Spicy Laos 7days/ 6nights

Day1. Arrival – Vientiane

 

Upon arrival at Wattay International Airport, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel.

 

Time permitting (depending on your arrival time) your half day city tour enables you to see the major temples of Vientiane including the oldest, WatSisaket, with it’s thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of WatPrakeo, which housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit the national icon of Laos, That Luang Stupa, stopping along the way to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Overnight in Vientiane (B)

 

Day2. Vientiane – Speed Train to Luang Prabang – Half day city tour (B)

 

This morning you will be transferred to train station to take speed train to Luang Prabang.

This morning you will be transferred to Wattay Airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. On arrival, you will be met by your Local Guide and transferred to your hotel. We will give you time to rest and freshen up before we head off on bicycles to see some of the highlights of Luang Prabang including a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts the city’s oldest temples, the magnificent WatXiengthong with its roof sweeping low to the ground, representing classical Lao architecture, the impressive stupa of WatVisoun and the shrine of WatAham.

 

We end the day by climbing up 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. Descenting the mountain your 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 LuangPrabang (B)

 

Day3. Luang Prabang – Cooking Class (B,L,D)

 

Optional:This morning you have the option and opportunity to rise early and participate in the daily morning ritual of ‘Alms Giving’, you will experience saffron-clad monks collecting offerings or ‘Alms’ from faithful local residents. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the daily procession.

Following breakfast at your hotel you will embark on a full day cooking class by starting at the local market where your chef will explain the different herbs and spices used in Lao cooking and purchase ingredients for today’s dishes.  From the market you will head out to Local Cooking School to attend our cooking lesson.

Following the class, and with full stomachs, we will head back to town where you will have the option of joining a Sunset Cruise on the Mekong River, taking just a relaxing at your hotel. Overnight in LuangPrabang (B, L, D)

 

Day4. Luang Prabang – Manifa Elephant Camp + Kuang Si Fall (B,L)

 

This morning we head to Manifa Elephant Camp approximately 45 minutes’ drive out of Luang Prabang, You will visit the mahout (elephant handler) village in Manifa Elephant Camp and observe their daily routine as you see a demonstration of an elephant health check. Your guide will explain the elephants while they examine the elephant’s eyes, ears, mouths, and feet. Learn how to estimate the weight of an elephant by measuring the body used by veterinarians and Mahout. You will understand that riding an elephant is well below 20% of its body weight, which a human, elephant, horse, or most animals generally can carry.

You will know the name of an elephant that will become your partner today and learn how to introduce yourself to your elephant and how to mount your elephant to ride bareback. Then you will have an intimate interaction with the elephant. (One elephant for one person) You will ride your elephant and explore the jungle. Experience how powerful elephant mobility is in the dense vegetation and sloping jungle terrain. After passing through the jungle, your elephant will plunge into the Mekong River. Help your elephant body cool off and bathe in the Mekong River. Finally, you feed and care for your elephant with organic vegetables and fruits.

Afternoon, we drive on to the stunning KuangSii Falls where you will have the opportunity to cool off with a refreshing swim in the topaz pools below the falls, walk along the forest trails and visit the Bear Sanctuary, home to Asiatic Bears rescued from poachers.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.(B, L)

Day5. Luang Prabang – Ethnology Centre – Ock Pop Tok (B,L)

 

Today is a day for the culture and handicrafts enthusiasts, beginning with a visit to The Art and Ethnology Centre to learn about the culture and history of some of the diverse ethnic groups that make up the rich tapestry of the population of Laos. The Centre also have a shop where you can purchase quality gifts and soveniors and a café where you can enjoy a morning coffee and cake.

Next we move to the Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre & Shop, where you can see the silk weaving process in action and purchase some exquisite examples of traditional Lao textiles. The Centre also has a restaurant where you can enjoy traditional and fusion dishes with the gentle melody of weaving looms humming in the background. After lunch, we will join in Natural Dyeing class where you will hands-on experience with natural dye preparation and create 3 natural dyes using plants directly from our home-grown garden (just like the Lao have done for hundreds of years!)

 

Returning to the hotel the rest of your afternoon and evening is free to relax or explore. Overnight Luang Prabang (B, L)

 

Day6. Luang Prabang – Living Land Farm (B,L)

 

This morning we head out to Living Land Farm, a working community farm aprroximately 5kms outside the town. There you will learn all about the rice growing process and have an opportunity to participate in seasonal farm activities such as identifying viable rice seeds, ploughing with a buffalo, hand planting, weeding and harvesting rice and threshing rice seed. 

You may be picking vegatables form the organic garden or catching fish to cook for your all natural, organic lunch where there will be a variety of local rice products for you to sample.

We will return to Luang Prabang late afternoon and will have the option to go to a local petangue game and enjoy a few Beer Laos, experience a spa treatment or massage or just relax at the hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang (B, L)

Optional quotation:petanque game and spa treatment or massage

 

Day7. Luang Prabang – Departure

 

After breakfast, you are free until transfer to airport catching your departure flight.