Arrive in Bangkok where you will spend the night; you will not have a guide today; you will meet your guide upon arrival in Luang Prabang. When you arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport please go to the meeting point on the 2nd floor, inside the arrivals hall, between gates No.3 and No.4, next to the AOT Limousine counter. Our representative will be wearing a black suit jacket holding a sign with your name on it, or in case of multiple pickups, the signs may be hanging on the aluminium railing at our meeting point. Our representative’s telephone number is +66 87 546 4334. If you are unable to locate us, please go to the information counter and they will help you locate us, or you can call our hotel reception desk at +662 727 5858. Upon arrival at the hotel please advise reception that you wish to take the complimentary shuttle bus back to the airport the following morning; the hotel will provide you with your flight ticket to Luang Prabang for the following day.

Return to the airport via the complimentary shuttle bus for your 1 hour and 40-minute flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, you will be met by your National Escort or local guide and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure before taking an evening tour of the bustling night market and browse for colourful textiles and carvings.

Rise early this morning to witness the Buddhist ceremony of Takbat, when the monks of Luang Prabang’s monastic communities collect alms from locals. These lines of silent saffron robe-clad monks will be an enduring image of your trip. See Wat Sene and the National Museum. Visit the traditional H’mong village of Ban Na Ounae, before walking to the cascading turquoise waters of delightful Kuang Si Waterfalls for a picnic lunch. It is possible to take a swim in the river near the falls and if you wish to do this, please remember to bring along your swimsuit and a towel. Changing rooms are available on site. Stop at Ock Pop Tok Weaving Centre on the return to Luang Prabang.

This morning visit Wat Xieng Thong before boarding a boat to cruise the mighty Mekong up to the sacred caves of Pak Ou, known for the hundreds of miniature Buddha sculptures that reside within. Return to Luang Prabang and visit the local villages of Thin Hong and Ban Xang Khong to witness the daily life of the local people and their cottage industries.

Today, explore many of the former royal capital’s cultural highlights. Climb to the top of Phousi Hill and enjoy panoramic views of the city and Wat Mai, with its beautiful, gilded façade. Later visit Wat Visoun, one of the oldest temples in the city, followed by Wat Aham. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure.

Drive 3 and a half hours over scenic, mountainous and windy roads to Phoukhoun for a market visit and lunch. From here continue driving for another five hours, making stops at Tham Phra Cave, for a 30 minute visit and Nong Tang Lake to see local villagers fishing for approximately one hour. Arrive in Phonsavan in the late afternoon.

Head to one of the most important prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia. These mysterious clusters of giant jars are thought to be about 2,000 years old. Sightseeing here will be a full day and involve walking over uneven terrain. You will visit Site 1 where there are over 200 jars, and Site 2 which also allows you to admire the beautiful scenery of the region. There will also be visits to Muang Khoune village, home of the H’mong minority group, and the office of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), an organisation that helps clear unexploded ordnance that are a remnant of American raids during the Vietnam War.

Drive approximately 7 hours to Vang Vieng, stopping en route for about 1 hour at Pathang Village to admire the spectacular views over karst mountain landscapes. Spend the afternoon exploring the magnificent Tham Chang Cave which involves one hour on foot over uneven surfaces, and climbing steps to reach the cave.

Continue driving 3 and half hours south to Vientiane, Laos’ capital. Nestled in a languid bend in the Mekong, Vientiane is a delightfully quaint city, more a friendlier backwater than the chaotic capital. Spend the rest of the day exploring with visits to Wat Si Saket, Wat Phra Keo, That Luang Stupa, and the Patuxai Victory Monument, resembling Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Sightseeing today involves around 2 to 3 hours on foot.

Rise early for a morning flight to Pakse, the flight will be approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. On arrival drive to Champassak to visit the World Heritage-listed Wat Phou, a ruined Khmer temple complex located in the incredibly beautiful landscapes of Mount Phu Kao. Continue to Khong Island, the largest island of the Si Phan Don archipelago in the Mekong River. The afternoon is at leisure.

Around Si Phan Don, meaning ‘4,000 islands’, the pace of life is slow and easy, and the river views are gorgeous. See the magnificent Khone Phapheng and pop over to Khone Island to discover its charming colonial buildings and see Liphi Waterfall, nicknamed the Devil’s Corridor. Depending on the season, you may see local fisherman in action. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Drive 2 hours from Khong Island to Pakse, stopping to admire Tad Yuan and Tad Fane waterfalls as you go. Tad Fane is a set of twin 120m-high waterfalls formed by the merging waters of the Champy and Pak Koot rivers. These impressive falls are situated on the edge of Dong Hua Sao protected wildlife area, 38km from Pakse. Continue on to the Bolaven Plateau to pay a visit to a coffee plantation and learn about the process of planting, harvesting and roasting the beans. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner back in Pakse.

Transfer from your hotel to Pakse airport where you will fly home via Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Mueang International Airport. Late checkout is bookable in advance for those who have chosen a later flight option. Any time before your transfer is at leisure to explore Bangkok. If you wish to extend your stay in Southeast Asia, please talk to our team about our various private extension packages before your departure.