Visitez Luang Prabang, et le reste du Laos

3 days in Luang Prabang

Benolaos — 2018-12-01T07:10:13Z

3-day journey in the city classified by UNESCO, with the help of an experienced English speaking guide.

Day 1. City centre tour [../../ ..]

Your guide will meet you at your hotel at 8:30 am, with your driver if you have taken the local minivan or tuktuk option, and with your bikes if you choose this option.

You will start this day with the visit of the National Museum and former Royal Palace when it was time of the the Kingdom of Elephants and White Parasol. You will then move to the neighbouring temple, Vat Mai, one of the most important temples in town.

Then you will join the Centre for Traditional Arts and Ethnology (TAEC) with exceptional annual exhibitions.

If you are interested in secret warfare, we recommend that you visit the newly renovated UXO Centre which proposes to rediscover this period and its consequences.

You will also pass through the Vat Visoun Temple and Watermelon Stupa, before climbing Phousi Hill to admire the stunning views of the city, especially before sunset.

You will go down on the other side of the hill to the night market for a visit of the stands showing local handicraft.

Day 2. Morning Alms and day cruise on the Mekong [../L/ ..]

Before sunrise, your guide will meet you to make you live the morning offerings by participating in the traditional Laotian ritual, whose guide will teach you the principles, the importance of this daily act, and its singularity in the Buddhism world's practice.

Then you will head to the morning market, located in down-town, which centralizes the jungle products reported by the hunters of the region. There is a fate of exoticism, endemic species.

You will then return to your hotel for your breakfast; Then it will be time to leave for the day on the Mekong.

The boat will be charted at the foot of Vat Xieng Thong, the most emblematic Temple of the town, which you will visit before embarking on.

Then you will be enjoying 2 hours cruise on the Mekong with scenic view on the local life, crossing landscapes of primary forest, in more or less narrowed water corridor. You will arrive at the village of Pak Ou around noon, to visit the 2 caves hosting hundreds of representations of the Lord Buddha.

It will be time for lunch, that will be organized in a local gourmet restaurant on the bank of the Mekong, viewing the caves.

Then it will be time to go down to Luang Prabang. On the way, you will probably be interested in visiting craft villages, alcohol to Ban Xang Hai, silk and Saa paper at Ban Xang Khong.

Then we will stop at Ban Xieng Mene to discover this small village in front of Luang Prabang. You will visit a unique temple, enjoying a magnificent view from there of the city of Luang Prabang.

Optional fee: you can also visit the potter village downstream, and possibly try 1 hour to practice pottery with a local craftsman.

Return to Luang Prabang at the end of the afternoon.

Day 3. Ethnic Villages and Kuang Si Waterfalls Park [../../ ..]

After your breakfast, departure for the falls of Kuang Si. On the way, we can stop at Phosy Market, on the outskirts of the city. It is the largest local market.
Not far away, you can also be interested in visiting the Ock Pop Tock Tail Center, which offers a guided tour (and weaving and dyeing workshops).

We will then take the road to the Park (approximately 45 minutes drive). On the way, we can stop in some of the villages of ethnic minorities bordering the road.

We will arrive late around noon.
Option: book a table at the Carpe Diem Restaurant

You will visit the park of little black Bear saved by traffickers, then the waterfall, a particularly beautiful scenic place where pure mountain filtered water comes out with the turquoise colour in a karst environment. Some areas are allowed to swim, you might think about special dress.

You will return to Luang Prabang late afternoon. Before we get back to your hotel, we will stop at Vat Phabatthai temple, on the bank of the Mekong, enjoying an exceptional view of the sunset.

End of program.

Indicative rate for 4 people:

Optional, with air conditioning minivan for 3 days: 648 USD (162 USD / person)

Included in the tariff:

* Minivan private, air conditioning with driver
* English speaking local guide
* Private boat for the day Muang Khua - Nong Khiaw
* Meals according to: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
* All paid entries
* The organization at sunrise of traditional offerings
* All government taxes and service charges
* Handling of luggage
* 2 bottles of drinking water per day
2 cold towels per day

Options available:

Available Options:

Lunch days 1 and 3
Bicycle Day 1
Tuktuk local days 1 to 3
1 hour of elephant backdrop on day 2
visit the potter village on day 2
visit the Butterfly Park on day 3
Guide in Italian, Chinese, Spanish, German, Japanese

3d / 2n: Luang Prabang - Muang Ngoi

Benolaos — 2012-08-29T16:52:50Z

From Luang Prabang, visit for 3 days / 2 nights (or more) a really preserved area, well known for its untouched nature, its calm atmosphere, and the authentic villages around.
Beginning your journey with a minivan, you will explorer handicraft villages specialized in silk, cotton and mulberry paper. You will reach Muang Ngoi, where you will spend 2 days, before coming back to Luang Prabang on a private boat for a little exclusive cruise. Recommendation: stay more and do a 2-day trek (or even 3-day trek!) in the natural, preserved area of Muang Ngoi "the old".

Itinerary at a glance

Day 1. Luang Prabang - Nong Khiaw - Muang Noi
Day 2. Discover the area of Muang Ngoi
Day 3. Private cruise to Luang Prabang

Detail of the journey

Day 1. Luang Prabang - Nong Khiaw - Muang Ngoi (.../.../...)

Early morning, your minivan with chauffeur and guide will pick you up at your hotel. Destination, Nong Khiaw, where a boat is waiting for you to go up to rise Muang Ngoi, a small fishermen village, in a beautiful nature.

En route, you will have an introduction to the weaving village in Laos, working silk and cotton : Ban Xiang Khong, Ban Xieng Lek, Ban Nagnane, 3 traditional villages, specialized in handicraft.
Free lunch in Nong Khiaw

After lunch, we will have a 1h30 cruise on one of the most beautiful rivers in Laos, with a majestic karst mountains landscape covered by a dense jungle. Possible stops in villages. recommended stop at the waterfall on the way.

Arrival in Muang Ngoi before the Sunset.

Night in Muang Ngoi

Day 2. Muang Ngoi (B /... /...)

Free Day.
Optional proposals:

1-day trekking: beginning early morning, when the sun is relatively mild, for 1 hour of very easy walk to the first village, Ban Na, the village of rice fields. We then can reach a couple of villages, depending on your wishes : Hmong village, Kamou village...
You will cross rice paddies, go through jungle, in a karst landscape which rise rocky peaks. You will also have the opportunity to visit one of the many caves where the inhabitants where living for ten years during the "secret war".
1-day kayaking (or tubing): we will go by boat further up the river (about 1 hour cruise) for an exploration of two villages: Ban Ban Sopcham and Atsapeui. You will then go down the river with your kayak or tubing on a very quiet river (2 to 4 hours). You will be followed all the way by the boat that carry material, food, etc. Level: easy. Beginners welcomed.
1-day fishing: spend one day with a fisherman, barbecue on one of the sand beach with the catch of the day. Visit of the 2 villages of Atsapeui and Sopcham.
2-day trekking (B/L/D - B/L): the journey is 1 day extended and become a 4D/3N. The trek is a loop from Muang Ngoi, with an overnight in homestay in one ethnic group village (Hmong or Kamou). Back to Muang Ngoi mid-afternoon.

Day 3. Muang Ngoi - Pak Ou Caves - Luang Prabang (B/ L /...)

After breakfast, a junk will be chartered for about 1 hour cruise, down the Nam Ou River. You will stop at Nong Khiaw, where a minivan will await you to finish the journey by road.

Stop a the mouth when the Nam Ou goes on the Mekong ; there stand the 2 holy caves of Pak Ou, hosting thousands of Buddha images. These representation are left by the believers who come here to pray and seek guidance from spirits.

Back to Luang Prabang, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Options :

2-day trek around Muang Ngoi
On day 3, continue to cruise downstream from Nong Khiaw to Ban Ngeun (2h cruise)

Included in the program:

Private transportation in air-con minivan
Accommodation in twin shared in Guesthouse**
Private boat trip Nong Khiaw - Muang Ngoi
Private boat trip Muang Ngoi - Nong Khiaw
Visit of Pak Ou Caves
English speaking guide all trip
Admission fee to indicated sights
Meals: daily breakfast at hotel
Government tax and service charge
Luggage handling
2 bottles of drinking water per day during the tour
2 cold tower per day during the tour

3d / 2n: Luang Prabang - Plain of Jars

Benolaos — 2012-08-28T07:48:40Z

From Luang Prabang, spend 3 days / 2 nights to explore a region of mystery and history. Through mountains jungle, rally Phonsavanh city by conditioned minivan with driver and guide (English or other language); you will there visit the local sights: the Plain of Jars, the local market full of exotic products, the Mulberry, sericulture unit production, the old capital of Xieng Khuang...

Itinerary at a glance

Day 1. Luang Prabang - Plain of Jars
Day 2. Discover the region and its mysteries
Day 3. Phonesavanh - Luang Prabang

Detail of the journey

Day 1. Luang Prabang - Plain of Jars (... / ... / ...)

Today we will drive to Xieng Khouang, an area once devastated by American bombings between 1964 and 1973. These back roads are a great way to explore the real Laos. We see very few other travellers, mostly rural dwellers who are just as interested in finding out about our lives as we are of theirs.

The drive is very long, but we can make many stops at our pleasure, to stretch our legs and take some wonderful photographs. you will discover the 3 ethnic groups on the way, with their special architecture, culture, tradition and language...

On arrival, we visit the first site of the “Plain of Jars”, an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are littered all over the plateau. The largest jar reaches a height of 3.25 metres; researchers still question the origin and significance of these jars.

Night in Xieng Khuang

Day 2. Discover the region and its mysteries (B/.../...)

After breakfast we will begin with a visit of the local market, well known to propose local special exotic products.

We will then head out to the old capital of Muang Khoun province and its nearby villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe and Thai Dam people.

Our excursion continues to the 2nd and 3rd Plain of jars fields, where you can obtain more scenic views. Along the way, we visit more local villages and learn about the local culture and lifestyle. Return to Phonsavanh by late afternoon.

Night in Xieng Khuang

Day 3. Xieng Khuang - Luang Prabang (B/.../...)

After breakfast, we will come back to Luang Prabang. Leaving Phonsavanh, we will visit the craft workshop specialized in Sericulture (Mulberry shop, closed on Sunday) where you can follow all the stages of production, breeding the worms, weaving, spinning, dyeing ...

Then, couple of hours of driving, through the mountainous jungle inhabited by ethnic groups.

Transfer to your hotel in Luang Prabang

Tariffs for a group of 4 persons :

with Standard Room (Twin or double) : 1320 USD (330 USD / pers.)
with Suite Room (Deluxe Double) : 1500 USD (375 USD / pers.)

Included in the tariff:

Private transportation in private air-conditioned
Accommodation at Vansana*** in double occupancy
English speaking guide
Admission fee to indicated sights
Meals : daily breakfast at hotel
Government tax and service charge
Luggage handling
2 bottles of drinking water per day during the tour
2 cold tower per day during the tour