On this 4-day Vientiane tour you will learn about the many interetsing facets of Buddhist culture and practice. An ideal choice for those wanting to get better acquianted with the predomiant religion of the region in a country where it is an integral part of the culture. Come and join us as we delve deeper into the spiritual realms of Laos on this hugely insightful and interesting tour.

This Buddhism Explored tour begins with a day at lesiure to better acquiant yourself with this Asia’s smallest capital. Remisncent of a market town, Vientiane is like few other places on earth and is well discovered by bike or on foot.On the second day of this Laos tour participate in the practice of giving the monsk their alms, an experience synonamous with Southeast Asia and Buddhism. Continue on to a temple known for over 450 years as a centre for Buddhist education. Here you will meet with an English speaking monk who will host an educational session on Lao culture and traditions. Take a private yoga class in the grounds of a forest temple and experience a traditional sauna before practicing meditation.

Leave Vientiane for a forest temple renowned for its work in Engaged Buddhism, or Buddhism for development. At the forest temple, you will tour the temple’s gardens and learn about their grassroots recycling techniques. Interact with Laos nuns and engage in a fascinating cross-cultural dialogue. The last day of this tour will see you partake in a private yoga workshop, before visiting a temple to receive a traditional baci ceremony to protect you during your onward travels. Experience monks gathering and chanting to sanctify your once in a lifetime cultural tourism excursion.

Welcome to Vientiane. Your guide and private car will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore Vientiane, whose name means 'the city of sandal wood'. Vientiane is one of the quietest capitals in the world, far away from the bustle and hustle of other Asian capitals and far from the real-estate frenzy of the regional megalopolis.

Overnight in Vientiane.

Begin your day by making merit. At sunrise you will participate in the practice of giving alms to Lao Buddhist monks - a crucial activity of a monk's day. Then return to your hotel for breakfast.

Travel by bike 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. You will learn about the relationship between Buddhism and Lao history, society, meditation, and any other topic that may interest you.

After your educational workshop 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 then indulge in a traditional Lao massage.

Overnight in Vientiane.

Your journey will continue during day two by travelling 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 gardens and learn about their grassroots recycling techniques. You will contribute to the beauty of the temple's herbal garden by planting your own plants, or strolling through the gardens. Then, you will engage in a meditation training session. This relaxed excursion provides the luxury of tranquility and time for you to practice sitting and walking meditation.

After your meditation session, you can enjoy the temple's traditional sauna and chat with the Lao nuns that manage it. You will learn how Buddhism is not only an age-old religion with regional traditions, but also a socially engaged pillar of contemporary Lao society.

Your afternoon will end with a workshop recapitulating your day with an English-speaking Buddhist monk. In this workshop, you can ask any clarification questions, discuss your cultural readings, or just connect in cross-cultural dialogue.

Overnight in Vientiane

You will begin your day with a private yoga workshop. Afterwards, practice the meditation techniques you learned the day before at the forest temple with your monk tour guide.

Before lunch you will have an option to treat yourself to another Lao massage, or take some personal time to tour the city on your own (city tour not included).

At mid-day, you will meet back at the temple for one last workshop with your monastic tour guide before you partake in a traditional ceremony called a baci to protect you during your onward travels. Experience monks gathering and chanting to sanctify your once in a lifetime cultural tourism excursion.

As you travel forth to your next destination in Laos or in Southeast Asia, you will do so with a clean spirit knowing your proceeds supported monastic education in Lao PDR. With your participation, your monastic tour guides pay for their educational fees through our scholarship program. This is the only program in the Lao PDR structured to support monastic education in a sustainable way through cultural tourism.

Your guide and private car will meet you after the ceremony and transfer you to your hotel for your departure flight.