Laos Scout

On arrival at Luang Prabang International Airport, you will greet our airport representative, who will provide the private vehicle transfer to your hotel. Traditionally known as the Kingdom of a Million Elephants, Laos is blessed with a verdant countryside, glittering Buddhist temples, languid village life and gentle people. Years of isolation from the wider world have helped preserve Laos’ peaceful nature and allow a glimpse into a quieter time.

Enjoy the evening at leisure.

Rise early this morning to give alms to the monks before starting your tour of Luang Prabang. Begin your excursion with a visit to the local market to see the bustle and activity of the early morning. Visit the National Museum, a modest but graceful building that combines traditional Lao and French beaux-arts motifs. This turn-of-the-century royal residence has been preserved as it was when the royal family last lived here and provides unique insights into the history of Laos. View Hor Phrabang. In the front-right corner room of the palace, which opens to the outside, is a collection of the palace’s most prized art pieces, including the Phrabang, cast of a gold, silver and bronze alloy. This Buddha stands at 83 cm tall and weighs around 50 kg. Continue to Wat Mai, which was constructed in 1821 during the reign of King Manthatourath, and was once the residence of Phra Sangkharaj (the Patriarch of the Buddhist clergy).

Proceed to Wat Xieng Thong, built in 1560 and situated on the banks of the Mekong River, it is the most beautiful monastery in Luang Prabang and shows the typical Lao art style with old religious artifacts and some ancient masterpieces of Lao art. Wat Khili is situated opposite of Wat Xieng Thong and next door to Wat Si Boun Houang, built in a style reminiscent of temples found in the mountains close to the Plain of Jars, aim to reinstate the relationship between there and Luang Prabang. We will also visit Wat Street (including Wat Sibounheuang, Wat Si Moungkhoun, Wat Sop and Wat Saen). Tonight you will transfer to/from Talat Night Market (Hmong Market).

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, sit back and relax while we gently drift along the Nam Khan River, stopping at riverside villages. Explore the Tad Sae Waterfall, where the water flows over several cascades of limestone formations into a series of turquoise blue pools. If the water level is high enough, you can jump in for a unique swimming experience! In the evening, visit Mount Phousi for the sunset. Climb 328 steps starting from the entrance on the opposite side of the National Museum or 410 steps on the other side of Khan River to the small temples atop Phou Si. The hill is 150m high and sits in the middle of the town, offering beautiful views over the temples and river.

This morning transfer by private air-conditioned vehicle to the airport and flight from Luang Prabang to Vientiane.

Upon arrival in the capital of Laos, meet your airport representative, who will arrange the transfer by private air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel. Vientiane sits proudly in a bend of the Mekong River. It’s a sleepy, laidback town with age-old Buddhist temples, colourful markets, colonial architecture and mouth-watering cuisine. In the afternoon, visit That Luang (Great Sacred Reliquary or Great Stupa), built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. It is the most important national monument in Laos, a symbol of both the Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty. Continue to Wat Si Saket, constructed in 1818 by King Anouvong in the early Bangkok style. The interior walls of the cloister are punctured with small niches that contain more than 2000 silver and ceramic Buddha images. Proceed to Wat Ho Pha Keo, the former royal temple of the Lao monarchy built in 1565 by King Setthathirat. It is now converted into a museum containing some of the best examples of Buddhist sculptures found in Laos. In the evening, enjoy a walking tour along the Mekong River.

Early this morning you will be transferred by air-conditioned vehicle to the airport for your flight from Vientiane to Pakse. Upon arrival in Pakse commence your touring activities with an excursion to Champasak and Vat Phou Champasak. Champasak is a small district of 38,000 people on the western bank of the Mekong River and the Angkor period ruins of Vat Phou Champasak lie 8 km south of the town. Continue by vehicle to Vat Phou Museum and Vat Phou Champasak, this Khmer temple site is spread over the lower slopes of Phu Pasak and its name means Mountain Temple. The surviving structures date from as early as the Chenla Kingdom (6^th to 8^th centuries). Continue by vehicle to Pakse.

Venture across the beautiful Bolaven Plateau, formed from an ancient volcano. This fertile area is famous for coffee and tea plantations and for being the home of the Laven ethnic group, and check out some of its dramatic waterfalls, such as Tad Fane Waterfall, Tad Yuang Waterfall and Tad E-Tu Waterfall.

Today we will travel by vehicle almost as far as the Cambodian border, following the Mekong as it winds southwards past the area known as the Four Thousand Islands. Visit Khone Phapheng, the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia and one of the most impressive sites in the area. Here, the entire Mekong, with all its force, cascades down, curving stone outcroppings and tints the massive stones with rainbows. Continue to Tad Li Phi Waterfalls, a raging set of rapids at the western end of Don Khone.
Travel by boat to Don Det Island and Don Khone. The islands are connected by a former railway bridge (the railway stopped operating in 1945). The larger island, Don Det, is famous throughout Laos for the cultivation of coconut, bamboo and kapok. Visit Ban Khon Village, the main village on Don Khone with several old French villas, Wat Mahanthanaram Temple and a rusting locomotive.

Enjoy your final few hours in Pakse before you meet your driver, who will provide the private vehicle transfer to Pakse International Airport for your onward flight.