Laos Tour from North to South

Check in to the hotel.

Then enjoy a city tour of Vientiane, the capital of Laos, lying on the left bank of the Mekong. The city still preserves the ancient charm of the ancient French colonial center, with the elegant building housing the History Museum, the austere Presidential Palace, the wide tree-lined avenues, the countless colors of Talat Sao, the large roofed market, the cosmopolitan liveliness of Nam Phou, the Fountain Circle, the mysterious fascination of That Dam and Black Stupa.

Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight in a hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning flight to Luang Prabang, the ancient royal capital lying in a valley on the middle reaches of the Mekong. Due to the incomparable beauty of the environment and to the extraordinary richness of the masterpieces of the Buddhist religious architecture, it was declared Unesco Heritage Site. There are over 30 monastic complexes, from which the mystical sense of spirituality spreads and envelops every visitor: you cannot miss a visit to some of these gems, Vat Visoun, Vat Sené, Vat Xieng Thong.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

In the late afternoon, to admire the colors of sunset, you will climb Vat Chom Si, on the sacred hill of Phu Si dominating Luang Prabang landscape.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure by speedboat to go up the Mekong and along the way you can visit a typical village where, in the midst of a thick vegetation, among other traditional activities, the very strong national liquor Lao Lao is distilled. Where the river narrows and the rock wall looms, you'll moor at Pak Ou sacred caves which, over centuries of pilgrimage, have been filled with thousands of Buddha statues.

Lunch in a typical restaurant.

On the way back you'll stop on the right bank, in front of Luang Parbang, for a short relaxing walk in Xieng Maen village, once famous for the processing of freshwater algae and its ancient pagodas. Then you'll return to Luang Prabang to immerse yourself in the colorful world of the artisan products market which, when the evening comes, is set up on the road which runs from Phu Si to the ancient Royal Palace.

Dinner and overnight in the hotel.
 

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning dedicated to the visit to Kuang waterfalls, along the way you'll find some H'Mong settlements, irreducible warriors and growers of opium poppy who have abandoned their ancient customs but still maintain their proud attitude. You'll then reach the natural park with the stunning waterfall whose waters tumble down on limestone rock formations, sorrounded by thick vegetation, calming their momentum in turquoise basins where some of the bravest could also attempt to have an absolutely refreshing swim.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon visit Luang Prabang on a bike, riding through the city streets maybe looking for some unusual shopping, while those who do not ride and do not like to walk  can always find a tuk tuk.

Dinner and overnight in a hotel.

Waking up before sunrise, it is possible to go to the central street of Luang Prabang to attend the begging of the monks, a line of over 200 monks who, headed by their Patriarch, silently parade between the reverent people offering them the food of the day.

Return to the hotel for breakfast.

Then visit the National Museum, situated in the building of the old Royal Palace, built in 1904 and hosting a rich collection of objects belonging to the royal family's treasure, and especially Phra Bang, the golden statue, 83 cm high, which, according to the tradition is the symbol of Lane Xang reign since the 13th century.

Flight to Vientiane and lunch in a local restaurant.

The afternoon will be spent visiting the main temples of the city: passing the Patuxai or Victory Gate, the memorial dedicated to all Laotians fallen during all the wars, you'll reach the most sacred place in all Laos, That Luang, the great stupa which is said to contain a Buddha relic that was presumably brought here in the 3rd century BC. In the heart of the old city, the ancient Vat Si Saket hosts over two thousand Buddha images which - according to common belief - have protected it against the destructions carried out by the Siamese armies in 1828. On the other side of the road, the refined classic architecture of Ho Phra Keo hosts the Religious Art Museum with a marvellous bronze Buddhist statue.

Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Pakse. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Full day visit to Bolaven plateau, the region of the rich tea and world-famous coffee plantations, of steep forests and marvellos Tad Fane and Tad Lo waterfalls. This is the land where several ethnic groups belonging to the Mon -Khmer family live. You'll find the villages of Laven, Alak, Nghé and Suei which have a common feature; their huts are built around a clearing, in whose center lies the temple of the protecting genius and the pole where the ritual of the sacrifice of the buffalo takes place. These populations still live according to ancestral traditions, farming the land with the tools of their ancestors and keeping the reserved politeness of mountain people.

Lunch during the excursion in a local restaurant.

Dinner and overnight in hotel (accommodation is simple but comfortable).

Breakfast at the hotel.

Once you have crossed the Mekong, you'll reach the town of Champasak, south-west of which lies a 1416 m high mountain, culminating in a tongue-shaped pinnacle called Vat Phou. An ancient place of worship of mountain geniuses and spirits of the water, here in the 6th century, the Khmer of Cenla built a temple dedicated to God Shiva. Angkor emperors regarded this place as their "dynastic temple". The ancient Shiva cult has fallen into disuse but the place still remains sacred nowadays and is venerated by Laotian and Cambodian Buddhists.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

Back on the left bank, you will proceed south, following the course of the Mekong to the place where it widens enormously welcoming islands and islets, where the inhabitants draw sustenance from fishing and tropical crops. You'll continue further south reaching Don Khong, the large island where time seems to have stopped to ancient eras.

Dinner and overnight in a hotel (accommodations are simple but comfortable).
 

Breakfast at the hotel.

The day will be spent along the banks of the Mekong, in one of the most picturesque and magnificent Indochinese landscapes. Here the atmosphere of the 19th century colonial period and adventurous exploration journeys on the Mekong still lingers. Nature has defended itself againts any modernity assault and has maintained its primitive power and beauty unchanged.  In the large island of Don Khong the mighty muddy waters- but still pristine - rush towards the Cambodian plain with spectacular Pha Peng waterfalls, so impressive that many have renamed them, perhaps with a littlle emphasis, the Niagara of the East. Beyond the falls, from Voeun Kham, you can reach the quiet bends of the river on board the sampan, an ideal habitat for the rare Mekong dolphin.

Lunch during the excursion in a local restaurant.

Dinner and overnight in a hotel (accommodation is simple but comfortable).
 

The tour is over, after breakfast the day is free depending on the airport transfer.