Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves – Buffalo Dairy Farm – Kuang Si Waterfall – Elephant Village – Lao Pottery Village – Nahm Dong Park – Hillside Ecolodge
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the natural and cultural wonders of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage city. Begin your adventure with a serene boat ride along the Mekong River to explore the sacred Pak Ou Caves, home to thousands of Buddha images. Continue to the Buffalo Dairy Farm, a socially responsible initiative where you can interact with friendly buffaloes and sample fresh dairy products. Discover the breathtaking beauty of Kuang Si Waterfall, a multi-tiered cascade with turquoise pools perfect for a refreshing swim. Visit the Elephant Village Sanctuary, where rescued elephants live in a peaceful environment, and learn about responsible elephant care. Cross the Mekong to the traditional Lao Pottery Village, where you can try your hand at ancient ceramic techniques. End your journey with a tranquil stay at Hillside Ecolodge, an eco-friendly retreat nestled in the mountains, perfect for relaxation and immersion in sustainable living.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN LUANG PRABANG & BACI CEREMONY (-/-/D)
On arrival at the Luang Prabang airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel.
Situated in the centre of northern Laos, Luang Prabang is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding cultural, historic and architectural values and its harmonious relationship between the natural and built environment. After a soft rest, you may want to stroll around for the first impression of this ancient city.
Late afternoon, join a private Baci ceremony at a local family. The Baci ceremony as a traditional ritual of the Lao people expresses the spirituality of the country and is a highly memorable experience and a deep insight into Lao culture for the participants.
Dinner will be served after that for you to share with the host family, that gives you the best start of Laos culture exploration.
Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang
Distance:
⦁ Luang Prabang Airport – Luang Prabang Central: 2,5 miles 10 minutes driving transfer
DAY 2: ANCIENT CITY – MEKONG RIVER – PAK OU CAVES (B/-/-)
Pick-up time: 08:30AM
After breakfast, you will first visit Royal Palace Museum, which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family. We then embark on a leisure cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.
Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On arrival back in the city, we will visit the old Wat Sene and the nearby magnificent Wat Xiengthong a superb piece of Lao temple architecture, which presents a sweeping two-tiered roof and ornate mosaics including a beautiful ‘tree of life ‘glass montage on the rear temple wall.
Next, we will visit Heuan Chan, a 19th-century aristocratic mansion that offers a glimpse into Lao culture through traditional ceremonies, textiles, and family life. This restored mansion stands as a testament to Lao heritage, featuring enriching exhibitions and a documentary on Laos’ customs. After the visit, we’ll have the opportunity to taste authentic Lao coffee or tea, providing a true taste of Laos.
Late afternoon, we will make a stop at Wat Prabath to admire the sunset; this is the ideal place to catch the last beauty of the day. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Optional: If you are fond of various ethnic cultures, you can visit Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (closed on Monday).
Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang
DAY 3: MORNING ALMS GIVING – BUFFALO FARM – KUANG SI WATERFALL (B/-/-)
Pick-up: 05:30AM – 06:30AM depending on season
Wake up as the sun rises, we will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, which dates to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temple to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets.
We then visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice, to vegetable, to fish, or chicken. After breakfast at the hotel, we ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the Mekong River. If time permits, we will visit UXO Visitor Center (closed on Saturday, and Sunday), where you can find the documentation about the secret war in Laos.
Then, transfer the Buffalo Dairy Farm on the way to Kuang Si waterfalls, which offers the fun and interesting experience for the kids. We arrive at the beautiful Kuang Si, which is the biggest waterfall in the Luang Prabang area with three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop into spectacular azure pools before flowing downstream. The pools also make great swimming holes and are very popular with both tourists and locals. There is also the chance to walk to the nearby village of Ban Thapene, and explore the hidden waterfalls, which is rarely visited by other tourists. If you wish, take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers.
On the way back to Luang Prabang, we will take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, set serenely close to the Mekong, this beautiful, traditionally styled workshop, where weavers, spinners and batik makers produce top-quality fabrics, offers free tours every half-hour. This is also one of the best spots to admire the sunset in Luang Prabang
Transfer back to your hotel late afternoon.
Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang.
DAY 4: ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE (B/L/-)
8:30 AM: Pick up by our English-speaking guide from your hotel lobby within Luang Prabang, Laos. Arrival at the Elephant Village Camp: Welcome greeting by your guide and participate in a short briefing about elephants.
Elephant Feeding: Get up close and personal with elephants
Explore Elephant Village: Visit our elephant hospital, museum, gallery and dung paper making facility!
One on One Experience: Enjoy the impressive experience of being a Mahout! 1 person per elephant
Boat trip to the Tad Sae Waterfall: Ride in a traditional Lao long boat to the Tad Sae Waterfall and relax or swim in the clear water. Swimsuit recommended! (note: water levels will vary with seasonal conditions)
Lunch: Dine at our Elephant Camp restaurant. Your buffet lunch is served with coffee / tea and drinking water (vegetarian options are available)
1:00 PM: Depart the camp. Transfer back to your Hotel in Luang Prabang
Free for the rest of the day for your exploration.
Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang
Distance:
⦁ Luang Prabang Central – the Elephant Village Camp: 10 miles 45 minutes driving transfer
DAY 5: LAO POTTERY VILLAGE IN BAN CHAN – NAMKHAN ECOLODGE FARM (B/L/-)
Pick-up time: 08:30AM
In the morning, our guide and tuk-tuk driver will transport you to the boat pier, where you’ll embark on a scenic journey downstream the Mekong River to reach Ban Chan Pottery Village.
Upon arrival, commence your visit with a brief tour to delve into the village’s rich history. Strolling through the village, exploring the pottery center, a traditional kiln, and the brick factory.
Following this exploration, unleash your creativity by crafting a unique souvenir from clay, all while learning traditional Lao pottery techniques. Your completed and fired pottery souvenir will be thoughtfully delivered to your hotel within 3-7 days, with the firing process contingent on prevailing weather conditions. Conclude the experience with a delightful lunch on the terrace, offering picturesque views of the river, before boarding the boat for a return journey to Luang Prabang.
Arrival back in town, we will transfer directly to Namkhan Ecolodge and have a farm tour to learn more about organic farming, including insect repellents, the importance of plants and trees and how the animals integrate with the green cycle agricultural practice. There is an option of pony ride for children and a special massage treatment for parents available on spot (extra charge).
We then transfer back to your hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang
Distance:
⦁ Luang Prabang Central – Ban Chan Pottery Village: 4,5 miles 30 minutes driving transfer
DAY 6: NAHM DONG PARK EXPERIENCE WITH COOKING CLASS – HILLSIDE ECO LODGE (B/L/-)
After departing at 8:30 am from your hotel, transfer to Nahm Dong park, which locates in Ban Xiengmouk, 10Km from city center. Arriving at the park, we will have a short welcome by the park manager before joining the morning activities here.
First, we will join the cooking class, by which you can discover the Lao cuisine through several traditional dishes. Not only can you learn techniques and recipes, but you can visit the gardens of the park and pick your own ingredients. The course is minimum 5 dishes depending on the season. A booklet with all recipes is provided.
The lunch will be served with what you have created.
In the afternoon, we will start exploring the beauties of the park with the Zipline flying over the jungle and the waterfalls admiring the amazing evergreen scenery. The zipline will take about 1 hour. Then we will walk back via the jungle trail crossing some flying bridges, small streams, and clear natural pools, where you can take a refresh splash if you wish so. You can either spend the rest of the afternoon stroll around the park, relax by one of the huts at the camp, or enjoy the fresh cool clear natural pools.
Late afternoon, we walk to the nearby Hillside Ecolodge, where we will spend the night
Note: Zipline in 1 hour, trekking min 1 hour – max 3 hours depending on the route that you choose
Overnight at hotel in Hillside Ecolodge
Distance:
⦁ Luang Prabang Central – Nahm Dong park: 6,2 miles 20 minute driving transfer
DAY 7: HILLSIDE ECOLODGE – LEISURE DAY (B/-/-)
Today is free day for your own exploration. There is an option of pony ride for the kids, or a short village walk to learn more about the local life.
The swimming pool is very inviting in case you want to cool off.
Overnight at hotel in Hillside Ecolodge
DAY 8: BACK TO LUANG PRABANG – DEPARTURE (B/-/-)
You are free to stroll around the town for your own exploration before transferring back to Luang Prabang Airport to take the departure flight
Distance:
⦁ Hillside Ecolodge – Luang Prabang: 7,5 miles 25 minutes driving transfer
⦁ Luang Prabang Central – Luang Prabang Airport: 3 miles 10 minutes driving transfer
HOME SWEET HOME!
Included / Excluded
To help you plan your trip, we have put together a list of what's included and what's not included in your tour package. This will give you a clear understanding of what to expect and help you make any necessary arrangements before your journey begins.
- Hotel Accommodation with daily breakfast (shared in twin/ double room)
- Experience English speaking tour manager on tour
- Private transfer and transportation on tour
- Meals are mentioned on program (B: Breakfast, Br: Brunch, L: Lunch, D: Dinner)
- Entrance fees are mentioned on the itinerary
- Daily mineral water (2 bottles/ pax/ tour day)
- All flights with tax
- Visa Approval Letter and Visa Stamping fee at arrival counter
- Travel Insurance
- Early check in or late check out
- Drinks and Beverages
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Surcharge 20% for Public Holidays:
o New Year: 31 December 2024 – 02 January 2025 (inclusive)
o Vietnamese New Year: 28 Januray – 02 February (inclusive)
o Unification Day and May Day: 28 April – 03 May 2025 (inclusive)
o National Day: 28 August – 04 Sep 2025 (inclusive)
o Christmas: 23 – 25 December 2025 (inclusive - TIPPING for local guide, cruise team, tour manager and driver (compulsory)
- All other services are not mentioned on Inclusions
Tour Map
This comprehensive map is designed to guide you through an exciting journey filled with remarkable destinations and captivating experiences.
