8 DAYS, LAOS TRAVERSE

Itinerary

ITINERARY IN DETAILS:

DAY 1: HOUEI XAI – PAKBENG (L,D)

Meet upon arrival at Houei Xai immigration checkpoint and transfer to the boat pier. Embark on a traditional wooden riverboat to cruise down the Mekong River, “Mother of Waters”. The mighty river has maintained its untamed character with rapids and pristine forests along each bank. Stops at Yao, Thai Lu and Hmong minority villages.  
Lunch on board. 
Arrival in Pakbeng in the afternoon. This rustic town-village sits on a steep hillside and offers spectacular views over the Mekong River. Dinner and accommodation at hotel.
  

DAY 2: PAKBENG – LUANG PRABANG (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Continue the cruise towards Luang Prabang. En route, stop at Pak Ou and visit the sacred caves which house over a thousand Buddha statues.
Lunch on board. 
Arrival in Luang Prabang, transfer and check-in at the hotel. The crown jewel of Laos and former Lanexang, Luang Prabang, is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. Magical and charming, it has preserved its long-standing reputation as a stronghold of Lao culture with its splendid natural scenery and sense of timelessness. In 1995 UNESCO voted Luang Prabang as a World Heritage City. If time permits, visit Vat Xieng Thong upon arrival. The sim of the temple represents the classic Luang Prabang temple architecture with roofs that sweep low to the ground. In the compound stand several small chapels housing bronze Buddha images, which were displayed in Paris in 1911. Near the East gate stands the Royal funeral chapel. Inside are an impressive 12-meter high funeral   chariot   and various funeral urns of each royal family member. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts a semi-erotic episode from Ramayana. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.                                    

DAY 3: LUANG PRABANG (B,L,D)

 Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit the National Museum (former King’s Palace) displaying a collection of personal artifacts of the Royal Family. Continue to visit Vat Mai, built in 1796, famous for the five – tiered roof of its wooden sim. Then stroll through the lively Central Market where the ethnic minorities of the surroundings come daily. 
Lunch at local restaurant.
Visit Vat Visoun, the site of an impressive stupa, That Makmo, stylistically more Srilankalese than Lao. Then walk to the nearby Vat Aham, which is one of the city’s major tutelary shrines. Climb Phousi Hill for an outstanding view of the city. Sunset at Vat Prabaht Tai located along the Mekong River. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.
 

 DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG – VIENTIANE (B,L,D)

 Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport for flight to Vientiane. Meet upon arrival at Vientiane Wattay airport, transfer and check-in at the hotel. Vientiane’s major attractions are the serene Buddhist monasteries that dominate the center of town. The city has kept its timeless charm with tree-lined avenues, brightly painted temples and quaint French architecture.
Lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon visit Vat Sisaket, the oldest original temple in Vientiane. Built in 1818, Vat Sisaket is the sole survivor of an invasion in 1828. All other temples in the city have undergone extensive restoration. Vat Sisaket features remarkable frescoes and 6,840 Buddha images. Nearby is Ho Phra Keo, once the royal temple of Lao monarchy. Built in 1565, Ho Phra Keo has been used as a museum since 1970 and contains some of the finest Buddhist sculptures and artifacts in the country. Special displays include antique brass drums and palm leaf manuscripts. The main structure originally housed the famous Emerald Buddha that now resides in Bangkok’s Wat Phra Keo. One of the most photographed images of Vientiane is Patousay, the victory gate also known as Anousavari. Constructed in 1958, its architecture is inspired by the Arc of Triumph in Paris. Another famous Vientiane landmark is the That Luang Stupa. King Setthathirath built this great sacred stupa, considered as the national symbol, in 1566. Its central structure is 45 meters tall and echoes the curving lines of an elongated lotus. The original stupa was said to contain relics of Lord Buddha. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

DAY 5: VIENTIANE – PAKSE(B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Early morning transfer to the airport for flight to Pakse. Meet upon arrival at Pakse airport, transfer and check-in at the hotel. Excursion to Tadlo, located on the Northern edge of the Boloven Plateau. The Boloven Plateau, formed by ancient volcanoes, has a number of tribal villages, some of them still practicing Stone Age culture. Tadlo is touted as an eco - friendly resort near the Xeset waterfall.
Lunch at the resort. 
Visit Alack and Nge tribal villages. Drive back to Pakse via Paksong and visit a tea and coffee plantation. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.
 

 DAY 6: PAKSE (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Board a long-tail riverboat for a cruise on the Mekong River towards the former royal capital of Champassak and continue by car to the pre-Angkorian Vat Phu Temple (6th-13th centuries). Vat Phu Temple lies on a hillside and offers spectacular views on the surrounding plains and on the Mekong River. UNESCO listed Vat Phu Temple as a World Heritage site in 2002. Hindu Khmer probably chose the site because of the spring that flows from near the top of the hill. Historians say that Phu Pasak was in fact sacred to the pre-Angkorian Kingdom of Chenla (6th century) and may have been the site of human sacrifices. The temple is divided in two parts. The lower part consists of two ruined palace buildings at the edge of a pond, which was used for ritual ablutions. The upper section, the temple sanctuary itself, once enclosed a large Shiva phallus (linga). It was later converted into a Buddhist temple but much of the original Hindu sculpture remains. The lintels feature various forms of Vishnu and Shiva as well as Kala, the Hindu god of time and death. The naga stairway is lined with plumeria (Dokchampa), the Lao national flower.
Lunch at local restaurant, 
Continue by car to Ban Khiet Ngong village and take an elephant ride to reach the enigmatic Phu Asa Temple, which lies amidst the dense jungle. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.
 

 DAY 7: PAKSE – CHONG MEK – PREAH VIHEAR – SURIN(B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit Pakse Museum, which displays artifacts from the different ethnic groups of the Boloven Plateau. Then drive to Chong Mek immigration checkpoint (border crossing to Thailand) and continue to Preah Vihear Temple.
Lunch en route.
Visit the Angkorian temple of Preah Vihear (8-10th centuries). Although physically standing on the Cambodian territory, the only practical access is from Thailand. Its spectacular location, on top of a cliff in the Dangrek Range, overlooks the Cambodian plains. Continue to Surin and check-in at the hotel. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.
 

DAY 8: SURIN – KORAT(B,L)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive to Buriram province and visit the Khmer temple of Phanom Rung, which was established at the same time as the Angkor Empire in Cambodia. The temple stands on an extinct volcano and reflects the glorifying of the Hindu god Shiva. The Phanom Rung complex holds an extraordinary collection of Khmer art, especially exquisitely carved lintels. Continue to visit the Angkorian site of Prasat Muang Tam. Prasat Muang Tam, which probably was the palace of the Khmer governor, has been recently renovated to its former glory with its gracious ponds bordered by nagas.
Lunch at local restaurant. 
Proceed to Nakhon Rachasima (Korat) and transfer to airport for departure (airfare not included in tour price).