Welcome to Laos! Upon arrival at the Vientiane Wattay International Airport, your tour guide will greet you and escort you to the hotel. After hotel check-in, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

 

After breakfast, visit the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo built to house the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph. In the afternoon, visit the Buddha Park where hundreds of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures brought from India are displayed.

Today, you will head for Vang Vieng via Nam Ngum Lake with hundreds of small islands. En route, you'll stop to visit Ban Bor village. After a delicious lunch at a local restaurant where you can overlook Nam Ngum Lake, you will have a leisure boat trip on Nam Ngum Lake (about 1.5 hrs). Later, continue driving to Vang Vieng. Enjoy some leisure time after hotel check-in.

This morning, you will visit a local market and the Tham Jang Caves, a cave temple with a huge stalagmite resembling an elephant's head. Afterward, drive to Luang Prabang with a lunch break on the way. Later, climb to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred gilded stupa and enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the Mekong River at sunset. Before returning to the hotel, you will have time to walk around the Phousi Night Market on your own.

 

This morning, set out for the city's oldest temple Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong which represents classical Laotian architectural style. After that, you will enjoy a cruise on the Mekong River with an exploration of the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, crammed with Buddha images of all shapes and sizes. Along the way, stop at the village of Ban Xanghai to sample local rice wine. Finally, take a short drive to the Ban Phanom known for cotton and silk weaving.

 

If you like, observe the morning alms giving ritual procession in the early morning and get a better understanding of local people's piety towards their religion.

After that, visit the Morning Market or Phousi Market. Continue to the famous Kuang Si Waterfall for a refreshing swim in the turquoise pools or a walk along the forest trails. On the way, stop by some local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups including Ban Ouay Village, Ban Ou Village, and Ban Thapene Village. In the late afternoon, visit the Ban Xangkhong Village noted for Saa (jute) papermaking. Return to Luang Prabang to catch the sunset at Wat Phabath.

 

This morning, you will head to the Royal Palace Museum, home to gilded rooms and Buddha artifacts. Next, visit Wat Visoun, Wat Aham, and Wat Mai before you are escorted to the airport for your flight to your next destination.

 

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