Laos Package Tour - North to South, 12 days

Day 1	Huay Xai - Pakbeng * No local guide * Arrival in Huay Xai (Laos / Thailand border) On board one of the Pak Ou boats from Huay Xai to Pakbeng First thing in the morning the Pak Ou boat leaves the pier for a leisurely cruise down the Mekong for Pak Beng. Several stops along the way offer the opportunity to sample rural life first hand and marvel at just how little has changed over the centuries. Overnight in Pakbeng.

Day 2	Pakbeng - Luang Prabang On board the Luangsay Cruise from Pakbeng to Luang Prabang The boat leaves in the morning for the second leg of the cruise to Luang Prabang. Lunch on board and on to Pak Ou village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River to visit the Tham Ting Caves of a Thousand Buddha’s. Stop off at the village of Ban Xang Hai for a lesson in how rice whisky is made. Arrival in Luang Prabang is in the late afternoon. Transfer Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 3	Luang Prabang Sightseeing in Luang Prabang Luang Prabang, the ancient capital city of the Lan Xang Kingdom, is famous for its historic temples and beautiful setting surrounded by mountains. In 1995 it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. WAT XIENG THONG: built in 1560 and situated on the banks of the Mekong River, it is the most beautiful monastery in Luang Prabang and shows the typical Lao art style with old religious artifacts and some ancient masterpieces of Lao art. WAT WISUNALAT (Vat Visoun): built in 1513 during the reign of Chao Wisunalat, it is the oldest operating temple in Luang Prabang with a collection of gilded wooden Buddhas from the 15th and 16th centuries. WAT MAI: constructed in 1821 during the reign of King Manthatourath, it was once the residence of Phra Sangkharaj (the Patriarch of the Buddhist clergy). WAT THAT LUANG: the ashes of King Sisavang Vong are interred inside the large central stupa, which was erected in 1910. The inside of the huge sim dating back to 1820 contains a few Luang Prabang Buddhas and other artifacts. WAT SAEN: Thai style wat built in 1718 and restored in 1957. The abbot Ajannn Khamjan who was ordained here in 1940 is one of the most revered monks in Luang Prabang and perhaps in all of Laos. Visit Ban Phanom (silk weaving village) BAN PHANOM: Tai Lue village east of Luang Prabang, well known for hand weaving cotton and silk. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 4	Luang Prabang Excursion by car to Kuang Si Waterfalls KUANG SI FALLS: located in a perfect natural setting near Luang Prabang this multi-tiered waterfall tumbles over limestone formations into a series of turquoise pools. It is a nice place for bathing and having a picnic. BAN THA BAEN: quaint, Khmu village with a traditional hydro-rice mill. Sightseeing in Luang Prabang NATIONAL MUSEUM: located on the banks of the Mekong River, it was constructed as Royal Palace between 1904 and 1909 and today houses the Royal throne of the Lan Xang Kingdom and many other pieces of regalia and religious treasures. PHU SI: the temples on the upper slopes of the 100m-high Phu Si were constructed recently, but it is likely that previously there were other temples on this important hill. From the top there is an excellent view of the town. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 5	Luang Prabang - Vang Vieng By vehicle from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng Overnight in Vang Vieng.

Day 6	Vang Vieng - Vientiane Sightseeing in Vang Vieng (incl. Tham Chang and Tham Xang Caves) This small town north of Vientiane is nestled in a scenic bend in the Nam Song River. The west bank of the river is lined with tunnels and caverns and the limestone cliffs are beautiful. THAM CHANG CAVE: used as a bunker against marauding Chinese in the early 19th century. Tham means cave and Chang is steadfast. THAM XANG CAVE: also called Elephant Cave, it contains a few Buddha images and a Buddha footprint plus the elephant shaped stalactites which give the cave its name. By vehicle from Vang Vieng to Vientiane Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 7	Vientiane Sightseeing in Vientiane The capital city and seat of government sits in a bend of the Mekong River amidst fertile alluvial plains. Vientiane (pronounced 'Wieng Chan' by the locals) is a laid-back city with interesting wats and lively markets. HO PHA KEO: the former royal temple of the Lao monarchy built in 1565 by King Setthathirat and now converted into a museum containing some of the best examples of Buddhist sculptures found in Laos. WAT SI SAKET: constructed in 1818 by King Anouvong in the early Bangkok style. Small niches carved in its interior walls contain more than 2,000 silver and ceramic Buddha images. PHA THAT LUANG (Great Sacred Reliquary or Great Stupa): built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD, it is the most important national monument in Laos, functioning as a dual symbol of the Buddhist religion and the Lao nation. PATUXAI: a large monument in the style of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, this huge arch at the end of Thanon Lan Xang has a stairway that leads to the top levels of the monument, providing a good view of the city. WAT SI MUANG: this temple is one of the most popularly used temple grounds in the city, as it contains the city pillar and acts as the home of Vientiane's guardian spirits. TALAAT SAO: the Morning Market - actually open all day selling a wide range of fabrics, jewellery and electronic goods. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 8	Vientiane - Pakse - Tad Lo Transfer Flight from Vientiane to Pakse By vehicle from Pakse to the Tad Lo Resort Overnight in Tad Lo.

Day 9	Tad Lo - Pakse - Khong Island Sightseeing around Tad Lo Resort TAD LO FALLS: by the Tad Lo Resort, about 10m wide – a good opportunity for a swim. ELEPHANT-RIDE: it starts at the Tad Lo Resort and discovers the area around the resort and some villages of the Katu and Alak. By vehicle from Tad Lo to Pakse By vehicle from Pakse to Khong Island with sightseeing at Wat Phou Journey south in Champasak Province along the east bank of the Mekong River. WAT PHOU: this Khmer temple site is spread over the lower slopes of Phu Pasak and its name means 'Mountain Temple'. The surviving structures date from as early as the Chenla Kingdom (6th to 8th centuries). HAW NANG STUPA: south of Wat Phu, a pile of sandstone and laterite rubble that may have served as a 'hospital' for Angkor pilgrims. HAWNG THAAN TAO: south of Wat Phu, another rubble pile referred to as the 'Lord Turtle Room' and said to have been a Vishnu shrine built under King Jayavarman VII in the 13th century. BAN THAT VILLAGE: near the village are three Khmer stupas reminiscent of similar tripartite monuments in Thailand s towns of Lopburi and Sukhothai. SI PHAN DON (FOUR THOUSAND ISLANDS): during the rainy season this 50km-long section of the Mekong River just north of the Cambodian border reaches a width of 14km (the widest it ever reaches). During the dry months the river recedes and leaves behind thousands of islands and islets. Overnight in Khong Island.

Day 10	Khong Island - Khon Island By boat from Khong Island to Khon Island About a 2-hour journey down the Mekong River. Sightseeing on Khon Island BAN KHON VILLAGE: main village on the island with several old French colonial buildings. WAT KHON TAI: Lao temple built on the former site of a Khmer temple possibly from the Chenla era. TAD SOMPHAMIT (LI PHI FALLS): raging set of rapids at the western end of Khon Island. Overnight in Khon Island.

Day 11	Khon Island - Pakse Excursion to Khon Phapheng Waterfalls KHON PHAPHENG FALLS: south of Don Khong Island the Mekong River features a 13km stretch of powerful rapids with several sets of cascades. The largest, Khon Phapheng, flows close to the eastern shore of the Mekong River near the village of Ban Thakho. By vehicle from Khone Island to Pakse Overnight in Pakse.

Day 12	Pakse Transfer