EXCLUSIVE LUANG PRABANG - 5 DAYS 4 NIGHTS

Sabaidee! Welcome to Luang Prabang, a 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 Southeast Asia”. You are greeted by your guide and driver at the airport for your transfer to the hotel.

Pay a short visit to the Night Market – a great place for wandering, offering a lovely variety of handmade textiles crafted by local and hill-tribe people, along with street food, knick-knacks and friendly banter. 
Enjoy welcome dinner!
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
 

Set off after breakfast for a visit of the Morning Market where, together with the guide and local host lady, we pick all ingredients needed for our upcoming cooking class. Today, we will not take part in a regular tourist-oriented cooking class. We will instead drive a little outside Luang Prabang center to a small village where you will join your hands to cook some major dishes. You will experience how typical Laos dishes such as Laap Laos, Orlam soup and papaya salad are cooked. The food is then brought to a local temple to offer for the monks’ lunch, and as part of this ritual, your name will be asked for a blessing chant. Later, join in an open talk about Buddhism in Laos with monks. We will also have the chance to have further exchange with the community before returning to Luang Prabang for a light lunch with the left food you will have cooked.

Afternoon: explore the city highlights including The National Museum, housed in the former Royal Palace, showcases many treasures of Laos' royal past and features the Prabang, the sacred Buddha image for which Luang Prabang was named.
Our next stop at the most reputed and beautiful temple of the city, Wat Xieng Thong – Luang Prabang's largest and most splendid temple, is best known for its impressive Tree of Life mural depicting the Buddhist story.

We then get to the pier. Cruise across the Mekong River to reach Ban Xieng Mene. Countinue walking through lush green gardens, where you can enjoy listening to birds singing and appreciate the pureness of a Lao village as you stroll to Wat Long Khoun. Get your heart pumping as you climb up 123 steps to Wat Chomphet, where you will be rewarded with stunning scenic views of Phousi Mountain and the city of Luang Prabang from the other side of Mekong River.

Dinner at your own account and overnight in Luang Prabang.
 

Optional: We have the possibility this morning to wake up very early to go witness the Tak Bat ceremony, when the monks process along the streets of the town to receive the daily alms from locals.

After a short transfer to the outskirts of the town, in a tranquil setting made of ricefields and lush green trees, we discover the importance of bamboo in the Laotian culture. Spend the morning learning about several aspects of the local culture, from crafts to music and food. We will have a chance to learn from a skillful craftsman and to enjoy a hands-on cooking class. We will then dine on the food we have prepared.
This afternoon, we drive out through beautiful landscapes of rice fields, hills and villages. You will stop to visit an ethnic minority village to learn about their traditions and culture. Continue to Kuangsi Waterfall, where water tumbles over tiered limestone formations into crystal clear pools, ideal for escaping the heat. Between cooling off in the pools, you can also explore the lush forest setting around the falls. A short walk brings you down to the abrupt waterfall where you will have time to swim or simply relax by the water’s edge.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.
 

Located 25 km upriver from Luang Prabang right on the river bank at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers, Pak Ou Caves are a well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site with many statues and statuettes of the Buddha in the traditional Luang Prabang style. 

You will go by boat to Pak Ou Caves, enjoy splendid natural scenery along the way and observing local fishermen and daily activities along the river. Pak Ou Caves, locally called Tam Ting, are filled with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues. The caves are noted for their miniature Buddha sculptures. Hundreds of wooden Buddhist figures take many different positions, including meditation, teaching, peace, rain and reclining (nirvana). Lunch on your own account.

On the way back, you will also have opportunity to visit the local riverside villages of Ban Xanghai, a popular stop-over producing some special varieties of Laolao, the local rice wine. Second stop at Ban Xang Khong, known for its handmade paper and weaving craft
Dinner at your own account and Overnight in Luang Prabang.
 

Morning: free on your own time. Transfer to Luang Prabang Airport for onward flight. End of Laos Portion.

Yes. A single supplement is available with a surcharge fee. If you're a solo traveller, please contact us for more information. 

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