LAOS CLASSIC 8 DAYS 7 NIGHTS

Welcome to Luang Prabang. Your guide will meet you at the airport upon arrival and bring you to your hotel. Then enjoy a half -day spin around Luang Prabang…and you will understand why it deserves the World Heritage title! Visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao. Continue to visit Wat Mai. Built in 1796, the five-tiered roof of the wooden Sim (chapel) epitomizes the graceful Luang Prabang architectural style. Visit Wat Xieng Thong further emphasizes the uniqueness of Luang Prabang, its several roofs sweeping low to the ground. See also the impressive "tree of life" mosaic here. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts semi-erotic episodes from the Ramayana. Climb up Phou Sii hill stands right in the center of this small city. Climb its 350 steps to enjoy commanding views for many miles in each direction. Wat Phu Sii sits atop the mountain, along side the skeletons of Indochina war anti-aircraft guns! Shopping night market, where hundred of Hmong vendors display their handmade handicraft. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After Breakfast visits the National Museum, once a king's palace. Displayed inside is a lovely collection of personal artifacts of the royal family, including photos, musical instruments, and many gifts received from the dignitaries of foreign countries. Begin a Mekong Riverboat trip with your guide on the mighty Mekong River to visit the famous & sacred Pak Ou Buddha Caves. These caves, overlooking the confluence of the Mekong & Ou Rivers from on high, have been home to many thousands of Buddha images that were placed here by local people since 16th century, when King Setthathirat found the caves and declared them a holy spot. Cruise own Mekong river Visit Por Sa Paper Handicraft & textile area at Ban Xang Khong. Overnight at same hotel.
Lunch at Manivanh Restaurant in front of Pak Ou Cave

After breakfast drive ahead to the beautiful Tad Khuang Sii waterfall. The falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. The water here has a clear blue-green tint due to the high mineral content. You can climb the stairs and look down from various high viewpoints on the way to the top! Late afternoon transfer you to airport for short flight to Vientiane. Arrive in Vientiane, meet you guide at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for relax. Overnight in Vientiane.

After breakfast Visit revolutionary museum, Enjoy a city tour to Wat Sisaket with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Visit Wat Simuang and Wat Prakeo, which was the original home of the famous Emerald Buddha, which today lives in Bangkok. There are many excellent restaurants in Vientiane, and you will easily find something to suit your taste. Visit the huge golden That Luang monument, where all Lao citizen respect as holy pagoda. Visit Vientiane's own Victory Monument, which looks like the Arc de Triumphe. This was built at the end of the Indochina wars with money rumoured to be American, and earmarked for the airport’s new runway. Thus the departing Americans dubbed this monument the vertical runway! Have a look at the lovely arches inside the monument. Overnight at same hotel.

Early morning Leave Wattay Airport for the flight to Pakse. Arrive in Pakse Airport, meet your guide and drive to Tad Fane. After short rest start to trek around Tad Fane and Boliven plateau, enjoying a day-trek in this lovely area. In the morning, make an easy 4 hour hike up to the Dan Sin Say Plateau. This hike goes trough a local village, coffee plantations, over a hanging bridge and on to the plains. Huge boulders, epiphytes and wild orchids abound. Large pine trees grow here, giving it a wholly different character of landscape. Return to Tadfane Resort for lunch. After lunch, it’s time to relax. For the still active ones it's possible to make a more strenuous walk to the top of one of the waterfalls. Overnight at Tadfane

After breakfast Continue on to the 4000 Islands area (Sii Phan Done) by van. En Route, visit an Elephant Camp to see how handlers ("mahouts") train these giant friendly beasts! Elephant ride. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant close to Done Khong. Then continue to 4000 Islands by bus and boat. Arrive in Donkhong and check in at your hotel for relax. Overnight in Khong Island.

After breakfast, Enjoy a trip by boat to the largest waterfalls in Asia! Khone Prapeng & Li Phi Falls were the major obstacles which thwarted the French in their efforts to open the Mekong River to navigation. Here also live some 50-100 Irrawaddi (freshwater) dolphins. If lucky, you'll have the chance to see them! Lunch is in a local restaurant. See the small gauge railway and Colonial Bridge built by the French to circumscribe the falls. Return to the island to spend the afternoon at leisure or exploring the island on your own. Overnight in Khong island.

After breakfast drive to North of the famous Khmer Temple complex of Wat Phou. This represents the easternmost border of the Khmer empire, although the influence of the Khmers was felt deep into central Vietnam). Arrive in Pakxe market for last minute textile shopping. Continue to the Thai/Lao land border at Chong Mek.
Note: (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)