Day 1. Luang Prabang - Arrival + Romantic dinner with 100 candles (D)
Arrival at Luang Prabang Airport. Welcomed by our Asian Moonlight Travel's tour guide and we transfer to hotel for check-in. Time at leisure.
Enjoy private dinner set up on river’s bank with decoration of 100 candles
Overnight in hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Included meal: Dinner
Day 2. Luang Prabang - City tour – Dinner cruise (B/D)
An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning alms giving ritual to saffron clad monks. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving this procession. Stop and visit fresh local markets and back to hotel for breakfast.
This morning, 8h30 meet local guide and driver then depart for city tour:
Visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao. Continue to visit Wat Aham and Wat Sene Temple.
Visit Wat Xieng Thong further emphasizes the uniqueness of Luang Prabang, its several roofs sweeping low to the ground. See also the impressive "tree of life" mosaic here. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts semi-erotic episodes from the Ramayana.
This afternoon, visit Wat May built in 1796, the five-tiered roof of the wooden Sim (chapel) epitomizes the graceful Luang Prabang architectural style. Then visit the National Museum, explore the city’s fascinating array of shimmering temples and French colonial buildings.
Enjoy private dinner cruise. Then, time for your own exploration at night market.
Lunch on your own. Overnight in hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Included meal: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3. Luang Prabang - Nong Khiew/ Cruise on Nam Ou (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, depart to Nong Khiew (~3.5h). Arrival and lunch (on your own) in Nong Khiew.
In the afternoon, start our journey by boarding a local long-tailed boat for a cruise (1h30mns) on Nam Ou river to visit the village of Ban Sop Chem, the tribe of Thai Deang, nestled in beautiful landscapes! This small village was famous among hikers and remains truly preserved. Ban Sop Chem the scene of a "Any Travel Assistance Project in Asia" to build a new school. The inhabitants are subsistence farmers as well as competent hunters and fishermen.
Cruise back to Nong Khiew. On the way, stop at the village of the ethnic Khamu Ban Houy Hoi to see the daily life of local people, lifestyle, learn culture.
Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Nong Khiew
Included meal: Breakfast
Day 4. Nong Khiew - Luang Prabang (B)
After breakfast, driving back to Luang Prabang. Stop to visit a small factory where local people produce the Nam Ou river weed. You will be invited to taste the river weed, a popular snack of Laos. Next, visit Ban Nayang village of Thai Lu ethnic group, specializes in the making of cotton products.
On arrival at Ban Pak Ou, take a boat to Pak Ou caves at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. In these 2 caves are displayed hundreds of sacred centuries-old Buddha images which are the object of pilgrimages during the Lao New Year festivities around mid-April. Keep cruising to Luang Prabang. Arrival and check-in hotel.
Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Included meal: Breakfast
Day 5. Luang Prabang - Kuang Si - Baci Ceremony (B)
This morning, depart to visit grand Phou Si market where you find local products and observe local activities.
Then, driving through green rice paddies and farms. On your arrival at the Kuang Si waterfall, enjoy your short walking on trails of falls to visit the bear rescued centre. Enjoy spectacular views and surrounding of orchids inside the park and falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. Return to Luang Prabang.
You will be welcomed to a local family and join the traditional Baci ceremony, which has been practiced for hundreds of years. The ceremony involves the tying of white cotton strings around person’s wrists and the prayer saying or well wishing for the person that the ceremony is intended for.
Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Included meal: Breakfast
Day 6. Luang Prabang - Fly to Pakse - Wat Phou - Don Khong (B)
This morning, transfer to Luang Prabang airport for flight to Pakse. On arrival, welcomed by local guide and driver in Pakse.
Transfer to Wat Phou (~45mns), a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits amidst the rice fields and waterways of southern Laos. The temple was constructed on three levels: the bottom level is focused on the baray (water reservoir), the second level features quadrangular pavilions and galleries of carvings, and the top level is the sanctuary itself. The temple was built by the rulers of the Khmer empire before the construction of Angkor Wat. The temple served as the most important economic and political centre of the region and still is one of the Lao people’s most revered temples.
Continue to hit the road until you reach your hotel in Don Khong island. Check-in hotel and time at leisure.
Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Don Khong island
Included meal: Breakfast
Day 7. Don Khong - Don Deang island/La Folie Lodge (B) https://www.lafolie-laos.com/
Breakfast at hotel. This morning, transfer to Ban Nakasang village where you start a cruise to Khone Island- a haven of peace and quiet and where the scenery runs wild. On arrival, we will go around by moto-taxi for the discovery of Khone Island through rich nature, between rice fields, coconut trees and colonial vestiges.
Next, we will go to the Li Phi falls which are in the west of Don Khone, very close to the Cambodian border. Their original name, Tad Somphamit, means “trap spirit” and the locals claim that these falls act as a trap for bad spirits. Then we explore the authentic beauty of local life on Don Det – Don Khone’s neighbor through an ancient bridge.
After that, cruise back to Ban Nakasang village and transfer to hotel in Don Deang island. Check in La Folie Lodge and time at leisure.
Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.
Remark: La Folie Lodge is closed in June for annual renovation
Accommodation: Hotel in Don Deang Island
Included meal: Breakfast
Day 8. Don Deang island/ La Folie Lodge - Free at leisure (B)
Breakfast at hotel.
Free time at leisure in Don Deang island. You also can discover this island by cycling or walking
Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.
Remark: La Folie Lodge is closed in June for annual renovation
Accommodation: Hotel in Don Deang Island
Included meal: Breakfast
Day 9. Don Deang - Pakse (B)
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning is free at leisure.
Afternoon, meet our driver who brings you back to Pakse city. Check in hotel
Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Pakse
Included meal: Breakfast
Day 10. Pakse – Depart (B)
Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer to Pakse airport for your departure flight. Thanks for choosing Asian Moonlight Travel's services!
Accommodation: Check out time is before 12.00PM
Included meal: Breakfast
Tour Inclusion:
- Transportation with A/C as program
- Accommodation with daily breakfast as program
- Local English speaking guide as program
- Meals as stated in the itinerary
- All sightseeing tickets as program
- Tissues and water on coach
- Boat trip as program (if any)
Tour Exclusion:
- Personal expenses, tips and gratuities (suggest 5 - 7 USD/client/day for tour guide and driver)
- Domestic & international flight tickets (on request)
- Travel insurance, personal insurance
- Beverage
- Laos Visa service ( if any)
- Other services not mentioned above
- International flights & departure taxes (if any)
- Peak season or public holidays surcharge (if any)
