6 Day Trip

Day 1: Arrival in Luang Prabang (Dinner)
Luang Prabang's Traditional Dance and Folk Song Experience
Upon arrival at Luang Prabang airport, our local representative will meet and welcome you. After check-in at your hotel, you can spend some time at your own leisure, such as taking a stroll and explore the city center, watching the locals go about their life. Enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant with traditional dance and folk songs, the best way to experience Lao culture.

Day 2: Luang Prabang (Breakfast, Lunch)
Luang Prabang's Graden and City Experience
After breakfast, take the Pha Tad Ke boat from Ban Wat That (departure time at 9:00; to be at the pier at 8:45). Enjoy a 15-minute leisurely boat trip down the Mekong River. Upon arrival at Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden reception, be introduced to the gardens. After a walk through the Ginger Garden and the Ethno-botanic Garden, which is the centerpiece of the garden, follow the path through the Limestone Walk and take in the amazing mountainous Mekong landscape. Learn how to make a bamboo stick animal at the site of the former royal family’s hunting lodge before walking through the Arboretum, Palm Garden and Bamboo Garden to the viewpoint that overlooks the rice fields. Stop by the Mist House to learn more about the importance of biodiversity conservation before ending the tour with an optional orchid talk at Pha Tad Ke Nursery. Savor a delicious Lao set lunch at the Pha Tad Ke café before taking the boat back to Luang Prabang. In the afternoon, admire the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Continue to visit Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. If time permits, take a short walk around the small streets of city center, watching the locals go about their life. In the late afternoon, climb to the top of Mount Phousi for an exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as enjoy a panoramic sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. Immerse in the bustling atmosphere of the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people.

Day 3: Luang Prabang (Breakfast, Lunch)
Luang Prabang's Cultural and Scenic Experience
Start the day at the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center (TAEC) to understand more about the Lao diverse ethnic culture through a stroll around and a seminar titled “Ethnic Diversity and Cultural Change in Laos”. The fascinating 60-minute presentation and question-and-answer session by one of the two TAEC Founder/Directors, either Thongkhoun Soutthivilay, a Luang Prabang-native who had worked at the Luang Prabang National Museum for 10 years, or Tara Gujadhur, an American who has worked in Luang Prabang for over 10 years, with a background in anthropology and sustainable tourism development, provides a background on Laos' ethnic communities, their history and their cultural practices, including livelihoods and crafts. Take the opportunity to learn about lifestyles in ethnic villages and see unique artifacts from TAEC's collection that are not accessible to the general public. Relish an ethnic Khmu lunch at TAEC Café. In the afternoon, marvel at the beautiful Kuang Si waterfalls, the biggest in the Luang Prabang area with three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop into spectacular azure pools. The pools also make great swimming holes and are very popular with both tourists and locals. Make a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers. Drop by Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center to admire top-quality fabrics produced by weavers, spinners and batik makers, and hopefully catch the sunset as this is also one of the best spots to admire the sunset in Luang Prabang.

Day 4: Luang Prabang - Nam Ou (Breakfast, Lunch)
Luang Prabang's Spiritual Experience and Nam Ou's Relaxing Experience
Join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alm-giving, which dates to the 14^th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temples to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets. Following that, experience local life by visiting the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. The locals gather to barter their day’s catch from rice and vegetable to fish and chicken. After breakfast, take a drive to Ban Xang Hai, a village famous for lao-lao, the traditional distilled rice whiskey.From there, we enjoy the 30-minute elephant ride exploring the Mekong river at the nearby elephant camp. Continue to Ban Pak Ou and take a boat across the Mekong river to visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves set high above the river and crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. After visiting the caves, take the cruise to the beautiful Nam Ou Riverside Resort, which nests along the lazy Nam Ou River. Spend the rest of the day at your own leisure where you can explore the nearby villages or relax by the resort’s pool.

Day 5: Nam Ou - Ban Lae (Breakfast, Lunch)
Ban Lae's Homestay Experience
Head to Ban Lae, a village which is located 25km from town and 10km from the resort. Upon arrival, the host family will meet and welcome you. Have a stroll around the village to see the life of the locals; visit the local school, which is livelier during the weekdays, or drop by the local market. Enjoy lunch at the house of the host family. In the afternoon, you can choose to either relax or enjoy agricultural activities such as rice planting and harvesting in surrounding rice fields (depending on the season); traditional fishing techniques (you can sample your catch for dinner); walk around the farm and rice field; or explore the river with the local boat. You may wish to have a dip in the inviting Nam Xeuang river, or join and help the host with preparing the dinner which you can learn more about Lao cuisine. Before dinner, join a private Baci ceremony, held by the elders of the village. The Baci ceremony is a traditional ritual of the Lao people which expresses the spirituality of the country and is a highly memorable experience and a deep insight into Lao culture. During dinner, folk tales will be told by the host family and translated by your guide.

Day 6: Ban Lae - Departure from Luang Prabang (Breakfast)
Ban Lae's Cultural Experience
Rise early to admire the sunrise over the Nam Xeuang river and the nearby mountains. Pay a visit to the local temple and join the alm-giving to appreciate the difference from the one experienced in Luang Prabang. After breakfast, learn traditional fishing techniques by the stunning Nam Xeuang river, and experience bamboo weaving, silk weaving, or fishing net weaving. Arrive at the village at 11:00 to return to Luang Prabang. Take the departure transfer to Luang Prabang airport for homebound flight.