Complete Laos

Upon arrival, transfer to hotel.

The rest of the day will be left free to relax after the flights. The beautiful Luang Prabang, UNESCO World Heritage Site. was the real capital and seat of the government for the Kingdom of Laos until the 1975 revolution. The main part of the city consists of four main roads that cross a peninsula between the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

We explore the city a Tuk Tuk (a motorized riot), type of means of transport brought in Southeast Asia in 1934 by Japan, and which has since become an icon of the region. The classic Tuk Tuk has a sheet metal roof covering an open frame that rests on three wheels. They are one of the most popular forms of transport in Laos, Thailand and Cambodia, and this Southeast Asian emblem is the perfect vehicle for an outdoor tour of Luang Prabang.

Starting from the hotel at 08:30, we go up on Tuk Tuk to reach the mercato mattutino outdoor in the old town. There are only a few large grocery stores here, however, food is still produced by small families and agricultural villages and brought to Luang Prabang from the surrounding rural areas. The guide will explain the common vegetables and fruits that are of season and will pick up some snacks for later.

A day to follow the footsteps of the local listeners! We spend half a day in the laughter and forget to be tourists! In a traditional working organic farm you will be introduced at every stage of the rice industry and, of course, you will be involved in the selection of seeds, water buffalo, boring sowing etc. And of course there will also be rice to eat!

A deviation in a village Hmong will make you know something interesting about the secular culture of these people. Kuang Falls You are the ideal place to relax and recharge your batteries. The Bear Rescue Center and some villages are waiting for you today, where you can learn about traditional craftsmanship.

Today's day is divided into two different morning and afternoon activities, both with the support of local village guides. In addition to ceramics, we can enjoy an authentic Laotian meal: we promise you a truly Laotian and relaxed experience and we hope that you will leave feeling like friends and family!

For more than 400 years the families of the village Ban Chan produce ceramics. The ancient kings of Laos chose this village for their skill in ceramic production, which became the main lifestyle of the population. At first the pots were used to ferment the fish and contain the water, but today the families produce a wide range of objects, from beautifully decorated florists to terracotta tiles, made almost entirely by hand with the same techniques handed down over the centuries. Projects are underway to help preserve this extraordinary story, which is slowly disappearing: only six families still retain these techniques.

During the tour, not only can you observe from behind the scenes these ancient techniques, but you will also have the opportunity to touch the clay. Our skilled ceramists will guide you as you experience a truly Laotian cultural activity closely. How many people can say they have made Laotian ceramics using ancient techniques? You will!

We start from Luang Prabang taking the road on the highlands through the beautiful countryside to Phonsavan (distance: 270 km / 6-7 hours)

Along the way we enjoy panoramic views and those of the Hmong villages of the region. Hmong is an ethnic group of the Laos mountainous regions. They are also one of the subgroups of Miao ethnicity in southern China. Hmong groups began a gradual migration south in the 18th century due to political disorders and lack of Arab land.

Lunch at the panoramic point Khoun. Then continue to Phonsavanh with a stop in Muang Sui to visit the caves Tham Pha and Lake Nong Tang.

The two limestone caves Tham Pha hide many small Buddha figures dating back to the Haw invasion, which took place several hundred years ago. The weak lighting is lit by the inhabitants of the place after payment of a small donation and this is how you cross the caves, which are connected by small passages and extend deep into the mountain.

Lake Nong Tang is a large natural lake lined with high limestone cliffs.

Overnight in Phonsavan

Phonsavanh is the capital of Xieng Khuang Province, a well-known tourist destination for its famous Plain of Jars.

In 1973, almost every city and village of Xieng Khuang were bombed and destroyed as a result of what is now called "The Secret War" in Laos, a ten-year period during which the United States and their allies bombed the region without regard to the borders in an attempt to stop the movements on the Ho Chi Minh path. About two tonnes of ordnance per inhabitant were released on the country, with much of this bombing that occurred on Xieng Khuang. However, the area is still extraordinaryly beautiful, with the mysterious ancient jars resting near the strange craters that rub the earth, memories of the dark days of a devastating war.

We start the day with a visit to the Plain of Jars (Site I and Site II), which is one of the largest ancient cultural sites in Laos and one of the most enigmatic and fascinating destinations in Laos. This region is characterized by a unique landscape and a mystery that has captured the imagination of travellers and scholars.

The name "Plain of Jars" comes from the large stone urns that dot the surrounding landscape. These stone urns, called "giare", are ancient cylindrical structures of various sizes, ranging from small to gigantic. They are often arranged in groups and are scattered on hills and plateaus. The origin and reason of these jars remain an enigma, but it is thought that they were used in the past for funerary or ceremonial purposes.

The mysterious and evocative aspect of the Plain of Jars is amplified by the natural beauty of the landscape. Green hills, rice terraces and traditional villages extend around the fields, creating a scene that seems to come out of an enchanted world. The serene beauty of this place is in sharp contrast to its tormented past.

After leaving Phonsavan, we head towards the impressive mountain region of central Laos, where we will visit some Hmong villages.

The Hmong are an Asian ethnic group of the Laos mountainous regions and are also one of the subgroups of the Miao, an ethnic minority of southern China of Laos; they began a gradual migration south in the eighteenth century due to political disorders and to find more agricultural land.

We conclude our journey to the small town of Vang Vieng, framed by gigantic limestone cliffs in the scenic valley of the Nam Song River.

Today we head south towards Vientiane on the banks of Mekong, which had already been declared the capital of the Laos Kingdom in 1563.

The colonial administration was established here during the French colonial era and, thanks to the economic growth of recent years, the city has become the most important economic center of the country.

Buddha Park (aka Wat Xieng Khuan) is a famous sculpture park with over 200 religious statues including a huge image of Buddha lying 40 meters high.

The best place for photography here is on top of the giant pumpkin structure about three floors high. The entrance is made to resemble the mouth of a demon (about three meters high) with a stone staircase inside which leads to a bird-flight view of the entire Xieng Khuan Park.

It was built in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, a monk who studied both Buddhism and Hinduism. This explains why his park is full of not only images of Buddha but also of Hindu deities, as well as demons and animals of both beliefs.

The most important include Indra, the king of Hindu gods riding the three-head elephant (alias Erawan and Airavata), a four-armed deity sitting on a horse and an artistic deity with 12 faces and many hands, each with interesting objects. They are all equally impressive not only for their huge size, but because they are full of interesting details and interesting reasons.

There is a local restaurant and a coffee that offers food and drink to tourists at the end of the park right next to the Mekong River which is a great place to relax after all walks and climbing. Popular snacks include papaya salad, fried bananas and Lao beer.

You can enjoy a lunch (not included) in a local restaurant before continuing to Vang Vieng, which is hidden between gigantic limestone cliffs and is located along the Nam Song River. This is an area of immense natural beauty, with the Nam Song River passing through the shadows of dramatic mountains.

Overnight in Vientiane.

We discover the charm of Vientiane, a quiet but captivating capital. The tour includes Wat Sisaket, Wat Simuang, Hor Phra Keo, Stupa That Luang, COPE Center and Patuxay monument.

Wat Si Saket dates back to the 19th century and the oldest Buddhist temple in the city, although it still retains its original form.

The temple was built in 1820 near the Royal Palace in the center of the city by King Anouvong, the last king of Vientiane. It is one of the very few temples that survived the destruction that arrived with the Siamese armies, who plundered and burned the city in 1827. The temple was restored in 1930.

What makes Wat Si Saket a special place is its architectural style that mixes traditional Laotian elements with influences from Thailand and Vietnam. The temple is surrounded by a dark red brick wall that protects numerous small mats, or funerary stones, which contain the ashes of the dead.

One of the most iconic features of Wat Si Saket is its impressive order of thousands of small statues of Buddha, placed along the walls of the temple. These statues, made of various materials, such as wood, stone and clay, represent an extraordinary testimony of Buddhist devotion through the centuries.

The main building of the temple has a double sloped roof decorated with elaborate wooden carvings and gold details. The interior of the temple houses altars dedicated to various Buddhist deities, and visitors can observe traditional frescoes that narrate religious and mythological stories.

Wat Si Saket is also surrounded by a quiet courtyard with manicured gardens and shady trees, which create a serene and contemplative atmosphere. It is a place of prayer and reflection, but also of admiration for art and intrinsic architecture to the Laotian culture.

Next to the cloister is the most recent and active part of the temple with resident monks.

On the other side of the street there is another of the most important temples in Vientiane, Hor Phra Keo.

Transfer from your hotel to the airport for flight to Pakse.

After arrival, visit the city of Champasak, where we will explore the French colonial architecture that punctuates the city. Further south, we reach the Khmer temple complex in ruin of Vat Phou. Our next stop is the city of Champasak with its French colonial architecture. Continue towards the largest islands in the 4000 islands region, Don Khong.

Vat Phu is located in the province of Champasak in the southern Laos and is an ancient complex of temples and structures dating back to the time of the Khmer Empire. A temple on the site was built around the 5th century, but most of the buildings found in the complex date back to the 13th century. This charming site, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most important and imposing places in the region, witnessing the artistic and religious greatness of the past.

Like other remarkable Khmer architectures in Southeast Asia, it was built using sandstone, bricks and bricks. Among the many exceptional engravings are Indra, the Hindu god of war, storms and rains, who rides a three-head elephant and Vishnu riding a garuda, an eagle.

The name "Wat Phou" means "Mountain Temple", and this description makes justice to its picturesque location. The complex is built on the side of a hill that gradually rises, creating an atmosphere of sacredness and contemplation. Along the ascending path, visitors can admire terraces, courtyards and ancient stone structures, all immersed in a breathtaking natural environment.

The center of the Wat Phou is represented by the main structure, a series of stone temples and shrines leading to a series of steps leading to the top of the hill. Along the way, there are bas-reliefs carved on rocks depicting scenes of Hindu and Buddhist mythology, along with inscriptions in Sanskrit that narrate the history of the temple.

The top of the complex offers an extraordinary panoramic view of the surrounding valley, creating an experience of serenity and contemplation. The views span the countryside, rice fields and the Mekong River, creating a deep link between sacred architecture and surrounding nature.

Today he explores the 4000 islands by boat, sailing downstream on the Mekong River to reach the islands of Don Khone and Don Det, where you will stay overnight.

With the meaning of "four thousand islands", Si Phan Don is a group of islands in the Mekong River in the south of Laos. The rhythm of life is slow in the rural area where the local population lives in small wooden houses on stilts and where cows, goats, pigs and other animals wander freely.

The most visited islands are Don Khone, Don Det and Don Khong, which is the largest island. Don Det is a small island that offers the most choice of accommodation. The island attracts a large number of backpackers. The largest island of Don Khone, which is only one kilometre from the Cambodian border, is less developed than Don Det. The island is connected with Don Det with a bridge built by the French during the colonial era. During the rainy season it is 12 km wide. When water is reduced, many small islands are created. This phenomenon has given its name to the region.

We cross the Mekong again with a small boat to reach the mainland and continue further south to visit the legendary waterfalls of Khone Phafeng, the biggest of their kind in Southeast Asia.

13 km from the Cambodian border and east of Don Khone on the Mekong River lies the pearl of Mekong, the Khone Phapheng waterfall. Here the Mekong crosses a wide line of faults, which tilts in a curved way and causes the river to cross it with an impressive power. Khone Phapheng is the largest waterfall due to its great power and steep descent, the waterfall makes this area of Mekong unsealable, before flowing peacefully south into Cambodia and Vietnam.

I return to Pakse in the afternoon for the last night in Laos. Overnight in Pakse

Transfer to the airport for return flight.