Jewel of Mekong 05 days / 04 nights

On arrival at Luang Prabang airport you will be met by your guide for the trip and transferred to the picturesque UNESCO city. Once the ancient capital of northern Laos, sleepy Luang Prabang has retained much of its majesty and tranquility and is now a UNESCO protected site. The town has more than 30 beautifully gilded temples and is a spiritual center for the entire country. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Breakfast, we visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. The National Museum and the Central Market are not to be missed. We enjoy a short tour seeing the city’s oldest temple Wat Sene and Wat Xieng Thong, a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art. Later we’ll visit the impressive Wat Visoun, the oldest temple that houses many Buddha images. Next is Wat Aham, the ‘Monastery of the Blossomed Heart’ exudes serenity, and Wat Mai, the largest and most richly decorated of the temples in this city. You cannot leave this ancient capital without visiting Kuang Si, the most beautiful waterfalls in Luang Prabang. Take to the road, (about 30km), to discover these waterfalls where the water is turquoise all year round. At the bottom of the falls, a series of natural pools invites you to swim. In addition, you can take a walk in the forest or continue to climb to the top of the falls. On the way back to the city center, you can observe daily life in a few ethnic minority villages of Laos, like the Hmong village (in Ban Ouay), the Laoloum village (in Ban Ou), and the Khmu village (in Ban Thapene). Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, we depart for the Elephant Village, a center with a focus on the protection and rehabilitation of elephants in Laos. Upon arrival, you will meet the camp manager and hear about the work carried out by a team of dedicated staff and volunteers in caring for the elephants. Next, climb aboard an elephant for a jungle walk (25mins, one person per elephant, on the neck of the elephant). Receive your basic mahout training on how to control an elephant just like a mahout! After lunch, Take your own elephant down to the Nam Khan river for an exhilarating and once in a lifetime bathing experience! After relaxing time at Tad Sea waterfall, transfer back in town. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Today, you will embark on the Luang Say boat for a 2 days cruise to Huay Xai, the small town locates at the border of Laos and Thailand, you will proceed to Chiang Rai in Thailand from the border pass there. The boat will start at 7:00am, you will enjoy a continental breakfast while cruising to the Pak Ou Village which locates at the mouth of the Nam Ou River. You will have a shore excursion to visit the Tam Thing Caves of Thousand Buddhas. Lunch will be a buffet on board and the boat will keep cruising upstream the Mekong River to a hill tribe village where you can watch the traditional process of Lao whisky production. Our boat will stop at Pak Beng around sunset and check in Luang Say Lodge for overnight. Dinner will be arrange on the Luang Say Lodge’s terrace restaurant with a view of the Mekong River.

Enjoy breakfast at the Luang Say Lodge, then board the boat at 7:00am and keep cruising toward upper stream of the Mekong River. En route, you will stop to visit a local village to witness the rural life along the Mekong River and visit the Minority ethnic people. Lunch will be buffet served on board, and you will arrive at Huay Xai around 5:00pm. Go through the board and you will be welcomed by your local guide on the Thailand side of the border, then escorts you to your hotel in Chiang Rai.