Welcome to Laos! Upon arrival to the airport in Luang Prabang, obtain your Laos visa, if you haven't already obtained this prior to traveling. You will then clear Immigration and Customs, before entering into the arrivals area to meet your guide. They will assist you in the transfer to your hotel, where you will check in and spend the rest of the day at your leisure. (This service is on a private basis.)

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional architecture and Lao urban structures with those built by the European colonial authorities in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its unique, remarkably well-preserved cityscape illustrates a key stage in the blending of these two distinct cultural traditions.

Monks Alms & City Bike Tour

If you have no problem waking up at dawn, your guide will accompany you to witness the sacred ritual of monks on their alms rounds, known locally as Sai Bath. Long lines of barefoot monks go through the streets to receive their morning rice from the local villagers (In keeping with our deferential stance regarding local cultures, please observe this sacred ritual from a respectful distance. If you take photographs, do not use a flash and try not to interfere with this highly revered ritual). Afterwards, visit the lively Morning Market and be immersed in Lao lifestyle, observing locals who are doing their daily shopping. Return to your hotel for breakfast.

Reconvene with your guide to explore this historic and charming World Heritage Town by bicycle. Begin your journey at the most popular of temples – Wat Xieng Thong. This exquisite 500 year old temple is the best example of the classic Luang Prabang style. From here, explore via small side streets, along back alleys, and through temples. In a city that could have been designed with slow travel in mind, a morning walking tour allows you to soak up the ambiance and appreciate the hidden charms of Luang Prabang. Through your guide, feel free to ask the locals questions as they go about their daily lives.

Continue wandering up the peninsula, stopping at temples and other sites as you wish. Visit the National Museum, which is the former Royal Palace. Relics from Laos’ royalist past remain here. Overlooking the palace is Phousi Mountain. It is said that those who do not climb the 328 steps up have not really made it to the city. Venture up the hill and be rewarded with remarkable views of the area. (This service is on a private basis.)

Countryside Cultural Tour & Kuang Si Waterfall

After breakfast this morning, meet your guide and driver to begin a day adventure through the countryside for a more cultural perspective of the area, followed by a visit to the beautiful turquoise waters of Kuang Si Waterfall.

You will begin the drive into the peaceful countryside, stopping to explore a Khmu and Hmong village along the way. These ethnic minorities live closely, and you can compare their life styles, traditions, and religions.

The Lowland Lao of Ban Sa-aat live on the banks of the Mekong and its tributaries and in the cities. They speak Lao, which is closely related to the Thai spoken in Thailand. Ban Long Lao is home to Khmu people, who were the original inhabitants of Northern Laos. They are animists and speak a language belonging to the Austro-Asiatic group of languages. In Ban Long Lao, you will see Hmong and Khmu people live peacefully side by side. The Hmong settlers were the most recent to come to Laos. They built their villages on the mountain tops and practice shifting cultivation of corn and other crops. In Ban Pano and Ban Long Lao, local guides from these villages will show you around. You will have the chance to see houses from inside, learn about traditional clothing, different craft production, and other common work routines. The villagers are grateful for this additional income and they are proud to welcome visitors from far away!

Finish the tour with a visit to the Kuang Si Waterfall. At the falls, crystal water cascades into idyllic turquoise pools. Bring a bathing suit if you would like to swim! Also take time to visit the nearby Sunbear Refuge to see the adorable protected Asiatic bears, and learn more about the poaching of these endangered creatures. On the way back to town, stop at a buffalo dairy known for their sustainable approach to farming. Here, you'll take a guided tour of the farm and learn how they work with the local community, observe a buffalo feeding and bathing, feed the chickens, pigs, and rabbits, and maybe bottle-feed a calf! After, you'll be able to relax and enjoy their cake of the day served with coffee or ice cream before heading back to your hotel. (This service is on a private basis.)

Local Cooking Experience & Baci Ceremony

Today, you will be picked up by your local guide and head to a local fresh market, where you'll meet your chef and teacher for the day, Mrs. Noy. After learning about local produce you will board a boat to cross the Mekong River where you will be greeted by friendly villagers and Mrs. Noy's family. This simple, intimate lesson in a private family home will offer insight into Lao life, and of course the local cuisine. After lunch, continue by boat downstream to visit villages where famous river weed snacks, rice crackers, and other tasty bites are produced. Floating gently down the water, enjoy a Lao rice whiskey tasting as you slowly approach Luang Prabang.

In the early evening, you will be treated to the refined grace of a Baci ceremony at private family home in a small village called Ban Mano. These gentle villagers, led by their Nai Ban (village chief) offer visitors tidings of good luck and fortune for their life and travels by gingerly tying cotton cords symbolizing luck, friendship and good health around your wrists. After your day of cultural immersion, you'll be returned to your hotel to spend the rest of the evening free at your leisure. (This service is on a private basis.)

Pak Ou Caves & Riverside Villages

After breakfast, depart through Laos' scenic countryside to the Pak Ou Caves, a mystical pilgrimage site perched high above the Mekong River 27 miles outside of Luang Prabang. On arrival in Ban Pak Ou, a boat will ferry you across the river to reach the Pak Ou caves.

Peering into dark corners, your eyes gradually adjust to reveal the serene faces and figures of more than 3,000 Buddha images, some inlaid with semi-precious stones. That these remain undisturbed in this remote site in one of the world's poorest countries is a testament to the devotion of the people.

Crossing back over to the village, you'll continue your drive to Nong Khiaw. On the way, make a stop at Ban Na Yang, a Luu village. Upon arrival in Nong Khiaw, you'll be transferred to your homestay.
(This service is on a private basis.)

Nong Khiaw Full Day Sightseeing

Around 8:30 AM this morning you will depart from your homestay to enjoy a full day river cruise tour in a traditional longtail boat. Today's journey will include stops to visit several different ethnic villages. One of the villages is famous for its traditional Lao silk and cotton weaving. After spending some time in the village you will turn around and head downstream to Muang Ngoi. Upon arrival, you will have a break and some coffee before heading off on a small hike, which will take you through some gorgeous scenery consisting of limestone cliffs, mountains, and rice paddy fields.

Along the trek, you will visit a historical cave, which was used as a bomb shelter by the Lao people during the second Indochina war. Once you have returned to Muang Ngoi, you will board your boat for a lovely cruise back down the river whilst watching the beautiful sunset over Nong Khiaw, arriving back just before dark. (This service is on a private basis.)

Today after breakfast, you will be picked up at your homestay in Nong Khiaw and begin the long transfer west to Vieng Thong, the jumping off point for our expedition into nature. Upon arrival in the late afternoon, you'll check in to your local guesthouse and enjoy the rest of the evening free at your leisure. (This service is on a private basis.)

Nest Trek

This morning at 8:30 AM you will be met by your guide at your guesthouse in Vieng Thong and drive for about 30 minutes through gorgeous mountainous landscapes, before arriving at Ban Nam Poung Village, an ethnic Khmu village situated on the edge of the national protected area boundary.

The village guide, porters, and cooks will meet clients at the village visitor center to provide a brief orientation about the area and the itinerary. At 9:30 AM, you'll board a hand tractor (tok tok) - a device for plowing rice paddies that can be converted into a transportation vehicle and pass through the village. This is a good opportunity to see the daily village life and briefly learn about Khmu culture. The following 7km on the tok tok will continue through the village's rice and corn fields with moderate climbs, learning along the way about upland rice cultivation and rural livelihoods. At about 12:00, on the edge of the fields and forest, enjoy a local picnic lunch inside a farmer's hut. The guides will explain the different management zones of the park and how local people coexist with nature.

After lunch, begin trekking into the forest following a 7km trail built and maintained by the village. This trail passes through a thick jungle and mixed deciduous forest. The local guide will show you medicinal plants and spot animal tracks and birds along the way. After approximately four hours of walking, you'll arrive at the Nests campsite and will be shown to your accommodation - the hanging spherical "nest". Enjoy a traditional Khmu dinner prepared by the village cooking group at around 6-7 PM, before it becomes dark. It's important to take an early dinner so that the smell of food and fire is not strong when you visit the wildlife observation platform later this evening. Dinner is eaten at the camp and is not allowed at the observation tower.

After dinner, you will receive a briefing about wildlife viewing at the Poung Nied Salt Lick - one of the largest salt licks in the protected area. The guides will inform tourists about the species of animals they may see and explain the rules and expectations for spotlighting. It's important to follow the established rules, such as no talking, no eating, and how to return to the camp in case you need to use the toilet.

We will stay at the observation tower for a few hours, depending on your curiosity and patience, until no later than 11:30 PM. Overnight sleeping in the tower is not allowed in order to reduce any negative impacts and disturbances to the wildlife.

The most common animals that you may spot include Sambar and barking deer, and various species of civets, although if you are lucky you may also see other protected animals such as bears, and several species of wild cats.

**Please wear warm clothes, as it can be quite cold in the late evening

Nest Trek

Before breakfast, your guide will walk you back to the salt lick to identify different wildlife tracks. You will also spend approximately one hour on the observation platform, as morning is a great time for bird-watching. Afterwards, follow the guide to check the camera traps and help change the memory cards.

Once back to camp, enjoy breakfast and help your guide to sort photos of wildlife taken by the camera traps during the previous night. These photos will be uploaded to the website after your trip for viewing and download. Twelve surrounding villages involved in this project receive monetary bonuses in the form of a village development fund based on the number and type of wildlife spotted at night and captured by the camera traps, and your tour price contributes to this bonus.

Trekking back through the forest to the village's fields, enjoy a farmer's picnic lunch before riding the tok tok back to the village. When you arrive in the early afternoon, your village hosts will bid you goodbye, and you will be transferred back to Xieng Khuan and the Plain of Jars for your 2 night stay.

Plain of Jars & Lone Buffalo Foundation

Today, you will be picked up at your hotel and travel to the Plain of Jars - an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are littered all over the plateau. The creators of these artifacts and how they came to be here are mysteries. Along the way, you'll have a chance to visit a village working to improve themselves after the war - using scrap metal from exploded bombs, villagers make spoons and bracelets to sell.

Later this afternoon, you'll visit the Lone Buffalo Foundation. This special project offers young people free English courses taught by a native speaker. In addition to English, students are given the chance to develop computer skills and participate in physical activities promoting the Lone Buffalo Foundation's philosophy of an integrated and holistic approach to language development. Meeting foreigners with different accents to practice English is a special event for students and helps them overcome their fear and shyness of speaking publicly. (This service is on a private basis.)

After breakfast, begin the long but beautiful scenic drive from Phonsavan to Luang Prabang, stopping at a local market along the way. {Approximately 7-8 hours}. (This service is on a private basis.)

Although your Laos adventure must come to an end today, you will be leaving with new friends, amazing experiences, and memories to cherish for the rest of your life. Once you have checked out of your hotel in Luang Prabang, you will be met by your driver and transferred to the airport in good time to board your international departure flight.

We wish you safe and happy travels home! (This service is on a private basis.)