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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$:
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
- Luang Prabang: Grand Luang Prabang Hotel (*****
combines modern convenience with traditional Laos)
- Pakbeng: Pakbeng Lodge (Convenient location)
Hotel list for Three Stars standard
- Luang Prabang: New Luang Prabang (*** local standard)
or similar
- Pakbeng: Salika Guest House (local standard)
Hotel list for Two Stars standard
- Luang Prabang: Rama Hotel (** local standard) or
similar
- Pakbeng: Salika Guest House (local standard)
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