Laos Highlanders 12 Days

Enjoy a combination of scenic landscapes, city sightseeing and adventurous trekking expeditions through villages and highland areas. The journey takes you through many fascinating hill tribe villages, waving to the warm and friendly hill tribe people and admires the dramatic mountain scenery. You will get a gripping feel of their customs as trekking provides a greater insight and staying overnight in a villager’s home offers an authentic experience. This tour sees the best highlights and a close up cultural experience of northern Laos.

Day 1: Chiang Khong/Pakbeng (D, G)

On arrival at HoueiSay in Laos from Chiang Khong (Thailand), you will embark on a traditional boat cruising downriver the Mekong. This part of the Mekong River is quite narrow and both banks of the rivers are bordered by amazing scenery of beautiful green forests and towering hills. Along the way, you will call in at Ban Houeilampen to visit the Hmong hilltribe people. They are very poor, but have a vibrant culture and an interesting history. You will spend the night in Pakbeng Lodge.

Day 2: Pakbeng/Oudomxay (B, L, D, G)

Today, you will be driven to Oudomxay passing through verdant and rugged mountain scenery combined with the colorful local population. Oudomxay province is residence to a mixture of 23 ethnic minority groups. En-route, you will visit the ethnic minority groups of Hmong, Khmu, Akha and Taidam. The hill tribe people are unfailingly friendly; welcoming you with waving hands and smilling faces. Your overnight accommodation will be in Oudomxay.

Day 3: Oudomxay/Muong La/Muong Ngoy (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, your journey to Muong La will lead you through some scenic landscape. Here,you will a fantastic chance to visit Pra Xack Kham Temple with its sacred Buddha image. The 400 years old legendary statue is said to have many supernatural powers, and is widely worshipped among the faithful local Buddhists. After a pleasant stop in Muong La, you will continue to Muong Khoua and board a traditional boat for a leisurely cruise on the Nam Ou River down to Muong Ngoy, a little village set along the east riverbank with breathtaking sceneries all surrounded by mountains where will be your base for trekking for the next three days. You will spend the night in Muong Ngoy.

Day 4: Muong Ngoy/Ban Khioukhan (B, L, D, G)

Today, you will discover the remote and extremely beautiful mountainious region of the north, ideal for adventurous trekking expedition. You will head out of town and begin the trek uphill to the rural village of Ban Kioukhan. The friendly Khmu hill tribe people conquer this small village; they have a primitive and basic lifestyle. You will continue to walk through many different villages. Arriving at Ban Kioukhan by late afternoon and have time to walk around this charming village and understand a little more about the local culture and their daily lifestyle. You will finish your day with a local dinner at a Ban Kioukhan villager’s house whwere you will also spend the night.

Day 5: Ban Kioukhan/Muong Ngoy (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, you will continue the second-day trekking expedition, using the local tracks. The trek todays may be challenging with some steep uphill and down hill climbs, but the experience is unique and rewarding. After spending half the day walking, you will arrive at Ban Hadsaphaei village, which is situated by the Nam Ou River. There is a complete change of pace as we embark on a stunning boat trip downriver to Muong Ngoy, giving us a great chance to relax and explore the great landscape of limestone mountain outcrops surrounding the area. Your overnight accommodation will be in Muong Ngoy.

Day 6: Muong Ngoi/Luang Prabang (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will spend half our day trekking, passing through several more hill villages to Pak Ou Cave. You will then visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, which are two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims. You will then continue the trip down to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang. The rest of the day in Luang Prabang will be free at leisure. You will spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 7: Luang Prabang city (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will enjoy a guided-tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. You will then visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun. In the 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 view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. The rest of the day will be free to wander around the ancient street or just relax with a Laos’s beer along the Nam Khan River. You will spend the nigh in Luang Prabang.

Day 8: Luang Prabang/Lao Spirit Adventure (Elephant + rafting) (B, L, D, G)

This is a full day trip combining a rafting tour with some sightseeing and an exciting elephant ride to/from Tad Sae Waterfall (or alternative route in dry season). Start from the Adventure and Elephant camp, you will cross a small river, you will be introduced to our Asian Elephants and venture on a 1hr – 1hr 30 minutes enchanting journey through forests, plantations and fields. This activity programme provides you with a breathtaking and unique experience as you make your way through forests and along the Nam Khan River up to the waterfalls of Tad Sae. After visiting the waterfall, lunch is served before a relaxing 30-minute rafting tour along the river back to the resort. The evening is free at your leisure. Your overnight will be at Lao Spirit Resort.

Day 9: Luang Prabang/Vang Vieng (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, you will leave this charming city to Vang Vieng. The journey will be strenuous as you will drive along one of the most scenic but also one of the roughest routes in Asia.

Arriving in Vang Vieng, a small and tranquil town, which is nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River in the afternoon, you will check in the hotel. After that, you will embark on your boat for a relaxing trip on the Nam Song River, exploring the breathtaking mountain landscape and the famous cave of Tham Jang, which was used in the early 19th century in defense against the Chinese invaders. You will spend the night in Vang Vieng.

Day 10: Trekking in Vang Vieng (B, L, D, G)

This morning, you will head out of town taking a short drive before setting off on a full day’s trek from Ban Phatang village through undulating hillsides and paddy fields. On the way, you will visit Tham Hoy Cave and Ban Phathao village, which is home to the Hmong ethnic minorities. After a splendid picnic lunch, you will continue walking and exploring the fantastic limestone karsts formation. The trekking ends when you arrive to Ban Tham Xang in the late afternoon. At this small village, you will have a chance to explore the interesting local lifestyle and enjoy a traditional dance performed by villagers. Back to the hotel in the late afternoon, you will have time to rest before a dinner by the river. You will overnight in Vang Vieng.

Day 11: Vang Vieng/Vientiane (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will spend half the day driving to the capital city Vientiane, which is 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. On arrival in Vientiane, you will visit the Wat Sisaket which is the oldest temple still standing in Vientiane. This amazing structure features remarkable frescoes and Buddha images. You will then visit Waw Prakeo, the former royal temple of Laos monarchy and the Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. You will spend the night in Vientiane.