North Laos Explore

Itinerary

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1. Day 1: Luang Prabang Arrival.

   Sabaidee! Welcome to Luang Prabang – A world heritage site.
   Upon arrival, you will be picked up at the airport and transfer to hotel for checking-in.
   If time permit, you will visit the former king’s palace, which is now Royal museum. The many items nicely displayed include rare furniture, traditional costumes and arts, jewelry, ornaments as well as working tools and utensils of the early part of the 20th century. Then we embark on a tour of this enthralling town to visit Wat Xieng Thong, the Golden City monastery, which dates back to the 16th century and is considered to be the finest in Laos.
   Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

2. Day 2: Luang Prabang – Alms Giving Ceremony – Khuang Si Waterfall.

   An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession.
   Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the turqoise pools or walk along the forest trails.
   Later that day, we adjourn to the Phousi Holy Hill to enjoy the marvelous panoramic views of the town at sunset.
   Meals: Breakfast.
   Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

3. Day 3: Luang Prabang – Pakbeng.

   Our driver will pick you up from your hotel at 6:30 AM, and transport you to the boat pier. The boat leaves at 7:00 AM for the upstream cruise to Pakbeng. French breakfast is served on board after the introduction of the crew. Shortly thereafter, we will stop to visit the famous Pak Ou Caves (Tham Ting) and its thousands of Buddha images. For lunch, local food is served on board. Then, you will have free time for relaxing in the afternoon, until the boat arrives in Pakbeng at dusk. You will be served a typical snack and drink on board in the afternoon. Here, you will retreat to your accommodation for the night.
   Meals: Breakfast.
   Accommodation: Hotel in Pakbeng.
   Note: No private guide service.

4. Day 4: Pakbeng – Huay Xai.

   The guide will meet you on the boat at 06:45 AM, which departs at 07:00 AM for continuing the trip up to Huay Xai. On the way, we visit a Hill Tribe village. Our guide will explain the way of living and the origins of these rural populations. After, lunch will be served on board. A final, brief stop has to be made in Pak Tha for having necessary boat documents signed. Then, before arrival in Houay Xai, we will initiate your palate to local flavors by offering a tasting of seasonal fruits, drinks, snacks. Arrival in Huay Xai will be around 5:00 pm.
   Transfer to your guest house in Huay Xai.
   Meals: Breakfast.
   Accommodation: Guest house in Huay Xai.

5. Day 5: Huay Xay – Gibbon Experience (Join-in Tour).

   The tour starts after a one-hour drive from Huay Xai. Access walk is steep for over an hour and is thus recommended for trekkers in good physical shape aged from 12 to 50 years old. A series of very long zip-lines flies you from mountain to mountain to the heart of the Nam Kan National Park and to the most giant tree to be found today in the Lao PDR.
   Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
   Accommodation: in a canopy-level tree house complete with running water; access only by zip-line.
   
   

6. Day 6: Gibbon Experience – Huay Xai.

   Waking up among the heart of Mother Nature, among the rain forest, in a tree house, you can listen the song of the birds and enjoy the beauty of nature. Today you will continue to discover the national park and will comeback to Huay Xay in afternoon.
   Meals: breakfast, lunch.
   Accommodation: Hotel in Huay Xai.
   
   

7. Day 7: Huay Xai – Luang Namtha.

   After breakfast, you will rejoin the transfer to head to Luang Namtha. You will be drive through the Nam Ha National park, and arrival Luang Namtha in the afternoon.
   Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for checking in and relax.
   Meals: breakfast. 
   Accommodation: Guest house in Luang Namtha.

8. Day 8: Luang Namtha – Trekking.

   After breakfast, start the tour to discover Nam Ha national park. The native guide knows the trail, forest, and herbal medicine; He will join this tour and guide you all the way up the mountain National Protected Area. On this path you will walk through a nice forest area, in which you may encounter or hear wild animals, birds and spot their tracks. Your guide will share some of his ancestral knowledge about the traditional use of medicinal plants, edible leaves, and show you some native skills for the hunting of wildlife. After two hours we have a traditional picnic lunch along the walking path, in the forest prepared by your guides. Thereafter, you will continue the flat and downhill path through primary forest, within the Nam Ha National Protected Area, and you will finish your trek around 3-4 pm close to Nam Ha, the Khmu Tribal village, which we will visit shortly after. The Tuk-Tuk will get you back to Luang Namtha town.
   Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch.
   Accommodation: guest house in Luang Nam Tha.

9. Day 09: Luang Namtha – Nong Kiaw.

   After breakfast, rejoin the car to transfer to Nong Kiaw – A beautiful rustic little town on the bank of the Ou River in Laos.
   Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for checking in.
   Meals: Breakfast.
   Accommodation: Hotel in Nong Kiaw.

10. Day 10: Nong Kiaw – Muang Ngoi – Nong Kiaw.

    We leave Nong Kiaw at 8:30am and cruise up the river via a traditional long boat. Along the way, we stop off to visit several different ethnic villages. We actually pass straight through Muang Ngoi at first and pay the village of Ban Sop Jam a visit. This village is famous for its traditional Lao silk and cotton weaving, here you can purchase some beautiful textiles if you wish.
    After spending some time in the village, we turn around and return back downstream to Muang Ngoi. Upon arrival, we take some time to have a break and a coffee before heading off on a small trek which takes us through some gorgeous scenery consisting of limestone cliffs, mountains and rice paddy fields.
    Along the trek, we visit a historical cave which was used as bomb shelter by the local during the second Indochina war. Upon returning back to Muang Ngoi we board our boat for the cruise back down the river whilst watching the beautiful sunset over Nong Kiaw, arriving back just before dark.
    Meals: Breakfast.
    Accommodation: Hotel in Nong Kiaw.

11. Day 11: Nong Kiaw – 100 Waterfall – Luang Prabang.

    We’ll start the day with a boat ride on the Nam Ou to a small village where you can learn about the way of life along this river. Then we’ll trek through small streams and rice paddies to reach the base of the 100 waterfalls. The next few hours you will see only water and jungle and hear the sound of clear waterfall cascades. The pools around you are very inviting for a refreshing splash.
    Your guide will lead you through the cascades and prepare a local style lunch on the falls in the middle of it all. Then we’ll take a small villagers’ trail from the top of the falls back down into the valley; along the way, you’ll take in views of the landscapes of the Nam Ou valley.
    Hiking back to the village, we’ll have more time to observe the daily life here before heading back back by a small boat to Nong Kiaw.
    Later of this day, transfer back to Luang Prabang.
    Meals: Breakfast.
    Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

12. Day 12: Luang Prabang Departure.

    You will have free time before be picked up and transfer to airport for departure flight.
    Meals: Breakfast.