Classic Laos Travel

★ Experience Devout Daily Ritual of Alms-giving Ceremony

In Luang Prabang, no one would miss the traditional alms-giving ceremony, which can be traced back to the 14th century. Today, rise early for the indigenous ritual! Local devotees usually begin to prepare for the alms at around 5:30 am. They wait silently by the road, wearing “pha biang” scarves and kneeling barefoot on mats, with sticky rice, fruits and other food. Orange-robed monks carrying alms bowls queue up from nearby temples to receive the alms at around 6:00 am, rain or shine. They follow Buddhist dietary principles, do not pick and choose their food, and stop eating after noon. The tourism boom has commercialized the ceremony nowadays; however, our experienced guide can locate more authentic spots where you can enjoy the sheer, sacred ambiance.

After the ceremony, we’ll go back to the hotel for breakfast, and then visit Wat Visoun, whose main pagoda, Stupa of the Great Lotus, is Laos’ sole Sinhalese-style stupa and is nicknamed "watermelon pagoda" due to its shape. Proceed to the opposite side to view Wat Aham, which is highly venerated as it was the residence of the supreme Buddhist patriarch in the 19th century. Afterward, head to the Royal Palace Museum, home to valuable treasures from the Lan Xang Kingdom (1353-1707 AD), including royal cars, antique paintings, and gifts from various countries. Additionally, in its Wat Ho Pha Bang Temple, admire the standing Phra Bang Buddha statue, which gives the city its name. We’ll also visit Wat Xieng Thong, another landmark famous for the dazzling mosaic "Tree of Life," which depicts the cycle of cause and effect in human life.

After lunch, take in the incredible scenery of the terraced Kuang Si Falls surrounded by tropical rainforests. During the rainy season, they cascade like a galaxy; although the water is murky and unfit for swimming, the stunning vista entices souls seeking to escape from the hustle and bustle. They turn into thin silver threads with jade-like ponds during the dry season. Put on your swimwear and dive into the pools! Or stroll around to meet rare birds and the moon bears in the rescue center. At last, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Victoria Xieng Thong Palace, Luang Prabang (4 stars) - Palace Deluxe Room or similar

Today, your guide will accompany you to tour the Pak Ou Caves, a Buddhist wonder whose history predates the rise of Buddhism in Laos. We’ll take a cruise down the Mekong River, allowing you to take in the tranquil scenery on both banks. En route, disembark to visit Ban Xang Hai Village to savor the renowned whisky Lao-lao and discover how traditional distillation processes are used to make the rice wine. Continue the boat ride for a while and we’ll arrive at Pak Ou Caves, which are embedded in the cliff and consists of the lower cave, Tham Ting, and the upper and larger cave, Tham Phoum. Thousands of Buddha statues of all sizes, forms, and materials are on exhibit in the caves, creating a Buddha statues museum. With a strong Buddhist faith, the Laotians are unwilling to discard Buddhas even if they are cracked, so they have been moving their age-old statues to the caves for hundreds of years.

On the way back to downtown, drop by Ban Xang Khong, a village that can satisfy your curiosity about the manufacturing of Saa Paper. It’s more than a manual skill but also an ecological production. Instead of chopping down the trees, the paper is made by peeling the mulberry tree’s bark. Little flowers and plants are embedded in the pulp, making it even more beautiful. Today’s tour ends here, and your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Victoria Xieng Thong Palace, Luang Prabang (4 stars) - Palace Deluxe Room or similar

Luang Prabang is ideal for leisurely wandering, so we’ll leave this morning for you to explore the laid-back city on your own. Consider slowing your pace on Sisavangvong Road, where French design and Southeast Asian ambience coexist, and you can find lovely items like canvas bags, essential oils, and Lao coffee beans.

In the afternoon, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to the train station, where you’ll board Laos' new air-conditioned high-speed train to Vientiane, which runs at 160 km/h (100 mi/h). Arrive in 2-2.5 hours and meet the local guide, who will escort you to the hotel in a private car. Afterward, you can either relax at the hotel or explore the capital city on your own. With numerous infrastructural projects in progress, Vientiane is currently undergoing rapid development.

► Recommended Night Activity (at your own expense)
Vientiane Night Market, situated on the banks of the Mekong River, features a street brimming with clothes and handicrafts, a small amusement park equipped with a Ferris wheel and air gun shooting spots, and a dining area filled with food stalls. Sample local snacks, such as sticky rice, grilled fish, and papaya salad, which will fill you up for around USD 5-10 per person. To ensure food safety, go for freshly prepared food. Then, enjoy a leisurely stroll beside the Mekong River, looking far across to the Thai village on the opposite side.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Eastin Hotel Vientiane (4 stars) - Superior City View or similar

Today is all about Vientiane, and your guide will first accompany you to visit Wat Si Saket, a Thai-style temple renowned for its thousands of Buddhas in the corridor. During the New Year in April, people bathe the Buddhas with scented water to pray for a prosperous year. Besides, don’t miss the murals applying special pigments to remain bright even after hundreds of years! Then, head to Wat Ho Phra Keo, which was once home to the revered Emerald Buddha that is now enshrined in Thailand. It now serves as a sacred art museum, displaying royal artifacts like kings’ thrones, wooden carvings and gold, and jade Buddha images.

The national treasure, Pha That Luang Temple, is our next destination. 30 satellite towers encircle the 45-meter (148-foot) tall main stupa, whose three-tiered foundation symbolizes Buddhism’s three worlds and the path to enlightenment. It’s said that a piece of the Buddha’s bone and strings of hair are revered in the stupa, making it the country’s most sacred temple, and it has even been engraved on the national emblem! On the ground is a statue of King Setthathirath (1537-1571 AD), who relocated Laos’ capital to Vientiane and enlarged the former small temple into the current form. Nowadays, on vital festivals, the Laotian people would circle the stupa clockwise in odd numbers, which symbolizes good fortune. Why not mingle with the locals and pray for blessings?

Finally, drop by the Patuxai Monument, which commemorates Laos’ independence. It is modeled after the French Arc de Triomphe and features Lao Buddhist motifs, like five towers, lotus petals, and mythological figures. After that, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Eastin Hotel Vientiane (4 stars) - Superior City View or similar

After breakfast, your guide will accompany you to visit a local market, which is stocked with everyday essentials ranging from vegetables and fruits to seasonings, local cuisine, and Lao coffee. During lunchtime, enjoy a cooking class to learn how to make authentic Lao dishes, such as papaya salad, fish stew, and chicken larb. Please note that the menu will be adjusted depending on the season. Once the cooking is finished, enjoy your own creation for lunch!

In the afternoon, let’s explore the Buddha Park, aka Xieng Khuan Temple. It’s undoubtedly the most unusual and eerie one among countless temples in Laos. On the open lawn, over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues in strange and absurd designs completely overturn people’s preconceived impressions of religious statues! Climb into the three-story pumpkin-shaped tower and you’ll see the scenes symbolizing heaven, earth, and hell. Walk with caution as the steps have no guardrails and may be slippery. These sculptures were created by the genius monk Bunleua Sulilat (1932-1996 AD), who even created a similar sculpture wonderland on the other side of the Mekong River in Thailand!

Before the end of today’s itinerary, attend a Lao beer sampling while enjoying a marvelous sunset along the Mekong River bank. The classic and initial Beerlao is widely known for its original, gold, and dark flavors, among which the last one features the highest malt content. Besides, different flavored craft beers are also available. At last, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Eastin Hotel Vientiane (4 stars) - Superior City View or similar

Today, say farewell to Vientiane, and enjoy a private drive to the airport to catch your 1-hour flight to Pakse. French colonialists founded the city in 1905 as an outpost until Laos declared independence in 1946 and introduced coffee cultivation, which has since become a major business. Once you arrive at Pakse airport, the local guide and the driver will greet you and escort you to Saravane, a province nestled on the fertile Bolaven Plateau, which is renowned for its magnificent waterfalls, and high-quality tea and coffee plantations, such as the Sinouk Coffee and Dao Coffee. On the way, we’ll drop by the Thateng Village, where you can catch a glimpse of the tea and coffee-making process. Later, explore the graceful Tad Lo Waterfall, which is surrounded by lush jungles and filled with the chirping of birds.

★ Trek to Ethnic Minority Villages on Bolaven Plateau!

In the mountainous southern Laos, numerous ethnic minorities live in isolation and peacefully. Follow your guide on a scenic hike to visit the villages of Alak, Nge (Kriang), and Katu, some of which boast cottages made of palm leaves and thatch standing in a circle. In Alak and Katu Villages, you may see some elderly women with facial tattoos, which is an age-old custom that has gradually faded. The Katu people are expert cotton weavers, and their bright-colored traditional attire, paired with silver earrings, is particularly striking, especially the remarkable round earrings that are larger than the ears! Moreover, when you witness the villagers smoking with arm-sized bamboo pipes, you’ll realize that the idea of these ethnic minority people cannot live without pipes is not hyperbole! After the visit, your guide and the driver will escort you to the hotel in Pakse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Champasak Grand Hotel, Pakse (4 stars) - Superior Room or similar

This morning, your guide will accompany you to visit the Khmer-style Vat Phou Temple Complex, one of Laos’ World Heritage Sites. Admire its bamboo-patterned windows, red sandstone, and exquisite Hindu mythological carvings like the monkey god fighting demons, which are reminiscent of Cambodia's Angkor Wat. It was originally a Hindu temple and converted into a Buddhist one in the 13th century. Additionally, the Vat Phou Festival, the largest celebration in southern Laos, takes place in January or February annually, and monks and followers would assemble for numerous activities, including grand prayers, alms-giving, folk dances and music, and vibrant markets.

★ Seek a Serene Escape to the Pristine 4,000 Islands

A boat trip to the 4,000 Islands (Si Phan Don) awaits! The Mekong River meanders here to form thousands of islands, with three major ones: the largest, Don Khong; the earliest developed, Don Det; and the adjacent Don Khon, connected by a bridge. We’ll disembark for a deep exploration of Don Khong Island. Soak up the tranquil and chilled vibe away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and explore the primitive island life of rugged country roads, lush vegetation, temples with diligent monks, innocent children playing, and wandering poultry. On the river, fishermen in long and flat boats are fishing with traditional large nets. You may also find simple cracked bamboo bridges spanning the river’s fast-flowing areas, which is a distinctive fishing method. The tide pushes fish onto the bridges, allowing fishermen to catch hundreds of pounds of fish with little effort! They’ll sell the large ones in the market and keep the smaller ones for daily meals or dry them into fish jerky to earn extra income.

You guide will accompany you to check into the hotel on this island, and for the remainder of the day, you can explore the charming island and enjoy a Mekong River sunset by yourself. Consider sightseeing by bike at your own expense. A motorcycle can be rented for around LAK 150,000 (USD 7) and a bicycle for LAK 40,000 (USD 2) per day. Tonight, let the stars on the island lull you to sleep.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Pon Arena Hotel, Don Khong (3 stars) - Standard Room or similar

This morning, after a walk in the nearby village, your private guide will accompany you to take a tuk-tuk to Don Khon Island to admire Liphi Waterfalls, which features an incredible width of over 10 kilometers (6.2 miles)! The area around the falls also boasts remnants from the French colonial period, including a bridge and a narrow-gauge railway. Be amazed by the layers of falls that cascade in front like exquisite white curtains. If you are an adventurer, experience the suspension bridge hanging over the roaring water or try the Mekong Fly Zipline at your own expense, which provides an expansive vista of the falls and costs around USD 10-30.

Afterward, let’s take a boat ride to the Khone Falls, the largest in Southeast Asia, with its highest point reaching around 21 meters (70 feet)! It is breathtaking when the water level decreases during the dry season, revealing amazing rocks, not to mention its magnificent pose during the rainy season. Standing at the viewing platform, even from several hundred meters away, you can truly feel the water rushing down like a thousand troops charging forward! As a result, it is also a natural barrier for navigation on the Mekong River. Additionally, the area is home to the rare Mekong giant catfish.

As the tour ends, enjoy a 2.5-hour private car ride back to the hotel in Pakse. After check-in, you can spend your final night strolling along the Mekong River by yourself.

► Recommended Eatery in Pakse (at your own expense)
Tonight, consider dining at the riverside Sa La Gang Kong Restaurant. Find a terrace seat and enjoy your meal while taking in beautiful views of the Mekong River and the Laos-Japan Bridge. It features an extensive menu that includes various fish dishes, seafood hot pot, pasta, and pizza. Besides, a live band adds a wonderful air at night.
Average Cost per Person: LAK 200,000-300,000 (USD 10-15)
Address: 4R68+4G7, Pakse

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Champasak Grand Hotel, Pakse (4 stars) - Superior Room or similar

Today marks the end of your Laos itinerary for 10 days. At the appointed time, your private driver will escort you to the airport for your homeward flight. Wish you a pleasant journey!

If this private Laos tour leaves you panting for more, consider extending your trip to the UNESCO-listed Plain of Jars in Phonsavan and Udom Xai with rich ethnic culture and pristine natural beauty, or neighboring countries like Thailand, Cambodia, or Vietnam. We’ll be waiting for your inspirations and tailor the best itinerary for you!

Meal: Breakfast