Laos and Thailand Tour - 17 Days

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

Day 1: Luang Prabang Arrival (G)

On arrival, you’ll be picked up to your hotel. Later on, visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, and Wat Mai. Climb up to the top of Mount Phousi. Explore the Night Baazar.

Day 2: Luang Prabang/Pak Ou cave (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll visit the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong. Cruise upstream on the Mekong River, as explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. Stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is produced.

Short stop at Ban Phanom, which is well known for its hand weaving.

Day 3: Luang Prabang/Khouangsi Waterfall (B, L, G)

Watch or participate in the daily morning rituals of monks collecting offerings of Alms. Visit the morning Phosi Market. Visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village,  Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, and then to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can cool off. Continue to Ban Xangkhong, known for its silk weavings and papermaking. Enjoy the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath.

Day 4: Luang Prabang/Xiengkhouang (Road) (B, L, G)

After breakfast, we visit the National Museum (close Tuesday) at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artefacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. The National Museum and the Central Market are not to be missed. After visiting these sights. Today, we drive 306km uphill a mountain surrounded by wonderful natural scenery to Xiengkhouang, which was devastated by American bombing between 1964 and 1973. Upon arrival, we transfer out to visit the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are scattered all over the plateau. If time permits, we see the old capital of Muang Khoun and the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe people. They have an interesting local culture and a colorful history.

Overnight in Xiengkhuang

Day 5: Xiengkhouang/Vientiane (Flight) (B, L, G)

Following breakfast, we visit the Central Market. After you will have free time to explore the town further before catching our flight back to Vientiane. After checking into the hotel, time permitting we continue our sightseeing tour of the surrounding areas of Vientiane; we visit the impressive Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge and the Buddha Park, a a scattered enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, close to the Friendship Bridge. There are approximately 200 religious images dating back over 500 years, which were created by a mysterious monk spreading his philosophy on life and revealing his ideas about the universe. A spectacular view of over the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day.

Overnight in Vientiane

Day 6: Vientiane City Tour (B, L, G)

AM: After breakfast, we continue to explore Vientiane capital by visiting the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. . Enroute to Laos national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

PM: We continue visiting the rest of Vientiane by foot, including Wat Ong Tue, Wat Inpeng and Wat Haisok. We pass by the major shopping area continuing to the Vientiane Central Market of Talad Sao and Talad Kouadin where various goods are displayed for sale; including fresh food, household goods, souvenirs, textiles, gold, silver and antiques. We return to the Mekong Riverside in the late afternoon for observing the sunset.

Overnight in Vientiane

Day 7: Vientiane/Pakse/Champassak/Khong Island (B, L, D, G)

Breakfast at hotel. Early morning transfer to airport for flight to Pakse by QV. Arrive Pakse, transfer to Pakse pier and excursion by boat trip down river of Mekong to Champassak for visit Pre-Angkorian Temple (Wat Phu the Khmer site). After lunch at local restaurant, then further on to Khong Island by road, via Arrive Meuang Khong, then transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at Villa Meuangkhong Hotel in Khong Island.

Day 8: Khong Island/Khone Phapheng (B, L, D, G)

Breakfast at hotel, then excursion by boat down river of Mekong from Khong Island to Khone Island. It takes around 2hours. Visit French locomotive and “Taat Somphamit”. Then, we take a boat up river to Phiengdi, then further on to Khone Phapheng waterfall by road. Lunch at local restaurant, and then continue to Pakse. Then, visit local market. Dinner and Overnight at Champassack Palace Hotel in Pakse.

Day 9: Pakse/Bangkok/Ampawa (B, G)

Free time to venture into town. On arrival at Suvanphumi Airport, you’ll be driven to Upon arrival, our representative will meet on arrival at Bangkok international airport and transfer to Ampawa (near Damnoensaduak Floating market where there are romantic resorts) check into resort for accommodation and free at own leisure.

Day 10: Ampawa/Damnoensauak/Ayutaya/Phitsanulok (B, L, D, G)

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit floating market in Ampawa and Damnoensaduak. Take a boat trip through the gardens and orchards. After tour proceed to Ayutthaya to visit Summer Palace at Bang Pa In and other archeological sites. Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch continue to Phitsanulok for check into hotel and overnight stay.

Day 11: Phitsanulok/Sukhothai/Chiang Mai (B, L, D, G)

Breakfast at hotel. Sightseeing: Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat. Drive to Sukhothai for historical park of the first independent Siamese kingdom. As option, bike rental. Continue to Chiang Mai. Accommodation at hotel and overnight stay.

Day 12: Chiang Mai/Mae Hong Son (B, L, D, G)

07:00: After breakfast at hotel, leave from Chiang Mai by air conditioned vehicle and drive along the winding road to Pai. At Pai we will stop and take in a couple of the local sights including the Mae Yen temple, located across the river from the tiny town and halfway up a mountain. Those who are willing to endure the 350 steps to get there will be rewarded with tremendous views of the valley and important and historic temples and mural renditions of the lives of Buddha and of the local Thai people.

Lunch will be at Mo Paeng Waterfall and afterwards we will continue on Mae Hong Son. Before we reach Mae Hong Son we will stop and visit Tham Plaa or “Fish Cave”. This is not a cave as you might expect but more a large pool of water with a natural rock protection. The pool is very unique as it is inhabited by hundreds of sacred Soro brook carp, some being a meter in length. We arrive Mae Hong Son about 16:00 pm and we will embark for the temple atop Kong Mu hill. Wat Doi Kong Mu affords a spectacular views of the entire valley in which Mae Hong Son is nestled. The temple itself is notable for its two large white chedis and its typical Shan architecture. We will then check-in at your hotel and you will have the evening free to enjoy your dinner, explore the city or to simply relax.

Day 13: Mae Hong Son/Chiang Mai (B, L, D, G)

Early breakfast is at the hotel followed by a visit to the bustling morning market, where you can enjoy the mountain morning browsing the merchandise of the local and hill tribe crafts people. Then we will make our way to a Padong Village. Long Neck Padong people are a unique hill tribe in Thailand as some of the women choose to wear a brass coil that over time elongates the neck as much as double. Originating in the Shan State in Burma (Union of Myanmar) these unique peoples are a small minority of the Karennin or Red Karen people of Burma. There is much speculation about why the rings are worn by the women of this tribe but, when asked, most of these gentle and proud ladies will tell you it is simply tradition.

Some people will suggest that the Long Neck villages are a tourist display but perhaps the more correct view is that this is an opportunity to discover a people with an unsettled history and a very different culture. A visit to a Padong village will more likely leave you culturally enriched with a desire to better understand these friendly people. Lunch will be at the hill tribe village and early afternoon we will depart back to Chiang Mai. On the way back we will take an 8 km side trip to view the Lod Cave. This enormous cave is part of a cavern system that is among the largest in Asia. You will be able to enter the cave by raft on the small river (Lang River) that runs through the cave. Then we drive back to Chiang Mai for check into hotel and free at own leisure.

Day 14: Chiang Mai/Elephant Safari (B, L, D, G)

Breakfast at hotel. Travel north on Chiang Mai Thaton route , to Chiang Dao elephant training camp. Enjoy the spectacular scenery along the way . Arrive at the camp, watch the elephants taking a bath in a mountain stream and a brief demonstration of elephants working in a jungle. After the show, take one hour of elephant riding to Lisu village.

1:00 P.M : Picnic lunch . After that embark on bamboo raft for one hour rafting along Ping River.

On the way back to Chiang Mai, make a short stop at Orchid Farm in which the visitors will admire these exotic year-round blooms.

Day 15: Chiang Mai sightseeing/Bangkok (B, L, D, G)

Breakfast at hotel. Visit to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep for witness Thailand most popular Buddhist pilgrim center. Visit to local handicrafts center. Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch proceed to Chiang Mai airport for flight departure to Bangkok. Upon arrival at Bangkok airport, transfer to check into hotel and free at own leisure.

Day 16: Bangkok City tour (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing tour of Bangkok’s highlight including a visit to Wat Benchamaborphit known as The Marble Temple. Proceed to Wat Po or Reclining Buddha Temple to witness its huge of the Buddha image in the site, tour also visit to Thai traditional massage school. Continue for the remarkable Grand Palace and the Temple of Emerald Buddha. Lunch served at restaurant by the riverside. After lunch proceed onto canals tour by boat and shopping for the rest of the day.

Day 17: Bangkok departure (B, G)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Bangkok airport for flight departure.