Sustainable Laos

Upon arrival in Vientiane, a guide will transfer guests to their hotel by private car.

Enjoy a half-day guided tour of the Lao capital, Vientiane, which feels a world away from the bustle and hustle of other Asian capitals. The tour begins at the serene Wat Sisaket, which is filled with thousands of miniature Buddha statues.

Continue on to the nearby Wat Phra Keo, which displays a collection of Lao and Khmer artworks. Also nearby is the Presidential Palace. Although guests are not permitted inside the palace, it offers a good glimpse into the town’s colonial past, as the building formerly served as the French governor’s palace.

The tour then visits COPE, an association working to help landmine victims. A visit to the center provides in-depth information about the history of the Vietnam War and the lasting impact of unexploded ordinance (UXO) in the area, as well as the efforts underway to clear them.

Continue to the Patuxay monument, Laos’ version of the Arc de Triomphe, where guests can climb to the roof for sweeping views of the city.The final stop of the tour takes guests to That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. Constructed in the 16th Century, the temple is resplendent as the sun is shines upon its golden spire.

In the evening, guests will enjoy a traditional Lao dinner.

The second day allows guests to enjoy an authentic ecotourism trek close to Vientiane. Led by locals from Ban Hatkhai village, the Orchid Trek provides a source of income for local villagers and a way of improving environmental and cultural awareness. Part of the money generated by each tour goes directly to the villagers and the village development fund.

Depart from Vientiane early in the morning for a 1.5-hour drive to the starting point. Guests will be guided through Phou Khao Kway National Park, which is home to more than 50% of the wild orchid species of Laos.

Along the route through bamboo and evergreen forests, guests will be offered beautiful views of waterfalls, as well as the chance to spot numerous species of orchid and local wildlife.

Stop for a picnic lunch alongside a river before continuing to Tad Xay waterfall, which cascades down seven levels. This provides the perfect place to stop for a refreshing swim before transferring back to Vientiane.

On the way back, guests can stop at Dong Mak Kai, which sells a variety of local produce including ant eggs and insects!

Return to Vientiane around 17.30.

After breakfast guests will embark on the scenic drive north, stopping at a salt factory and Nam Ngum Lake en route. The total drive time is approximately 3.5 hours and guests will arrive in Vang Vieng in time for lunch at the Organic Farm. Here, a short tour will uncover the farm's range of livestock and organic crops.

After lunch guests will check in to their hotel, before embarking on the afternoon tour.

After crossing the Nam Song River for a short drive to Tham Pou Kham (Golden Crab Cave), guests will descent 100 meters into the depths. Underground, the cave widens to reveal a reclining Buddha statue and a range of interesting rock formations. After exploring the cave, guests can enjoy a swim in a clean, deep pool in the Ka River.

The journey then continues to Vang Vieng’s most important cave, Tham Chang (or Jang), which became home to migrating people during a civil war. The cave’s elevated position offered perfect views of Vang Vieng and the surrounding area, so the entire village moved there to sit out the war.

The cave still offers panoramic views, while its interior features spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. Guests will be able to swim in the natural spring water.

Return to the hotel in time to enjoy a beautiful sunset on the banks of the Nam Song River.

Enjoy a leisurely morning in Vang Vieng before the journey continues north to the spiritual capital of Laos, Luang Prabang. The drive will take approximately five hours, including a stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Please be aware that there are numerous sharp bends and the journey climbs/descends a lot of mountains along the way.

Arrive in Luang Prabang and check in to the hotel.

At the end of the day guests can climb the 328 steps to the top of Mount Phousi, which affords spectacular views of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, the city and surrounding hills. Descend the steps on the opposite side of the hill and stroll to the nearby night market, where local ethnic people gather to sell a large selection of handicrafts.

Guests will be picked up at 08:30 and transferred by tuk-tuk to the electric powered bike station.

Following a short briefing, guests will embark on an eco-friendly tour of Luang Prabang using these battery-powered bikes.

The tour starts at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, where guests can learn about the history of Laos, before continuing to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief.

Next, the tour moves to Wat Visoun, the holiest temple in the city, which was entirely rebuilt in 1887 after a Chinese invasion and includes a unique watermelon-shaped stupa. Guests then continue past Wat Aham, which dates back to the 1500s, and Wat That, where the ashes of King Sisavang Vong are housed.

Then ride along the Nam Khan River to Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang. Built in 1560 by King Setthathirat, this temple is decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics.

Enjoy lunch at Tamarind for some of the best local food in Luang Prabang (Lao set menu included). (Note: closed on Sundays)

After lunch, guests travel out of town to Phosy Market, where they can buy fresh produce from local vendors and sample the local tropical fruit. Then continue to Ock Pop Tock - a not-for-profit organization that seeks to preserve traditional weaving techniques. A short tour allows guests to learn about the silk weaving process.

Ride back into town along the banks of the Mekong for the final stop of the day, at the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre, which dedicated to exploring the diversity of Laos’ ethnic minorities. Traditional costumes, tools and artifacts are on display alongside in-depth descriptions. (Note: closed on Mondays).

Return to the bike station and transfer back to the hotel by tuk-tuk.

Guests are picked up from their hotel at 0900 and transferred into the countryside to visit Bucket of Books, a not-for-profit organization that aims to improve the lives of rural Lao communities and children.

Intended to visit villages and schools in a non-intrusive manner, Bucket of Books distributes books and other products from two local charities: Big Brother Mouse and Pha Tak Ke.

Big Brother Mouse is a Lao-owned project employing local staff who work with the goal of helping young Laotians develop new skills. Its books are written and illustrated by Lao writers and are intended to "make literacy fun". Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden is due to open in 2015 and aims to educate people about the importance of preserving the natural world. It has published five books.

The Bucket of Books contains:1 x Metal bucket (used for carrying water from the well/stream and for washing); 5 x Books from Pha Tad Ke (5 different titles, suitable for all ages); 5 x Books from Big Brother Mouse (5 different titles, suitable for all ages); 4 x Toothbrush; 4 x Toothpaste; 4 x Bar of soap (wrapped in cardboard);

A picnic lunch, catered by l’Elephant, is included for guests to enjoy in the countryside. The tour then returns to the hotel in Luang Prabang in the mid-afternoon.

After breakfast, guests will be transferred to the pier to embark on a cruise up the Mekong River from Luang Prabang to the Kamu Lodge.

Along the way, the boat will stop at the Pak Ou Caves, which are carved out of towering limestone cliffs and contain thousands of gold Buddha statues. The caves are an important destination for local pilgrims.

Continue upriver for another hour to reach the Kamu Lodge in time for lunch. The lodge features 20 private canvas tents with thatched roofs. The tents are decorated with bamboo and wooden furniture and come equipped with private bathrooms, toilets, solar powered hot water and electricity.

During the afternoon guests can choose to participate in a selection of traditional activities, such as rice planting and harvesting, gold panning in the Mekong (January to June), traditional fishing, or visiting a local village.

Guests will return to Luang Prabang by boat, arriving in time for lunch. The afternoon is spent at leisure.

Transfer by private car to the airport for the departure flight.