Laos Tours 7 Days: Northern Villages & Luang Prabang Highlights

Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the boat pier you and board a ready traditional boat for the trip down the Mekong River. Serene, timeless Laos is one of Asia’s most unvisited, unchanged countries. This once-powerful kingdom known as Lane Xang (Million Elephants) was founded in the 14th century with the help of the Khmers, and it went on to become one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia until its demise in the late 19th century. Bisected and bordered by the Mekong River, omnipresent symbol of Indochina, Laos today is an amalgam of cultural influences; Theravada Buddhism, animism, France, and the socialist ideal. It is a peaceful place, and the legendary hospitality, resilience and friendliness of the Lao people is much in evidence. Laos is Old Asia preserved. As your journey downriver you will stop at some tribal minority villages such as the Hmong, Yao and Khmu. Upon arrival in Pakbeng, we visit local market; experience daily lifestyle of colorful hill tribe traders exchanges their goods.  Overnight in Pakbeng

Accommodation: Included

Meal: Lunch

After breakfast, we venture into the mountainous and remote area of Northern Laos to Oudomxay. As you know, Oudomxay province is residence to 23 ethnic minority groups and we’ll make a few rest stops along the way so that you can meet with some of them. Hill tribe people are unfailingly friendly, welcoming you with waving hands and smiling faces. You will make sure to stop at the pottery village of Ban Yor and some tribal minority villages. The most numerous in the area are the Lao ( the ethnic majority ), then the Khammu and H’mong. Only the senior members of the latter still wear traditional clothes and hairstyles, often combined with modern garments. The other inhabitants are now all dressed in western style. The houses, in contrast, continue to be built according to tradition, and it is interesting to see how each ethnic group differs from the others in both the conception of home and all the rituals and customs related to daily life: initiation into adulthood, marriage, work, celebrations, funerals. We will arrive Namkat Yolapa in the late afternoon. After check into your hotel, free at leisure. Overnight in Namkat

Accommodation: Included

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

 You set off in the morning in the direction of Pak Khai; this pleasant journey gives you wonderful views across the River Nam Pak, terraced rice fields and the small villages along the banks of the river. On your arrival, you start your trek along a mountain trail which follows a mountain stream meandering through the lush vegetation. You have the chance to meet the local farmers working in their rice fields and learn how they cultivate their lands, hunt for small game and fish in the mountain stream, before you enter into the tropical rainforest. After around 1½ hours, you leave the forest and arrive in the village of Ban Phavie; a beautiful Khamu village which sits on the top of a hill. After taking your lunch in the village, you continue on to some nearby waterfalls. You can relax in the cooling clear waters, lulled by the gentle breeze and tranquility of the falls (weather permitting). At around 14:30, you head back to Namkat Yolapa and arrive in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Included

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, we catch an express train to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, you will be met by our staff and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. After a short rest, we’ll  visit to The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture throughout the ages and Wat Mai; we then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, gilded stupa as well as capture a beautiful view of the city and the Mekong River at sunset. From there, we visit the Night Market, where you can browse through a lovely selection of handmade textiles. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Accommodation: Included

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, we enjoy a short-guided tour of the city’s oldest temple, Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong where you can see the impressive “tree of life” mosaic set in colored glass. We then board an upstream cruise on the Mekong River, which gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside. We’ll make sure to stop at the Pak Ou Caves, sanctuaries consisting of two large caverns, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images. We will also stop at a few villages during the day, including Ban Xanghai where the local rice wine is produced and Ban Xiengmene and Ban Chan. Once back in Luang Prabang city we take a short drive to Ban Xang Khong and Ban Xieng Lek – small villages well known for silk weavings and Saa (jute) Papermaking. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Accommodation: Included

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, we transfer to Ban Long Lao. On arrival, we begin with a visit to the ethnic Khmu village of Ban Longlao Nung before heading to the nearby Hmong village of Ban Longlao Song. You will be able to observe the lifestyles of these two culturally very different minority groups and see how despite their differences they manage to work together on a day to day basis and even sharing the same school.

Afterwards, we continue our excursion to the beautiful Kuangsy Fall. En route, stop and short tour visit Buffalo Dairy Farm, The tour will be lasted about 40minutes -Tour included a guide tour of the mini farm, Buffalo feeding & Washing, Milking Demonstration, & Feeding Chickens and rabbits. Afterwards, we visit some ethnic minority villages and see how these colorful people live. We then continue to the beautiful Kuangsy Waterfalls where you can swim in the turquoise pools or walk along forest paths. Return to the city by late evening to observe the sunset at Wat Phabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Accommodation: Included

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast,[If time permit] you will visit the morning Phosi Market where you will find dried buffalo skins, local teas and saltpeter among the many foodstuffs and hill-tribe textiles before transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Accommodation: N/A

Meal: N/A