11 Day Discovery Of Laos, Beyond Extra-Ordinary

Breakfast at the hotel and this morning is spent with a half-day cultural tour to visit the major sights of Vientiane. Here, you’ll first visit the golden Pha That Luang stupa, a national monument which dates back to the third century. Next, pay a visit to Wat Sisaket, a serene temple whose teak hallways are filled with thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Nearby is Wat Phra Keo where ancient Lao and Khmer art works are on display and the Presidential Palace, a beautiful colonial-style building once used as the French governor’s residence. You’ll take a trip to the Talat Sao Market, an indoor complex of stalls offering everything from electronics to amulets and traditional Lao silk sarongs. After that, visit the Laos Textile Museum, where you can view the creative silk designs of local legend Carol Cassidy, an international ambassador for Lao silk weaving. Tonight, you will stay overnight in Vientiane 

Breakfast at the hotel and you will be transferred to the airport to take a flight to Luang Prabang. Meet on arrival by your tour guide and you will be taken to the hotel. Your first afternoon until evening is free to relax or explore at your own leisure. The local night market is a nice introduction, bright, colourful and easy to navigate. Here you can find a selection of excellent value souvenirs. Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang.

Destination Overview: The ancient capital of Luang Prabang Province in Northern Laos, lies in a valley at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. Luang Prabang is an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional architecture and Lao urban structures with those built by the European colonial authorities in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its unique, remarkably well-preserved townscape illustrates a key stage in the blending of these two distinct cultural traditions.

Rise early this morning, in time to watch monks as they walk through the city receiving alms. Each morning, a procession of monks passes through the streets collecting food offerings from locals. Back to hotel.

After your breakfast at the hotel, you will be taken on a tour of Luang Prabang’s sacred temples. Visit Wat Visoun, Wat Aham and especially Wat Xieng Thong, a 16th century temple which epitomises all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture. Continue visiting the National Museum, a former Royal Palace, housing a collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue and gifts received from foreign dignitaries. After enjoying a delicious, authentic lunch at a local restaurant, you will pay a visit to Ock Pop Tock weaving center to learn and discover Laos through textiles. Ock Pop Tock means “East Meets West”  was founded in 2000 by an English Photographer and and Laotian weaver with a passion for textiles and a mission to become this place one of the most important textile and artisanal institutions in all of Laos and South East Asia. Transfer you back to the hotel and you will enjoy your evening free. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Breakfast at the hotel and today we will take an adventure by sailing up the Mekong River, passing and stopping to explore the numerous villages and places. Stop at Pak Ou Cave, carved out of towering limestone cliffs and containing thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues. Continue upriver for another hour to reach the Kamu Lodge for lunch time. Setting on the banks of the Mekong river with spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, the Kamu Lodge is an excellent way to experience rural Laos. The lodge features 20 private canvas tents, each one of which is protected from the elements by a thatch roof. The tents are also decorated with bamboo and wooden furniture allowing the Lodges’ grounds to harmoniously blend with surrounding nature. This afternoon you may choose to participate in a variety of different activities such as rice planting, gold panning, visit villages and meet locals. You will be rewarded with a very original Lao experience. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Stay in Kamu Lodge.

After breakfast, we continue the route by boat to Pakbeng. We arrive at Pakbeng before sunset and check in at Luang Say or Pakbeng Lodge. Dinner on the terrace, overlooking the Mekong River. Overnight in Pakbeng

Mornings are special times at the lodge with stunning sights of the peaceful neighboring mountains, often shrowded in mist, while a full breakfast is served on the expansive teak terrace. Continue another cruising day of nature discovery along the legendary river with one stop planned along the way to Huay Xai. After lunch, the boat stops at a traditional village. This is a chance to observe rural life along the Mekong and witness the daily life of ethnic minorities and their talented craftsmanship. You arrive in Huay Xai at around 17:00 – Huay Xai is an important border crossing point with neighboring Chiang Khong & Chiang Rai, northern cities of Thailand. Check into a local hotel for an overnight stay.

A simple breakfast will be set up at the hotel and today you take in a wonderful but totally authentic travel adventure. It is Gibbon Experience. You will need to be reasonably fit, and certainly able to walk distances in sometimes difficult terrain. All well worth it! in the Bokeo Nature Reserve. You stay in tree houses and use the zip line cable gliding network to scour the primary forest in search of the illusive Black Gibbon. During your stay, using the zip wire cable and taking your own trek. Whilst it cannot be guaranteed you will see Gibbons, this is one of their major inhabitants. It should be stressed that we are visitors in their territory, and this is not a wildlife park but a totally authentic opportunity for you to share their world.

Breakfast and today we will travel to Baan Toup village, which is about 2 hours away. It is a difficult, 83 km trip that is either dusty or muddy depending on the time of year. In the last village local guides will welcome you and take care of you from there. From the village, it is a one-hour, mostly uphill hike to get to the canopy infrastructure. When you arrive, you will split up in small groups, put on a harness and glide across the first cable. You will then alternate gliding and trekking all the way to your tree house. (1 to 3 hours depending on your tree house). On the first afternoon the guides will take you on a two-hour hike to become familiar with the cable network. On the second day you can use the cables, relax in your tree house or go for short hikes on your own. Dawn, on day two and day three, is the best time for wildlife encounters. The project received its name because the black gibbons (Nomascus concolor lu) sing on most days and hearing them is an experience unlike many others; however, The Gibbon Experience is not a wildlife park. We are visitors in their territory, which is very extensive, so we cannot guarantee gibbon sightings.  

The Gibbon Experience is truly unique. We take great pride in the fact that, as far as we know, there is nothing else like it in the world, and we love to see our guests experiencing the magic that lasting memories are made of. We look forward to sharing it with you!