On this Laos tour you will discover the true extent of the country's sublime natural environs when you traverse through a landlocked nation time seemingly forgot.

Beginning in Houei Xay, board a slow boat down the Mekong en-route to Luang Prabang, spending the evening in the sleepy riverside town of Pakbeng.Visit the morning market where local hilltribes sell their wares and observe the making of lao lao, traditional rice alcahol.Venture into the Pak Ou Caves, before reaching the jewel in Southeast Asia's crowne, Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang, is the spiritual capital of Laos. Dozens of temples fill the town and orange-robed monks wander about the tree-lined streets. Colonial buildings, colorful markets, and cascading waterfalls are all waiting to be explored in Luang Prabang.

Leave for Northern Laos, where you will trek through pristine forest, meeting local ethnic groups and soaking up the  elating scenery. Learn about the regions perplexing history, from the  effects of war to the influence of communist governments.

On this Laos A Journey Within tour you will visit the enigmatic and bewildering Plain of Jars, spend time in Southeast Asia's biggest village the Laotian capital, Vientiane, before continuing on to the magnificent Kong Lor Caves. Only recently opened to the tourist trail, travelers will no doubt be exasperated by these spectacular limestone caves that tower overhead as you venture into a world of stalactites and other limestone formations. Discover the French colonial architecture of Savannakhet and savor the fragrant coffee of the Bolaven Plateau, a stimulating experience to say the least.

Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wat Phou, a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple.  This epic Laos tour culminates on the laid back islands of Don Det and Don Khone, home to tumbling waterfalls and an environment perfect for some chilled out hammock time.

Rise early, board a slow boat down the Mekong River to Luang Prabang stopping en-route at a hilltribe village and observe rural ways of life. Spend the evening in Pakbeng, where sunset can be enjoyed from your riverside balcony. 

Overnight in Pakbeng

Early risers have the option of visiting the morning market frequented by local hilltribes. Board the boat and cruise down the Mekong, stopping at Ban Baw village to observe the processing of lao lao, traditional rice alcohol. Before Reaching Luang Prabang, stop at the revered Pak Ou Caves. Once you have arrived a private car and guide will meet you and transfer you your hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Travel by tuk tuk to the electric powered bike station and begin your responsible travel discovery of Luang Prabang as you visit the town main temples. Explore Laos history at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum. Continue on foot to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief, and Wat Sensoukarahm. Visit the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center to learn more about local hilltribes in Laos. Learn about Laos culture and locally made products at by visiting The Stay Another Day exhibit. Enjoy a Lao tea tasting ceremony. The day culminates at the top of Mount Phousi watching sunset over the city.Cleints have the added option of a traditional Laos Baci ceremony, an experience synonymous with the country. 

Overnight in Luang Prabang 

Early rises can experience the monks receiving their alms an early morning offering of food. Trek through jungle dense woods to the magnificent limestone formations, the Kuangsi Waterfalls. Once at the waterfalls, a visit at the Bear Rescue Center and learn about the preservation program for these endangered mammals. Return to Luang Prabang for your lunch (at your discretion).Spend the remainder of the day free at your leisure

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Drive approximately 3 hours to the town of Nong Khiaw where you have the option of participating in a half day hiking tour.

Overnight in Nong Khiau

Depart early morning for Kamu night safari in Ban Son Koua, an ethnic village where you will learn about the unique local culture. Embark on a 1.5 hour journey to the park substation on the Nam Nern River by long?tail boat, departing for night safari during the mid afternoon. Stop near a salt lick and hike into the forest. Your local guide, a skilled hunter and tracker, will explain how local people track deer and other wild ungulates. Continue upriver to the dinner site, a sandy, flat bank, where you will dine amid a campfire and folklore stories. Go on night safari via boat.

Overnight in Ban Son Kuoa

Take an early walk around the jungle, learning about medicinal plants and the history of the site, which was once a major settlement during the Secret War. Float on to your next port of call, a local village where jar rice wine will be sampled and traditional lunch savored. Depart for Xamneua, upon arrival take a tour of the town, visit weaving houses and observes stunning cotton and silk textiles being made. The day culminates with a hilltribe market trip.

Overnight in Xamneua

After breakfast, drive to Viengxay (About 1 hour) where you can explore this traditional town and the surrounding beautiful landscape of limestone peaks and forests. Visit the hidden city where more than 20,000 people lived during the Vietnam War. Consisting of the limestone peaks, the Lao would seek refuge here to survive daily aircraft bombing raids directed by US force, building everything they needed to survive from schools to markets. Take the audio tour that tells the story of the 'hidden city' through the history that created it featuring interviews with local people.

Overnight in Viengxay

Embark on the 7 to 8 hour journey by car to Phonsavanh. Along the way enjoy the beautiful scenery and see local village life. Xieng Khouang, the gateway to the Plain Of Jars, is a town that has been totally rebuilt after it was destroyed during the secret war in Laos. Take a city tour and have the option of visiting MAG, a humanitarian organization clearing the remnants of conflict for the benefit of local communities worldwide.

Overnight in Xieng Khouang

In the morning journey through Phonsavan and the Plain of Jars, a huge archaeological complex littered with by 2000 years old stone jars sized from 70cm up to 3 or 4 meters that have yet to be explained. Observe local village life; visit a small monastery in Ban Xiengdi. Pass areas that were important battlefields during the American bombing. You can still see a bomb craters from that time today.This afternoon, enjoy a half day trip to Muang Khoun. Muang Khoun one place in the old provincial capital that was not been destroyed by the American bombings during the secret war.

Then return to Xieng Khouang and overnight

After breakfast, drive to Vang Vieng (about 5 hours).

Upon arrival in Vang Vieng, take a brief orientation tour of the city before you check in to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your leisure to explore Vang Vieng. 

Overnight in Vang Vieng. 

Drive to Nam Gum Lake and reservoir (about 2 hours). Enjoy a lakeside lunch before taking a boat cruise and soak up beautiful mountainous scenery. Continue the drive to Vientiane, stopping en-route at the local market of Don Mak Kai.

Overnight in Vientiane.

Start this morning with a visit to That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. Constructed by King Setthethirat in the 16th century, the temple is resplendent as the sun is shines upon its towering golden spire.     Enjoy panoramic views over the city as you climb the stairs to the top of Patuxai, Vientiane's own "Arc de Triomphe".

Continue down Lane Xang Avenue the serene Wat Sisaket, the only temple left intact after the Siamese (Thai) invasion in 1828. Continue on to the nearby Wat Phra Keo.  Used as a religious museum, Wat Phra Keo displays a collection of both Lao and Khmer works of art.The afternoon is free for you to enjoy shopping, more sight seeing, or a spa treatment. 

[Option: you will discover another speciality of Laos: coffee. Laos has one of the most famous coffees of the world that grown in the Boloven Plateau in Southern Laos. It has been as well called the "Champagne of Coffee". Here, you will learn and see how it is roasted, blended and you will participate in a tasting session.  Price per person: 25US$ minimum 3 people.]

Overnight in Vientiane

After breakfast drive to Buddha Park which takes around 45 minutes. On the way, stop and take photos of the Friendship Bridge which was built by the Australian government in 1994 and links Laos and Thailand. Arrive at Buddha Park, filled with over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues.

Drive back to Vientiane stopping en-route at Mai Savanh to explore the traditional textiles of the Lao people. Another stop will be made at the Lao Disabled Women Development Center giving the tour yet another responsible twist. Spend the afternoon at your leisure.

This afternoon is free at leisure.

Overnight in Vientiane

In the morning your guide and private car will meet you at your hotel and drive you from Vientiane about 3 hours on route 13 then route 8 to Ban Na Hin, the gateway to Konglor Caves. Lunch is served in a local restaurant before reaching Ban Napouar pier, 16 km further, where, depending on weather conditions, you will embark on a local slow boat or continue driving to Sala Hinboun (1 or 2 hours). Arrive in Sala Hinboun in the afternoon. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Dinner at Sala Hinboun.

Overnight in Konglor

After breakfast, start your day with a boat excursion through the limestone caves and underground rivers of Konglor, an amazing 7.5 km-long limestone cave that was formed by the Hinboun River. Observe stalactites and other limestone formations and enjoy a picnic lunch along the riverside on the other side of the cave. 

Dinner and overnight in Konglor

Continue by road to Savannakhet. Stop near Thakhek a small and peaceful town featuring several buildings exhibiting French colonial architecture. Arrive in Savannakhet in the afternoon, located on the Mekong, Savannakhet makes for a chilled-out visit filled with tree-lined streets and home to several French colonial buildings and the St. Teresa Catholic church.

Overnight in Savannakhet.

Drive to Salavan Province and the Bolaven Plateau, an area of highlands situated to the east of Pakse, home to various hilltribes, such as Lavens from which the region gets its name.

Stop at Tad Lo, home to three separate waterfalls featuring stunning drops of crystalline water. In the afternoon, continue to Tad Yuang & Tad Fane waterfalls, stopping en-route to visit a coffee and/or tea plantation

Overnight in Tad Etu.

After breakfast, transfer by road to UNESCO world Heritage Site, Wat Phou a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple.  Return to Champassak, driving through streets lined with French colonial buildings.

After lunch, a short stop at Ban Nong Bune will give you the opportunity to observe wood carvers at work before continuing to Ban Kiet Ngong a small Lao village where you will embark on a 90 minute elephant ride through the forest up to Mount Asa. Ride through the Xe Pian Protected Area whose wetlands and forest offer a biodiversal ecosystem. This tour program was developed to provide the local villagers with a sustainable tourism project from which they can profit. Continue on to Khong Island, the biggest island in south Laos and the start of the 4000 Islands Region.

Overnight in Khong Island

After breakfast, take a local boat trip along the Mekong to Don Det and Don Khone, two very laidback islands near the border of Strung Treng Province in Cambodia. Bike around the islands before continuing on to the impressive Lippi waterfalls. Take a short walk through nearby villages before continuing south to Khone Phapheng.  These are the largest falls in Laos and are the only section of the Mekong that is not navigable by boat.

Late this afternoon, return to Pakse by land.

Overnight in Pakse. 

After breakfast your guide and private car will meet you at your hotel and transfer you either to the Thai border or to the airport for your departure flight.