Lost in the Sunken Valleys

Whether coming by train or by flight, you will be greeted and picked up by a driver provided by Lao Poet Hotel. After being picked up, you will be taken to the hotel and will be able to check-in. After you settle and refresh, a guide will be waiting for you to take you to explore the capital city. You will be taken to see Wat Si Saket, a 19th-century temple in the center of Vientiane. A temple that survived the rampage of the Siamese armies. You will next pay a visit to Hor Phra Keo, a highly revered temple, now turned into a museum, with an enshrined 200-year-old Emerald Buddha. After paying respects to the Buddha, you will go to visit Patuxay, the “Victory Gate”, an impressive memorial arch for those who lost their lives in the wars. After visiting the arch, you will see That Luang Stupa, the most respected shrine in Laos recognized for its distinct banana flower shape. You will be able to enjoy lunch on the tour but at your own expense. This will conclude the tour and you will be dropped back at the hotel to enjoy the rest of your day.

After breakfast at the hotel, be sure to check out because there will be a driver ready to pick you up to take you to Vang Vieng (2hrs drive). Home to some of the most beautiful views in Laos, offering stunning mountains and cliffs, lush landscapes, and a multitude of caves and lagoons – the perfect place to mix adventure and relaxation. When you arrive, you will check in at the Riverside Boutique Resort, the perfect serene hideaway. You will get the rest of the day to yourself and to explore the town.

Have breakfast after waking up to the beautiful mountainside and then get ready for a guide to pick you up, who will take you to meet the important ethnic people that live in Laos. The local guide will take you to a local picturesque Lao Loum village, north of Vang Vieng filled with life, a perfect photo opportunity. From there you will go on a one-hour walk through rice fields and canals to an important Hmong Village that has kept strong in their traditions. You will see people making woven baskets and Hmong embroidery for their daily lives. After which you will take a drive to a Khmu Village, where you will have lunch with a local Khmu family all traditionally dressed for the occasion. This is where you will also discover local “Lao Hai“, a local rice wine, and see how it is made. After your meal, you will go for a walk in the rice fields to a traditional hut where you will sit and finally be able to drink some “Lao Hai“. After enjoying the rice field you will be dropped back at the resort at sunset so that you enjoy the rest of the evening.

This morning you will be picked up by a guide at seven in the morning to take you to the base of a mountain where you will hike for forty-five minutes so that you can enjoy breakfast with a mesmerizing view at the top of the mountains. After a forty-five-minute breakfast, you will hike down back to the starting point so that you can be driven to a famous cave in Vang Vieng. You will meet a local Hmong Farmer who will guide you through the caves and tell you of their history whilst exploring the tunnels. After this, you will be taken to a hidden lagoon, lost in the countryside so you can take a deserving swim and enjoy a refreshing drink. Refreshed and feeling anew, you will be dropped back off at the resort to spend the rest of your day however you like to enjoy your last full day in Vang Vieng.

After breakfast, the resort will prepare a transfer for you to reach the train station so you can catch the scenic train ride past mountains and rice fields to Luang Prabang, Laos’ gem of the north. When arriving at Luang Prabang’s train station, there will be a driver waiting to take you to your next resort. Once picked up, you will be dropped off at Satri House, a private piece of paradise in the middle of Luang Prabang, where you can unwind and relax amidst the beautifully refurbished ancient buildings of Satri House. You will have the rest of your day to explore and find out more about the beauty of Luang Prabang.

Today you will wake up at five in the morning. A driver and a guide will pick you up so that you can go to a local area to experience giving morning alms to local monks, an everyday ritual of local people. After giving alms, you will be brought back to the resort to enjoy some breakfast. Finishing breakfast, you will be driven to Luang Prabang’s old town. Here, you will first visit the Morning Market to immerse yourself in the atmosphere and learn about local products. Then, you will move on to Wat Xiengthong temple, with low sweeping roofs distinct to Laotian architecture. Next, you will visit the former Royal Palace with its beautiful interior design and see the sacred artifacts gifted to the royal family. Please note that all meals on this tour are at your own expense.

Around midday, the guide will take you en route to Kuangsi Waterfall. Along the way, you will wander through local ethnic villages, introducing and learning about different cultures. You will stop at a buffalo farm in Ban Ou, Laoloum village, and later the Khmu Village of Ban Tha Pene. After meeting the people, you will be driven to Kuangsi Waterfall, where you will be able to splash and frolic in the clear turquoise pools and walk through the forest trails of paradise. Happy and all splashed out, you will be driven back to Luang Prabang, where you will continue to the Mekong River for the sunset river cruise so you can see the sun dip into the mighty Mekong horizon. You will finish at six thirty in the evening, and you will be brought back to the resort so you can rest after an incredibly packed day.

Today you will have the day to yourself. Enjoy the beauty of the city, stretch your toes, and take it easy by the pool. We would also like to recommend an outstanding Secret Table for dinner - Manda de Laos. Dine under the stars next to a UNESCO classified lily pond. Truly experience and taste the richness of everything with a full locally sourced menu. Top it off with a cocktail in the moonlight. Please let us know if you would like us to arrange the dinner for you.

In the morning, you will enjoy your breakfast and prepare yourself to check out so you are ready for your next destination, whether it be one of our next journeys or home. There will be a transfer prepared for you to take you to the airport or the pier.

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