Vietnam Travel

Laos Cross Border tour 4 days

Destination: Vientiane/Luang Prabang/Pakbeng/Houeisay

Highlights: Catch into your eyes many astonishingly beautiful attractions in Laos and beyond its land. Visiting Vientiane, Laos' capital featured with its tree-lined boulevards, French historical dwellings and Buddhists temples; dropping at Luang Prabang, the ancient capital city of the Lane Xang Kingdom famous for is splendid scenery and cultural sights; and crossing Mekong River on the ferry to see Thailand are just a few of all in one.

Details Itinerary:

Code: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, G = Guide

Day 1: Vientiane/Luang Prabang

On your arrival at the airport in Vientiane, you'll be met by the guide and transfer to check in your hotel in the city centre of Vientiane, the city of the moon - an ancient city, situated on the bend on the left bank of the Mekong River as the largest city and the capital of Laos. In the afternoon, you'll take a sightseeing tour of Vientiane to visit religious museums of Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple to have been survived from the Siamese war of 1828 and its cloister contains more than 8000 Buddha statues. Your next place will be Wat Ho Prakeo, the former home-temple of the Emerald Buddha statue or Pra Keo but today it contains a collection of Buddha statues, antiques and all artifacts found in around Vientiane. You'll call the That Luang Stupa, the single most important monument in Laos, which was built to cover the original small stupa containing a piece of the chest bone of Buddha. The Patouxay (Arch de Triumph), built quite recently in commemoration of those who died during the wars in the past and it is today as the land-mark of Vientiane.

You'll then transfer to the airport for a short flight to Luang Prabang, which is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquillity and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. After checking into hotel, you'll visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai, you then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore Street Night Bazaar, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. You will see an original Luang Prabang traditional dance show performance. This is presided over by a wish priest who will chant in Lao and Pali over the Phakuan, or centerpiece, which is decorated with flowers, food and money as offerings to the spirits. After chanting, all participants take two white bands from the Phakuan and tie them on the wrists of another guest while whispering a wish. The strings should be kept on for at least 3 days. Your overnight stay will be in Luang Prabang.

Day 2: Luang Prabang/Kuangsi Waterfall (B)

After breakfast, you'll depart to visit the National Museum, the former Royal Palace which houses the collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue, gifts received from foreign dignitaries etc, Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple which, more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture. You'll then drive 30 km to the South to visit Kuangsi Waterfall, a spectacular and really beautiful with its green surroundings as the preserved National park. You stop toTha Pane that you will have a look. Our picnic lunch is served at the shady park nearby Kuangsi visit a fresh produced market namely Talad Phousy, and also visit Ban Na Oune, a small village of a hill-tribe group "Hmong", probably the best-known minority group in Laos. Just before arriving at Kuangsi waterfall, there is another village of Khmu minority group, namely Ban waterfall. There is plenty of time for relaxing and a swim in cool water, before we head back to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. On the way, you'll visit Ban Xangkhong, Ban Phanom a well-known village for its wood paper making and also Lao silk weavings with natural dyes. Your overnight stay will be in Luang Prabang.

Day 3: Luang Prabang/Pak Ou Cave/Pakbeng by boat (B)

Following breakfast, you'll depart to the boat landing, and take an excursion upstream on the Mekong to visit Pak Ou cave in the side of a lime stone cliff and opposite of the mouth of the Mekong and our rivers. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist of two large caves, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimeter to two meters in height. En route, Lao typical villages are barely visible behind a screen of foliage. Slender canoes bobbing by the shore, bamboo poles and floats mark the location of nets and fish traps. Our first stop will be at Ban Muangkeo, a well-known village for Lao traditional rice whisky, namely Laoh-Khao to be distilled. You are welcome to taste it and also take away. You'll continue to Pakbeng in the late afternoon and transfer to hotel. You'll have time to enjoy sunset on the Mekong river bang. Your overnight stay will be in Pakbeng.

Day 4: Pakbang/Houeisay/Chiang Rai-Thailand (B)

Today, you embark on a traditional boat, upstream on Magic of Mekong River. This portion of the Mekong River is not too large but both banks of the river are bordered by very beautiful mountain ranges and green forest. Along the way, you stop over at Ban Houeilampen to visit the Hmong hill tripe people, who are very poor but have unique culture. On your arrival at HoueiSay, you'll take a ferry boat crossing Mekong to Chiang Khong belong to Chiang Rai province in Thailand.

Prices per person in US$:

Number of people	2	3-5	6-9	10-15	Single Occupancy
Two Stars	604	474	400	334	37
Three Stars	618	488	414	347	38
Four Stars	699	569	496	429	115
Five Stars	820	690	616	550	247

Valid until December 31, 2007

Surcharge for peak season of hotels are not inclusive in the prices above.

Prices include:

Breakfast and accommodation in twin or double room.
Travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver.
One way domestic flight ticket: Vientiane - Luang Prabang, including domestic airport taxes.
Boat cruise as in the programme
English-speaking tour guide as indicated in the itinerary.
Entry fees for all sightseeing as mentioned in the programme.
Lunches and dinners, as specified, in the local restaurants.
Government Taxes.

Price do not include:

Flight tickets and airport tax.
Visas.
Dinners except as specified.
Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
Insurance.

Hotel list for Five Stars standard

Luang Prabang: Boutique Hotel les 3 Nagas (***** the Boutique hotel located in the heart of Luang Prabang's historical peninsula)
Pakbeng: Pakbeng Lodge (Convenient location)

Hotel list for Four Stars standard