THE BEAUTIFUL NATURE OF LAOS – 7 DAYS
Itinerary: Luang Prabang – Pakse
CODE TOUR: XSEL 018 - CULTURE TOURS
Highlights:
- See the different faces of Laos as we trek past rice paddies and farms and immerse ourselves deep into the ancient jungle
- Paddle on the magnificent Nam Ou River through a limestone valley, past remote villages with small farms and fishermen still living traditional lives.
- Discover the rich cultural heritage of Lao’s ethnic minorities as we learn about the Hmong and Khmu people who have inhabited these mountains for generations
- Explore the Bolaven Plateau and discover amazing waterfalls
- Visit Tad Fan & Tad Yeung waterfalls
Overview
Trekking past small local farms and waterfalls, through dense jungle and remote villages to reach the heart of the jungle and stay overnight in an authentic village on the banks of the Nam Ou river . it will make your great holiday in Luang Prabang. Relax in the cooler climate of the Bolaven Plateau! visitting a number of waterfalls before spending the night in an authentic village homestay. next you visit more ethnic groups and waterfalls before returning to Pakse.
Tour summary:
- Day 1: Luang Prabang Arrival.
- Day 2: Luang Prabang to the dense jungle (B, L)
- Day 3: Paddle through Nam Ou’s life and culture (B, L)
- Day 4: Luang Prabang - Fly to Pakse Free & easy explore Pakse (B)
- Day 5: Pakse - Bolaven’s nature and lifestyle immersion (B, L)
- Day 6: Ethnic groups and waterfalls discovery (B, L)
- Day 7: Pakse Departure (B)
DAY 1:LUANG PRABANG ARRIVAL
Private driver
(Check-in time is 14.00 PM, early check-in is not included in itinerary and subject to availability).
In the affternoon, you will free & easy by your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang
Meals: None
Accommodation at a selected hotel in Luang Prabang
DAY 2: LUANG PRABANG TO THE DENSE JUNGLE (B, L)
Private driver & guide
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel
We depart Luang Prabang at 8:30AM before heading north for approximately 1.5 hours. Once we reach the village, we begin our trek through local farms before arriving at the edge of the dense jungle.
We will immerse ourselves in the beauty and diversity of the local flora and fauna. It is like venturing into another world under the canopy of huge trees where we will discover orchids, ferns, creepers and more. If we are quiet we might be able to hear the sounds of birdlife, adding to the unique atmosphere in this wonderful forest.
We will stop at a beautiful spot in the jungle for a Lao style picnic lunch.
For the next one and a half hours we continue trekking through a bamboo forest before the trail starts making its way downhill to farming plots along the banks of the Nam Ou river. We cross the river on a longtail boat to reach a village on the other side where a local Tai Lue family will be our hosts for the night.
Overnight in homestay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation at a selected hotel in homestay
DAY 3: PADDLETHROUGH NAM OU'S LIFEAND CULTURE (B, L)
Private driver & guide
Enjoy breakfast at homestay
After breakfast, the guide will give you an introduction to the basics of kayaking and a safety briefing. We then head off downstream along the Nam Ou and will quickly encounter the first easy rapids!
Along the way we pass majestic cliffs and villages almost untouched by modern civilization. We paddle further downstream before pausing for a delicious picnic lunch at a beautiful white sandbank amidst really amazing surroundings!
After lunch we have some time to relax and swim in the cool waters of the river. The afternoon is spent paddling on a calmer section of the Nam Ou before the river joins the Mekong. Along the way you have the opportunity to watch villagers fishing and harvesting river weed which is then dried and fried to become one of Luang Prabang’s most famous, and delicious dishes. We have the option to stop at the famous Pak Ou (Buddha) Cave to see the hundreds of Buddha statues.
We continue paddling down the Mekong to visit a weaving and Lao whisky making village. After a short stop here we continue for another 30 minutes downstream to Pak Xeung where our transport is waiting to pick us up and drive us back to Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation at a selected hotel in Luang Prabang
DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG - FLY TO PAKSE - FREE & EASY TO EXPLORE PAKSE (B)
Private driver
Free & easy until the driver pick you up at hotel and transfer to Airport for flight to Pakse
Upon arrival Pakse Airport, You will be transfer to hotel & check in
Taking rest, free & easy explore Pakse by your own. Overnight at Pakse
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation at a selected hotel in Pakse
DAY 5: PAKSE - BOLAVEN'S NATURE AND LIFESTYLE IMMERSION ( B, L)
Private driver & guide
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel
We leave Pakse and start driving up to the Bolaven Plateau. At the start of the plateau we will stop at a small village, famous for knife making and blacksmithing. We spend some time here to see how knives are made by hand using traditional techniques before continuing on to visit some coffee and tea plantations. Here we learn how tea and coffee is grown and processed as well as learning about its importance as a cash crop. We then make our way to the stunning Tad Fan Waterfall. Here we take some time to explore the local area before we take a short hike to Tad Yeung Waterfall. We will have lunch at the waterfall and spend some time relaxing or swimming.
In the afternoon after we head to the fascinating Paksong Market, a great place to look around and discover and important part of local life! After some time at the market we head to an ethnic Mon Khmer village. These people originally came from what is now Cambodia and have a completely different culture and language to the majority of Lao people. We will spend the night in this village to learn about their culture by immersing ourselves in village life. Overnight in homestay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation at a selected hotel in homestay
DAY 6: ETHNIC GROUPS AND WATERFALLS DISCOVERY ( B, L)
Private driver & guide
Enjoy breakfast at homestay
After breakfast with our host family we visit some other villages to learn about their culture and how it differs from Mon Khmer and low-land Lao. We then travel to a waterfall where we will start our trek. Along the hike we will pass another waterfall before arriving at a Ngae ethnic village where we can learn about the different lifestyle and culture of this group. After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, we continue to our final waterfall. From here we will return to Pakse in the late afternoon. Overnight at Pakse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation at a selected hotel in Pakse
DAY 7: PAKSE – DEPARTURE (B)
Private driver
Free & easy on leisure until the driver pick you up and transfer to Airport for you flight
Saying goodbye to Laos & Xuan Son Travel see you again.
Since this can be private or group tour, the price per person varies and depends on many aspects, such as your group size, the hotel ratings and your departure date. If you want to get a custom price quote for this tour, please fill out the online inquiry form and give you as much information as possible about your trip. Your online travel consultants will be at your service and help you make the most of your travel time and dollars
NOTES
1.The weather & our latest advice on the weather
Light clothes regardless of the season in the south and centre but for the visiting of temples and pagodas, make sure you have a top with sleeves (shoulders must be covered) and bottoms going at least up to the knee.
- Dec – April : 10°C to 25°C, Cool and mostly dry, Special From Jan to Feb : cold, From Mar to April dry and very hot,
- May – Nov: 25°C to 35°C, Rainy season
Note: from 5°C to 10°C less in the mountains; make sure you have warm clothes.
2.Visa
- To go to Laos you must have a valid passport valid at least 6 months after the date of return.
- The Citizens of the following countries are also exempt from Laos visas: Vietnam ( 30 days), Brunei (14 days), Cambodia (30 days), Indonesia (30 days), Japan (15 days ), Luxembourg (15 days), Malaysia (30 days), Mongolia (30 days), Myanmar (14 days), Philippines (30 days), Singapore (30 days), Korea (15 days), Switzerland (15 days), Thailand (30 days) and Russia (30 days).
- To get more info => please click here https://laoevisa.gov.la/index
3.International flights
Our offer does not include international flights between your country and Laos for two reasons:
- International flights from your country are more expensive if purchased in Vietnam or Laos. It is therefore more beneficial for you to buy them from a ticketing agency in your country.
- The payment and booking conditions for international flights are strict while it is difficult for us, a local agency, to apply the same conditions to you (full payment before travel). Since international financial transactions give rise to significant bank charges, you will be led to pay unnecessary surcharges.
4.Which language?
- The official and most widely spread language is Laos
- English is spoken in all touristic areas.
5.Cancellation Policy:
- More than 30 days before arrival: no cancellation charge will be done (Client’s non-refundable deposit will be forfeited)
- 14-29 days before arrival: 10% of the cost of the tour is forfeited
- 10-13 days before arrival: 40% of the cost of the tour is forfeited
- Within 10 days before arrival: 100 % of the cost of the tour is forfeited
6.What to Bring
- Sun Glasses, Sun Block, Wide Brim Hat, Insect Repellent, Swimming Suits
- Warm Clothes (from Jan & Feb in The mountain areas)
- Original Passport
LIST OF OUR HOTELS:
The hotels offered by Xuan Son Travel classified from 02 to 05 stars at international standard, comfortable with all the required services.
- Homestay/local homestay: we have developed fair tourism, through contacts with the local population, the possibility of sleeping with locals and sharing their daily lives. The conditions of these accommodations that we offer you are well assured and with the best possible conditions
- Standard Category: 2 stars. The rooms are decent, clean, equipped with bathroom, satellite TV and air conditioning.
- Superior Category 3 stars. The rooms are generally spacious and the services and facilities are more numerous.
- Deluxe category: 4 stars. The rooms are luxurious and spacious, with a wide choice of quality services have swimming pool, spa, Jacuzzi
Luxury Category: 5 stars. Hotels with excellent comfort and a wide range of excellent services. Swimming pool, spa, Jacuzzi…)
| CITIES /AREAS | HOME STAY | HOTEL-STANDARD | HOTELS-SUPERIOR | HOTEL-DELUXE | HOTELS- LUXURY |
| LUANG PRABANG | …. | Villa Oasis/ Phousi Guesthouse hotel or similar | Villa Pumalin/ Villa Chitdara /Villa Saykham/ Le Sen Boutique or similar | Villa Santi/ Maison Dalabua hotel/ Kiridar hotel or similar | Souvannaphoum/ Luang Prabang View/ Luang Say Residence hotel or simalr |
| PAKSE | …. | Pakse hotel or similar | Le Jardin Hotel / Mekong Paradise hotel or similar | Athena hotel / Champasak grand hotel / Nakhone Champa hotel or similar | …. |
| ETHNIC VILLAGE | Homestay | …. | …. | …. | …. |
SERVICES & PRICE
TRAVEL PRICE: CULTURE OF LAOS – 7 DAYS 6 NIGHTS
From…. To…usd /per
Excluding international flights
Inclusion
- Accommodations with daily breakfast.
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Private tours, transfers and all services as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Service of English speaking guides in every location.
- Entrance fees for all mentioned sights visited.
- Boat trip as mentioned in program
- Government tax and service charge
- Drinking water
Exclusion
- International Airfares.
- Internal Flight Ticket (economy class, including fuel charge & airport taxes).
- Early check in/ late checkout.
- Single supplement surcharge
- Visa fee. Cost about 30-40$ depend on Nationality
- Meals not indicated.
- Drinks & beverage.
- Personal travel insurance (Compulsory).
- Personal expenses such as Telephone and Laundry bills.
- Tips and gratuities.
Customize this tour
This tour is designed with balanced activities and pace. If you want to customize it, you may always change its itinerary and accommodations according to your needs.
Contact us
- +84 914374251
- xuansontravel@yahoo.com.vn
My name is Nicky, English & French speaking advisor at Xuan Son Travel. I have been the specialist in tailor-made trips to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia for 18years. I love the charm of the small streets of Hanoi as well as the charm of the countryside, with magical landscapes, warm and smiling inhabitants in all regions of Vietnam. As a Travel Consultant, I put it at your disposal and will assure you that your wishes and desires are perfectly suited to your trip to Asia.