The peace and tranquillity have come to Laos after years of war, and this small land-locked nation is slowly opening its doors and offering the intrepid traveller a warm welcome. You explore the mountainous region of Laos on a crossing border trip from Thailand to Laos , then cruise along the Nam Ou River to the charming Luang Prabang Town. We continue the overland trip captivating your sights, visit the Plain of Jars before flying to Vientiane for a full day city tour of mysterious sites.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Thailand - Houeixay - Luang Nam Tha 
On arrival at Houeixay border gate, you are met and transferred to the town for a glimpse of this town. This outpost is an important trading center between Chinaand Thailand who have left their influence in local architecture and culture. The exciting exploration of northern Laos begins as we embark on a private car for a long day traveling to Luang Nam Tha, a land of rugged mountains, beautiful forest and rich river plain. This mountainous region is also sharing the border with China and Myanmar. There are over twenty ethnic groups who are settled in Luang Nam Tha, making it one of the most ethnically diverse provinces in Laos. Along the way we make stops, to visit a village of the Akha minority village. This ethnic group was originally in China but immigrated into Laos down centuries. We arrive in Luang Nam Tha by mid or late afternoon depending on road and traffic conditions. O/N in Luang Nam Tha.

Day 2: Luang Nam Tha - Oudomxay - Nongkhiow 
The traditional morning market in Luang Namtha also attracts numerous ethnic minorities who converge from the outlying valleys and mountainsides to sell their goods and buy provision. Today we have time to walk around this bustling congregation before continuing our overland trip towards Nongkhiow. We pass many tranquil hamlets linked to the road which is the main artery of trade between the northern region and the bustling trading hub of Oudomxay . En route we have several stops to visit Hmong, Khmu, Black Thai and Lu ethnic minority people. They are almost settled in off road areas however it may involves a short walk to visit these villages. On arrival at Nong Khiow we spend the remainder of our day to walk around the nearby hamlets. O/N in Nongkhiow. (B)

Day 3: Nongkhiow - Pakou Caves - Luang Prabang 
Upon leaving the tranquil village of Nong Khiow we embark a boat cruising through the breathtaking mountain scenery to the mysterious Pakou Caves. They are crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various sizes, all brought there by devoted villagers. We visit these famous grottoes and navigate on the Mekong River down to Luang Prabang. This tranquil town with its gleaming temple roofs, fading colonial architecture and stunning mountain backdrop has been claimed by UNESCO to be the best preserved traditional city in South East Asia. We check in hotel and stroll around to catch our first look of town. There is little traffic on roads and monks in orange robes scurry in all directions carrying umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun. O/N in Luang Prabang. (B,L)

Day 4: Luang Prabang 
The exploration of this delightful town includes the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, which is overlooking the Mekong River. The temple structures are decorated in various ways with gilded stuccoes , doorways and marvellous tree life mosaic pattern on an outer wall, representing the ancient temple architecture of Luang Prabang. We follow it with the national museum. This interesting mansion displays a lovely collection of treasures and artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. There are also plenty to see in this town, some of which are the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the Srilankalese styled temple of That Marko, the shrine of Wat Aham and the five tiered roof Wat Mai. We round off our day with a walk up to Phousi Hill for a beautiful panorama view from the town center and the mightyMekong River. There are 329 steps leading us on zigzag way past various temples to the sacred, gilded stupa of Wat Phousi at the summit. O/N in Luang Prabang. (B)

Day 5: Luang Prabang - Khouang Si Waterfall - Luang Prabang 
Today we make our way southwards to Phosi Market that sells a wide array of local goods and handicrafts. Upon leaving this lively market we make our way through the verdant and rugged scenery to Ban Thapene , Ban Xom and Ban Namai which are conquered by the Lao Loum, Khmu and Hmong people. They are very poor but have interesting culture and colorful history. These tribal groups have originally settled in mountain side therefore it may involve some short walks to visit their villages. We arrives at Khouang Si Fall and spend the time relaxing in marvellous setting of waterfall and lush forest. The waterfall tumbles over multi tiered limestone formations into the cool and clear pools ideal for anyone seeking an enjoyable escape. O/N in Luang Prabang. (B)

Day 6: Luang Prabang - Xieng Khouang ( Overland) 
The unforgettable activity is an early rise up to view the procession of monks on their daily outing collecting alms, a practice dating back centuries. The local people wait out the front of their houses with food for the monks to collect and bring back to the temple. After breakfast we enjoy a walk around the local shops, which are well known for the hand-weaving and interesting artefacts. We leave Luang Prabang and drive along a winding way through the scenic mountain landscape to Xieng Khouang. This remote province was devastated by American bombing between 1964 and 1973. The journey is very long and difficult at times, but we can make many stops as we please, to stretch our legs or simply catch some wonderful photographs. O/N in Xieng Khouang. (B)

Day 7: Xieng Khouang - Vang Vieng 
Heading out of town we make a short drive to visit the “Plan of Jars” , an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are littered all over the plateau. These huge jars are supposedly over 2,000 years old, but most of archaeologists are still mystified about their purpose. We depart Xieng Khouang and drive along a zigzag way through the breathtaking mountain landscape to Vang Vieng. This small and tranquil village is rapidly developed with the advent of tourists, but the beautiful scenery with a mixture of quiet water and limestone outcrops unchanged for century. We arrives in Vang Vieng by mid or late afternoon depending on roads and traffic conditions. O/N in Vang Vieng. (B)

Day 8: Vang Vieng - Vientiane 
The perfect way to start our exploration of Vang Vieng is a boat trip along the tranquil Nam Song River. We navigate past the stunning mountain landscape toTham Jang Cave. This sacred cavern was once used by local people as a hideout from Chinese invaders. We walk uphill to visit Tham Jang Cave and enjoy wonderful views across the idyllic valley to the beautiful panorama of VangVieng Town. The reminder of time is free for your own discovery of Vang Vieng. There are various options to choose from, some of which are biking, kayaking or caving. These optional activities are not included; however our guide is on hand to advise you with invaluable information. By mid afternoon we regroup at our hotel and travel by roads to Vientiane past the undulating terrains and the interesting villages. O/N in Vientiane. (B)

Day 9: Vientiane 
The sightseeing tour acquaints us with some major sites of Vientiane. We visit Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple still standing in Vientiane. This amazing structure features remarkable frescoes and Buddha statues. Close to this masterwork is the former royal temple of Haw Pha Kaew which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We see these sites before we continue to Patouxai standing in Lane Xang Avenue. This imposing monument is well known asVientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe and provides a stunning views of the city. Heading out of town we see the giant Friendship Bridge and the impressiveBuddha Park. This landmark represents a blend of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures created by mystical monk on a parkland located by the Mekong River. The perfect way to round off our day is to watch the spectacular sunset over theMekong River from one of riverside bars. O/N in Vientiane. (B)

Day 10: Vientiane - Departure 
The vibrant central market in the heart of Vientiane sells a wide away of local treasures. We explore this famous trading center and the town center on a morning walking tour. The sightseeing tour is all depending on your departure time. The trip ends after your transfer to Wattay Airport for departure. (B)

INCLUSIONS: : + Transportation in private vehicle with driver + Accommodation : twin sharing room at mentioned hotels and guesthouses or similar one + English or French speaking guide +Entrance fee to indicated sights + Meals as indicated: B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner + Boat trip Nong Khiow - Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng EXCLUSIONS: Other meals, tip, drinks, airport tax, single room supplement, personal expenses, travel insurance, visa, flight in / out of Laos, any optional additional tours or activities during free time, surcharge for peak season, local holiday days and gala dinner

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