Day 1: Luang Prabang – Arrival

Welcome to Luang Prabang! Upon arrival, our guide will meet you at the airport and then escort you to your hotel for check-in. Free at leisure at the rest of day on your own.

Late afternoon, we will climb up 328 steps of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. We then will explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the hill tribe and local people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 2: Luang Prabang – Ancient town & Arts (B, L)

You have the option to wake up before dawn to witness and participate in offering alms to hundreds of saffron-robed monks – an awe-inspiring sight. Please tell your guide a day in advance if you wish to make an offering so he/she can prepare some food for you to hand over to the monks. This early morning ritual dates back generations in Laos. Watch the town come to life in the morning then return to the hotel for breakfast or join the locals for a bowl of delicious noodle soup after the alms giving ritual. (If you do not wish to make an offering, please keep an appropriate distance and observe the ritual in silence. Dress appropriately – shoulders, chest and legs should be covered).

We then visit the Morning Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.

In the mid morning, we will explore Luang Prabang by bicycle (or Tuk-Tuk), a fun and eco-friendly way of exploring the ancient town. After a short briefing to explain you the use of  your bicycle, it will be time to start your discovery of Luang Prabang. Start to visit The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. We then ride along the Nam Khan River to visit Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang. Located at the end of the peninsula, close to the Mekong and it was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat and is decorated with ornate carving and mosaics. Afterthat, we will visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center (close on Mondays) where you will learn more about local hill tribes in Laos. Next, we will visit Wat Visoun, the holiest temple of the city, which was entirely rebuilt in 1887 after being destroyed by the invading Black Flags from Southern China. In the courtyard of Wat Visoun stands the Watermelon Stupa shaped like the fruit from which it takes its name. Continue past Wat Aham, which was first built in the 1500s.

Drop your bicycles and have lunch at local restaurant in town.

In the afternoon, we drive to visit Ban Xang Khong where we learn more about Saa paper. We then visit the Ock Pop Tock weaving centre, an organization that is offering the weavers in the area the chance to earn a decent income through their weaving skills.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 3: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou –Kamu Lodge (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we transfer to the Kamu Lodge pier in Luang Prabang. Departure at 09.00 am from Kamu Lodge Pier and take a leisurely cruise upstream while enjoying the refreshments served on the boat. Marvel at the thousands of gold Buddha statues placed in sacred Pak Ou caves by devotees. Most people failed to marvel at Pak Ou towering limestone cliff. Continue upriver and you would reach Kamu Lodge Experience around 12.00 noon. You can check into your super size tents with attached modern bathroom amenities and facilities. Lunch is served at the restaurant (Lao set Menu). After lunch (from 03.00 pm to 05.00 pm), you can choose to either relax or to enjoy the traditional Kamu lifestyles and activities such as rice planting and harvesting in surrounding rice fields, gold panning in the Mekong (anything you find is Yours!), traditional fishing techniques (you can sample your catch for dinner!), visit of the kamu village, archery contest. Dinner (Lao set menu) is a feast by Kamu tribe standards. We want you to see the world from the Kamu’s eyes. After dinner, retire to your tent.

Overnight at Kamu Lodge

Note:

October to May is the best time. From June to September is wet by rains.

Some activities mentioned above depend upon the season.

Day 4: Kamu Lodge – Trekking (B, L, D)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

07.00 am to 08.30 am: Western set breakfast is served at the restaurant.

After breakfast, you will have the opportunity to go for a 3-hour trek in the surrounding forest to the waterfall (trekking grade: easy/ moderate). You will enjoy a picnic lunch to the waterfall or lunch at the restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will have time to relax, enjoying leisure activities available on site such as  bath in the Mekong, one hour Lao traditional massage, “petanque” contest.

Dinner is served at the restaurant.

After Dinner, you can retire to your tent.

Note:

October to May is the best time. From June to September is wet by rains.

Program is subject to change, depends on the weather.

Day 5: Kamu Lodge – Luang Prabang (B, L)

Meals: Breakfast

07.00 am to 08.30 am: Western set breakfast is served at the restaurant. Free at leisure.

After lunch, you will board the Kamu Lodge local boat around 14:00 pm for the cruise back to Luang Prabang. You will reach Luangprabang’s pier in the late afternoon. Free at leisure at the rest of day on your own or choose one of the optional activities as below:

Day 6: Luang Prabang – Elephant ride – Departure (B, L)

Departure from your Hotel in Luang Prabang. Pick up by our English speaking tour guide. Arrival at the Elephant Village. Welcome and greeting by our Camp Manager and participate in short briefing Ride the Elephant. Enjoy the impressive experience of a 3 km elephant ride without howdah. Ride in a traditional Lao long boat to the Tad Sae Waterfall and relax or swim in the clear water. Lunch will be provided at the Elephant Camp Restaurant.  Depart back to the Luang Prabang.

In the afternoon, our guide will transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Optional 1 – Ceremony of Baci at local villager’s house at 18.00 pm (before dinner time)

Baci is a traditional Lao ceremony of well wishing, dating back to the times before Buddhism was widely accepted as the main religion of Lao people. It is celebrated on many occasions; for example to please the house spirit, to thank the spirits after a family member recovered from illness, after a woman gave birth to a child and also before one of the family members leaving for a long journey, to marry, to welcome honorable visitor, to farewell visitors, to pay respect to senior age or parents. The Baci is mostly held within the family or in public.

During the ceremony all members of the family as well as invited relatives and friends are sitting around the “Pha Khouan”, a traditional bouquet of flowers. An older man of the village is conducting the ceremony by leading preaches and good wishes for health, prosperity, safe travel or whatever may seem important.

To convey the wishes to you, the white cotton threads are bound around your wrists, called in Lao “Soukhouan”. This tradition comes from the old belief that 32 souls are living in the people’s body. Wishing all bad souls or bad influences leaving and all 32 good souls staying in the body is accompanying the binding which finally mean to not let the souls leave the body. The threads should be worn for at least 3days.

The ceremony will be followed by Lao traditional dancing performance.

Optional 2 – Ramayana dance show

It is the traditional dance of Luang Prabang, that is difficult to find in other places. The performance starts at 18.00 pm during high season (October to March) and 18.30 pm the rest of the year (March to September).

The performance of the Phralak Phralam lasts approximately two hours and is  held in the theatre of the former Royal Palace of Luang Prabang, which was formerly used as the royal ballroom and reception room.

The room can accommodate a great number of people, and in the evening it is specially lighted to great effect.  Guests can hear cicadas, crickets and frogs in the palace gardens which echo the sounds of the orchestra.

The music accompanies and illustrates the nine dances of the Phralak Phralam.  Each evening, two of the nine dances are performed and totality of the performances invoke the ancient royal kingdom of Lane Xang.

Note:

• Shows are held every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

• The day of representation can change anytime

• It is forbidden to take photos during the performance so as not to interrupt the dancers. Members of the audience are welcome to take photos at the end of the performance.

Overnight in Luang Prabang