Thailand And Laos Discovery Tour

Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel where you have the rest of the day at leisure.



In the evening after a short tour briefing your guide will take you out for a Welcome Dinner.



Overnight in Chiang Rai

Early this morning you will be transferred to the border town of Huay Xay. The Luang Say Cruise boat leaves Huay Xay pier at 09:00 hours for a cruise down the Mekong to Pakbeng. We will make one stop to observe rural life along the Mekong and visit minority ethnic groups.



Afterwards, we will enjoy a buffet lunch on board. Arrive Pakbeng before sunset and check-in your hotel.



You can then enjoy dinner on the terrace overlooking the Mekong River.



Overnight in Pakbeng

Full breakfast at your hotel



Optional: walk to Pakbeng market, where people from the surrounding minority villages exchange their goods.



At 08:30 board the boat for the second leg of your cruise. Enjoy a short stop at a Hmong village before having a buffet lunch on board. Continue to Pak-Ou village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River, and then visit Pak Ou Caves "Cave of a thousand Buddha's".



On the way to Luang Prabang a brief stop is made to observe the traditional process of manufacturing local rice alcohol. Arrive at Luang Prabang before sunset.



Meet and transfer to the hotel.



Overnight in Luang Prabang

After breakfast we visit the Royal Palace Museum which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We begin our walking tour, by taking in some of Luang Prabang hidden secrets, we will venture through the quiet back lanes leading to Wat Xiengthong.



Along our journey we will stop at Wat Chomkhong, famous for its decorative carvings. This area contains a mix of beautiful old French Colonial buildings, and traditional old Lao houses, which you will have time to admire, along with a stop at the small but charming Wat Phapai.



We also stop at the Fine Arts School, where we can see some of the quality artwork on display. Our final visit of the day is the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, a great representative of Luang Prabang classical building style.



Overnight in Luang Prabang

Leaving Luang Prabang with your private guide and driver, you travel for around one hour and twenty minutes out of the town. On the way you pass through beautiful scenery and rural landscapes with rice terraces and pineapple fields. You visit Ban Longlao a local H'mong village where the culture, customs and language are all different to mainstream Laos.



Your trek will start from the H'mong village and takes between two and two and half hours through primary forest and jungle before reaching the spectacular Kuang Si Waterfall. Lunch (not included) can be taken at the falls with time for relaxation, swimming and the possibility to climb to the top of the waterfall.



Afterwards, we will return to Luang Prabang in time to catch the sun setting over the Mekong.



Note: During the rainy season the itinerary is subject to change due to the weather conditions, an alternative programme is available.

We start early this morning, around 8 am to reach Xiengkhuang, as the location for the ‘Plain of Jars’. The road follows a twisty mountain route, and we make our first stop at Houi Hei, which offers great views of the surrounding mountains.



We then continue Ban Kiu Kam Pone, a Khmu village, before arriving in Phou Khoun for lunch. We continue on the road into Xiengkhuang province, reaching our highest altitude of the day just after Phou Khoun (1500m above sea level). We have time to make a stop at Ban Son Boom, a Hmong village.



Our final stops of the day is a reminder that this region played a major part during the Vietnam War – as we visit a hidden Buddha Cave, that served as an army hospital during the war. Our final stop of the day, is an optional stop to visit an old Russian tank. We arrive at your hotel by early evening.



Overnight in Xiengkhuang.

This morning we visit the Mines Action Group or MAG office to learn about the work they do in clearing land mines and unexploited ordnance in the area.



Afterward we make our way to the Plain of Jars. The site is dated to the Iron Age (500 BC to AD 500) and is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia. Our first stop is along Jar Site 2, from here we take a 1-hour trek along the ridge to the impressive Jar Site 3. Site 3 consists of over around 150 jars located on top of a hill, offering great views over the surrounding countryside.



In the afternoon we visit Jar Site 1, the largest site, containing over 300 jars, before returning to your hotel by late afternoon.



 Overnight in Xiengkhuang.

We set out early this morning, to visit the interesting Central Market, then (time permitting) we will drive out to the ancient town of Muang Khoun, the former provincial capital. Where you can explore the ruins of a number of ancient pagodas in the Lanna style and Wat Phiawat, a ruined temple containing a huge sitting Buddha.



We then travel by road to Vang Vieng, stopping for a late lunch in Phou Khoun. Following lunch we stop at Ban Hin Ngon, a picturesque Hmong village. We also have an optional stop at Koe Kuang, which boasts a local forest market, offering edible snakes, rats and assorted reptiles! 



Our final stop of the day is a short photo stop of the stunning limestone karst scenery at Phatang Mountain view point. We then arrive in Vang Vieng by early evening where you have the rest of the day at leisure.

This morning we visit the picturesque Tham Jang cave, enjoy stunning views over the Nam Song River and surrounding karst scenery. We then set out on the road towards Vientiane.



En route we stop at Tha Heua, a small village that specializes in dried fish, which you will see hanging in front of the houses. We then continue to Nam Ngum, a picturesque lake created by damming the Nam Ngum River. Following lunch overlooking the lake, we stop over at Ban Keun, which is famous for its salt mine. Here you can learn about the daily working life of the local people. 



Just outside of Vientiane we make a final stop at the lively Don Makai Market, an insect market, where, the adventurous can try some of the tasty snacks on offer! Return to Vientiane by early evening.



Overnight in Vientiane.

Our half-day city tour, begin with a visit to the city's oldest temple of Wat Sisaket home to thousands of miniature Buddha statues.



Afterwards, we visit the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, the sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, and take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Our final stop is a visit to the COPE exhibition centre, the centre highlights the consequences of unexploded ordnance and mines to the general population. COPE is also a rehabilitation centre for people with disabilities and trains local staff in prosthetics and orthotics

You will be transferred to the airport early this morning for the flight to Pakse.



Upon arrival you will be met and transferred by road east into the Bolaven Plateau. The Bolaven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. Our first stop is to visit Houey Ten, a Katu village specializing in knifemaking. We then stop tea plantation, followed by a stop at Tad Fan Waterfall, a picturesque twin chute waterfall. We then make a stop at a coffee plantation, en route to Tha Teng Market, a colourful ethnic minority food market.



Next we explore another interesting minority village, Ban Bong Neua, an Alak village, that boasts a sacrificial altar. We arrive at the beautiful Tadlo Waterfall in the afternoon, where you have the rest of the day at leisure. 



Overnight at Tadlo

After breakfast, we head out of the plateau, stopping first at the attractive Paxuam Waterfall. We then transfer to Champassak and onto Wat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2002. Wat Phou is the site of ruins older than Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. The ruins contains some of the most Ancient Khmer architectures dating back between the 7-11th centuries.



In the late afternoon you will drive to Don Khong, an area of the 4000 islands which is the widest point of the Mekong River during the rainy season, although during the dry months the river recedes, leaving behind thousands of islands and islets. Arrive at Khong Island via ferry early evening.

Following breakfast, we enjoy a visit to the surrounding countryside, and embark on a long tail boat tour to Don Khone, where we disembark. You have the option to explore the island by bicycle, and visit the remains of the French period and Liphi Waterfall or "the Corridor of the Devil".



We return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng. Khone Phapheng is considered the largest waterfall by volume in South East Asia; this is a really impressive site near the Lao-Cambodian border, The site is also teeming with wildlife, making this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos.



Then we drive back North and take the boat across the Mekong to the island of Don Daeng, where you have the rest of the day at leisure to relax, or explore this peaceful island.

A free day at leisure today, to relax by the pool or hire bicycles to explore the island and its enchanting little villages.



Enjoy your Farewell Dinner this evening.



Overnight in Don Daeng.

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Pakse and onto the airport for your departing flight.