LUANG PRABANG - MEET THE LOCALS - 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.

Enjoy a welcome cocktail while taking a glimpse into the Laotian past through the silent movie Chang – A Drama of the Wilderness. Premiered in 1927, this masterpiece was one of the blockbusters of the year before mysteriously disappearing for 60 years. Re-edited mid-90s, the film is shown with new composition score based on Lao traditional music. 

Followed with a dinner at a gorgeous ambience garden restaurant, before visiting the Night Market which is a great place for wandering, This night market offers a lovely variety of handmade textiles crafted by local and hill-tribe people, along with street food, knick-knacks and friendly banter. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang
 

Start your day with an early departure at 4:45am from your hotel with a tuk-tuk drive to the boat pier. Cruise across the Mekong River to reach Ban Xieng Mene. Enjoy the quietness of the early morning and start your day the Laos way, while you wait for the monks from the local pagoda to arrive. Practice the alms giving ceremony with the locals and receive blessings from the chanting monks. Countinue this mornings walk through lush green gardens, where you can enjoy listening to birds singing and appreciate the pureness of a Lao morning 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. Follow the flow of the river on the boat to visit the Morning Market, where you will see diverse and unusual offerings such as: dried buffalo skin, local tea, live chickens, vegetables and local hill-tribe weavings. Join the locals for a bowl of delicious noodle soup before returning to your hotel or you can continue discovering the Luang Prabang city at your own leisure.

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.
Later, stroll around this quaint town or even join some locals for a game of petanque; there is always someone ready to show you how to play! It is great fun and a good way to get to know the Lao people
Dinner at your own account and overnight in Luang Prabang.
 

You will head out to the local farm of Luang Prabang, and experience the traditional way of rice cultivation. After having an overview by visiting a small rice museum, you will learn how rice is farmed, using water buffalo for ploughing together with the traditional manual processes of ranking, transplanting, sowing, grinding, and pounding. 

On the way back, stop for a quick visit to Ock Pop Tok – an organisation that is offering the weavers in the area a chance to earn a decent income through their weaving skills. Lunch at your own arrangement.

In the evening, we will witness a Baci Ceremony at a local house. Mrs. Sy – our host who is on her late 50s living at Ban Phonpheng – just some minutes driving from the ancient town. Though English is not understandable, Mrs. Sy has been making impression to most tourists celebrating the Baci at her house because of her hospitality and friendly smile.

The Baci Ceremony or “calling of the soul” is an integral part of the Lao culture and the Baci is a very important activity before or during major life events such as weddings, births, travels, welcoming of friends, the return of someone to the family and so on. We will help in the preparation of the flower trays and have the honor of receiving blessings from the locals
After that, enjoy meal with families.
 

Breakfast at your hotel. 
In the “land of a Million Elephants” as Laos is known, Luang Prabang is no doubt to be the popular destination to bring you a glance of how importance of elephant to the local’s daily life is. At Manda Laos Sanctuary, you will have different experiences with no riding nor circus trick…as animal welfare is highly concerned here.

Meet our guide at your hotel and leave for Manda Laos Elephant Sanctuary. Upon arrival, get an in-depth introduction into elephant behavior and communication. We then cross the river to meet the Elephant, watching the first interaction between Elephants and Mahouts; continue their on-going bonding in the river, while you watch them and enjoy the majestic elephants during bathtime.

Continue with our soft trek of 2.5km ~ 1.5hrs, pass by beautiful Lao gardens before exploring the jungle covered Huay Nok stream. After some final treats for the elephants, we’ll trek back to Manda Lao and enjoy traditional Lao cuisine made primarily from organic produce. 

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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