Laos at A Glance 8 Days Tour - Private tour - 25% off

Laos at A Glance 8 Days Tour - Private tour - 25% off

Note: This tour can be customized to meet your own needs.

Day 1  Arrive Vientiane - City Tour

Day 2  Vientiane - City Tour

Day 3  Vientiane - Luang Prabang

Day 4  Luang Prabang - City Tour

Day 5  Luang Prabang - Kuang Si Waterfalls

Day 6   Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Caves - Kamu Lodge

Day 7   Kamu Lodge - Luang Prabang

Day 8   Luang Prabang Departure

Day 1  Arrive Vientiane - City Tour

Arrive in Vientiane. Your guide and private car from Cyclo Travel & Leisure will meet you and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

In the afternoon, visit Patuxay monument, Laos’ version of the Arc de Triomphe, where you can climb the stairs to the roof for sweeping panoramic views of the city. Next, your tour takes you to That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. Constructed by King Setthethirat in the 16th century, the temple is resplendent as the sun is shines upon its towering golden spire. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 2  Vientiane - City Tour

After breakfast at your hotel enjoys a guided tour to discover the hidden charms of Vientiane, whose name means ‘the city of sandal wood’!

Your tour begins at the serene Wat Sisaket, the only temple left intact after the Siamese (Thai) invasion in 1828. It is one of the most beautiful temples in the capital, and its breezy teak covered hallways are filled with thousands of miniature Buddha statues.

Continue on to the nearby Wat Phra Keo. Used as a religious museum, Wat Phra Keo displays a collection of both Lao and Khmer works of art. Also nearby, is the Presidential Palace.  Although you are not allowed to visit inside, it is a good glimpse in to the town’s colonial past as this building formerly served as the French governor’s palace.

Stop at Wat Simuang, the most popular and venerated temple in Vientiane, as it is considered the guardian of the spirit of the city. Upon its grounds, you will find an Angkorian-era pillar and it is a popular belief that if you circle it three times and make a wish, then that wish will come true.

Visit COPE, an association working to help landmine victims. This provides in-depth information about the history of the American/Vietnam war and the lasting impact of unexploded ordinances (UXO) in the area and the efforts underway to clear them.

The afternoon is free at leisure. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 3  Vientiane - Luang Prabang

Your guide and private car will transfer you to the airport for your departure flight to Luang Prabang.

Arrive in Luang Prabang, our guide and private car from Cyclo Travel & Leisure will meet you and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

Free time in the afternoon to wander the lanes of the spiritual capital of Laos, the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 4  Luang Prabang - City Tour

Today, take a half-day guided tour of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Town. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel after breakfast.

Start your city tour at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, where you will explore the history of Laos. Continue on foot to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief, and Wat Sensoukarahm, which features a beautiful dazzling golden façade. Finish the tour at Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang. Located at the end of the peninsula, close to the Mekong, this temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat and is decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics.

Then transfer back to your hotel or restaurant of your choice. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 5  Luang Prabang - Kuang Si Waterfalls

For early risers, there is a very special dawn visit to watch the monks collecting the alms.  As the sun begins to rise, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents.  It is a beautiful, serene ceremony that highlights the spiritualism of the Laos people. Return to the hotel for breakfast.

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel for a short transfer through the Luang Prabang countryside to Kuang Si Waterfalls. Along the way you will drive through beautiful landscapes of rice fields, hills, and small villages. There are also viewpoints overlooking the Mekong River.

Stop en-route to visit a small village which is home to one of the area’s many ethnic minorities. You will have an opportunity to learn about their traditions and culture, much of which has remained unchanged for centuries.

Upon reaching Kuang Si Waterfall, relax and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. The jungle and dense woods surrounding the falls is perfect for exploring on foot.

These waterfalls cascade down a multilevel limestone formation creating a series of turquoise blue pools perfect for swimming in on a hot day (Note: when bathing please be respectful, wear a sarong and be careful not to show too much skin).

Before you leave you might like to visit the bear sanctuary which is next to the falls, run by Free The Bears Fund Inc. There are currently 23 Asiatic Black Bears living in the sanctuary, which has saved them from poaching. The main threat to these bears is poaching due to the use of their bile in Chinese medicine. You can read about their habits and observe their playful nature, whilst learning about the difficulties they are facing.

On the way back to Luang Prabang, you will stop at the Kuang Si Butterfly Park to visit the beautiful garden filled of hundreds of Laos’s butterflies! (Note: closed on Tuesday)

The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure in Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 6   Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Caves - Kamu Lodge

After breakfast you will be transferred to the pier to embark on a cruise up the Mekong River from Luang Prabang to the Kamu Lodge.

Along the way stop at the Pak Ou Caves. Locally referred to as Tam Ting, these two caves are carved out of towering limestone cliffs and contain thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues. The Buddhas range in size from a few centimeters to the size of a human. The caves are as well a destination for local pilgrimages.

Continue upriver for another hour to reach the Kamu Lodge for lunch time. The Kamu 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. They each feature private attached bathroom and toilet with solar powered hot water and electricity.

This afternoon, you may choose to participate in a variety of different activities. You will be rewarded with a very original Lao experience:

- Rice planting and harvesting in surrounding rice fields.

- Gold panning (January to June) in the Mekong. Anything you find is yours!

- Traditional fishing techniques in the Mekong.

- Local village visit and encounter.

Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.

Day 7   Kamu Lodge - Luang Prabang

This morning you will return by boat to Luang Prabang, arriving in time for lunch.

On arrival in Luang Prabang you will be met by your guide who will take you to your hotel.

Enjoy your afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 8   Luang Prabang Departure

Your private car and guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. End of our services !

Hotel accommodation in shared twin/double room

Meals as mentioned in the itinerary

Tours and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicles

English speaking  guide

All entrance fees as indicated in itinerary

International flights (quoted separately)

Meals other than mentioned above

Camera/video entrance fees

Personal expenses

Travel insurance, tips, visa

Other services not clearly indicated in the package inclusions above