SERENE MEKONG

Our Laos’s tour guide will welcome pick us up at Huai Xay ferry boat pier for transfer to another pier to board a huge traditional Mekong riverboat for the downstream cruise to Pak Beng, departure at 09.00 hrs. This portion of the Mekong is pretty remote spot, which sometimes allows glimpses of wildlife in the ever last green forests. On the way cruising down, we have a few chance stops at local hilltribe villages to meet people and life on the riverside. Buffet lunch is served on board. Enjoy the lovely scenery along both sides of the Mekong cruising to today’s destination. After arrival in Pak Beng, check in at the lodge, and then enjoy a buffet dinner here, overnight in Luang Say Lodge.

        

Before or after breakfast at the lodge, we can go for strolling to visit the Pak Beng morning market to learn about the local productions. Then continue the river journey downstream to Luang Prabang. En route, stop to visit the sacred Pak Ou Buddha Caves. These caves are overlooking out the Mekong & Ou Rivers from on high, have been home to many thousands of Buddha images that have been placed here since 16th century.
Picnic lunch will be served at the caves after which we will re-embark, stopping once at a village specializing in distill rice wine! Have a taste, farewell to villagers we are continuing on to Luang Prabang, the ancient royal capital & crown jewel of the Lane Xang Kingdom (pronounced ‘lan sang’) – the Land of a Million Elephants. Transfer to our hotel, rest of the day either exploring on your own or at leisure in the hotel. Dinner is on our own bill. Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang

Highly recommended to get an early around 6:00am for going to watch or participate in the traditional Lao rite of Alms giving to the monks. This is an amazing sight and guide will be by our site to demonstrate and explain this important ritual. Return to your hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, enjoy a half-day spin around Luang Prabang to learn about why it deserves the World Heritage title! Visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao. Phou Si hill stands right in the center of this small city. Climb its 350 steps to enjoy panorama views for many miles in each direction. Wat Phou Si sits atop the mountain, alongside the skeletons of Indochina war anti-aircraft guns! Then continue on to visit Wat Mai. Built in 1796, the five-tiered roof of the wooden Sim (chapel) epitomizes the graceful Luang Prabang architectural style. Wat Xieng Thong further emphasizes & characterizes the uniqueness of Luang Prabang, its several roofs sweeping low to the ground. See also the impressive “tree of life” mosaic here. Then visit the National Museum, once a king’s palace, where displayed inside is a lovely collection of personal artifacts of the royal family, including photos, musical instruments, and many gifts received from the dignitaries of foreign countries. Also peruse the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center, a private museum recently opened to explain about the livelihoods of Laos’ ethnic minorities. You’ll learn many interesting facts about the tribal peoples of Northern Laos. This town is wonderful for walking, and today’s excursion will help to give you your bearings! Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.
Return to the hotel to relax or explore on our own.

  

After breakfast, driver and our tour guide together enjoy car riding to the Kuang Si Waterfall. The falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools.
The water here has a clear blue-green tint due to the high mineral content. You can climb the stairs and look down from various high viewpoints on the way to the top! Bring a bathing suit if you’d like to swim. Afterwards, transfer to the airport for our flight onward or tour can be extend to next destination.