Laos: Green Season Special

DAY 1 – DEPART THE UK

Depart the UK.

DAY 2 – CHIANG RAI

You will be met by your guide when you arrive at the airport. You will then be transferred to your hotel where you can spend the rest of the day relaxing at leisure.

DAY 3 – CHIANG RAI

Today you will visit the Yao hilltribes at Baan Pa Kam, including a Padong or Long Neck Karen village at Baan Ya Pha.  A 10 minute short trek in the forest will lead us to a new Padong settlement to which the villagers migrated from Southern Burma only a few years ago.

DAY 4 – CHIANG RAI

Explore Chiang Rai at night - leave your hotel for the King Meng Rai Monument to pay homage to the founder of Chiang Rai, who is also the founder of Chiang Mai. Then take a samlorto ride around town, and transfer to the local night bazaar. Enjoy a traditional khantoke dinner at Saban NgaRestaurant, with traditional Northern Thai cuisine and dance. After dinner, enjoy bargaining for local hilltribe handicrafts and other products at the Chiang Rai night bazaar, before returning to your hotel.

DAY 5 – SHOMPOO CRUISE

This morning you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the Thai Laos border. You will cross overland by narrow boat into Laos to meet the Shompoo; a charming slow-boat that cruises along the Mekong River, passing beautiful countryside. The relaxing journey stops at little riverside villages and you will spend the night on land at Pak Beng Lodge, nestled on a hill overlooking the river. 

DAY 6 – LUANG PRABANG

Set off on your final cruise towards Luang Prabang. En route you will visit Pak Ou village, the Tam Ting “Cave of a Thousand Buddhas” and a local village that uses traditional methods to produce local rice alcohol. You will arrive at Luang Prabang before sunset.

DAY 7 – LUANG PRABANG

After breakfast, you visit the quaint Royal Palace Museum and explore Luang Prabang’s most famous temples; these beautiful structures are both historic and enchanting. In the afternoon you'll have the chance to visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre which will give you an insight into the ethnic mix and culture of Laos. Towards the end of the day you will climb Mount Phousi which has a panoramic view over Luang Prabang and the Mekong and is a spectacular spot from which to watch the sun set.

DAY 8 – LUANG PRABANG

In the morning visit the local Phosi Market and Ock Pop Tock, a silk weaving centre. You then drive out of the town to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall, where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the turquoise pool or walk along the forest trails. Next to the falls is a Bear Rescue Centre, that does a great job in protecting and rehabilitating the rare Asiatic Black Bear.

Tonight you will have a unique opportunity to get to know the locals, experience some of Luang Prabang’s night life, and challenge your guide to a game of ‘Petanque’ which is a very popular sport in Laos similar to boules.

DAY 9 – BOLAVEN PLATEAU

Transfer to Luang Prabang airport and fly to Pakse. You will then drive into the Bolaven Plateau, known for its cool temperature being located high above the Mekong valley. You will have the chance to visit a knifemaking village, tea and coffee plantations, waterfalls, fascinating ritualistic tribes, and colourful ethnic minority food markets in this diverse and naturally beautiful area. In the afternoon you will arrive at Tad Lo waterfall, where you will have the rest of the day at leisure.

DAY 10 – 4,000 ISLANDS

Your first stop today is the Paxuam Waterfall before taking a ferry to Khong Island, the largest of the islands on the Mekong River, where the rest of the day is at leisure soaking up the relaxed atmosphere and beautiful natural scenery.

DAY 11 – 4,000 ISLANDS

Today you will drive south to Ban Hatsaikhone and board a local private boat for a tour of the 4,000 Islands. You reach the picturesque island of Don Khone by lunchtime, and in the afternoon explore the island by bicycle (or walking), tracing the route of an old abandoned railway and admiring some of the old French Colonial buildings, and the beautiful Liphi Waterfall. Continue to the far side of the island and take a boat onto the Mekong to one of the few places in the world where it is possible to see freshwater dolphins.

DAY 12 – CHAMPASAK

Following your breakfast leave the island and drive to Champasak to visit Wat Phou, an ancient Khmer religious complex dating back to the 5th Century. This dramatically sited temple is one of the highlights of any trip to Laos. Return on road and transfer to your hotel for free time at leisure.

DAY 13 – CHAMPASAK

Today is at leisure in Champasak.

DAY 14 – FLY HOME

Transfer to the Thai-Laos border at Chong Mek and onto Ubon Ratchathani to catch your flight home. The journey will take about 4-6 hours.