5days, Family Vacation with Royal Cooking Class

Itinerary

DAY 01: LUANG PRABANG: ARRIVAL (L, D)

Upon arrival, our guide will meet us at the airport and transfer to our center located hotel. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant then we will get our bike and start with the visit of Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao, Phou Si hill stands right in the center of this small city. We will limb its 350 steps to enjoy commanding views for many miles in each direction. Wat Phou Si sits on a top the mountain.

Then continue on to visit Wat Mai, Wat Xieng Thong and National Museum - once a king’s palace, where displayed inside is a lovely collection of personal artifacts of the royal family, including photos, musical instruments, and many gifts received from the dignitaries of foreign countries.

Return to the hotel. This town is wonderful for walking, spend the rest of the day exploring or relaxing until dinner. Tonight we will enjoy a dinner of traditional Luang Prabang food.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 02: LUANG PRABANG – LAO ROYAL COOKING COURSE – KUANG SI WATERFALL ( B, L)

After breakfast, we will meet the chef at the cooking school. Travel together to visit the colorful and vibrant Phosy Market, where we will make our guided food selections. At the restaurant prepare the ingredients for cooking and then fix the dishes under a sun roof in our airy garden. The chef will explain to us the differences of South East Asian cuisines and distribute printed recipes providing us with the possibility to cook Lao food for your friends at home! Enjoy the lunch that we prepared! After lunch, we will drive to the Kuang Si waterfall. We can climb the stairs and look down from various high viewpoints on the way to the top! Later in the afternoon return to your hotel and free at leisure.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 03: LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU BUDDHA CAVES – TRADITIONAL LAO MASSAGE (B, L)

After breakfast, we will begin with Mekong River boat trip with our guide on the mighty Mekong River to visit the famous & sacred Pak Ou Buddha Caves. These caves, overlooking the confluence of the Mekong & Ou Rivers from on high, have been home to many thousands of Buddha images that were placed here by local people since 16th century, when King Setthathirat found the caves and declared them a holy spot.

Walk through the caves before returning to our boat and to Luang Prabang town. Enjoy lunch en route. This afternoon, we will enjoy a traditional Lao oil massage for an hour. What a relaxing way to sample local culture! Afterwards, return to our hotel for your evening free at leisure.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 04: LUANG PRABANG – ELEPHANT RIDE – BAN XANG KHONG HANDICRAFTS VILLAGE (B, L)

Today after breakfast, travel outside of town to an Elephant Camp. Learn about these magnificent creatures as we take one for a ride! Elephant rides are scenic, tranquil, relaxing and require no specific fitness. In the wet season (July – January) ride our elephant to the stunning Tad Sae waterfall. In the dry season (February – June) your elephant will take us through rice paddies along the riverbank and to a nearby village. Enjoy lunch and then return to Luang Prabang. On the way back, stop in Ban Xang Khong to see their amazing locally made silk weavings as well as mulberry paper items. This is a great stop for souvenirs!

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 05: LUANG PRABANG – DEPART (B)

Today after breakfast, relax until time to check out and transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

End of our services!