Day 1: Houexai – Pakbeng (L)
After passing through immigration, you will cross the Mekong River to HoueiSay in Laos where your Lao guide will be waiting for you at the immigration point. Your local slow boat leaves Houay Xai pier at 09:00hrs for a leisurely cruise down the Mekong to Pakbeng. En route you will make a stop where you will have the opportunity to observe rural life in a remote ethnic minority village.
Your local lunch will be served onboard as you continue on downstream, arriving in Pakbeng before sunset. Overnight in Pakbeng
Day 2: Pakbeng – Nam Kat Yo La Pa (B/D)
We leave Pakbeng and drive towards Oudomxay, the most mountainous area in Laos. The road conditions are good. Oudomxay province is residence to a mixture of 23 ethnic minority groups. We make a few rest stops along the way, which gives you the opportunity to see the ethnic minority groups of Hmong, Khmu, Black Thai and Lu; Hmong hill tribe people at Ban Songja and Ban Jarong. The hill tribe people are unfailingly friendly; welcoming you with waving hands and smiling faces. On arrival at Oudomxay city, we head out the town for 17 km to Nam Kat Yola Pa Resort. The rest of the day to relax and have a swim at your resort.
Day 3: Nam Kat Yo La Pa – Cycling and Zip-Lining (B/L/D)
We start a day tour by Green bus to information center and introduce by camp manager before Cycling from information Centre 5 km – Trekking 900 m through the forest and through Kua Ou Bridge to Namkat waterfall. Zip-Lining (18 lines) through Namkat waterfall and the rainforest along the namkat river.
Overnight at Namkat Yolapa Resort
Day 4: Nam Kat Yo La Pa – Nong Khaiw (B)
Leisure at resort in the morning and we then get back on the road, this time heading south to Nong Khaiw. Nong Khiow is a remote village situated by the banks of the river, across a dramatic valley. The surrounding mountainous scenery is stunning.
Day 5: Nong Khaiw – Morning boat trip to Muang Gnoi (B/L)
This morning we take a boat up to Muang Ngoi, a picturesque little fishing village 1 hour upstream from Nong Khiaw. We then trek to the Tham Kang, where according to local legend, a Naga resides to the rear. We then continue through rice paddy fields onto the Lao Loum village of Ban Na, which is only accessible by foot, so retains much of its original character. After lunch, our last stop is the Thai Daeng village of Huay Sen, before we trek back to Muang Ngoi, through a mixture of forest and paddy field scenery. Before boarding the boat back to Nong Khiaw, you may wish to do as the locals do and bathe in the Nam Ou. We return to Nong Khiaw by early evening.
Overnight in Nong Khiaw
Day 6: Nong Khaiw – Pak Ou Cave and Luang Prabang (B)
This morning we have time for a short walk to Tham Pha Thok, a limestone cave where villagers hid during the Indochina War. The caves offer a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside.
Today we begin our drive south to Luang Prabang, enjoying the lush green forests and landscape. We will be able to stop off at a few villages and admire the breathtaking limestone karst scenery. Along the way we stop and cross by boat 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. Late afternoon we arrive at Luang Prabang for overnight
Day 7: City tour and Khuang Si Waterfall (B)
After breakfast at hotel, we visit the city’s oldest temples, the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roof sweeping low to the ground, representing classical Lao architecture. We visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts and Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures.
After Lunch, we drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest paths (on the way, we visit villages of different minorities Laotian ETHNIC IDENTIFICATION (Ban Quay, Ban Ou). There’s also an opportunity to visit the bear sanctuary nearby, run by Free The Bears Fund Inc. From there we will climb to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred gilded stupa and to enjoy the panoramic view of the city and the sun setting over the Mekong River.
You will find yourself in the midst of the famous Luang Prabang Night Market, where you can find a unique selection of handmade textiles and handicrafts locally made by both ethnic Lao and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Day 8: Luang Prabang – Departure
You are free until transfer to airport for flight to next destination.
Tour Inclusions:
- Selected accommodation with breakfast in twin share room
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Private air-condition transportation
- Boat at the program
- Experience and friendly English-speaking local guide
- Sightseeing and permit fees during guided times
- Refreshment
- Service charge and VAT taxes
Tour Exclusions:
- Visa stamping fee at the Embassy
- Elephant Trekking
- Domestic flights quote separately
- Int’l air tickets to/from Laos
- Travel Insurance in all kinds
- Other foreign language guide
- Peak tourist season or special event rates
Trip Notes:
– Travelers are highly recommended to purchase Travel Insurance upon commitment of the booking in case of force majeure. Travel Insurance covers such costs as emergency and medical evacuation, hospital fees, property loss, etc. which could possibly happen during the trip.
– Rooms at hotels are available only from 1400 on arrival day till 1200 on departure date. A supplement will be added if early check-in or late check-out is desired.
– The itinerary may subject to change depending on weather conditions and the local situation.
– Reservations during peak times such as Christmas, New Year, Vietnamese Lunar New Year, National Holidays may be subject to supplementary charges.
– If any proposed service is not available at the time of booking, we will try to find alternative and similar option and minimize changes to the program.
– Domestic flights may subject to change or reschedule before departure date
– Vietnam Travel and Cruise is not responsible for any injury, loss, death, inconvenience, delay or damage to personal property in connection with the provision of any goods or services whether resulting from but not limited to acts of God or force majeure, illness, disease, acts of war, civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, animals, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of services, food poisoning, mechanical or other failure of aircraft or other means of transportation or for failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart on time. Additional expenses incurred due to delays, accidents, natural disaster, political actions and unrest, must be covered by the clients. Vietnam Travel and Cruise will make every effort to recoup any losses from the service providers.
Booking condition:
Payment:
– A Deposit of AUD$300 per person is required upon confirmation of your booking. This deposit is non-refundable.
– The balance is due 30 days prior to departure. If you fail to pay by the due date we reserve the right to cancel your booking and retain your deposit.
– If you make a booking less than 30 days prior to departure, full payment is due within 48 hours.
Cancellation: Any cancellations must be made in witting.
– Cancellation fees apply to all cancelled reservations. The fee is determined by the date written cancellation received by Vietnam Travel and Cruise.
– Cancellation more than 30 days – Loss of deposit
