City Escape - Unseen Vientiane Laos

Unseen Vientiane - 3 Days / 2 Nights

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Join us as we set about discovering what lies beyond the gilded temples and subdued bustle of the Laotian capital on our Unseen Vientiane tour.

Join us as we set about discovering what lies beyond the gilded temples and subdued bustle of the Laotian capital on our Unseen Vientiane tour. Over the space of four day travelers are invited to immerse themselves in the many facets of this rich culture, with insights into the intricate handicraft industry and the fascinating world of Buddhism.

You will begin this Laos tour with a visit to the home and workplace of designer Sandra Yuck, where a demonstration using traditional methods to create local products will ensue. All the proceeds raised from this project go directly to a local charity. As the sun begins to set on the city enjoy a stroll around local evening markets, soak up the lively atmosphere and exotic aromas before savoring an authentic Laos dinner.

On the second day of this Unseen Vientiane tour things take a decidedly spiritual twist when you attend a Buddhist seminar lead by your guide an English speaking monk. Enlighten your sense with a visit the last remaining forest temple in the city, where you will partake in a private yoga session, indulge in a traditional sauna and massage. This evening have the unique experience of being involved in the Baci ceremony.

Rise early and give the monks their alms before heading out of town to a forest temple where you will learn about grassroots recycling techniques and plant your own plants.

At sunrise you will have the opportunity to participate in the practice of giving alms to Lao Buddhist monks – a crucial activity of a monk’s day before returning to your hotel for breakfast. This Laos tour offers an authentic, interesting and insightful introduction to Southeast Asia’s biggest village.

Day 1 - Vientiane Arrival - Insight into Lao Craft - Vientiane by Night (D)

Arrive in Vientiane. This afternoon, visit the home and workplace of designer and local expert Sandra Yuck. She will give a talk and different artisans will demonstrate the traditional methods used making Lao products. The money raised from this talk will go directly towards Peuan Mit a local charity and their project to help educate children about drugs and rehabilitate drug addicts in Laos.

In the evening enjoy a night tour of the capital. As the sun begins to set, your guide will take you to the evening food market where the lively sights and sounds of the dinner crowd mix with fantastic smells and flavours. Continue to a nearby restaurant for a delicious dinner served in authentic Lao-style while enjoying a performance of traditional song and dance. Your guide will then suggest and accompany you to either a lounge-style bar for a drink in the laid-back, chic atmosphere or to a more lively local night club to dance the night away.

Overnight in Vientiane

Day 2 - Vientiane - Buddhism Explored (B,L)

Enjoy a sleep-in and late breakfast at your hotel before starting the day's activities. Today your guide will be an English speaking monk who give you an inside view into Lao culture and traditions.

Today you will receive answers to all the questions about Laos and its unique culture whilst exploring contemporary Lao Buddhism, its practices and traditions.

Transfer you to a temple known for over 450 years as a centre for Buddhist education. There, you will meet your tour guide - an English speaking monk who will host an educational session on Lao culture and traditions.

In the afternoon you will travel to one of the last remaining forest temples in Vientiane. There, you will take a private yoga lesson in the shade of the temple's trees, learn about the temple's herbal gardens, try the traditional sauna, practice meditation and indulge in a traditional Lao massage.

In the evening you will have the unique opportunity to experience one of Laos' oldest traditions, The Baci. The purpose of the Baci, which is a mix of Animist and Buddhist beliefs, is to call back escaped spirits to the body.

Overnight in Vientiane

Day 3 - Vientiane - Wat Sokapaluang (B)

Start the morning early making merit. At sunrise you will have the opportunity to participate in the practice of giving alms to Lao Buddhist monks - a crucial activity of a monk's day before returning to your hotel for breakfast.

Today you will travel outside of Vientiane to a forest temple renowned for its work in engaged Buddhism, or Buddhism for development. At the forest temple, you will tour the temple's herbal gardens and learn about their grassroots recycling techniques. You will contribute to the beauty of the temple's garden by planting your own plants, or strolling through the gardens or for you practice meditation.

Your private car and driver will meet at the temple and transfer you to the airport for your departing flight.

Tour Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights
Tour Operates: Year Round / On Demand
Tour Price: Available upon Request

Rates vary frequently. Please contact us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period and specific touring needs.

Our Unseen Vientiane Tour prices include:

Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels.
Tours, transfers and all services as mentioned in the itinerary.
Services of a driver and Private air-conditioned vehicles during all tours and transfers.
Services of an English or French speaking local guide during all tours and transfers (one place one guide).
Entrance fees for all sights visited.
Lunch or dinner if mentioned in itinerary with (B=breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
VIP welcome at the airport
Welcome gift

Our Unseen Vientiane Tour prices do not Include:

International and internal flights with airport and departure taxes
Alcoholic drinks & drinks at mealtime + Optional visits + Personal expenses (Telephone, laundry...)
Compulsory Gala Meals for New Year and Christmas Eve
Visa stamping fee for Laos (visa on arrival, valid 30 days: 30 to 42US$ upon client's nationality + 1 photo and a passport valid more than 6 month after return date). Subject to change without prior notice
Extension visa 2 USD/day/Pax. Subject to change without prior notice
ATTENTION: Visa on arrival pay more 1 USD/Pax every Saturday and Sunday
Personal travel insurance (should include helicopter evacuation for Laos & repatriation)
Personal expenses
Tips for guide, driver, boat crew & hotels' porters
Meals other than those mentioned above
Other services not clearly indicated in the Package Inclusion above

Creating Unique Touring Experiences
All the touring itineraries on this website have been carefully crafted by our in-country management teams and represent a series of experiences we can certainly recommend. However, we understand that every travel experience should be as unique and individual as each traveler. Our consultants are waiting to hear from you so that we can tailor or custom design a Myanmar tour to your individual specifications.

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TRAVELLER REVIEWS

Many, many thanks for all you did to make our trip so memorable>> Read more

On the occasion of our journey in northern Laos from 5th to 15th of November we like to thank you and the overall ...>> Read more

EXOTISSIMO BLOG

Traveler's Review

Nicole Niedik & Patrick Zuechner

Dear Mr. Granier,
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

On the occasion of our journey in northern Laos from 5th to 15th of November we like to thank you and the overall Exotissimo team for the wonderful time. We find it helpful to go into detail concerning some involved team members and provided services to express our complete satisfaction.

Your company was recommended to us by Mr. Vanhphenh Sengnham who we know well from our last year's journey. Beginning with the very helpful websites we could easy find our preferred way of travelling based on a set of various useful hints and proposals.

Our first idea was checked and completed by Mr. Jean-Yves Paille. We like to express our special thank to Mr. Paille. He respected all of our wishes, gave a lot of helpful details and answered all of our questions in a comprehensive, and courteous and uncomplaining way. We enjoyed both his great flexibility and his obligatory service.

We used the transport service offered by Exotissimo from Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong boarder station. We had a warm welcome in Thailand and a speedy but save ride and arrived just in time although our time schedule was ambitious. Mr. Sengnham collected us right at the ferry pier therefore also the immigration was unproblematic.

For the next days we had a comfortable and save ride every time. In Luang Namtha we spent a night in The Boatlanding which is a nice resort even. A special day for us was the biking trip in the surroundings of Luang Namhta on 7th of November. Our special thanks go here to the local guide from Green Discovery who made the day an unforgettable event introducing us local villages and surrounding highlights as well as cultural background and workaday life. The trip was well selected and scaled, the bikes in a good condition.

The very highlight of the whole journey was the 3 day trekking trip to the Akha villages round Muang Sing. We first have to thank the Exotissimo Muang Sing Office for the warm welcome and the safekeeping of our remaining luggage. Our special thanks go here to all involved people who offered a various range of services to us (planning/organising of the trip, preparation of accommodation and meals, massage etc.) especially to the local Akha guide. He shows an excellent example of his people's hospitality and proudness of its own way of life. He was always a good leader and bridge to his people and answered all of our questions in an unorthodox and professional English spoken way. We had a good board and lodging. Complementary to the local table the Akha guide and Mr. Sengnham show oneself as talented cooks. Especially the evening together with the villagers in Ban Lao Khao was an unforgettable experience. They let us feel their spirit and we had always the feeling to be a most welcome part of the community and their life.

We enjoyed this way of tourism very much and are proud to have the change to get part of it. We have the greatest respect for the founders and operators of the project as we could consider many hurdles on the way to this nearly perfect organisation resulting from language and cultural differences. We go to any lengths to give all of our friends a better understanding of the project and the life of the Akha as an example for the way of living of minorities in Laos in accordance with both own history and nature and environment. As a slight notice we would appreciate the purchasing of some new mosquito nets to replace older ones.

Our following night we spend in Phetsoksai in Pakbeng as backup for originally proposed Pakbeng Lodge. We found the hotel very nice, didn't miss anything and are therefore able to recommend this hotel.

Our remaining nights in Luang Prabang we spend in the Villa Maydou which is a very nice place and typified for the spirit of Luang Prabang from our point of view. In the Exotissimo Luang Prabang Office we had a great time exchanging experiences with the very friendly team members.

But our very special thanks go to Mr. Vanhphenh Sengnham. Without him the whole trip won't be such a great experience because he was always our bridge to the local people and their culture. He selected the appropriate local restaurants according to your wishes. He managed all the small problems resulting from booking mistakes or other things which could happen at such a trip with great professionalism and in his smooth manner.

We appreciate his friendly behaviour and his deep knowledge of country and culture. In addition he speaks German really like a native speaker and this will make a trip much easier for us. Most important we admire Mr. Sengnhams very individual and personal style. You don't need to ask but he will know your wish before. We are sure to travel with an old friend at any time.

Sincerely yours,

Nicole Niedik & Patrick Zuechner
Dortmund (Germany), 16th of December 2008