Day 1: Vientiane Arrival, Airport Pick-up
Greetings from Vientiane, the capital of Laos! Upon arrival, your private guide and the driver will greet you and escort you to the well-selected hotel. Spend the remainder of the day either saving energy for the 10 days Laos package or exploring the city by yourself. There are few skyscrapers or busy crowds in this capital city; instead, both locals and tourists take pleasure in a leisurely pace.
► Recommended Activities in Vientiane (at your own expense)
If time permits, use Loca or Indrive to hail a car to the Lao Art Museum, where you can admire the exquisite large-scale wooden sculptures, sandalwood artworks and Buddha statues, and marvel at its gigantic columns! The ticket costs LAK 220,000 (USD 10) per person, and it closes at 16:00. Afterward, head to 52 Rue Hengboun to visit the Vientiane Night Food Market, and sample local dishes like grilled pork skewers, purple sweet potato balls, and Beerlao. Most food costs around LAK 25,000-45,000 (USD 1-2) per portion, but please inquire about the price before purchasing.
► Warm Tips
1. As our southern Laos adventure covers numerous natural caves, dense forests, and falls, please wear comfortable, non-slip shoes and bring insect repellent.
2. The US dollar is widely used in major cities; however, it’s advisable to exchange some Laotian kip at a gold store in Vientiane for transactions with street vendors and small purchases in southern villages. Besides, kip features large denominations, so double-check before paying.
Accommodation: Eastin Hotel Vientiane (4 stars) - Superior City View or similar
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Day 2: Vientiane: National Museum, Wat Si Saket, Pha That Luang Temple & Buddha Park
After breakfast, your private guide will accompany you to the National Museum for an overview of Laotian history from ancient times to the country’s independence through rich exhibits, including bronze drums, Khmer-style Buddhas, and ethnic costumes. Then, admire Vientiane’s oldest temple, Wat Si Saket, an architectural blend of Laos and Siam (now Thailand). The corridor with thousands of Buddha figurines is a vast treasure trove. Proceed to the opposite Ho Phra Keo Temple to appreciate the exquisite wood carvings, Khmer sculptures, and Buddhist artifacts. It once housed the renowned Emerald Buddha, which is now revered in Bangkok, Thailand.
We won’t miss Pha That Luang Temple, a national symbol of Laos and a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site, which is supposed to contain Buddha's relics. The magnificent main stupa was entirely covered in gold foil, but it was plundered during the war. Besides, only two of the four temples that previously surrounded the stupa remain, one of which houses a massive golden reclining Buddha. The temple hosts the grand That Luang Festival every November, featuring traditional dance performances, monks chanting scriptures, and folk markets. With a large morning alms-giving, a candlelight procession and a firework display at night, the final day is the liveliest. Leaving the temple, we’ll drop by Patuxai Monument, which was built to commemorate Laos’ independence.
In the afternoon, enjoy a private drive to Vientiane’s outskirts to visit the Buddha Park, where you’ll be astounded by the various statues of Buddhist and Hindu deities scattered all around the open space. At last, your guide and the driver will escort you back to the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Eastin Hotel Vientiane (4 stars) - Superior City View or similar
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Day 3: Vientiane - Wat Phabath Phonsanh - Phou Hin Poun National Park - Ban Tiou Village
Today, let’s embark on an adventure to Phou Hin Poun National Park! After a 2-hour drive along Road 13, we’ll make a brief stop at Wat Phabath Phonsanh, a vital indigenous pilgrimage. Legend has it that the Buddha left his footprint on a rock, and natives later built a temple to honor it. Every January, devotees congregate here for the Boun Phabath Phonesan Stupa Festival, which features vibrant concerts and fairs.
After the visit, proceed with a 3-hour car ride until we arrive at Phou Hin Poun NPA (National Protected Area). Ascend to the viewing platform to take in its grandeur and be captivated by the biodiversity with the broad collection of towering limestone peaks, among which the tallest stands 1,500 meters (4,921 feet)! It’s also a habitat for a variety of wild animals, rare birds, fish and plants, such as gibbons, black bears and wild cattle. For adrenaline junkies, there are also adventurous activities like suspended bridges and zip lines that you can experience on your own for about USD 30-50.
After the visit, your guide and the driver will escort you to Ban Tiou Village and assist you with resort check-in. Then you can rest or take in the beautiful scenery of the undulating mountains and rivers by yourself.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Spring River Resort, Ban Tiou - Riverview Bungalow or similar
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Day 4: Full Day Countryside Sightseeing with a Cruise to Kong Lor Cave
★ Canoe Through the Ghostly Kong Lor Cave!After breakfast, follow your guide to take a sampan excursion through the fantastical underground Kong Lor Cave, a highlight of the Phou Hin Poun National Park! The Nam Hin Bun River flowing through the massive limestone mountain creates this incredible 7.5-kilometer (4.7-mile) long cave. Put on a headlamp, hop on the sampan, and set sail deep into the cave! When passing through the low entryway, be aware of the surrounding rocks. Along the way, the skilled boatman will expertly dodge reefs, rapids and drips falling from the roof. When you venture deeper into the dark areas with bats hanging down, imagination and fear start to run wild, making it feel like a Gothic ghost tour! We’ll disembark at some small rocky coves inside the cave and go exploring on foot. Marvel at those eerie stone pillars and emerging stalactites illuminated by simple incandescent lights, which resemble abandoned Star Trek movie sets. In one enormous domed cave, the headlamp light can hardly reach the ceiling!
► Tips:
1. The cave will be difficult to explore after severe rains during the rainy season (May-Oct.), when we can make other arrangements based on your preferences.
2. As we’ll wade through shallow areas, please wear anti-slip rubber sandals. Also, there are gaps in the trail, so keep your personal belongings with you to prevent them from falling.
3. The provided headlamps may not be bright enough, so you can bring a brighter headlamp for better vision.
After traveling through the cave from the other side, let’s visit some local villages, where wooden cottages with pots of flowers at doorsteps are erected along flat dirt roads, and natives live a laid-back and happy life despite their limited economic conditions. Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you back to the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Spring River Resort, Ban Tiou - Riverview Bungalow or similar
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Day 5: Ban Tiou Village - Mahaxai Caves - Savannakhet
After breakfast, your private guide will accompany you to visit the age-old Mahaxai Caves. There are stone Buddha figures scattered along the roadside, with simple wooden stands and flower towers, a testimony to the Lao people’s devoutness towards Buddhism. Upon arrival, admire the caves, one of which is renowned for its large number of sparrows, while one is considered sacred due to the emerald color of the pool associated with a Hindu deity, and one has altars used by Buddhist monks for worship. Local villagers come to pray for good fortune during the New Year days in April. You may also spot bats in the deep dark caves. After the visit, enjoy a 4-hour private convoy to Savannakhet, Laos’ second largest city, lying on the Lao-Thai border. Check into the hotel upon arrival and then rest or stroll around on your own. The charming city is filled with French-style buildings and colorful dwellings but lacks public illumination, with only the warm glow from residences at night and lights on the main roads. Therefore, please return to the hotel before it gets dark. ► Dinner Recommendation (at your own expense) Recharge your energy with a satisfying dinner at Sabaidee Restaurant, a local favorite that specializes in authentic Lao hot pot and grilled meat. The classic Lao dipping sauce is tasty and sour, making extensive use of herbs and spices like lemon, chili peppers, garlic and cilantro. Feel free to adjust the ingredients if you prefer a milder flavor. The attentive staff will demonstrate the local method of grilling meat. Besides, there are large servings of fried rice and stir-fried dishes. Average Cost per Person: LAK 110,000-220,000 (USD 5-10) Address: HQ72+7MM, Savannakhet Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Macchiato Resort, Savannakhet (3 stars) - Premier Room or similar
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Day 6: Road Trip from Savannakhet to Pakse (4.5-5 Hours)
After breakfast, your guide and the driver will escort you on a 4.5-5-hour private car ride to Pakse. Proceeding along the flat asphalt highway, take in the tranquil landscape of rice fields, rolling mountains, and the Mekong River. After settling into the hotel, you can relax or explore the city on your own. Pakse was the capital of the Champasak Kingdom (1713-1946 AD). It was gradually developed by French colonizers in the late 19th century, leaving behind many French-style structures.
► Massage Recommendation in Pakse (at your own expense)
After the long drive, you can unwind at Dok Champa Massage, which features a cozy environment and skilled masseurs who will ask about your health before providing a suitable massage. There are many options, such as Lao traditional massage, oil and herbal therapy. The costs range from LAK 120,000 to 460,000 (USD 5.5-20), depending on the duration and type.
Address:4Q9X+VGR, Pakse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Champasak Grand Hotel, Pakse (4 stars) - Superior Room or similar
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Day 7: Pakse: Visit Bolaven Plateau with Stunning Waterfalls and Tea & Coffee Plantations
★ Bolaven Plateau: Admire Stunning Waterfalls & PlantationsAfter breakfast, your guide will accompany you to explore the Bolaven Plateau, one of Laos’ most famous natural attractions. The plateau is characterized by high mountains, thick woods, and spectacular waterfall clusters, and it also features a cool climate and is rich in coffee and tea cultivation. We’ll visit some of the most famous waterfalls. In the quaint Tadlo Village, the tranquil Tad Lo Waterfall is frequently surrounded by neighboring women doing laundry and children and monks frolicking. Be mindful of the scattered boulders. We’ll also head to Tad Yuang Waterfall, where you can get a close-up view from above and walk downstream while savoring the refreshing water vapor rushing towards you. You may see people sitting in meditation under the waterfall! Then, proceed to the nearby Tad Fane Waterfalls, a twin fall with a 120-meter (394-foot) drop, the tallest of its sort in Laos! Observe from the opposite side, admiring the two stunning streams cascading straight down the cliff. Laos’ highest zipline is available here, which costs around LAK 750,000 (USD 35). You can have a try at your own expense if you want.
Today's itinerary will end with a visit to a tea plantation or a coffee farm, where you can learn about the cultivation and production. The plateau is not only a major production base for Lao tea, such as wild ancient tea trees, but also the place where the French introduced coffee cultivation in the early 20th century, earning Bolaven the nickname "Spring of Lao Coffee." The high-altitude Arabica and Robusta coffee beans produced here are renowned worldwide. The natives have also been able to make a living thanks to these plantations. The daily salary of a tea picker is around LAK 220,000 (USD 10), higher than the income from working in a local factory. After the visit, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel for rest.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Champasak Grand Hotel, Pakse (4 stars) - Superior Room or similar
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Day 8: Pakse Exploration to Vat Phou Temple Complex, Transfer to Don Khong Island
★ Uncover the Khmer Ruins in Southern Laos!After breakfast, follow your guide to explore Vat Phou Temple Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Southern Laos was part of the Khmer Empire (now Cambodia) during the 10th to 13th centuries. Therefore, some Khmer ruins have been preserved, including the Vat Phou. The oldest temple in the complex can even date back to the 5th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat! It was initially a Hindu temple facing the rising sun, housing statues of the serpent deity Naga, and stone carvings of linga, a symbol of the Hindu god Shiva, until it was converted into a Buddhist temple in the 13th century. The temple complex spans a large area and provides an expansive view of distant mountains, lakes, and settlements. Every January or February, traditionally clad devotees assemble to celebrate the grand Vat Phou Festival, which includes the devout alms-giving ceremony, candlelight processions, bullfighting, dance shows and trading fairs. We’ll also take a brief boat ride to Tomo Village, a primitive small village on the Mekong River’s eastern bank renowned for Oum Muong Forest Temple, aka Vat Tomo, which is indeed a part of the Wat Phou complex. Take your time admiring the crumbling 2-story structure and the moss-covered Khmer sculptures of Hindu gods concealed beneath towering trees.
After the visit, enjoy a 3-hour private convoy to your hotel in Don Khong, an island of the 4,000 Islands (Si Phan Don). If you're still energetic, you can rent a bicycle to explore the island by yourself, where the locals live peacefully and poultry roam freely. In the evening, find a small tavern along the river and sip some Beerlao while viewing a stunning sunset to soak up the laid-back life.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Pon Arena Hotel, Don Khong (3 stars) - Standard Room or similar
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Day 9: 4,000 Islands: Liphi Waterfalls, Ban Khone Fisherman Village & Khone Phapheng Falls
After breakfast, let’s embark on a cruise trip around the 4,000 Islands, a secluded paradise boasting stunning waterfalls, lush forests, humble villages, and wetlands home to rare birds. There are three main islands: the largest, Don Khong, in the north, and Don Det and Don Khon in the south, connected by a historic French colonial bridge. Your guide will accompany you to admire Liphi Waterfalls on the west side of Don Khon, which feature spectacular, layered cascading rapids. Afterward, visit Ban Khone Fisherman Village to catch a glimpse of the locals’ lifestyle. Their traditional fishing skills have been passed down through generations: they climb onto rocks and fish in the turbulent currents, or ingeniously set up complex wooden bridges, using the force of the rapid current to catch fish. During the return trip, we’ll drive to the Laos-Cambodia border at Weukham and tour the Khone Phapheng Falls, Southeast Asia’s largest waterfall. Thanks to its incredible width of over 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), the falls display a magnificent posture during the rainy season (May-Oct.) and a spectacular phenomenon of water division in the dry season (Nov.-Apr.). However, the width also makes them a challenge for continuous shipping on the Mekong River. The French colonizers once attempted to fix the situation but failed, leaving a few railway relics. Additionally, a sacred tree that originally flourished in the falls but fell in a flood is now stored in a nearby pavilion. Finally, enjoy a 2.5-hour private car ride back to your hotel in Pakse. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Champasak Grand Hotel, Pakse (4 stars) - Superior Room or similar
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Day 10: Pakse Departure, Airport See-off
Today marks the end of your Laos holiday package. Your private guide and the driver will pick you up from your hotel at the appointed time and escort you to Pakse airport for your flight home. Have a pleasant journey!
If the southern Laos adventure leaves you panting for more, consider extending your tour north to explore the morning alms-giving ceremony in Luang Prabang, the UNESCO-listed Plain of Jars in Phonsavan, and the karst caves and lagoons in Vang Vieng. Feel free to contact us, and we’ll make a hassle-free itinerary for you!
Meal: Breakfast
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