Enjoy four days exploring Luang Prabang on your Laos tour with the addition of this four-day extension. Witness the giving of alms to monks first hand in the early morning and observe as they walk the streets to collect their daily food. Visit the lively marketplace and wander to the main sites in Luang Prabang, including the Wat Xieng Thong Temple. Cruise the Mekong River and visit the hidden Pak Our Caves, once a spiritual haven. Spend time visiting weavers and other textile makers in riverside villages and hike to the Kuang Si Waterfall. Enjoy four days exploring northern Laos on this guided Luang Prabang tour.
Highlights
Witness the giving of alms to monks in the early mornings in Luang Prabang
Visit villages with textile makers along the Mekong River
Take a dip in the turquoise blue water beneath the Kuang Si Waterfalls
Travel to the hidden and remote Pak Ou Caves containing spiritual relics
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Rise early this morning to the sound of the monastery bells at dawn. If you are up early enough you can witness the lines of monks emerging to receive their morning rice from the townspeople. Respectfully wander the streets to witness this sacred ritual as long lines of barefoot monks weave through the streets on their alms rounds. We request that you observe this from a respectful distance and discourage photographs that interfere with the ritual. Afterwards, visit the Morning Market to see an array of meats, vegetables, and spices for sale by local vendors before returning to your hotel for breakfast.
Next set out to explore this historic World Heritage city. Start with the most popular and classic Luang Prabang temple, the 500-year-old Wat Xieng Thong. Explore small side streets along alleys and through temples as you get a feel for a city that seems to have been designed with slow travel in mind. Wander up the peninsula further and visit the National Museum (or former Royal Palace). Here see relics from Laos' royalist past and the overlooking Phousi Mountain. Climb the 328 steps to get the best view of the city and breathtaking views of the entire landscape.
Depart this morning through Laos's scenic countryside to the Pak Ou Caves, a mystical pilgrimage site high above the Mekong River. Stop in at two riverside villages along the way. Visit Ban Xang Khong to see the weaving of prized Lao textiles still created on ancient wooden looms. Some villagers here also engage in mulberry paper production. The villagers of the next stop in Ban Xang Hai produce a well-known rice whiskey called Lao Lao. Try a swig of this potent drink before continuing on to the ferry boat that takes you to the Pak Ou Caves. Peer into the dark corners to see the more than 3,000 Buddha figurines and faces. Cruise along the Mekong River on your way back to Luang Prabang, enjoying snacks along the way.
This afternoon you set out to visit the nearby Kuang Si Waterfalls, starting with a stop en route to the Living Crafts Centre. Here you learn about textiles and the weavers who strive to keep these cultural techniques and traditions. Continue on to the falls where you can hop into the idyllic turquoise pools at the base of the cascading water. Also take time to visit the nearby Sun Bear Refuge to learn more about the poaching of these endangered creatures. Return to Luang Prabang for the evening.
Day 4: Return Home
1 Breakfast
Return to the airport for your flight home or on to your next destination.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Notes
Select a Date
Rates based on group of 2 people in double occupancy.
Peak surcharge may apply Jan 1- 5 and April 12 -16.
Initial deposit is $400, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. Final payments by credit card may be subject to surcharge and a maximum $20,000 charge
Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
