekong and its tributary the Nam Khan River, 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 your 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 in 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. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel after breakfast.

Start your city tour at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, where you will explore 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 you 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 the 14^th of October 1883 explored the Nam Khan River.

At 0830 your English speaking guide will meet you at your hotel in Luang Prabang and transfer you to the Explorer Camp located 15 km outside of Luang Prabang.

Your guide will teach you about elephants and you can talk with a veterinarian, feed the elephants or relax by the riverside.

Then begin you expedition with a 1.5 hour elephant ride on a howday (elephant seat) through forests and over hills to the protected Huay Sae hidden valley. Here you leave your elephant to spend the night.

Enjoy a luxury lunch of traditional Lao food by a secluded waterfall. Depending on the water level you may be able to enjoy a swim in the natural pools.

After lunch continue trekking 1.5 hours on foot. The adventurous trail crosses bamboo bridges and passes waterfalls with blue pools in dense jungle. As you come to the end of the valley traditional horses from the hill tribes are waiting for you to carry your bags. They will accompany you 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 min stop at the Tad Sae Waterfall.

At 1630 your guide will meet you transfer you back to Luang Prabang.

After your breakfast embark on a cruise along the Mekong towards Pak Ou Caves. Located 2 hours upstream of Luang Prabang, Pak Ou Caves, locally called Tam Ting, count thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues crammed into the two caves carved out of a towering limestone cliff. They range in size from a few centimeters to the size of a human. The caves are as well a destination for local pilgrimages.

Continue upriver for 1 hour to reach the Kamu Lodge. The Lodge features 20 private canvas tents. Faithful to local style, each one is protected from the elements by a thatch roof. This allows the Lodges’ grounds to harmoniously blend with surrounding nature. The tents are decorated with bamboo and wooden furniture. They each feature private attached bathroom and toilet with solar powered hot water and electricity.

Welcome drink and then lunch at the Lodge’s Sala.

Located into a unique site, the Kamu Lodge offers an amazing environment to relax and participate in different activities that will afford you to learn more about a side of the local daily life of Kamu people. You will be rewarded with a very original Lao experience.

• Rice planting and harvesting in surrounding rice fields
• Gold panning (January to June) in the Mekong. Anything you find is yours!
• Traditional fishing techniques.
• Local village visit
• Archery contest

Enjoy breakfast in the cool morning air and spend your morning as you wish. You might like to relax or visit the nearby local village with your guide. (check-out time: 10:30)

After lunch at the Lodge, the boat will depart around 1400 for the cruise down to Luang Prabang, arriving around 1700. 

On arrival, your driver and guide will meet you at the boat pier for a private transfer to your hotel.

This evening you will have a chance to participate in a unique, traditional Lao ceremony.  The Baci is performed in celebration of an important event such as weddings, births, or for welcoming guests and is a means of expressing good will and good luck to others. The Lao believe that each person has 32 spirits which constitute their spiritual essence and the Baci is the ritual used to call back any escaped spirits in to the body.  During the Baci, special flower trays and food treats are prepared which are then touch by the participants while a Buddhist mantra is chanted.  After the chanting is completed, cotton threads are tied around the participants’ wrist whilst they receive an individual blessing. 

If timing allows, visit of the Heritage Information Center (Note: closed on Sunday) that will provide you with plenty of information about the work of UNESCO in Luang Prabang.

Your private car and driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departing flight.