Day 1: ARRIVAL IN CHIENG RAI (by A/C car, bicycle)

Welcome the travelers in Chiang Rai airport by a short flight from Bang Kok. Chiang Rai is a mountainous province located at the northern tip of Thailand. Chiang Rai is admired by its scenic beauty, is observed by its hill tribes and seen by its historic sites.

Express check in your hotel and a short moment for set-up before enjoying a quick round of city tour to visit the most attractions of Chiang Rai town and its surrounding (if the time permits) such as, King Mengrai statue, the first king of Lanna Kingdom, proceed to visit to Wat Phra Singh an important temple built in 15^th century. Just behind the temple tour visit also Wat Phrakaew the former house of Emerald Buddha which now in Bangkok.

Dinner at local restaurant (see supplement) and transfer to Night market for shopping. Overnight in Chiang Rai

 

Day 2: CHIANG RAI/ GOLDEN TRIANGLE - CHIANG KHONG - HOUISAY (by A/C car, bicycle, boat 130km)

After breakfast, check out and overland to Golden Triangle - The most famous attraction where the borders of the three countries; Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. Continue to Chiang Saen to explore ruins in ancient city. After that, travel along Mae Khong River to Baan Kiuw Karn for visiting the White Kmong tribe. Later stop-over at Chiang Khong, which is famous for the sighting of giant catfish though this is seasonal. Then cross the border by boat across to Laos - Tha Buck'. Followed-up is a visit to Laotian hill tribe providing tourist a glimpse of village life. The journey continues to visit a Sapphire Mine (Seasonal). Return to visit Houisay market, take your time to enjoy a busy market day, communicating with the local sales and all sorts of their products. It is quite a sight to see, to give somewhat a picture of Laos social living. Overnight in Houisay. (B)

 

Day 3: HOUEISAY - LUANG NAMTHA (by A/C car, bicycle, 194km)

In the morning, continue your trip to the north from Houeixay to Luang Namtha via Vieng Phou kha (Nam Ha National Protected Area) on Road No 3. We visit hill tribe villages along the road at Muang Phouka and other surrounding area. Luang Namtha, a province sharing its border with China and Myanmar. Luang Namtha is located on the banks of the Namtha River is a land of rugged mountains and beautiful tropical forests. Today Luang Namtha populate with over twenty ethnic groups, making this region one of the most ethnically diverse provinces in Laos.

We will arrive in Luang Namtha in late afternoon. Express check in your hotel and at leisure for your own activities. Overnight in Luang Namtha. (B)

 

Day 4: LUANG NAMTHA - MUANG SING (by A/C car, bicycle, trekking, 62km)

After breakfast, ride to Muang Sing, where is home to various hill tribe groups including Akha, Laos, Dao. There is also a significant Chinese population and a lot of trade goes on between here and China. On the way, we visit a village of Akha minority hill tribe. This ethnic group was originally in China but immigrated into Laos over a century ago. They are very poor, but have a vibrant culture and an interesting history. On arrival we visit the impressive ethnologic museum, dedicated to region's ethnic minorities.

Afternoon, we start trekking to visit Ethnic groups such as Hmong, Akha, Puli, Akha Dtee Jaw, Akha Plain, Tai Lue & Tai Neau. The Trek pass through the agriculture field, deeply forest, there are excellent views, drive back Luang Namtha on late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Namtha. (B)

 

Day 5: LUANG NAMTHA - OUDOMXAY - LUANG PRABANG (by A/C car, bicycle, 307 km)

Breakfast inside your hotel, check out and overland to Luang prabang via Oudomxay. The road journey will be downing the hill, passing numerous small villages, en-route visit Khmu, Lantene minorities. They are living with a nature forest. A long the way, photo-stops can be made for beautiful scenery with mountain ranges and to see rural life of various ethnic groups at small village. Then we drive straight up to Luang Prabang. This tranquil town with its gleaming temple roofs, fading colonial architecture and stunning mountain backdrop has claimed by UNESCO to be” the best preserved traditional city in South East Asia”.

Express check in your hotel and free at leisure at night. Overnight in Luang Prabang.  (B)

 

Day 6: LUANG PRABANG - PAK OU CAVES (by A/C car, boat, bicycle, 36km)

After breakfast, we will visit the Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple that is most interesting more than any temple in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture. Enjoy a boat trip of few hours upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives you a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well as explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, located in the side of a lime stone cliff and opposite of the mouth of the Mekong and Ou rivers. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist of two large caves, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimeter to two meters in height. En route, Lao typical villages are barely visible behind a screen of foliage. Slender canoes bobbing by the shore, bamboo poles and floats mark the location of nets and fish traps. Our first stop will be at Ban Shanghai Village, a well-known village for Lao traditional rice whisky, namely Laoh-Khao as distilled. On return, we disembark traditional villages, visiting Ban Xienglek and Ban Xangkong, the villages of handmade jute papermaking and continue taking a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village well known for its hand weaving. We return to Luang Prabang city around late afternoon then explore city on your own activities. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

 

Day 7: LUANG PRABANG – KHUANG SI WATERFALL (by A/C car, bicycle, 30km)

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 unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession.

In the morning, you will visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos, known as 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. Transfer to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall, where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest trails. After returning to Luang Prabang by late afternoon, observe the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)

 

Day 8: LUANG PRABANG - XIENG KHUANG (by A/C car, bicycle, 262 km)

After breakfast, we checkout then overland transfer on highway 13 North to Xieng Khuang. The trip will take you about 5 hours driving. On the way, stop-over for visit the local hill tribe and natural landscape in Sala Phoukhoun, T-junction of bordering at Vientiane-Xiengkhouang- Luang Prabang. Continuing to take over mountainous region to visit old Buddha images more than 200 years at Thampra and varied Hmong and varied hill tribe minority villages along the road. They are nice, friendly and welcome you to visit. Photo stop en-route, we continue driving up hill, enjoying mountain splendid natural scenery, deeply forest. Arrival in Xieng Kuang, check in to hotel and visit Plain of Jar 1 - an impressive archeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are littered all over the plateau. Overnight in Xieng Khuang (B)

 

Day 9: XIENG KHUANG – VANG VIENG (by A/C car, bicycle, 248 km)

Breakfast, we will drive to visit the Plain of Jars, the archaeological stone Jars (site 2 and 3). There are over 300 giant stone jars scattered across the misty plateau, hey weight between one and six tons each. A legendary story from solid rock around 3,000 years ago of a Bronze Age civilization is amazing you. The jars are about 2,000 years old but nobody knows the true story about them or how they came to be there. Local legend says that they were made to ferment rice wine after a victory against a wicked chief tan in the 6th century. We also have time to see the old capital of Muang Khoun Province and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe and Tai Dam people.

We then transfer to Vang Vieng. On the way, stopover for visiting & taking photo at some beautiful scenery with mountain range & rural life of various ethnic groups at small villages.

Transfer to hotel for check in and time of rest. Overnight in Vang Vieng. (B)

 

Day 10: VANG VIENG - VIEN TIANE (by A/C car, bicycle, 162km )

Today, continue to drive forward Vientiane, on the way we will stop at the archaeological sight of Vang Xang dating back from the 11th century. Vientiane, located on the banks of the Mekong River, Vientiane is a charming and fascinating capital, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, Soviet and American influences.

Arrival in Vientiane, check in your hotel then take your time to have a rest before enjoy a half day city in the afternoon.

Afternoon would be a good time to have a glimpse of Vientiane. We start visiting some of the major sights; including the oldest temple Wat Sisaket, with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit the Lao’s national precious heritages, the famous and sacred structure as That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Overnight in Vientiane. (B)

 

Day 11: VIEN TIANE - PAKSE/TADLO - ATTAPEU (by A/C car, bicycle, 209km)

Early morning, transfer by land to Pakse then ride to Tadlo via Phaxuem waterfall. The next destination of our trip will be Tadlo. On our way, we pass many lush plantations, hills, forests and villages. Part of our pleasure of traveling in this region is to observe the beautiful countryside and meet local people. We stop-over at some of the nearby villages, home of the Kato hill tribe group. The hill tribe people are unfailingly friendly; welcoming you with waving hands and smiling faces. These ethnic minorities still retain their age and old cultural traditions and are recognizably distinct from each other by their dress. O/n in Attapeu. (B)

 

Day 12: ATTAPEU - PAKSE (by A/C car, bicycle, 127 km)

Today, we continue our journey through the Paksong and Boloven Plateau. The Boloven Plateau, known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. Rivers run off this high plateau in all directions and then plunge out to lush forests along in a series of spectacular surging waterfalls. The scenery around Tad Fan waterfall is spectacular with twin waterfalls plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by flourishing vegetation. A trip to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that can see easily en route. This trip gives visitors the chance to venture off the beaten track and to discover some of the lesser-known areas of Laos, exploring the wild beauty of this southern region

We return to Pakse by late evening. Overnight in Pakse. (B)

 

Day 13: PAKSE - WAT PHOU FESTIVAL - DON KHONG ISLAND (by A/C car, bicycle, boat 140km)

Transfer to boat pier and take traditional boat trip downstream on the Mekong River to Champasak for 1.30hrs

Arrive to Champassak and ride to visit the fascinating pre-angkorian Wat Phou, a site of ancient religious significance as one of Southeast Asia's most dramatically situated temples. We have time to explore these intriguing Khmer ruins, which are perched at the base of Mount Phu Kao. Wat Phu is one of the Lao World Heritage sites recognized by UNESCO in 2001, this wonderful archeological site of Khmer civilization dates back to the 10^th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (Every year, you would able enjoy Wat Phou festival, is annually held in the full moon day (is on 15^th of second month of Buddhist / lunar calendar), festivities would probably inclusive the merry activities of Laos typical social community, there are elephants racing, buffaloes fighting, cocks fighting and performances of Lao traditional music and dance.

We will drive about 2hrs on the National Road No. 13th south then a small ferryboat to cross into Don Khong Island. A big island as 16 km long and 8 km wide, the largest island in the South Mekong river region known as the 4000 islands, one of the most scenic areas in Laos, where the Mekong reaches up to 14km wide during the rainy season. Its capital is Muang Khong, a small former French settlement.

Overnight in Don Khong Island. (B)

 

Day 14: DON KHONG ISLAND Fullday tour (by bicycle, boat)

After an early breakfast, we take motor boat to explore the local villages of Ban Khone, where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with it’s locomotive. We continue discover the 4000 islands area by boat at our leisure to visit the Liphi waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking the end of Lao border to Cambodia, also known as the Samphamith. If we are lucky, we may even see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone. We return to Ban Nakasang and drive to famous waterfalls of Khone Phapeng, the largest waterfall in South East Asia, known as “Niagara of the east”. Overnight in Don Khong Island. (B)

 

Day 15: KHONG ISLAND - PHOU ASA - PAKSE (by bicycle, trekking, elephant riding)

After breakfast, transfer to Kiet Ngong Village lies within the enchanting natural scenery of the 2,400 km2 Xe Pian National Protected Area (Xe Pian NPA). This mainly Lao Loum (lowland Lao) community of approximately 150 households is located at the edge of the Kiet Ngong wetlands, one of the largest and least altered in the region, and at the foot of Phou Asa, a large rock outcrop renown for its intriguing ruins and superb views of the dense semi-evergreen forests below.  Visit then to Kiet Ngong’s traditional houses, temple and working elephants offer an accessible window into authentic Lao rural life. We may get a chance to experience elephant riding for 2hrs through forest paths. Transfer back to Pakse in the late afternoon and free at leisure for your own activities. Overnight in Pakse. (B)

 

Days 16: DEPARTURE FROM PAKSE - VANG TAO/CHONG MEK CHECK-POINT - UBON RATCHATHANI AIRPORT (by A/C car)

After breakfast, you would take time to free at leisure, or just enjoy your independent activities until the time of checkout. Transfer to the Laos / Thailand checkpoint in Vang Tao/Chong Mek (Thailand border). After entry visa formality to Thailand, continuing transfer to the Ubon Ratchathani airport by A/C Car from the border town of Chong Mek. Have a safe trip come home!

It is timely; you have to say Good-bye Cambodia, Good-bye IndoChina countries, so you surely have plentiful memories of Indochina countries. We would like to thank you very much for your business. Have a safe flight back home! Be sure all our people are your best friends always and beyond. May we will meet and honoured welcome you have other voyages to Indochina in the days coming, continuing to discover, to experience the endless imposing landscapes, and then get the restful moments in a diversified World and this colourful Sub region of Mekong River: VIETNAM - LAOS - CAMBODIA - THAILAND - MYANMAR! (B)

 

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