The Real Luang Prabang 6 Days 5 Nights

DAY 1: LUANG PRABANG ARRIVAL – EXPERIENCE THE LIFE AT BAN LAE

Welcome to Laos: after a long time on airplane, you will reach Laos – the Country of Elephants

In the afternoon

• On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel
• Situated in the centre of northern Laos, Luang Prabang is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding cultural, historic and architectural values and its harmonious relationship between the natural and built environment
• You will be free to stroll around the city for your own exploration of this ancient town

In the evening

• Dinner will be served at the local restaurant with traditional dance & folk song, the chance for you the have the first impression of Lao culture

Meals included: __/__/Dinner

Overnight in Luang Prabang

DAY 2: EXPERIENCE THE LOCAL FLORA AND THE ANCIENT LUANG PRABANG

In the morning

• You are required to be at the Ban Wat That Pier at 08:45 as the latest to take the Pha Tad Ke Enjoy a 15-minute leisurely boat trip down the Mekong River
• Upon arrival at Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden reception you will be given a short presentation about the gardens
• After that you will walk through the Ginger Garden and the Ethno-botanic Garden, which is the center piece of the garden. Follow the path through the Limestone Walk and take in the amazing mountainous Mekong landscape. Learn how to make a bamboo stick animal at the site of the hunting lodge of the former royal family. Then continue your tour of Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden walking through the Arboretum, Palm Garden and Bamboo Garden to our viewpoint that overlooks the rice fields. Stop by the Mist House where you will learn more about the importance of biodiversity conservation. Finish your excursion with an optional orchid talk at Pha Tad Ke Nursery
• All of the gardens will have introductory panels and labels. You can always ask our expert staff should you have any questions or require more information
• Lunch will be served at a local restaurant before taking the boat back to Luang Prabang

In the afternoon

• After lunch time, your city tour begins with a visit to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture
• After that, you will visit Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts
• If time permits, you will take a short walk around the small streets of city center, watching the life of local people
• Late afternoon, you will climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic sunset view of the city and the Mekong River
• The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Overnight in Luang Prabang 

DAY 3: CULTURE EXPERIENCE − REFRESH AT KUANG SI WATERFALLS

In the morning

• After having breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer to the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center (TAEC), the collection of diverse Lao ethnic groups. You will stroll around to visit the center to understand more about the Lao diverse ethnic culture
• After that, you will join the seminars of “Ethnic Diversity and Cultural Change in Laos”. This fascinating 60-minute presentation and question-and-answer session gives background on Laos’ ethnic communities, their history, and their culturalpractices, including livelihoods and crafts. Guests have an opportunity to learn about lifestyles in ethnic villages, and are shown unique artefacts fromTAEC’s collection that are not accessible to the general public. The seminars are led by one of the two TAEC Founder/Directors, either Thongkhoun Soutthivilay, a Luang Prabang-native who worked at the Luang Prabang National Museum for 10 years, and who has attended trainings and conferences in the US, Thailand, Netherlands, Japan, and Brunei; or Tara Gujadhur, an American who has worked in Luang Prabang for over 10 years, with a background in anthropology and sustainable tourism development
• Lunch will be served at a local restaurant

In the afternoon

• After lunch time, you will transfer directly to the beautiful Kuang Si waterfall which is the biggest in the Luang Prabang area with three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop into spectacular azure pools before flowing downstream. The pools also make great swimming holes and are very popular with both tourists and locals
• Then you will also take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers
• On the way back to Luang Prabang, you will take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, set serenely close to the Mekong, this beautiful, traditionally styled workshop, where weavers, spinners and batik makers produce top-quality fabrics, offers free tours every half-hour. This is also one of the best spots to admire the sunset in Luang Prabang
• You will transfer back to your hotel late afternoon and relax in the hotel

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Overnight in Luang Prabang

DAY 4: MORNING ALMS GIVING – MEKONG CRUISE − PAK OU CAVES

In the morning

• Wake up as the sun rises, you will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, which dates to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temples to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets
• From there, you will visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice, to vegetable, to fish, or chicken. This is the best chance to experience the flavor of local life
• After having breakfast at the hotel, you will visit directly to Ban Xang Hai, which is famous for the traditional rice whiskey distilled
• From there, you will have time to enjoy the 30-minute elephant ride exploring the Mekong river at the nearby elephant camp
• Lunch will be served at a local restaurant

In the afternoon

• After lunch time, you will continue driving to Ban Pak Ou, and take the boat crossing the Mekong river to visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims
• After that, your cruise will continue further onto Nam Ou river to the lovely Nam Ou Riverside Resort
• Then you will be free for the rest of the day to relax by the inviting pool of the resort or stroll around the nearby villages for your own exploration

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Overnight at Nam Ou Riverside Resort

DAY 5: EXPERIENCE THE LIFE AT BAN LAE

In the morning

• After having breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer directly to Ban Lae, which locates 25Km from town (10Km from the resort)
• Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by the host family, before strolling around the village to see the life of local people
• You then visit the local school, which should be livelier during the weekdays. If not, the visit to the local market is another option for you
• Lunch will be served at the house of the host family

In the afternoon

• After lunchtime, you can choose to either relax or to enjoy agricultural activities such as rice planting and harvesting in surrounding rice fields (depending on the season); Traditional fishing techniques (you can sample your catch for dinner!); walk around the farm and rice field; or explore the river with the local boat. If you wish, the dip in the Nam Xeuang river is very inviting and worth a try. You may wish to join and help the host with preparing the dinner. This is the chance to learn about Lao cuisine
• Before the dinner, you will join the Baci Ceremony, held by the elders of the village. The Baci ceremony as a traditional ritual of the Lao people expresses the spirituality of the country and is a highly memorable experience and a deep insight into Lao culture for the participants

In the evening

• Dinner will be served in the local house with the host
• During the dinner, the folk tales will be told by the host family and translated by our guide
• You may wish to stroll around the riverbank, and sense the nature, admiring the starry sky before going to bed

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Overnight in Luang Prabang

DAY 6: LUANG PRABANG DEPARTURE

In the morning

• Wake up early, you never want to miss the chance to admire the sunrise over the Nam Xeuang river, and the nearby mountains.
• You will then visit the local temple and join the Alms giving to see how it is different from what you will have done in Luang Prabang some days ago
• After having breakfast at the hotel, the morning will be dedicated to the fishing by the stunning Nam Xeuang river, experience traditional fishing techniques
• There is also the change to experience the local Bamboo weaving; Silk weaving, or Fishing net
• You will come back to the village at 11:00 AM to join the transfer back to Luang Prabang
• You may have time to stroll around the town before transferring out to the airport to take the departure flight.

Meals included: Breakfast/__/__

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