Images of Laos 6D5N

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

After some time to rest, begin your “6-Day Laos Family Tour” with a visit to the capital’s major sights, including Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple in Vientiane, featuring thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Prakeo, which once housed the famous Emerald Buddha statue.

On the way to Pha That Luang, Laos’s national icon and a famous sacred monument, we will stop to take photos of the imposing Patuxay Monument, widely known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe.

A welcome dinner will be served at a local restaurant, accompanied by traditional dance and folk songs, offering a great opportunity to experience the local culture.

Overnight in Vientiane.

Meals: D

Accommodation: Hotel

We leave the capital early for our journey northbound. Along the way, we will enjoy breathtaking scenery as we pass through spectacular countryside towards the mountainous region. We will visit the busy and colorful KM52 Market, where various hill tribes gather to trade goods and buy provisions. We may also make short photo stops at Hin Heup Bridge and the fish market in Ban Tha Heua.

From there, we will transfer to your hotel on the northern shore of Nam Ngum Lake, offering a great escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

The afternoon is dedicated to a variety of activities, such as kayaking, water-jet skiing, paddle boating, cycling, or trekking to nearby villages. Please discuss your preferred activities with our guide. These activities are available at an additional cost.

Alternatively, you can relax by the resort’s floating swimming pool.

Overnight in Ban Tha Heua.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel

Wake up early, as you won’t want to miss the serene sunrise over the peaceful lake. Our guide will escort you to a nearby area to observe local villagers preparing for their busy day.

After breakfast, we transfer to Vang Vieng and visit Tham Jang Cave, which was used in the early 19th century as a defense against Chinese invaders.

We then begin our journey along the new road to Luang Prabang, perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The road is well paved, ensuring a smooth journey. Along the way, we pass stunning landscapes featuring steep terraced fields and hill villages. We make a few photo stops at small hill tribe villages, each with its own distinct character. Some are more prosperous than others, but all are full of life. We also have the opportunity to admire panoramic views of the surrounding area from a mountain peak at an elevation of over 2,000 meters.

Before reaching Luang Prabang, we will make a short stop to visit the local school in Ban Huay Sala.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) to explore its collection representing various Lao ethnic groups. We will stroll around the center to learn more about Laos’s diverse ethnic cultures.

Afterwards, we will attend the seminar “Ethnic Diversity and Cultural Change in Laos.”

This fascinating 60-minute presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session, provides background on Laos’s ethnic communities, their history, and cultural practices, including livelihoods and crafts. Guests will have 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.

The seminars are led by one of TAEC’s two founders and directors: either Thongkhoun Soutthivilay, a Luang Prabang native who worked at the Luang Prabang National Museum for 10 years and has attended training sessions and conferences in the US, Thailand, the Netherlands, Japan, and Brunei; or Tara Gujadhur, an American who has worked in Luang Prabang for over 10 years and has a background in anthropology and sustainable tourism development.

A traditional Khmu lunch will be served at TAEC Café.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre, where we will take a short tour before joining one of the following classes:

Dyeing Class: Learn about silkworms and different types of silk. Participants will gain hands-on experience preparing natural dyes and creating three natural dyes using plants directly from the center’s home-grown garden, following techniques practiced in Laos for hundreds of years.

At the end of the class, you will take home two dyed silk skeins or two cotton napkins, as well as one silk scarf that you dyed yourself.

Weaving Class: Begin with an introduction to silk, dyeing, and weaving techniques. Each student will be assigned a loom, and a guide and a weaver will help you learn the art of weaving.

Batik Class: Enjoy an introduction to Hmong batik culture. (Available Monday to Friday only.)

Each student will create a wax-resist, Hmong-style design on hand-loomed hemp, together with the legendary Mae Thao (Grandmother) Zuzong, the center’s resident batik teacher.

Bamboo Weaving Class: Join a master bamboo weaver and learn about the many uses of bamboo in Laos.

Half-Day Class: Students will weave a placemat or a traditional fan.

Village Weaver Class: The Village Weaver Projects are a series of initiatives that create economic opportunities for artisans in rural areas. Through this class, you can learn about Laos and some of its ethnic groups through their artisan traditions. Three distinct ethnic groups participate in the Village Weaver Projects. As you create three small crafts, you can take them home.

Spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying a cold drink at Silk Road Café, overlooking the Mekong River while admiring the sunset behind the mountains.

Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel

After breakfast, we will take a boat to Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden.

Upon arrival, you will listen to a short presentation about the gardens. After that, walk through the Ginger Garden and the Ethno-botanic Garden, which is the centerpiece of the site. Follow the path through the Limestone Walk and take in the stunning mountainous landscape along the Mekong River. Learn how to make a bamboo-stick animal at the site of the former royal family’s hunting lodge.

Then continue your tour of Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden by walking through the Arboretum, Palm Garden, and Bamboo Garden to reach a viewpoint overlooking the rice fields. Stop by the Mist House, where you will learn more about the importance of biodiversity conservation. Finish your excursion with an optional orchid talk at Pha Tad Ke Nursery.

All the gardens feature introductory panels and labels. You can always ask our expert staff if you have any questions or need more information.

Enjoy a delicious Lao set lunch at the Pha Tad Ke Café.

In the afternoon, we continue our cruise downstream along the Mekong River towards Ban Sing, enjoying the peaceful countryside scenery.

We then transfer by local tuk-tuk to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall, where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. You can also see Asiatic bears up close at the Bear Rescue Centre along the jungle walk to the waterfall.

We then take a boat upstream along the Mekong River back to Luang Prabang as the sun sets behind the mountains.

Transfer back to your hotel by tuk-tuk.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel

Wake up at sunrise as we prepare to join one of the most sacred traditions in Laos: the daily morning alms-giving ceremony, which dates back to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temples to collect their daily alms from faithful residents, who sit quietly along the streets.

From there, we will visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. With goods displayed directly on the ground, local people come here to trade their daily catch and produce, including rice, vegetables, fish, and chicken.

This is an excellent opportunity to experience the authentic flavors of local life.

After breakfast, we ascend Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, gilded stupa and enjoy panoramic views of the city and the Mekong River. From there, we will visit the Royal Palace Museum, built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family.

Our city tour continues with a visit to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, a superb example of Lao temple architecture, featuring a sweeping two-tiered roof and ornate mosaics, including a beautiful “Tree of Life” on the rear wall of the temple.

If time permits, we will visit the UXO Visitor Center (closed on Saturdays and Sundays), where you can learn about the Secret War in Laos through its historical documentation.

We will have ample time to stroll around town and explore at your own pace before transferring to the airport for your departure flight, concluding your “6-Day Laos Classic Tour.”

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: N/A