Day 1 Arrive Bangkok - Chiang Rai
Transfer for the flight to Chiang Rai, on arrival transfer to your hotel.
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Day 2 Chiang Rai - Mekong Cruise
Transfer to Chiang Khong immigration and after immigration proceedings, travel along the Mekong downstream to Pak Beng, along the way stop to observe rural life along the Mekong and observe the minority villages. A buffet lunch is served on board. Arrive in Pak Beng before sunset and check in at your Lodge. Dinner will be on the terrace, overlooking the Mekong River.
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Day 3 Pak Beng - Luang Prabang
Start the day with a full breakfast at the Lodge from at 07.00am. (There is an optional: walk to Pakbeng market, where local villagers from the surrounding minority villages sell their goods, please ask at Luang Say lodge). At 8.00am board the boat for the second leg of the cruise. A short stop is made to visit a hilltribe village where you can watch the traditional process of Lao whiskey production before having a buffet lunch on board. Continue to the Pak Ou at the mouth of the Nam Ou River, where you visit the Tam Thing Caves of a Thousand Buddhas, before arriving Luang Prabang.
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Day 4 Luang Prabang
Free at leisure
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Day 5 Luang Prabang
This morning you will take part in a cooking class. The day starts with a visit to the local market, accompanied by the head chef who will advise you on the different types of ingredients. Using the fresh produce, you will be taught in the art of Lao cuisine. Lunch is your own mornings efforts!. In the afternoon, we begin our walking tour taking in some the cities most beautiful temples. Depending on the rest of your programme this may include the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, representing the classical Luang Prabang style, as well as Wat Mai and Wat Sene, the oldest temple in Luang Prabang. We also stop by at Kinnaly Gallery, where your guide will show you the different ethnic minorities that live in Laos. We end the tour with a climb up Mount Phousi, which offers a spectacular panoramic view over Luang Prabang and the Mekong River. Overnight in Luang Prabang
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Day 6 Luang Prabang
After breakfast, we visit the local Phosi Market, this is the place where all the locals shop and your guide will show you the diverse offerings on display. We also stop at Ock Pop Tok, a silk weaving centre. Here you will be given a guided tour and the silk weaving process will be explained. Next we drive to Ban Thinkeo, a Hmong village and start trekking with the villagers. Your guide will explain to you the common use of the plants for the Hmong people. You will go to the garden and cut some vegetables and herbs with the local people. When you arrive at the village, learn to cook some local dishes in a traditional house. Lunch will be your collective efforts! Then, the villagers with show you a demonstration of Hmong Khene and local games. In the afternoon, drive to Kuang Si and relax at this magnificent multi tiered waterfall. We then return by road to Luang Prabang at the end of the day. Overnight in Luang Prabang
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Day 7 Luang Prabang - Vientiane
Take the morning flight to Vientiane, on arrival take a tour of Vientiane starting with Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. Enroute to Lao’s national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. The final visit of the day is an optional trip to the excellent COPE exhibition centre, highlighting a much overlooked aspect of Laos and a major problem many of the local people face on a day to day basis in the form of unexploded ordnance as a result of heavy bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War era. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
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Day 8 Vientiane - Pakse - Tad Lo
You will be transferred to the airport early this morning for your flight to Pakse On arrival at Pakse, you will be met and taken by road east into the Bolaven Plateau. The Bolaven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. The area is famous for its many waterfalls, and the most beautiful of these falls, Tad Fan, we visit. Tad Fan waterfall is spectacular with twin falls plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by flourishing vegetation. A trip to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that can be seen en route. This trip gives visitors the chance to venture off the beaten track and to discover some of the lesser-known areas of Laos, exploring the wild beauty of this southern region. In the afternoon we arrive at Tad Lo, home to another scenic waterfall and numerous ethnic minority groups including the Alak, Nge, and Katu. We overnight at Tad Lo Lodge, located uniquely right next to the beautiful waterfall itself.
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Day 9 Tad Lo - Pakse - Champasak
After a leisurely breakfast take an optional one hour elephant ride through the forest or enjoy a gentle walk, through the beautiful surrounding before having lunch. Travel west across the plateau to the Katu ethnic village of Lao Ngam, the Katu minority have a strong tradition of silk weaving using foot looms which you will see the local women weaving. The many beautiful cloths on show are for sale and make great souvenirs. Continue to the town of Champasak.
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Day 10 Champasak - Don Khone
Cross back over the river and drive to the town of Ban Kiat Ngong. Ban Kiat Ngong is situated in the Xe Pian National Protected area and a great place for bird watching enthusiasts. From Ban Kiat Ngong take a one and a half hour ride on the elephants which will take you Phu Asa a temple mount in the heart of the protected area, and enjoy a picnic lunch on the temple mount, before returning to Ban Kiat Ngong. Then early afternoon transfer to Don Khong.
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Day 11 Don Khone
Visit Liphi waterfall by bicycle after breakfast then you Take a boat ride through the 4000 Islands past Don Det to the old French Railway Bridge at Don Khone take a short walk to Liphi before taking a boat ride to see the rare Irrawaddy dolphins.
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Day 12 Don Khone - Pakse
Return to Pakse but not before visiting Khon Pha Peng Waterfall the ‘Niagara of the East’.
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Day 13 Pakse - Bangkok - UK
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Bangkok and onward flight to the UK
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