Luxury Laos Tour

★ Alms-giving: Witness Lao People's Devotion to Buddhism

This early morning, before 6:00 am, your guide will accompany you to experience Laos’ Buddhist culture by watching an alms-giving ceremony, one of the most fundamental good deeds in Buddhism. According to Buddhist precepts, monks do not engage in production, accumulate wealth, cook, or eat after midday, and rely entirely on almsgiving. The extra food will be distributed to the poor and the stray animals. For almsgivers, feeding the monks is a direct way to accumulate karma. Locals gather along the main thoroughfares and alleys in front of some temples at around 5:30 am to make preparations, with food like sticky rice, snacks, and water set aside. They dress neatly, wearing shawls over their shoulders, and kneel on a mat. At around 6:00 am, barefoot monks line up in an age order, receiving offerings while softly chanting scriptures. You can purchase some food in advance to mingle with the locals, and use the trick of scooping up a small pinch of sticky rice one time so that those behind the queue can get a share.

After that, take a stroll around a local morning market. The vendors here are leisurely and carefree, some of whom even have a pot of tea set up, inviting passing acquaintances to stop for a sip and a trivial chat, showcasing the laid-back lifestyle of Laos. Then, return to your hotel for breakfast, or you can sample some street food on your own at the market, such as pork porridge with freshly fried dough sticks. Afterward, visit the Thai-style Wat Sensoukharam, which houses two dragon boats that are used in the annual dragon boat race along the Nam Khan River around September.We’ll also cruise the Mekong River to explore the Pak Ou Caves. On the way, go ashore and drop by Ban Muang Keo Village to taste the traditional lao-lao rice wine. Afterward, continue the cruise until we reach the caves, where thousands of various Buddhist statues are preserved. The upper cave is even more mysterious, featuring ancient sacrificial relics. The Laotian kings would bathe the Buddhas every New Year in the past, hoping to obtain the river god’s blessing.

In the afternoon, let’s head to Wat Xieng Thong, home to the notable mosaic mural "Tree of Life." The temple once served as the royal family’s religious and ceremonial center. It has witnessed coronations, weddings, and funerals over the last 600 years, and the kings’ gilded hearses are well-preserved in the Chariot Hall. Wrap up the day with a visit to the Traditional Art and Ethnology Center to learn about the culture and attire of northern Laos’ ethnic minorities.

Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel. For the evening, as massage parlors are ubiquitous in the city, consider treating yourself to a traditional Lao massage or an essential oil and aromatherapy massage on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Pullman Hotel, Luang Prabang (5 stars) - Deluxe Room or similar

★ Jump into Lao's Most Beautiful Waterfall - Kuang Si Falls!

After breakfast, your guide will accompany you on a side trip to Kuang Si Falls, a natural wonder near Luang Prabang. The multi-tiered waterfall complex is about 60 meters (200 feet) high, with several layers of emerald pools beneath, which are even clearer during the dry season (Nov.-Apr.). Visitors from all over the world leap from the crooked tree or a swing into the pools, or sit on the warm stones by the shore and applaud the others’ brave leaps. Join them and enjoy the diving, swimming, and mist from the falls, as well as a natural foot massage from the small fish around! Remember to bring your swimsuit, quick-dry clothes, slip-resistant sandals, a waterproof bag, and sunscreen. There are simple changing rooms available. Additionally, we’ll drop by the Bear Rescue Center near the waterfall entrance, where you can meet some cute and endangered Asian moon bears and learn how the locals help to protect them.

After the splashing, your guide and the driver will escort you to the train station, where you’ll board the 2-hour high-speed train to Vientiane, Laos’ capital city. The local guide and the driver will be waiting at the station and escort you to your hotel. Vientiane lacks the trendy vibe and bustling throngs that a capital city usually has, but it does have the gentle breeze of the Mekong River, traces of French colonialism, and a serene atmosphere.► Recommended Activities in Vientiane (at your own expense)
After some rest, you can take a tuk-tuk auto rickshaw by yourself to 54 Sethathirat Road and dine at Khop Chai Deu Restaurant, which features a cozy atmosphere and live music. Consider sampling the Lao platter, which includes various Lao dishes like fried river weed and stew. Fish banana leaf, papaya salad, and Lao sausage are also worth trying. It costs around LAK 220,000-330,000 (USD 10-15) per person. Then, pick a small pub by the Mekong River and sip some Beerlao while taking in the breathtaking sunset over the river.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: La Siene Hotel Vientiane (5 stars) - Superior Room or similar

After breakfast, let’s kick off the Vientiane sightseeing at Wat Si Muang, which is known as Vientiane’s “mother temple.” According to the legend, an expecting mother named Si Muang willingly offered herself as one of the temple’s main pillars for blessings during its construction. Afterward, visit the Buddha Park, a trove of spiritual and whimsical Buddhist and Hindu statues. More than 200 statues were all created by a Thai monk with unconstrained imagination, who even built a twin park on the other side of the Mekong River in Thailand! Climb to the top of the pumpkin-shaped sculpture, which features three layers that represent hell, the human world, and heaven, and take in a broad view of the entire park. The park has a deep greyish hue, and you can dress in bright colors for nice photos.

After lunch, head to Wat Si Saket, Vientiane’s oldest surviving temple. Stroll around the serene courtyard lined with tropical fruit plants like coconut trees and mango trees, and admire the Thai-style main hall. Then, visit Wat Ho Phra Keo, which once enshrined the precious Emerald Buddha statue and is now a national museum of religious art, housing Laos’ finest Buddhist sculptures.After passing by the Patuxai Monument, which blends Buddhist features with the design of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, visit Laos’ national symbol, Pha That Luang Temple. It can be traced back to the 3rd century, when the Emperor of the Mauryan Empire (321-185 BC, modern-day India) dispatched envoys to bring the Buddha’s relics here. Nowadays, the 45-meter (150-foot) tall golden stupa is always circled by locals praying. During the That Luang Festival, the grandest Buddhist feast around November, a spectacular candle-lit procession takes place at night, with monks and sarong-clad devotees marching around the stupa three times, and vibrant activities during the daytime include trade fairs, sports games, and the Baci Ceremony, which involves tying cotton strings around believers' wrists to bring good fortune. At last, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: La Siene Hotel Vientiane (5 stars) - Superior Room or similar

Today marks the end of your 5 days Laos luxury tours. Your guide and the driver will pick you up at your hotel according to your flight time and then escort you to the airport for your homeward flight. Have a pleasant journey!

► Recommended Activity before Departure (at your own expense)
If time permits, experience Vientiane’s daily life in the morning market near the Patuxay Monument by yourself. Be dazzled by the stalls under the vibrant canopies brimming with vegetables, tropical fruits, and freshly made delicacies. Maybe treat yourself to some sweet bamboo rice, papaya, and grilled pork for under USD 5!

If you’d like to admire more of Laos’ incredible natural beauties, such as the lagoons in the outdoor paradise of Vang Vieng, the mysterious Plain of Jars in Xieng Khouang, and the 4000 Islands at the widest part of the Mekong River, or extend your trip to neighboring countries like Thailand, China, and Vietnam, please contact us at any time and we’ll tailor an itinerary for you!

Meal: Breakfast