Visitez Luang Prabang, et le reste du Laos

1-day Lao coffee tour

Benolaos — 2018-01-25T04:47:47Z

Laos and coffee have a 100 year history in common, starting during the French Protectorate period when French introduced high-quality washed arabica from Bourbon and Typica varieties. The difficult local conditions during the 50-70's pushed the producers to change to the Robusta variety for a time, but the last 20 years saw the come back of Arabica varieties, especially from Brazil. In 2014, Laos produced 5.000 tons of Arabica, and 15.000 tons of Robusta.

Following this movement, Saffron developed new plantations in Northern-Laos and a new way of doing based on a cooperation & social idea. Coffee is cultivated, planted, organically shade-grown, hand-picked, processed, hulled, graded, hand-sorted, and roasted close to Luang Prabang, directly traded and sustainably sourced from the micro coffee plots of Khmu, Hmong, Mien, and Gasak hill tribe families. On top of that, Saffron Coffee is a social business: profits are reinvested for the benefit of Lao people.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/76guq3zzl9w

The Journey of Saffron Coffee

From Mountain to Cup

We propose a Coffee & Gastronomy tour organized around the visit of the local Saffron factory to see coffee roasting and some specialty brewing options. You will learn about Saffron Coffee's sustainable coffee farming approach and results, before having a tasting of the best products of the house.

Our journey will start at 7am, when your guide will be meeting you at your hotel. We need to start early to arrive at the local morning market centralizing all the fresh products coming from the jungle around.

After this visit, we will enjoy the “Café Thong” (or coffee sock) in an emblematic café located on bank of the Mekong for its typical taste.

And then will drive to the Saffron factory for the 1 hour tour finishing with espresso served coffee with fresh baked goods.

We can continue this tour with the visit of the centre-town of Luang Prabang, or go for a drive to Kuang Si waterfall for lunch and swimming in turquoise pure water.

Monday to Friday

Included:

Minivan (a/c), privatized, with chauffeur
Local speaking guide (EN, FR, DE, IT, SP, etc.)
Coffee visit & tasting at Saffron factory with the manager
Tasting local coffee
2 refreshing towels & 2 mineral bottles / day / pers.

Options:

Continue the day tour with the centre-town visit of the emblematic highlights
Drive to Kuang Si and have an afternoon swimming in turquoise water
Begin your day with a cooking class, and afternoon coffee visit & tasting

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

1-day journey at Kuang Si Waterfalls

Benolaos — 2016-01-26T18:55:00Z

Here is a proposal for a 1 day journey around one of the jewels of Luang Prabang, the waterfalls of Kuang Si (or Kuang Xi). Located 30 kilometers from the city center, we access to the little paradise by a widding road through jungle and paddy fields, crossing couple of villages (most of them from the Hmong ethnic )

Visit :

At sunrise, participation to the morning alms (1)
Before and during the procession, your guide will be keen to explain the principles of this daily ritual whose practice is unique in Laos.
Visit the morning market (1)
Fishermen, hunters, gatherers come to propose their products from the surrounding villages. You will find there a lot of exotic products which the guide will give you the keys.
Return to the hotel for breakfast (1)
Then departure for Kuang Si Falls
Approximately 45 minutes drive to the protected area.
Possible stop at Ock Pop Tok Living Weaving Centre
Unique centre in town showing and teaching silk, cotton, bamboo weaving
Falls Kuang Si
Visit the black bear park,
Ride in the unspoilt natural park
Swimming is allowed in certain natural pools
Lunch at your own on one of the many small local restaurants around the falls... or the new "Carpe Diem restaurant". If you wish, we can also provide a picnic on site for you...)
Optional: visit the butterfly farm (entrance fee)
Back in Luang Prabang
With possible stops in some of the villages along the road.

Departure time from your hotel: 8:30am
End of program: between 3pm and 5pm

(1) If option Morning Alms, departure : sunrise (around 6am)

Price (for a group of 4 people):

144 USD (36 USD / pers.)
164 USD (41 USD / pers.) with Morning Alms option

Included:

Minivan (a / c) with chauffeur
English speaking local guide
Entrance fees to pay sites
2 cooling towels
2 bottles of mineral water

Optional:

Morning Alms & visit of the morning market, with all the exotic food from the jungle around brought back early morning from remote area.
3 hours of lectures and practice the art of rice cultivation, between 8:30 am and noon.

1-day handicraft journey

Benolaos — 2014-07-04T10:21:00Z

Luang Prabang is the capital of arts, and a centre place for handicraft in Laos. We propose 1-day journey, assisted by a guide, around handicraft thematic. First, choose a morning training with a professional

Blacksmith: create from scratch your knife or local machete
Bamboo work: weave your basket or your case
Local hunting: make a crossbow
Embroidery: make the famous Hmong slippers
Fishing: learn and practice the local technique
Pottery: learn, practice, create
Local foods: cooking class (join-in tour, see details)
The rice: learn, practice and taste (join-in tour, see details)
Lao Wine: Making Lao Hai, the sticky rice wine of the Khmu ethnic
Local paper: make your lamp in Saa paper (afternoon)
Weave or dye silk: a 1-day training

The other visits

Discover the weaving villages of Ban Xang Khong
Explore the weaving village of Ban Phanom
Visit the Ock Pop Tok weaving living centre
Cross the Mekong and visit the pottery village
Have a look at the local Lao bakery cooking the local bread

Pick-up time at your hotel: 8am
End of the journey: 5pm

Included:

Minivan (a/c), privatized, with chauffeur or local open-air tuktuk
Professional worker teaching for 1/2 day (depending on chosen option)
English speaking guide (or other language)
Entry fees
2 refreshing towels & - 2 mineral bottles / pers.

Tariffs:

Depend on the option, and the chosen language of the guide

1-day city tour

Benolaos — 2014-07-02T19:14:00Z

One day journey to visit the main highlights of Luang Prabang center-town. Discover the specificity of this unique town, probably the most beautiful and preserved in South-East Asia. Explore the markets, learn about the typical local architecture, and enjoy special Lao style meals in a classy restaurant.

Visit:

Morning Market
With all the local and exotic food coming from the area
National Museum
Former Royal Palace and center of the Lao Power during the Monarchy
Wat Xieng Thong Temple
The religious symbol of the city, and the perfect example of Luang Prabang style
Wat Visoun Temple
The first buddhit temple of the town, with its Sinhalese style Stupa
Ethnic Lunch
Taste the Kamu lunch
Phosy Market
The biggest market of all north Lao
Traditional Art & Ethnology Center (close on Monday)
A little Museum with unique pieces from various minorities
Climb the Phousi Mountain before sunset
Reach the top to admire the 360° panoramic View

End of the journey
Starting 7:30am - 5:30pm

Included:

Minivan (a/c), privatized, with chauffeur // or bicycle // or local open-air tuktuk
Local speaking guide (EN, FR, DE, IT, SP, etc.)
Entry fees
Ethnic lunch
2 refreshing towels & 2 mineral bottle of water / pers.

Optional

Visit UXO Centre (unexploded Ordnance), close Sat. and Sun.
Visit Hock Pop Tock Weaving Centre
Handicraft village tour (blacksmith, silk & cotton weavers, producer of Saa paper, pottery, etc.)

1-day journey with a tour guide

Benolaos — 2012-06-26T04:33:26Z

Would like to more understand Luang Prabang, to benefit the assistance of a tour guide? Want to book it now for tomorrow ?

We propose you to visit Luang Prabang town with a professional guide and a range of transportation to fit to your need.
You can also ask for a bigger trip, to visit the surroundings of Luang Prabang, the entire Laos, and even neighbouring countries by the partnerships we have forged over the years (including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar).

Guides

Rates are regulatory, and start at around 50 USD for an English guide a day for a city tour. Rates are related to the guide language skill : From 55 USD for a French guide, 70 for the German one, to 90 USD for an Italian one. Languages available:

French (VTE, LPQ, PKZ)
English (All country)
German (VTE, LPQ, PKZ)
Spanish (VTE, LPQ, PKZ)
Italian (VTE, LPQ)
Chinese
Japanese
Korean

* VTE = Vientiane, LPQ = Luang Prabang, PKZ = Paksé

Vehicles

For a city tour in Vientiane, Luang Prabang or Pakse, add 50 USD for the minivan with air-con including the 1 day chauffeur. You can have less (if you would choose for a local touktouk transport), or more (if you are more than 6 or/and if you plan a big trip).

Boats

For a 1 day boat journey around Luang Prabang (for example, reach the sacred Pak Ou Caves, 2 hours boat, and back), you will be charged around 70 USD for a boat of max 6 persons.