On arrival in Vientiane Capital, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Vientiane is a charming and fascinating capital, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, Soviet and American influences. A city tour acquaints us with the capital and after freshening up, we start visiting some the major sights; including the oldest temple Wat Sisaket, an amazing structure featuring remarkable frescoes and Buddha images. We also visit the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. En route to Lao’s 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.

The journey northwards begins as we board our flight to Luang Namtha, a province sharing its border with China and Myanmar. Luang Namtha is located on the banks of the Namtha River is a land of rugged mountains and beautiful tropical forests. Today Luang Namtha is populated with over twenty ethnic groups, making this region one of the most ethnically diverse provinces in Laos. On arrival, we travel by road to Moung Sing, stopping along the way at the Akha hill tribe village. This ethnic group originally lived in China but immigrated into Laos over a century ago. They are very poor, but have a vibrant culture and an interesting history. Overnight in Moung Sing.

The remote and extremely beautiful mountainous region of Muong Sing is ideal for an adventurous trekking expedition. After breakfast we stroll round this small town observing the daily activities of the ethnic minorities in the village and see the small vendors sell local textiles and handicrafts on the streets. We leave the village and take a short drive north before we setting off on a half-day trek, using the local tracks. We pass through some breathtaking mountain landscape to the Yao, Akha and Lanten hill tribe villages, where we are sure to attract attention from many ethnic minorities, as visitors do not frequently encounter this remote part of the country. Overnight at Moung Sing.

We depart early this morning for our journey to Oudomxay. These back roads are a perfect way to venture off the beaten track and explore the real Laos. We see very few other travelers, mostly rural dwellers who are just as interested in finding out about our lives as we are of theirs. The drive can be challenging on some parts of our journey due to poor road conditions; however the verdant and rugged mountain scenery combined with the colorful local population makes for a memorable experience. On arrival we check in at a very simple hotel and take a walk to explore this picturesque hill town. Overnight at Oudomxay.

The local market also attracts numerous ethnic minorities who converge from the surrounding mountainsides or valley to barter and trade their goods. We visit this congregation before setting off on our journey along the Nambak River to Muong La. Here we have the chance to visit the intriguing Pra Xack Kham Temple with its sacred Buddha image. The 400 years old legendary statue is said to have many supernatural powers, and is widely worshipped among the faithful local Buddhists. As we continue from Muong La towards Muong Khoua, the roads begin to deteriorate but the drive is very interesting as we pass through some stunning landscape. Overnight in Muong Khoua.

Today, embark a long trail traditional boat for a leisurely trip downstream on the Nam Ou River, enjoying the lush green forests and landscape. Along the way we stop to visit the mysterious caves of Pak Ou, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims. We continue our trip down the river to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang. This former royal capital with its gleaming temple roofs, fading colonial architecture and stunning mountain backdrop retains a unique charm rarely found in all Asia. There is little traffic on the roads and you will see monks dressed in orange robes scurry in all directions carrying umbrellas shading themselves from the Sun. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

It is worth a visit to 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. Today we explore some of the major sights in this faboulous city, including the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham, the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and Wat Mai. We visit these sights as well as the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, its exterior architecture is remarkable with decorated gilded stuccoes and doorways, a “tree of life” mosaic pattern set in colored glass on the back wall and its three tiered roofs sweeping low to the ground representing classical Laotian architecture. A visit to Luang Prabang would be incomplete without ascending 329 steps to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa and to enjoy a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textile made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, we leave this charming city in the early morning for our journey to Vang Vieng. Our journey will be strenuous as we drive along one of the most scenic but also one of the roughest routes in Asia. In the afternoon we arrive in Vang Vieng, a small and tranquil town, which is nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River. Its stunning scenery with a mixture of quiet water and limestone outcrops remains unspoiled, despite recent developments with the advent of tourism. We embark on our boat for a relaxing trip on the Nam Song River, exploring the breathtaking mountain landscape and the famous cave of Tham Jang, which was used in the early 19th century in defense against the Chinese invaders. Overnight in Vang Vieng.

Today we head out of town taking a short drive before we setting off on a full day’s trek from Ban Phatang village through undulating hillsides and paddy fields. On the way, we visit Tham Hoy Cave and Ban Phathao village, which is home to the Hmong ethnic minorities. After a splendid picnic lunch, we continue walking and exploring the fantastic limestone karsts formation. The trekking ends when we arrive to Ban Tham Xang in the late afternoon. At this small village, we have a chance to explore the interesting local lifestyle and enjoy a traditional dance performed by villagers. Overnight in Vang Vieng.

After breakfast, we spend half our day driving to the capital city Vientiane, which is located on the banks of the Mekong River. Vientiane is a charming and fascinating capital, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, Soviet and American influences. After checking into your hotel, we transfer out to see the Buddha Park, an enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, near 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 to reveal 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.

After breakfast, we will be free at leisure before transfering to airport for the departure flight. End services

+ Transportation in private
+ English speaking guide
+ Meals: daily breakfast at hotel
+ Admission fee to indicated sights
+ Boat trip as stated in above sights
+ Flight tickets from Vientiane to Luang Namtha
+ Accommodation in twin shared room
+ Luggage handling and drinking water.
+ Gov’t tax and service charge

+ Personal expenses, drinks, telephone, laundry, tips.
+ Laos visa, airfare and airport departure tax paying at check in desks.
+ Payment services charge by credit card or bank transfer.
+ Other services not mentioned in the itinerary.