The Hidden World of Laos

Today, your guide will accompany you to kick off your Vientiane sightseeing at Wat Si Muang, where the locals firmly believe that the temple’s patron saint would bring them good luck. The temple is also famous for the Baci ritual, which is usually done by monks who tie a cotton rope around the worshippers’ wrists while reciting scriptures for blessing, especially on important occasions like the New Year, wedding days, and birthdays. Then, let’s drive to the Buddha Park, a sanctuary with various unconventional sculptures blending Buddhism and Hinduism with philosophy and art, which are all created by a "mad" monk. It’s advisable to use sunscreen as the park is sparsely shaded.

In the afternoon, let’s visit Wat Si Saket, where thousands of Buddha images are enshrined in the niches of the wall along the corridor, some of which are even 1,200 years old! Afterward, head to Wat Ho Phra Keo, which displays historical relics, including golden thrones, Khmer-style sculptures, and wood carvings. Proceed to Pha That Luang Temple, whose golden stupa is a national treasure. If you visit in November, don't miss the grand Phra That Luang Festival, which features lively events such as a candle-lit procession, a large alms-giving ceremony, and firework shows.

After the religious sites, we’ll go to admire the Patuxai Monument, which honors Laos’ independence. It resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and is adorned with carvings of Buddhist mythological figures and elements. Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel.

► Tips for Visiting Buddhist Temples:
1. Dress modestly in clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. Most temple entrances provide a Sinh, a traditional Lao tube skirt. Remove your shoes before entering a temple, and slip-on shoes are highly recommended.
2. When encountering monks, you can place your hands together in front of your chest and slightly nod to greet.
3. When circling a pagoda, one should go clockwise and with an odd number of circles.

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

Today, your guide and the driver will escort you to the airport for a 35-minute flight to Phonsavan, the capital city of Xieng Khouang Province. Upon arrival, your local private guide and the driver will pick you up at the airport and then accompany you to tick off some city landmarks. We’ll first visit the bustling central market, which is teeming with agricultural products, dry and wet commodities like mushrooms, fish, and chilies. The MAG (Mines Advisory Group) Visitor Center is our next stop. During the Secret War (1961-1975 AD), the US military dropped 2 million tons of bombs on Laos to cut off North Vietnam’s military supplies via Laos, leaving around 30% of the bombs remaining unexploded today! The bombs have seriously hampered Laos’ agricultural and infrastructure development. Although MAG is committed to cleaning them, the process is likely to take nearly a century! Today, people utilize bomb casings as decorations, giving rise to bomb casing-themed eateries and even a spoon village.

★ Plain of Jars: Unveil Laos' Most Enigmatic Spot!

We’ll also discover the mysterious Plain of Jars, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a history of over 2,000 years! Explore Site 1 with the most concentrated stone jars first. The vast plain is dotted with over 300 granite-carved jars and fragments, some of which are about 3 m (9.8 ft) tall, 30 cm (12 in) thick, and 6 tons in weight! Proceed to Site 2 and Site 3, where many of the jars are moss-covered and have lids with human-shaped carvings. What is puzzling is that the plain isn’t rich in the jar material; therefore, they are supposed to be brought from elsewhere; some even claim they came from outer space, given the backward transport conditions of the period! Furthermore, their purpose remains an enigma, with some speculating that they were stone coffins and water storage jars. In folklore, they were large pots used by the hero Khun Jeuam to brew wine after overthrowing the tyrant. There are many huge craters and MAG warning signs in the scenic areas; please follow your guide closely and stay within the safety zone. After the visit, your guide and the driver will escort you to your hotel.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Vansana Plain of Jars, Phonsavan (3 stars) - Deluxe Room or similar

After breakfast, your guide will accompany you by private car to Muang Kham, a small town 64 km (40 mi) away from Phonsavan. En route, we’ll make a brief stop at the Hmong ethnic village of Ban Thajok. Located in the major bomb-hit areas, it’s also known as the "Bomb Village," where the locals use huge bomb casings to build fences and supporting pillars for thatched houses.

Upon arrival in Muang Kham, soak in the natural hot springs to ease fatigue and take in the surrounding lush greenery. We’ll also visit Tham Piu Cave, which carries a tragic past. During the war, local villagers sheltered in the cave until an air raid conducted by the US forces on 24th November, 1968, murdered all 374 innocent citizens inside, including the elderly, women, and children. As the war ended, the Lao government erected a monument and memorial hall, and an annual ceremony is held to mourn the deceased. Please walk carefully since the dimly illuminated cave is filled with piles of memorial rocks. After the visit, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel in Phonsavan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Vansana Plain of Jars, Phonsavan (3 stars) - Deluxe Room or similar

Today, your guide and the driver will escort you to Xieng Khouang Airport, where you’ll board a flight back to Vientiane. Upon arrival, the local driver will convoy you to the train station for a 2-hour high-speed train to Luang Prabang, Laos’ UNESCO-preserved city. When you arrive, the local private guide and the driver will be waiting for you at the train station and escort you to your hotel. Then, you can rest or explore the city on your own.

► Note: To catch the high-speed train from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, a morning flight from Xieng Khouang to Vientiane is required. However, morning flights are not daily available. If your travel date cannot meet the morning flight, we will arrange for you to stay one night in Vientiane and then catch the high-speed train the next day. The sightseeing arrangement will be adjusted slightly, and you can still visit all.

► Recommended Activity in Luang Prabang (at your own expense)
To savor the romantic side of Luang Prabang, consider going on a sunset cruise on the Mekong River. SaSa Cruise’s 2-hour sunset cruise, including 1 drink and some snacks, is an excellent pick. Some optional activities add to an intriguing mood, such as writing wishes on banana leaves. Besides, there is Laotian cuisine offered on the menu.
Average Cost per Person: LAK 500,000 (USD 23)
Address: Sa Sa Bar, Luang Prabang

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

★ Alms-giving: Experience a Spiritual Journey of Laos

Today, get up early before 6:00 am to watch an alms-giving ceremony, a daily custom in Luang Prabang, rain or shine. At dawn, saffron-clad monks line up in the order of seniority and walk barefoot along the streets to receive offerings from the faithful almsgivers. Regardless of how generous the offerings are, they only take the amount they need and leave the rest for the poor, the homeless, and the stray animals. The almsgivers are so devout, some of whom living in the surrounding valleys would rise before dawn to walk up mountain paths and cross the river by boat to make the offerings. If you wish to participate in the ritual, follow the locals to pick a small handful of sticky rice and put it into the bowl. It sounds simple but there are many taboos: don’t touch the monks, keep your head lower than the bowl, and avoid using your left hand.

After that, enjoy a boat tour along the Mekong River with your guide to explore a Buddhist site and some local villages. Immerse yourself in the tranquil vistas of the forest-clad banks with thatched huts, wooden boats moored, and children playing. En route, go ashore to visit Ban Xang Hai Village, where you can sample the famous Lao-Lao rice wine. Then, continue the boat trip until we arrive at the Pak Ou Caves, which are embedded in the cliff wall. Disembark to visit the sacred 2-story Buddhist cave and be astonished by the thousands of Buddha statues. On the way back to downtown, drop by Ban Phanom Village, where the tomb of Henri Mouhot, a French naturalist and explorer, lies hidden in the jungle. We’ll also visit some textile villages, where the skilled weavers use traditional pedal-powered looms to make intricate fabrics.

A brief temples tour is scheduled after we arrive downtown. Admire Wat Visoun, which is famous for its unique "watermelon pagoda." Afterward, round off today’s itinerary at Wat Aham, where you’ll have a chance to witness the monks’ evening class at around 5:30 pm. In the main hall, elderly and young monks sit before the golden Buddha, studying diligently. 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

After breakfast, your private guide will accompany you to visit the Royal Palace Museum. It was once the king's palace and now houses scores of exquisite items, including royal furniture, traditional attire, and decorations, as well as gifts from other countries. Then, experience Luang Prabang’s indigenous daily life in the vibrant morning Phousi Market, and browse the stalls brimming with fresh vegetables, fruits, local snacks, and handicrafts, such as sticky rice cake, woven handbags, and purses.

Let's then travel to the breathtaking Kuang Si Falls! Upon arrival, have a brief stop at the Bear Rescue Center, home to some moon bears saved from poachers. Then, proceed further into the rainforest until the layers of waterfalls cascading from hill rocks and numerous turquoise calcareous pools pop into your eyes. There is a big tree serving as a natural jumping platform, from which adventurous tourists dive into the pools in amusing postures, making people around laugh and cheer heartily. Join them and enjoy the sheer bliss! You can also explore the surroundings along the forest trails. Be careful with the slippery sections.

Later, return to downtown and admire Wat Xieng Thong, a former royal temple built in the mid-16th century. A stunning mosaic "Tree of Life" crafted from precious gemstones and colorful glass adorns the exterior wall of the main hall, where there used to be a towering tree. Continue to visit Wat Mai, which once served as the residence of the high-ranking monks. At last, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel.

► Night Market Recommendation (at your own expense)
The Luang Prabang Night Market, situated on Sisavangvong Street from the Royal Palace to Kitsalat Road, is a strolling paradise due to the ban on motor vehicles at night. Wood sculptures, rattan weaving, and custom T-shirts are just a small part of the many products available at red and blue tent stalls. In the adjacent alleys, numerous food stalls sell local snacks like fried beans, Mekong River grilled fish, and coconut cakes. USD 5 is enough to satisfy your stomach!
Address: V4QM+XFV, 16 Chaofa Ngum Rd, Luang Prabang

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

Today, say farewell to your Laos tour package. If there’s some spare time before departure, make the most of it and enjoy a stroll around the laid-back city on your own. Your private guide and the driver will pick you up from your hotel at the appointed time and escort you to the airport to catch your return flight. Wish you a pleasant journey home!

If the one-week Laos tour has sparked your desire to explore more, consider an extended tour to the neighboring countries, such as Thailand, well-known for its tropical islands and resplendent temples; China, famous for the Great Wall and pillar-like formations of "Avatar” in Zhangjiajie; and Cambodia, renowned for the stunning Angkor Wat...Feel free to contact us at any time to tailor your itinerary!

Meal: Breakfast