+ Private tour with English speaking guide
+ You choose the date of departure
+ Starting & ending in Luang Prabang

Unassuming Laos is one of Southeast Asia's less visited corners, but those who do come make a beeline for Luang Prabang (City of the Buddha of Peace) at the confluence of the Mekong and Khan rivers in the mountainous north.

The sleepy former capital is home to hundreds of saffron-clad monks who inhabit its more than 300 pagoda-like temples.  Throughout the town there is a languid air of serenity mingling with a newly found sense of stylishness.

Of the growing number of luxury hotels, many are housed in refurbished French colonial buildings, and there are many outdoor restaurants offer mouth-watering fusion dishes.

On this four day tour - “Luang Prabang World Heritage Discovery” - you will discover the former capital of Laos in luxury and style, experience stunning natural wonders, rich culture, and friendly people.

During your free time (upon request) you can take an elephant ride, make  restaurant reservations, meet with artists and designers, get shopping recommendations, arrange spa reservations, enjoy special interest lecturers, and have exclusive access to local activities and cultural events.

You will enjoy unique experiences, flexibility, privacy and personalized services with your English or French speaking guides.

Day 1: Arrival - Luang Prabang (D)

You will be welcomed to Luang Prabang, which is the ancient first capital of the Lane Xang kingdom, the center of religious life in Laos and today a World Heritage City. You will then be transferred to your hotel for check-in.

In the afternoon, you will take a sightseeing tour of the sacred city of temples, of which nearly fifty still remain in the town and surrounding areas. You will visit Wat Visoun (the 16th Century temple which served as a small museum for religious artifacts), Wat Aham (the early 19th Century temple, whose two guardian figures represent two characters from the Ramayana – Hanuman, the Monkey God and the fierce Yaksa), Wat Xiengthong (the 16th Century temple which, more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all its elegance and grace) and Phousi Hill (with 328 steps leading to the summit that dominates the sky-line of Luang Prabang).   You will stay overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 2: Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Cave (B/L)

An optional early start will give you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (often in the form of sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique to Laos, it being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual.

Following breakfast, you will depart to the boat landing for an excursion upstream on the Mekong to visit Pak Ou Cave, which is in the side of a lime stone cliff and opposite the mouths of the Mekong and Ou rivers. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist of two large caves, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimeters to two meters in height.

En route, Lao typical villages are barely visible behind a screen of foliage, yet you will see slender canoes bobbing by the shore, as well as bamboo poles and floats marking the location of nets and fish traps. Your first stop will be at Ban Muangkeo, where traditional rice whisky (called “Laoh-Khao”) is distilled, and you are welcome to taste it and also take some away! Lunch will be at a riverside restaurant. You will drive back to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon and continue by car to the outskirts of town to visit Ban Xangkhong, a well-known village for its wood paper making and also Lao silk weavings with natural dyes. You will stay overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 3: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfall (B/L)

Today you will take a drive 30 km south to visit Kuang Si Waterfall which, though not very high, is spectacular and beautiful with its green surroundings in a preserved national park. En route, you will stop to visit a fresh produce market, Talad Phosy, and also visit Ban Na Oune, a small village of the Hmong hill tribe, the best known minority group in Laos. Just before arriving at Kuang Si Waterfall, you will visit a village of the Khmu minority group, Ban Tha Pane, followed by a picnic lunch at the shady park near the waterfall. There will be plenty of time for relaxing and a swim in the cool water, before you head back to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. The rest of the day will be spent visiting various crafts shops, silver smiths and the Hmong market, where the embroidery works of Hmong women are on display. You will stay overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 4: Departure (B)

There is no activity planned for today so you are free to go souvenir shopping until transfer to the airport for your onward flight.