Rondreis | Unique Laos + Thailand

Arrive at the international airport of Vientiane and meet your driver outside the arrival hall. Transfer to your hotel in the city center.
The rest of the day remains free.

Depart from the hotel by motorbike, a Suzuki Smash 115cc, and visit four of Vientiane’s amazing highlights. Start with Vat Sisaket, the only temple left intact after the Siamese invasion of Laos in 1828. It shelters hundreds of statues of Buddha in its walls and is an infamous landmark in the city. Continue to Vat Phra Keo, which is now used as a religious museum where Lao and Khmer works of art are exhibited. It used to host the “Emerald Buddha” that is now on display in Bangkok’s Royal Palace. Later in the day, visit That Luang, the holiest place in Laos and object of an amazing pilgrimage each November. The structure is iconic and represented on all bank notes and official stamps of Laos. The golden stupa is build on a small hill and visible from afar. Its compound is just as impressive as its sight with many relaxing corners from where to observe the splendid architecture. Finally, visit the Patuxai Monument, also called Anousavari, and enjoy a panoramic view over the city from its roof. It is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe that is located at the top of Lan Xang Avenue, the Champs Elysees of the Lao capital. After lunch (not included), visit the COPE center and learn more about Laos and a part of its history that is not very well known among most visitors: the Secret War. Learn all you need to know about the complications and challenges that the Laotian people faced after the war. End the day on a high note and visit the eccentric Buddha Park, which is located around 30 minutes from the city by car. The locals refer to the park as Vat Xieng Khuan. The park contains numerous religious sculptures that mix up Hindu and Buddhist styles. With over 200 statues along the Mekong River bank, it certainly is a very intriguing sight to behold. Return to Vientiane afterwards and enjoy a free remainder of the evening.

We leave Vientiane and drive with our motorbikes through beautiful landscapes to Vang Vieng. On the way, we will make a stop at Tha Lat and enjoy a lunch on a local boat. The second stop before we will reach Vang Vieng, will be at the fishermen’s market in Tha Heua, on the shores of the Nam Ngum lake.

Upon arrival, we enjoy some time at leisure.

Enjoy a morning at leisure in Vang Vieng.
In the early afternoon, meet your guide for a motorbike ride through the beautiful countryside that surrounds Vang Vieng. Your guide will lead you to the Blue Lagoon. Beautiful turquoise water await you for a refreshing swim.
Return to town for an aperitif at sunset, with beautiful views over the Nam Song River and the mountains.

We leave Vang Vieng after breakfast and transfer through beautiful landscapes and mountainous roads to Luang Prabang. Our first stop will be after a 3 hours ride at the strawberry farm Phou Khoun, where we will enjoy lunch.
After lunch we continue for another 3‐4 hours until we reach Luang Prabang, an UNESCO World Heritage city.

After breakfast, explore Luang Prabang. Start with a visit to the National Museum, which used to be the former Royal Palace. Inside the complex of the museum you will see the “Prabang”, or the sacred golden statue, giving its name to the town. Continue to Vat Mai, the former royal temple, which is Luang Prabang’s largest and most decorated temple. Not far stands Vat Sene, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful temples in town, with its red walls and golden bas‐reliefs. The nearby Heritage House is a perfect example of Luang Prabang’s traditional building style and is made of wood and stands on poles. Admire the complicated architecture style and learn why many houses in Laos, but also in neighboring countries were often build on poles. Visit afterwards the TAEC, the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre. The center depicts Laos‘ rich ethnic diversity with themed rotating exhibits. It is hosted in the former French colonial mansion of a judge. Continue to Vat Xieng Thong, one of the most emblematic temples in Laos. It is located at the top of the peninsula, where the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers meet. If time allows, visit also Vat Visoun and Vat Aham. Both are historically important pagoda’s based on what they represent.
At the end of the tour, climb Mount Phousi in time for an incredible sunset view of the town and its surroundings. After sunset, climb down the stairs and find yourself in the middle of the local hill‐tribe night market, which every night lightens up the central part of town.

We depart after breakfast from the hotel by minivan and reach the ethnic Khmu village of Ban Longlao Nun and the Hmong village of Ban Longlao Song after a one hour drive. Dive deep into their lifestyles and see how, despite their differences, they manage to work and live together on a daily basis. From here we start out trek that lead us through rice paddies and vegetable farms until we reach the mountainous forest. Along the ways we will also explore a cave that was used as a bomb shelter during the second Indochina war.
After we have been in the cave, we will walk another hour to the springs of the Kuang Si waterfalls. A beautiful pond full of sacred fishes can be seen here. From the top we will walk down and enjoy a tasty Lao style lunch in this beautiful surrounding.
The afternoon is spent bathing and relaxing around the turquoise pools below the waterfall. You can also visit the bear conservation center which is located nearby and home for many bears which have been rescued from illegal farms.
Before we return to Luang Prabang, we take a short walk to the nearby Khmu village of Ban Thapene, which is home to some of the most beautiful pools of the Kuang Si waterfalls.

Breakfast is served at your hotel, after which you depart for the pier in the very early morning at 7AM. Board the Shompoo cruise and cruise towards Pak Ou. The boat sets anchor at the confluence with the Nam Ou River allowing you to explore the enervating caves of Tham Ting and Tham Phoum, which both house thousands of Buddha statues. Lunch is served on board afterwards while the boat continues to follow the river upstream. Relax and take in the stunning scenery. The boat arrives in Pakbeng before sunset. Disembark and check into the lodge for an overnight stay.

Board the Shompoo cruise after an early breakfast and sail further upstream towards Houay Xai village. The village is located right at the border between Laos and Thailand. Gently follow the Mekong River towards Houay Xai and stop on the way at a local hill tribe village. Observe the local way of life and try to connect with the local people by starting a conversation. Lunch is served on board afterwards while the boat continues to follow the river upstream. In the late afternoon you arrive at Houay Xai. Take a TukTuk from here (by yourself) and drive to the border crossing with Thailand. Meet your new driver on the Thai side in Chiang Khong and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, watch a presentation about the Hmong and Lahu tribes, the Golden triangle area and the giant catfish (locally known as Pla Buek) – the world’s biggest fresh water fish found in the Mekong River. Learn about activities that affect the Mekong River and people whose lives depend on the river.
After the presentation, visit a Hmong and Lahu hill tribe village. Visit the shaman house of the Hmong. Drink tea with the shaman and learn why the fireplace is important to the Hmongs and why they bury the placenta and umbilical cord of their newborn babies.
After lunch, transfer to the airport of Chiang Rai, for your departure flight to Bangkok.