Southern Laos can be a rewarding part of the country to explore, with some great obscure sites along with a package of traveler favorites. Since its foundation, this tour has established good working relationships with local suppliers, transportation agents and hotels. Give us a try, we believe you will have memorable time in Laos and receive an incredibly good value for your money.
Duration: 10 days/9 nights
Tour Code: MLHL02
Tour Valid: Until December 30th, 2013
Highlights: Vientiane - Prabaht Ponsan - Sala Hin Boun - Kong Lor Cave - Thakek - Buddha Cave - Savannakhet - Pakse - Tadlo - Wat Phou - Don Daeng - 4000 Islands
Day 1 - Vientiane Arrival - City Tour
Place Transport: Airplane->Car
Meals: DinnerOn arrival in Vientiane, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. If time permits, your half day city tour enables us to see the major temples of Vientiane including the oldest, Wat Sisaket, a temple of thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We'll also visit Lao national icon, That Luang Stupa. Then we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument which is Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph. Stay overnight in VientianeDay 2 - Vientiane - Prabaht Ponsan - Khoun Kham - Ban Naphouak - Sala Hin Boun
Place Transport: Car->Boat
Meals: Breakfast - LunchYou will be picked up from your Vientiane Hotel this morning, and travel south along route 13. En route we stop at Prabaht Ponsan- an Manoluck LPQ stupa dating back to the 15th Century. It is also home to the Manoluck LPQ Budhhas footprint, was discovered in 1933, and now an is an important religious site in Laos. Following the lunch, we continue onwards into Khammoune province and into the mountainous area where a stop at a view point near Khoun Kham offers a breathtaking view over the surrounding area. We eventually reach to Ban Naphouak where we board a local boat on the Hin Boun River. The journey upstream takes us past some stunning limestone karst scenery as well as a number of villages with smiling waving children. In the late afternoon, we reach to your accommodation for the night at Sala Hin Boun. You have the rest of the day at leisure. Stay overnight at Sala Hin Boun.Day 3 - Sala Hin Boun - Kong Lor Cave
Place Transport: Boat
Meals: Breakfast - LunchAfter breakfast at Sala Hin Boun, we continue by boat upriver to Kong Lor village before boarding a smaller boat into the famous Kong Lor Cave. We navigate through the cave which is over 7km long and includes a spectacular cavern over 100m high. We'll have lunch in a remote village on the other side of the cave. We return to Sala Hin Boun before sunset. Stay overnight at Sala Hin Boun.Day 4 - Sala Hin Boun - Naphouak - Thakek
Place Transport: Boat->Car
Meals: Breakfast - LunchFollowing breakfast, we set off by road to Naphouak, before heading south by boat through some of the most spectacular gorges found in Southeast Asia. Along the way, we make a stop for lunch and a picturesque Lao Loum village, and then we are picked up by car and transferred to Thakek in the late afternoon. Stay overnight in Thakek.Day 5 - Thakek - Buddha Cave - Thakek
Place Transport: Tuk Tuk
Meals: Breakfast - LunchWe depart Thakek by Tuk-tuk, and follow the old French railway track that was destined for Vietnam but was never finished. Continuing through impressive scenery, you arrive at the village of Ban Nakhang Xang and meet the village guides who will escort you on your trek. Passing through secondary forest, your guide will point out forest products that form an important part of local people's food resources. Going through a cave, you enter a striking valley with towering cliffs and forest. The trail follows the shoreline of Nong Thao Lake where you can see local fishermen at work. On arrival at Tham Nong Paseum cave, more adventurous swimmers can explore the cave. The cave is 400 metres long and contains dramatic stalactites and stalagmites. Back in daylight, the trip continues onto Khammouane's famous Buddha cave for a traditional Lao lunch of Mekong fish, sticky rice and spicy papaya salad. After lunch, we visit Tham Pa Fa or Buddha cave which was rediscovered in April 2004. The cave contains 229 bronze Buddhas that are said to be over 300 years old. If time permits, you will also be able to travel by local canoe into the water cave below. Your guide will now escort you back to the village following a different route through the forest, and you will return to Thakek in the late afternoon. Stay overnight in Thakek.Day 6 - Thakek - Savannakhet - Pakse
Place Transport: Car
Meals: Breakfast - LunchThis morning, we are back on the road heading south to Thakek. En route we stop to visit the town of Savannkhet- is famous for its French Colonial buildings and also the sacred stupa of That Inhang. We have ample time to explore the town before reaching Pakse in the early evening. Stay overnight in Pakse.Day 7 - Pakse - Bolevean Plateau - Tad Fan Waterfall - Tad Lo
Place Transport: Car
Meals: Breakfast - LunchThis morning, you will be met and taken by road west into the Bolevean Plateau. The Bolevean Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. The area is famous for its many waterfalls, and the most beautiful of these falls is Tad Fan. Tad Fan waterfall is spectacular with twin waterfalls plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by flourishing vegetation. A trip to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that can be seen en route. In the afternoon, we arrive at Tad Lo- home to another scenic waterfall and numerous ethnic minority groups. We visit the villages of Alak, Nge, and Katu before staying overnight in Tad Lo.Day 8 - Tad Lo - Pha Suam waterfall - Pakse - Wat Phou - Don Daeng Islands
Place Transport: Car
Meals: Breakfast - LunchAfter an early breakfast, we head out towards Khong Island. On the way, we make a short detour to visit Pha Suam waterfall and to explore the ethnic minority villages of Lao Teung. We continue to travel by roading via Pakse town, and cross the Mekong by ferrying to visit the fascinating Angkorian ruins of Wat Phou- one of Southeast Asia's most dramatically situated temples. Following lunch, we continue our journey by car, and ferry to Don Daeng Island. Stay overnight in Don Daeng.
Day 9 - Don Daeng - Liphi and Khone Phapheng Waterfalls - 4000 Islands
Place Transport: Car->Boat
Meals: Breakfast - LunchFollowing breakfast, we enjoy a visit to the surrounding countryside, and embark on a long tail boat tour of the Don Khone area which takes you to visit the remains of the French period and Liphi Waterfall or "the Corridor of the Devil". We return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive to the south to visit Khone Phapheng. Khone Phapheng is considered as the largest waterfall by volume in South East Asia. Setting within an area which is teeming with wildlife make this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos. Stay overnight in Don Daeng.Day 10 - Don Daeng - Pakse Depature
Place Transport: Car->Airplane
Meals: BreakfastAfter breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your departing flight. Thanks for traveling with Minmax.The Tour Inclusion:
- 09 Nights Accommodation with breakfast.- Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above.- Boat cruises as specified in the program.- 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 programAdditional 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 Laos Visa on arrival easily (getting visa at the airport, on your arrival).
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