Laos Adventure

With14 Days for discovering the stunning diversity of Laos, you have chances to visit ancient temples and historic colonial cities, coupled with the natural wetlands of Si Pan Do, and the cultures of the many tribal peoples, this tour gives you the covers the very best of Laos from North to South.
DAY 01. ARRIVAL - LUANG PRABANG
Welcome to Laos - the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang, the ancient royal capital with its gleaming temple roofs, and colonial architecture. After the resting time you will have half day city tour to Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham and Wat Mai with five tiered roofs before going up with 329 steps to the top of Mountain Phousi for an exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa and to enjoy a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong river.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 02. LUANG PRABANG - PAKOU - LUANG PRABANG (B/-/-)
Today we continue seeing Luang Prabang with the temple of Wat Xieng Thong, a magnificent piece of architecture, which nestles at the junction of the Mekong and the Nam Khan river. We embark on a boat for a leisurely trip on the Mekong river, stopping en route at Ban Xang Hai to see the production of and to sample the local rice wine. Upon leaving this village we pass through stunning mountain landscape to the mysterious Pak Ou caves. These two linked caves are crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes, all brought there by devout villagers. After the river trip we drive towards Ban Phanom, a small village known for its hand weaving. 
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 03. LUANG PRABANG - KHOUANGSI WATERFALL (B/-/-)
The exploration of Luang Prabang would be not complete without a visit to the National museum (close Tuesday) at the former Royal Palace. This interesting structure displays a lovely collection of treasures and artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings through the last sovereign. Leave the town through verdant and rugged scenery to visit some hill tribes at Ban Lao Soung and Ban Ou. We take a walk to the beautiful Khouang Si waterfalls, where water tumbles over multi tiered limestone formations into cool and crystal clear poolse. These waterfalls are also setting surrounded by dense forest. Back to Luang Prabang in the afternoon for overnight.

DAY 04. LUANG PRABANG – XIENG KHOUANG (ROAD) (B/-/-)
Today we leave this charming town for Xieng Khouang, an area with relics of Indochina second war between 1964 and 1973. These back roads are a great way to explore the real Laos with few footpints of travelers. The journey is long, but we can make stops as much as you can for relax or photos. In the afternoon there will be time to see the old capital of Muang Khoun Province and its' nearby villages. 
Overnight in Xiengkhuang.

DAY 05. XIENG KHOUANG – VANG VIENG (ROAD) (B/-/-)
The “Plan of Jars” is an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are scattered all over a plateau. These huge jars are supposedly over 2,000 years old, but most of archaeologists still question their purpose. We explore the site and some nearby villages of Hmong and Tai Dam hill tribes before heading to Vang Vieng, a small tranquil town nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River. Its stunning scenery with a mixture of quiet atmosphere and limestone outcrops remains unspoiled. 
Overnight in Vang Vieng.

DAY 06: VANG VIENG – VIENTIANE (ROAD) (B/-/-)
We start with a walk around the bustling central market and then take bamboo raft along the Namsong River with the limestone cliffs and valleys. Vang Vieng are home to numerous caves and the most famous one is Tham Jang used in the early 19th century in defense against the Chinese invaders. We also cross the river to Ban Huai Ngai, a very pleasant village where we can explore the different local lifestyles. In the afternoon we leave Vang Vieng for Vientiane, the capital located on the banks of the Mekong river with a mixture of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French influences.
Overnight in Vientiane.

DAY 07: VIENTIANE (B/-/-)
Our full day sightseeing tour of Vientiane commences with a visit to Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple standing in Vientiane. This amazing structure features remarkable frescoes and Buddha statues. The following sight is the former royal temple of Haw Pha Kaew, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit the imposing Patouxai Monument well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe before continuing to the great sacred structure and symbol of Laos, That Luang Stupa. We head out of town to see the Buddha Park, a scattered enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong riverside meadow, near 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. Enjoy the spectacular view of over the Mekong river and overnight in Vientiane.

DAY 08: VIENTIANE – THAKHEK – BAN NA HIN (B/-/-)
We depart early southbound for Khammouane province. Along the way we can make several stops for photos of the scenary of Lao countryside. We will arrive at Ban Na Hin, a village lo inside a valley surrounded by limestone mountain, and near the most beautiful mountain view point in Southern half of Laos. It is alsao the gateway to Khong Lor cave in the afternoon. Enjoy a short walk around this charming village and overnight in Ban Na Hin.

DAY 09: BAN NA HIN - KHONG LOR – BAN NA HIN (B/-/-)
Today we take a short drive to Khong Lor, the amazing 7.5km-lengh cave formed by the Hinboun river, which flows through the cave all year round. Stop en route for a walk to That Mouang and That Namsanam waterfalls. We embark on a small boat for an impressive excursion through the main cave to the valley beyond and stopping to observe the stalactite formations. The cave is still used by local villages as an access route. 
Overnight in Ban Na Hin.

DAY 10: BAN NA HIN - SAVANAKHET – PAKSE (B/-/-)
We leave Ban Na Hin and continue venturing in southern Laos. Next stop is Pakse, the capital city of the south. Along the way we make stop at Sananakhet, the fast growing town now becomes an important trade center between Vietnam and Laos, for lunch and resting. 
Overnight in Pakse.

DAY 11: PAKSE –TADLO (B/-/-)
The next destination is Tadlo. On our way we pass many lush plantations, hills and rain forests. We stop over at some of the nearby villages, home of the Kato hilltribe groups who still retain their old cultural traditions in decades. We continue our journey through the Paksong and Boloven plateau. The Boloven plateau is known for its cooler temperature by being located high above the sea level. Rivers run off from this plateau in all directions and then plunge out to the rain forests along in a series of spectacular surging waterfalls. The scenery around Tad Fan waterfall is spectacular with twin waterfalls plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by flourishing vegetation. A trip gives you great chance to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas as well as to venture off the beaten track and discover some of the untouched areas of Laos, exploring the wild beauty of this southern region. 
Overnight in Tadlo.

DAY 12: TADLO - WAT PHOU – DONKHONE (B/-/-)
We leave Tadlo for Pakse and enjoy a leisurely trip to the former royal capital of Champasak, where we start exploring the ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia's most dramatically situated temples. We also have time to discover these intriguing Khmer ruins, which are perched at the base of Mount Phu Kao. Wat Phu, one of the Lao World Heritages recognized by UNESCO, is wonderful archeological site of Khmer civilization dates back to the 9th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. A festival of this site is held annually during the full moon in February and attracts numerous pilgrims from all over southern Laos. We continue our journey by motor boat to Don Khong, the largest island in the South Mekong river region known as the 4000 islands, one of the most scenic areas in Laos. 
Overnight in Don Khone Island.

DAY 13: DONKHONE – KHONG ISLAND – SURROUNDING (B/-/-)
We embark on a long tail boat to discover the widest section of the Mekong river, where during the dry season the waters recede and leave behind thousands of islets, giving this area a lovely name” Si Phan Done”. We explore the local peaceful villages of Ban Khone, where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with it’s locomotive. We continue discover the 4000 islands area by boat at our leisure to visit the marvelous Liphi waterfall, also called the "Corridor of the Devil" one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking the end of Lao border to Cambodia. If we are lucky, we may even see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone.

Overnight in Done Khone Island.


DAY 14: DONE KHONE ISLAND – CAMBODIA BORDER (B/-/-)
After breakfast, we board a boat to Ban Nakasung and take a short drive to the Lao – Cambodia border, en route we visit the breathtaking Khone Phapheng waterfall, the South East Asia’s biggest waterfall. End of services and take Cambodia tours.

This tour is built upon our firsthand knowledge & experience, offering you the best choices available. The price of this trip varies depending on the number of people in your party, dates of departure, and availability of ground services.

Please click on CUSTOMIZE YOUR TRIPS and supply the required information, enabling us to send you your personalized quote within 24 hours!

Note: Amendments CAN be made to this tour to suite your requirements, but may incur price changes

WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels 
Private Vehicles and Drivers
Private English Speaking Guides (Other languages if available, upon request)
Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
All domestic flights
Airport Taxes and Fuel charges
Entrance fees for all mentioned sights visited
Drinking water available on the vehicles.
Service Charge & Government Taxes
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?
Your International Flights
Personal Expenses (such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc.)
Any bank fees or charges at your end
Meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary
Personal Travel Insurance
Tips for tour guide and driver in each region
Peak season or public holidays surcharge if any
Compulsory Gala dinner on X-Mas or New Year if any
Vietnam visa stamp fee 
Other services not mentioned above

HOTEL SELECTION:

The hotels listed below are our suggestions for the best value on this tour.  However, Asia Essence Tours offers many more options of hand-picked hotels, with different "star ratings", allowing you to customize the vacation to meet your taste and budget.

LOCATIONS

FIRST CLASS CATEGORY

SUPERIOR CATEGORY

DELUXE CATEGORY

Luang prabang

Villa Chitdara hotel

Villa Santi hotel

Maison Souvanaphoum

Vangvieng

Villa Vangvieng Riverside

Villa Vangvieng Riverside

Vansana Vangvieng

Vientiane

Manorom Boutique hotel

Salana Boutique hotel

Green park hotel

ABOUT HOTELS:

We, at Asia Essence Tours, are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. As the hotel cost will be the major expense of your vacation in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, it is essential that all of the hotels chosen by us are the highest quality for the price paid. All of our prices are based on twin, double or queen shared rooms.

BELOW IS AN EXPLANATION OF THE HOTEL "STAR" RATINGS:

First Class/ 3 Star (from US$ 40 - US$ 60 per room/night)

The First Class/ 3 Star Hotels are good value and normally centrally located. They all have comfortable en-suite rooms, good amenities and public areas to relax in. They are usually family run hotels, so offer great personalized service for your enjoyment and comfort. Most first class properties offer an in-house restaurant, and some may even have a swimming pool!

Superior/ 4 star (from US$ 80 - US$ 110/ per room/night)

The 4* superior Hotels offer a wide range of services. Many superior hotels feature a choice of several in-house restaurants. In addition virtually all of them have a swimming pool. Some may even feature a spa or health club. This grade of hotel offers more for your enjoyment and comfort, while still remaining affordable.

Deluxe/ 5 Star (from US$120 - US$ 180++/ per room/night)

These 5* Deluxe hotels are usually owned by Worldwide, well known Hotel chains. The deluxe hotels feature excellent locations, offer the highest standards of service and facilities, and are known as the best hotels in each region. Facilities such as swimming pools and spas are the norm, and guest rooms are luxurious. These hotels offer first class service and amenities throughout.

ASIA ESSENCE TOURS™ BESPOKE STYLE SUITS EVERYONE

Flexibility: The sample itinerary can be modified to suit your interests, budget as well as your personal wishes including departure date, duration, accommodation used & how long you spend in each destination.

Tailor-Made Journey: This trip can be tailor made to create a unique holiday for your individual requirements by travel experts with intimate knowledge of the destination. It is a more individual trip that will suit those who enjoy immersing themselves in new cultures and environments, with the flexibility to plan a trip at your own pace. Quality and value are the hallmark of the trips, with most services being provided on a private basis.

Commitment to Excellence: We enjoys excellent relationships with all of the highly regarded hotels and finest properties in our destinations as well as with service suppliers so that we are able to negotiate the most attractive prices for our clients, which enables us to provide exclusive holidays and affordable special offers. We create one-of-a-kind vacations for groups and individuals. We love our destinations and do our best to make sure that our customers feel the same way. Our job is to make sure that everyone gets the right balance of comfort and excitement to enjoy the experience of a lifetime.


Extend This Tour With...

Laos Discovery


Laos in Style


Laos Expedition


Explore Luang Prabang 4 days