Visitez Luang Prabang, et le reste du Laos

Buddhist Archives

Benolaos — 2026-03-20T06:52:23Z

The visit to the Buddhist Archive of Photography at Vat Souvannakhili opens a unique window on the essence of Luang Prabang's Buddhism, and into the history of Lao photography.

The unique collection of 35.000 photographs taken by the monks of Luang Prabang over more than 120 years survived miraculously over time, and has been digitized in a joint project with the British Library's Endangered Archives Programme since 2006. Its inscription on UNESCO's list Memory of the World is under way.

Organisation of a 1-hour private visit.

You will be welcomed either by artist Hans Georg Berger, the Archive's founder, or by Dr. Khamvone Boulyaphonh, the Director of the Buddhist Archives, a former monk at Vat Saen Sukharam. The visit lasts about one hour.

Mr Berger or Dr Khamvone will give you unique access to selected original photographs, and will personally guide you. This is a very special and meaningful way to learn about the Buddhist civilisation and heritage of Laos. Sala Thammavihan is a small architectural jewel of the town, a monastic building of the 1930s in a charming art déco style.

At its end, we will offer a cup of monastic tea at the verandah of historic Sala Thammavihan, at Vat Souvannakhili, where the Archives are housed.

Your donation helps the Buddhist Archives to continue its research.
Price for a group up to 6 persons: USD 200 (+30usd /pers. up to 20)
Appointing visits : 10:00 to 11.30, 14:00 to 15:30

The Buddhist Archives of Luang Prabang is a non-for-profit-organization of the Buddhist Sangha of Luang Prabang and does not have financial support from the government so far.

View online : Buddhist Archives of Luang Prabang

Exhibition at TAEC

Benolaos — 2018-10-31T12:27:27Z

TAEC's newest special exhibition, “Voices of the Wind: Traditional Instruments in Laos” is now on display after more than two years of extensive research and documentation in remote regions of northern Laos led by Belgian ethnomusicologist and curator, Dr. Marie-Pierre Lissoir, and the TAEC research team.

A highly interactive and intimate exhibit, display spaces communicate three important contexts of instrumental practices: ritual, instrument-making, and courting. Through village scene re-creation, audio stations, and interactive video and photograph kiosks, visitors will enter a world rarely seen by the general public.

In Laos, music and musical instruments are a part of everyday life. For entertainment, courtship, or rituals, to banish loneliness, teach children, or communicate with the spirits, musical practices touch every member of a community during every part of the year. There is now a struggle and urgency to document these instruments from construction to playing as modernity takes over and replaces intimate settings and songs with amplifiers, microphones, and pre-recorded music. Music is the voice of a community, the voice of a country. A voice that is constantly evolving, like every human activity.

This exhibit also coincides with the recent UNESCO inscription of the music of the mouth organ or “khaen” on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is the very first inscription for the country on the ICH list and a positive step forward for safeguarding the transmission of knowledge, skills, and meaning of this emblematic instrument for future generations.

TAEC would like to acknowledge the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation for making this critical research possible, and William Klausner for supporting the creation of the exhibition.

“Voices of the Wind: Traditional Instruments in Laos” will be on display until the Fall 2020.

From the Curator: “Music can be explored in so many ways. There is the role of music in traditional ceremonies and celebrations, but also the crafting of instruments, playing techniques, and the decline of apprenticeship. Laos is particularly fascinating because many instruments are used to communicate, whether to pass a message through the mountains with the powerful sound of a leaf, or to express ones love with the discreet sound of the jaw harp. Speaking about music is speaking about life in Laos, its changes and challenges.”– Dr. Marie-Pierre Lissoir

Hmong instrument maker and musician: “There are so many people making qeej, but if I am the one who is able to help document the process of making it from the beginning to the end, then I hope my knowledge is able to inspire people not to let go of their culture and traditions, not to let go of your ancestors and family spirits. I want to leave this message behind for the future generation.”– Mr. Neng Chue Vang

TAEC's objectives of this exhibition:

Demonstrate the diversity and similarities in musical practices among minority groups in Laos.
Expose unexpected sounds and instruments to visitors in an innovative experiential space. The scenography of the exhibit and its use of different mediums will allow a deeper understanding of music and its techniques.
Stimulate local and foreign visitor interest in Laos' musical traditions and its importance to society through special events and outreach at the Centre.
Highlight, document and safeguard endangered practices and instruments.

Discover the people of Laos at the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre. TAEC is the only museum and learning centre in Laos dedicated to cultural diversity. The Centre is engaged in a broad range of museum and community engagement activities, reflecting its commitment to supporting living ethnic minority communities to preserve and promote their cultural heritage while looking towards the future.

Located in Ban Khamyong, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, the museum and shop is open 9am until 6pm, closed Mondays. Admission is 25,000 Lao kip for adults, free for children under 12 and Lao citizens. The TAEC Boutique on the main road in Ban Vat Sene sells fair trade crafts made by ethnic groups. It is open from 9am – 9pm every day.

Contact:
Kristy Best, Director Sales & Marketing
kristy taeclaos.org
www.taeclaos.org
Mobile +856 20 5544 7895

View online : http://www.taeclaos.org

A day on the Mekong River

Benolaos — 2017-11-02T16:41:00Z

We highly suggest this special journey that takes place around the Mekong, in the area of Luang Prabang. This river, called "the impetuous" by the Chinese, is called "the mother's rivers". Here, the Mekong River is quiet and calm, she is the source of life and prosperity. We will begin this journey with the visit of Pak Ou caves.

We embark at 8.30 for a 2 hours cruise. On the way, your guide would be pleased to answer all the questions you could have about the history and the legends, because there are plenty all around... including the spirit stories, who are considered as strong, fearless, and without any pity.

Pak Ou should be reached before 10h30, when the light on the faces of the cave is the most impressive. 2 caves inside the karstic mountain host thousands of statues of Buddha, sometimes covered by Burma gold leaves.

Lunch at a local restaurant, in Pak Ou village.

We then go back downstream. Possible stop in Ban Xiang Hai, well known for its local rice alcohol production. Some add the most venomous animals they can find, as medicine whisky... Also possible stop in Ban Xang Khong, specialized in silk products and confection of Saa paper (made with the bark of the Saa tree).

We then continue to the village of Ban Xieng Mene, with its former royal caves and its harmonious temple, mix of Lao and French colonial architectural influences. This village, just at the Mekong bank opposite of Luang Prabang.

Back to Luang Prabang.
(option: minivan with air-con or tuktuk can be organized from/to your hotel to/from the boat peer).

End of the journey.

Options:

Option: Visit the pottery village downstream

We can continue our exploration with the village of Ban Chan, the pottery village, where we can see the way the local people produce potteries, bricks, construction material, still in the traditional way. Here, the savoir faire is passed on from generation to generation.

Warning: during the "Van Sin days" (Full moon, New moon, and 1st and 3rd quarter), the workers have religiously day off and can't work.

Included:

English speaking guide
Private boat
Entrance fee for paying visits
2 small bottles of mineral water per day and per person
Government taxes

Can be chose as options:

Lunch in a local restaurant
Air conditioned minivan with driver for hotel / boat transfers
Visit of the village of potters
Visit the Botanic Park

3-day trek meeting the ethnics

Benolaos — 2017-02-20T06:30:58Z

1st day trek, meeting the Hmong people (L, D)
Your guide will be meeting you at 8:30am at your hotel to drive first up north for about 1 hour before reaching a village where will start our journey. For our trip, a village-based guide will join our day journey, and will first assist the visit of this village, and help you buying the last thing you need for your journey. The trek can then start.

On the morning, we shall take around 4-5 hours through primary forests, beautiful upland rice paddies field, dense mixed jungle with a remarkable diversity of tree species, before having lunch.

We will choose the top of a mountain offering an exceptional panoramic viewpoint, where the guide will prepare the Lao lunch.

After lunch, we will also walk for another 4-5 hours surrounded by a nature that provides food, water, and medicine. End afternoon, we will reach the Hmong village of Ban Mock Choung. This ethnic is very special and knowledgeable for medicinal plants, and for the powerful shamans.

Local dinner
Homestay

2nd day of trek, meeting with Khmu (B,L,D)
The weak up will be probably very early, with the melody of the cocks, and the quick general activity to prepare the breakfast and go to work, mostly on fields around. Hmong people are considered as very hard workers.

We shall take a bit time to look around, and at 9am max should start our wild walk to reach our next "meeting point". This morning is a 3-4 hour trek. If we are not too noisy, we shall see a dear, a jungle fawn, a wild pig, a monkey, a civet cat or a saguaro, otherwise you might only see their tracks.

When hunger meets a beautiful point of view will sounds time for lunch. Your guide will prepare it when you can take time to relax, go around, and take pictures.

Depending on the time you did start, the second part of the day might be more easy, and you shall arrive to our next homestay mid-afternoon. You will discover there the Khmu way of life, largely considered here as the most Epicurean ethnic in Laos.

Local dinner
Homestay

3rd day of trek, back to Luang Prabang (B,L)
After breakfast, we shall start our last day journey with an old grown jungle park walk, crossing Hmong and Khmu villages where we always take time to visit, to have a fresh coconut, or simply a little pause.

Like every day, we will find the right place to have lunch in a nice area with a nice view and feeling.

The trek will finally ends with the arrival in Ban Luay Lueang (or Ban Lath Tha Hae, depending on the season) settled nearby the Nam Ou River's bank. There a transportation will bring us back to Luang Prabang.

End of the service.

Price for a group of 4 persons:
182 USD / person

Included:

Transportation
Local English speaking guide
Village-based guide fees
Trekking
Meals as specified (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Diner)
Drinking water (not unlimited)
Homestay
Taxes (trekking permits, local taxes, village fund fees)

3d / 2n: Night Safari in Nam Nern

Benolaos — 2015-08-27T13:11:00Z

To know beforehand:

Up to 10 people.
Happens in a protected park dedicated to the conservation of species threatened with extinction, including the tiger.
Terms of rudimentary accommodation for 2 nights (1 night in a modest guesthouse, 1 night at the ecolodge inside the reserve).
Exceptional costly ecotourism activity
To learn more about the international award, read this official page: Winners 2013 (en) and 2014 Winners (in).

Day 1. Luang Prabang - Ban Vieng Thong (10h whose 7-hour drive).
En route visit the villages of weavers Lao Loum (the outskirts of Luang Prabang), and Thai Lue outskirts of Nong Khiaw.
Local lunch in Nong Khiaw.
Visit caves where stayed the administrative center of the region during the 12 years of the secret war.
By late afternoon, check into a guesthouse Ban Vieng Thong.

Day 2. Night safari camp preservation and study
In the morning, your guide will take you to the rendezvous point, in a village of Kamou ethnicity. Here begins your safari. After location scouting, you will take a boat up the river to the ecolodge. There, a breakfast awaits you; Then you have some free time to relax or walk the camp before taking the boat up the river again in a perfectly preserved jungle landscape.

Dinner will be on the banks of the river as a barbecue, before silently down the river, with research guides for species with powerful spotlights.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/gJMpcZ0Zb_Y

Laos wildlife ecotourism adventure in Nam Et Phou Louey National Protected Area WCS

The ecotourism products at NEPL NPA have been designed to create a direct link between conservation and tourism so that the money that tourists pay has a positive impact on encouraging local people to protect endangered wildlife.
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has been supporting the NEPL Management Unit since 2003, and has assisted with the development of ecotourism products commencing in 2009. During this time significant experience has been gained on how to implement ecotourism in the Laos NPA context, and how to ensure effective operations and meaningful community engagement.

You will return to the Ecolodge to spend the night.

Day 3. End of safari, and options ...:
In the morning, after breakfast in the jungle, you will have time to learn about medicinal plants locally very used and very effective against many ailments. It is time to take stock of these 24 a unique and authentic experience of a lifestyle living in near autarky, in full harmony.
Then you will take the boat down the river to the place where the adventure began.
Then...

Notice: now, the 2-day trek can be extended up to 5 days in the conservation area.

Treks up to 5 days

The Nests trek consist of moderate 2 and 3 day trekking options with an overnight stay in spherical baskets hanging from the trees. Near the campsite a wildlife observation tower has been constructed overlooking the Poung Nyied salt lick and offering opportunities to spot wildlife.

The Cloud Forest Climb involves a more challenging 4 to 5 day trek up to the summit of Phou Louey (Elev.2257m) – the third highest peak in Laos and one of the few cloud forests in the region. This trek through the evergreen forest includes a homestay in a Khmu village at the start of the tour, followed by camping in jungle huts inside the NPA.

Proposal of programs with the 2-day Night Safari Trek

Option 1: 3D / 2N - back to Luang Prabang on Day 3

Day 3: Return to Luang Prabang in the late evening
However, the journey is long and you get tired. It is recommended to add 1 day. as presented below, which presents only qualities:

Option 2: 4D / 3N - return to Luang Prabang by day 4

Day 3 night break in a good hotel in Nong Kiaw
With a night at Nam Ou Riverside, run by a German married to a Thai, comfortable rooms, retreat for Yoga practitioners; with a pool ; or Nong Kiao Ecolodge, with its very inspired bungalows of traditional houses but with all the comfort very neat decoration. often overlooking the breathtaking sunset in Nong Khiaw, a village located 3 hours from Luang Prabang along the Nam Ou.

Day 4: Small boat trip and return to Luang Prabang
the morning by private boat for a walk, or long boat to the most upstream walks to Muang Ngoi, Sopjam. Possibility of the tubbing (large buoys tractors on which we descend part of the Nam Ou River) or kayaking in magnificent landscapes, dense and mysterious.

Return to Luang Prabang in the day, as desired.

To remember :

* On day 4: ability to adjust the schedule to be returned in connection with domestic and international scheduled flights.
* This program can be accompanied by a professional photographer serving as tour leader. French speaking exclusively.

Option 3: 6D / 5N: Hanoi rally

Day 4: Xieng Khouang (and the Plain of Jars) // Day 5: Xieng Khouang morning, Sam Nua night (Sam Neua, historical bastion of liberating communist party with its grottos (Audio -tour remarkable) // Day 6: Sam Neua - Passage of the international border Lao-Viet, then on to Hanoi.

Option 4: 6D / 5N: Vinh rally

Day 4: Sam Neua (historical bastion) // Day 5: Xieng Khuang (and the mystery of the Plain of Jars) // Day 6: Xieng Khuang - Passage of the border Nam Khan to Ky Son and Vinh further.

Option 5: 9N / 8N: rally Danang or Hue

Day 4: Sam Neua // Day 5: Xieng Khuang // Day 6: rustic Night in Pak Kading for the restaurant // Day 7: 4 hours road to Hinboun, 2013 favorite // Day 8: Visit the surrounding area, and 5 hours' drive from Savannakhet // Day 9: Crossing the international border Lao-Viet Ban Dong for continue to Hue or Danang.

View online : Official link to Night Safari

Hillside Nature Lifestyle Lodge

Benolaos — 2015-06-12T08:28:00Z

Our coup de coeur for this place !!!
"The Hillside Lodge is nestled in the Lao countryside of Luang Prabang, 30min out of town, surrounded by protected area with primary forest including a waterfall park with impressive zip-lines. The property is a family run place offering nice, cosy bungalows with their private terrace offering a spectacular view on mountains and a beautiful karst cliff". That could be the pitch.

Set amidst a lush tropical garden, the lodge offers comfort with nice cosy bungalows, and long chairs in front of a natural scenic view, and some extras as a pool, a herbal sauna, 2 local horses (Tibetan type) and a restaurant with delicious food cooked with many ingredients coming from the organic garden, or pick up in the forest.

A relaxing atmosphere in a completely natural environment, with views of a green jungle in all shades of green, a few minutes walk to the first ethnic village. You can also chose to hike around, or to visit the "no-more-secret" waterfall to enjoy zip-lining with the best level of security.

For 2 days and 1 night stay... at least !!!

View online : Official website of the property

UXO Luang Prabang Center

Benolaos — 2012-12-23T13:49:04Z

The UXO Laos Visitor Center is located behind the Chao Anouvong Monument. This free admittance center features information about unexploded ordnance, for what Lao PDR is the most heavily bombed country, per capita, in history. Numbers talk:

Approximately 25% of villages in Laos are contaminated with Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)
More than 580,000 bombing missions were conducted over Laos
Over 2 million tons of ordnance were dropped on Laos between 1964 and 1973
Cluster sub-munitions or ‘Bombies' (as they are known locally) are the most common form of UXO remaining
More than 270 million bombies were dropped onto Laos
Up to 30% failed to detonate
Approximately 80 million unexploded bombies remained in Laos after the war
All 17 provinces of Laos suffer from UXO contamination
41 out of the 46 poorest districts in Laos have UXO contamination
Over 50,000 people have been killed or injured as a result of UXO accidents in the period 1964-2008
Over 20,000 people have been killed or injured as a result of UXO accidents postâ€ war period, 1974-2008
UXO Lao works in the nine most heavily UXO contaminated provinces in the country.
UXO Lao needs on an average, US$6.5 million, for operations. It employs over 1,000 people.

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

Wat Phon Phao

Benolaos — 2012-06-19T00:48:09Z

About 2 miles from Luang Prabang, upstream from the Nam Khan river, you can find the Wat Phon Phau on top of a small hill which is looked after by female monks. Male bonzes are dressed in a yellow robe (sometimes orange or light brown) as Buddha recommended, when he said that they should wear 3 odd pieces of clothing. The women wear a sort of white kimono.

The Buddhist religion differentiates the conditions of men and women. Man is supposedly the last stage of reincarnation, the only real one on the road to Nirvana, in other words the end of the cycle.

Boys are obliged to retire to a monastery for a period of at least 3 months during their youth, a retirement (bouat) of a few days (normally a maximum of 3 weeks) … for women, this is unthinkable, they must learn everything by their own means if they're really interested.

Some monasteries accept women, but mainly only older women, who find in these religious enclosures, a spiritual refuge. At Phon Phao, several women came to escape the turmoil of Luang Prabang and work on everyday chores, including gardening.

The singularity of this temple, starts with its octagonal architecture. Built in the 1950's, this temple is also exceptional by its interior decoration :

paintings representing traditional Buddhist scenes, are stunning,
the second floor with its paintings illustrating the different Buddhist architectures of the countries of S.E. Asia is very interesting
the last floor, all in gold (like the reception hall of the old royal palace) marks the ultimate preciousness of the high level.

My advice : to be seen and to be followed from ban Phanom, the historical weaving village. Some beautiful showpieces, mostly made from a mixture of cotton and yarns of silk.