Laos Holiday

Laos is the least populated of the Indochinese countries, and perhaps it's the most beautiful. The landscape is dominated by its mountains, jungles and of course the Mekong River which runs for 1800 km along the western border of the country. This typical 10-day classic tour covering all highlights in Laos such as the laid-back Vientiane capital, the small town of Pakse, the World Heritage site Wat Phou, the eco-friendly King Fisher Ecolodge, the hidden Done Khone in 4,000 Island and the charming former capital Luang Prabang.

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Duration: 10 days/9 nights

Tour Code: MLSD06

Tour Valid: Until December 30th, 2013

Highlights: Vientiane - Parkse - Wat Phou - Champaksak - Don Khone Island - Luang Prabang

• Day 1 - Vientiane arrival

  Place Transport: Airplane->Car
  Meals: Dinner

  We'll pick you up on arrival at Vientiane International Airport and transfer you to your hotel. After a short rest, you will have a guide to visit the Morning Market and stroll around the city distance, and observe the sunset nearby the Mekong Riverside and see the city lifestyle of local people. Stay overnight in Vientiane.

  Day 2 - Vientiane City Tour

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  After breakfast, you will visit the major sights of the capital including the oldest Wat Sisaket- the temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to Lao's national precious heritage and the famous and sacred structure -That Luang Stupa, you will stop enroute to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument which is well known as Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph. In the afternoon, you will be transferred out to see the Buddha Park- a scattered enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, close to the Friendship Bridge. Stay overnight in Vientiane.

  Day 3 - Vientiane - Pakse - Wat Phou - Champasak - King Fisher Ecolodge

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  After breakfast, you'll be driven to the airport for a morning flight to Pakse. On arrival, you'll be driven on the National Road No 13th to visit the ruins of Wat Phou and some nearby Khmer temples and Buddhist shrines. Wat Phu is one of the Lao World Heritage sites recognized by UNESCO in 2001. This wonderful archaeological site of Khmer civilization dates back to the 5th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia and is one of the highlights in Southern Laos. After that, we will go back to Champasak then visit the King Fisher Ecolodge- a spacious bungalow-style lodge with an open-air restaurant overlooking the Pha Po wetland in Xe Pian National Protected Area. Stay overnight at the King Fisher Ecolodge.

  Day 4 - Elephant riding in Phou Asa - Kingfisher Ecolodge

  Place Transport: Elephant
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  Today, you'll learn to ride an elephant at the Elephant Riders School in Laos. The minimum length of the training course is four hours in one day, two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. During the first two hours, you will learn the basics controls and if the trainer considers your skills appropriate, you will ride the elephant up to Phou Asa Mountain in the afternoon. Alternatively, you can choose just to ride an elephant around the wetland or to Phou Asa. Stay overnight at the Kingfisher Ecolodge.

  Day 5 - King Fisher Ecolodge - Don Khone Island

  Place Transport: Car->Boat
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  Your morning will be free to stroll around the resort on your own. Later, you'll be driven to see Khone Phapeng- the Southeast Asia's largest waterfall. After that, you'll be taken to a local port and take 20 minutes boat trip to Done Khone where you will spend the night.

  Day 6 - Don Khone Island - 4000 Islands

  Place Transport: Boat
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  In the early morning, you will explore the local villages of Ban Khone where the old French colonial buildings and its retrace the old colonial past with seeing the first Lao railway with its locomotive. You will continue discovering the 4000 islands area by boat at leisure to visit the Liphi waterfall- one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking the end of Lao border to Cambodia, also known as the Samphamith. With lucks, you may even see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone. Stay overnight in Don Khone Island.

  Day 7 - Done Khone Island - Pakse - Luang Prabang

  Place Transport: Boat->Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  In the morning, you'll take a boat trip back to the main land. Arriving in the main land, you'll find a car and driver waiting for you to take you back to Pakse for your noon flight to Luang Prabang. Arriving in Luang Prabang, you'll be met and driven to your hotel. After a short rest, you'll be free to stroll around the Night Market which offers handmade textiles woven by local people and ethnic minority communities. Stay overnight in Luang Prabang.

  Day 8 - Luang Prabang City Tour

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  After breakfast, you will enjoy a guided-tour seeing the city's oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. You will then visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun. In the late afternoon, you will climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset near the Mekong River. The rest of the day will be free to wander around the ancient street or just relax with a Laos's beer along the Nam Khan River. Stay overnight in Luang Prabang.

  Day 9 - Luang Prabang - Kuangsi Waterfall - Ban Phanom Weaving Village

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  This is the morning when you need your alarm clock! Please get up early and have a sustaining beverage and a small snack. Then you'll witness one of Laos' unique ceremonies – the daily 'alms giving' ritual of saffron-clad monks walking in a long line holding black bowls to receive offerings from local people. The traditional gift is a handful of 'sticky rice', but nowadays money is equally acceptable. You'll then return to your hotel for a proper breakfast. Afterwards, you'll be driven to the Kuangsi Waterfalls- a serene beauty spot where you can splash around in the pools or stroll the forest paths. You will also visit Ban Phanom which is a well-known weaving village. Stay overnight in Luang Prabang.

  Day 10 - Luang Prabang Departure

  Place Transport: Car->Airplane
  Meals: Breakfast

  Free time until your car arrives to take you to the airport for departure flight. Our staff will give you the warmest goodbye and hope to see you again.

  The Tour Inclusion:

  - 09 Nights Accommodation.

  - Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above.

  - Boat cruises as specified in the program.

  - Domestic flight tickets: Vientiane- Pakse, Pakse - Luang Prabang, including domestic airport taxes.

  - The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary.

  - Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the program.

  - Meals (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available.

  The Tour Exclusion:

  - International flight tickets and airport tax. Visas.

  - Dinners, except as specified above.

  - Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.

  - Surcharge for peak season (if any) & other not mentioned in the above detail program.

  Additional Information

  Importance note

  - The itinerary is just a sample of our tours; we'll be pleased to design similar programs with dates and itinerary customized to your personal preferences in Tailor Made Tours section. Rates may vary frequently. Please contact us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period and specific touring needs.

  What to bring?

  - Sun Block, Wide brim hat, Camera + Film, Comfortable shoes, Rain gear, Warm clothes, original Passport...

  How to start?

  - MinMax Travel is a fully escorted tour and best-available all year round; the only thing you need to prepare in advance is the international air-ticket from/to your country.

   - If you don’t have enough time to complete visa before your departure, we will help you to obtain Lao Visa on arrival easily (getting visa at the airport, on your arrival).