13 Days Ultimate Laos Pathfinder Tour

You’ll be met at the airport outside the baggage-claim area and taken to the pre-booked hotel. Begin early to get a feel for authentic Laos by attending a Baci Ceremony at a local house (taking around 90 minutes), before exploring traditional food, crafts and souvenirs on sale at the night market.

Meals included: None

An optional early start offers a special opportunity to participate in the daily Morning Alms Giving Ceremony of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from faithful residents. This tradition is very unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. From there you will visit the morning Phosi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.

A tour of the Old Town takes in the city’s oldest temples of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, with its roofs sweeping low to the ground in classical Laotian architectural style. Learn more about the ethnic culture from perspective of an American by a private tour at TAEC Center. After lunch, on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, enjoy breathtaking views through the tranquil countryside, before exploring the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. Here two linked caves are crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Take in the rural scenery of farms and villages on a short trip to the Hmong ethnic community of Ban Long Lao Kao. Here you will have the opportunity to visit the people and take in the sights of the village, before hiking to the famous Khuang Si waterfalls, walking through vegetable gardens, rice fields and tropical forests under the shade of hardwood trees, such as rosewood and ebony. Reward awaits your arrival at the falls, where a delicious picnic can be enjoyed in the natural surroundings of the area. Rest awhile, or go swimming in the aqua pools, before heading back to Luang Prabang, on the way calling into the Ock Opo Tok Centre to examine fine Laotian textiles.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

First stop after breakfast is the National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace. On display are marvelous collections of artefacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. A trip into the hills follows, travelling 306km through wonderful natural mountain scenery to Xieng Khouang’s capital Phonsavan. After checking into the hotel your time is free.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Begin the day by delving into the local lifestyle exploring the Central Market, followed by a visit to the UXO MAG Exhibition Room, to gain an understanding of the difficulties Laotians face dealing with unexploded ordinance left over from the Vietnam War.

Then it is out into the countryside to experience the inexplicable wonder of the Plain of Jars, first viewing the picturesque Jars Site 2, followed by impressive Jar Site 3. Around 150 jars are located on top of a hill, which offers great views over the surrounding countryside. Driving onto the ancient town of Muang Khoun, the former provincial capital, explore the ruins of a number of ancient pagodas in the Lanna style, That Foun sputa and Wat Phiawat, a ruined temple containing a huge sitting Buddha. On the return journey to Phonsavan, visit Jar Site 1, the largest site, containing over 300 jars, before returning to your hotel by late afternoon.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Following breakfast at the hotel, depart Xieng Khouang for scenic drive to Vang Vieng, a small, tranquil town nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River. Stunning scenery with a mixture of quiet water and limestone outcrops remain unspoiled, despite recent developments with the advent of tourism. Upon arrival at Vang Vieng late in the afternoon, check into the hotel for an overnight stay.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Begin the day with an invigorating hike to Ban Phathao, through picturesque rice fields set against a limestone mountain backdrop, to explore three caves - Tam Loup, Tham Hoi and Tham Nam, the latter with a spring water pool at the entrance.

Take to the water in the afternoon, on a 45-minute boat trip on Nam Song River, before returning to Vang Vieng to relax for the rest of the day.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Following a visit to the famous Tham Jang Water Cave to experience the most fun you can have on an inflated tube ride through the caverns, head to the capital city Vientiane, on the banks of the Mekong River. Along the way stop at Ban Bor Village, to see the production of natural salt, before arriving at the economically and geographically important infrastructure project, the Nam Ngum Dam. Construction of the dam has had the beneficial effect of producing most of the country’s hydroelectricity, as well creating a man-made lake with hundreds of small islands, to become an attraction for recreation, fishing and tourism.

Check into the hotel upon arrival in Vientiane.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

First up on today’s journey is the Wat Si Saket, the oldest temple remaining around Vientiane, dating back to 1818. This former favorite meeting place of the aristocracy is now a museum of Siamese Buddhist architectural design, featuring more than 2,000 ceramic and silver Buddha images. Pay a visit to the former place of spiritual worship of the King, Haw Phra Kaew built in the grounds of the royal palace. On the way to the eminent Pha That Luang, a photo stop will be made at Patuxai, the monument regarded as Vientiane's own Arc de Triomphe, commemorating the country’s independence from the French.

In the afternoon, on a visit to the Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan), view a collection of hundreds of Buddha statues. Travelling through small, peaceful villages along Mekong River, enjoy the enchanting scenery on the way to the Mekong Friendship Bridge on the border of Laos and Thailand. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Take a morning flight to the city of Pakse, where, upon arrival, set out for Salavanh province via Thateng. On the way, a stopover will be made to observe the locals making tea and coffee. Enjoy a cup yourself as you experience the culture and local way of life.

Resume the journey heading to the Bolaven Plateau, a picturesque area rising over 1,000 meters above sea level. Here you will find Tad Lo Waterfalls, where you can indulge your preferences for photographing the cascades, swimming in the pools, or riding an elephant. At the end of the day, return to Pakse.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the pre-Angkorian ruins of Vat Phou, one of the most prestigious temples from the Khmer Empire of the 11th to 13th centuries, a relic site said to parallel Angkor Wat. Next stop of the day will be the 4,000 islands region, called Si Phan Don in Laos, consisting of countless islands and islets. Destination today is Khong Island, the largest, inhabited by a few villages. Enjoy a relaxing walk along the beach.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Explore the islands of the region further after breakfast, first driving to Ban Nakasang pier to board a boat to visit the surrounding islands of Don Det and Don Som for a glimpse into the traditional lifestyle of the fishermen. Continue to Don Khone Island and hike along the ancient railway built by the French in 1897 in order to bypass the powerful rapids when transporting goods from Cambodia.

Where there is water, there are often waterfalls, especially in this elevated region, so continue hiking through the forest to experience the speed and volume of the Tad Somphamit (Liphi waterfalls). Continuing by car, arrive and wonder at the extraordinary scale of the Khone Phapheng waterfalls, the largest cascade along the Mekong River. Caused by a fault line, the cascade is 6 km wide at this point, where the tremendous force of the water has cut dramatic gorges through the brittle bedrock. Return to Pakse, on the way stopping at Phou Salao to enjoy the stunning view over Pakse.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will pick you up for the transfer to the airport for your return flight.

The tour concludes here.

Meals included: Breakfast