Day 1: Luang Prabang arrival

Arrival in Luang Prabang and transfer to our hotel for check-in.

Day 2: Luang Prabang – city tour – Pak Ou Caves (B)

You have the option to wake up before dawn to witness and participate in offering alms to hundreds of saffron-robed monks – an awe-inspiring sight. Please tell your guide a day in advance if you wish to make an offering so he/she can prepare some food for you to hand over to the monks. This early morning ritual dates back generations in Laos. Watch the town come to life in the morning then return to the hotel for breakfast or join the locals for a bowl of delicious noodle soup after the alms giving ritual. (If you do not wish to make an offering, please keep an appropriate distance and observe the ritual in silence. Dress appropriately – shoulders, chest and legs should be covered).

After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing 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. Continue to the holy Wat Mai and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the small village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is distilled. We come back city in the afternoon, stop to visit Ban Xang Khong, famous for Saa paper making. This evening is free on your own to stroll around the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of textiles made by the local and the hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 3: Luang Prabang – Bamboo Experience – Communication with Elephant (B,L)

Today you will discover a little about the secret of bamboo work in Laos as well as enjoying some of the beautiful natures and rice fields surrounded just in Luang Prabang town. Begin your half day at The Bamboo Experience (Please arrive there by 8:30am) where you will meet with the rest of your group for an explanation of the bamboo works in Laos and its meaningful to Lao people. Your guide will show you the technique and/or the usage of each product as such fishing tools, music instruments etc. Start your simple bamboo weaving class with an expert (but patient!) teacher, try your hand at the knife sharpening, bamboo cutting (into pieces) and then try the traditional bamboo weaving for about one hour to complete your own mat to take home with, as a souvenir. Then, proceed to the bamboo cooking demonstration (you are free to assist) as such bamboo shoot soup, bamboo shoot steamed in banana leaf, fermented bamboo shoot dipping and sticky rice and more. Savour your creations at the end of the session in traditional Lao house (Pavilion style) overlooking the wonderful scenery and rice fields. The emphasis is to have fun and learn a little about bamboo work and bamboo dishes.

*Note: Local games are available during the session, have fun!

Afternoon, meet tour guide and transfer to MandaLao, we will get an in-depth introduction into elephant behavior and communication. Then hand on preparing special treats for the elephants that help in their digestion. Fun hands-on time preparing tasty food we only feed the elephants in the afternoon. After that, we cross the Nam Khan river by longtail boat for the first introduction to our elephants. MandaLao guides introduce guests to our elephants and mahouts, providing background on our elephants. We feed the elephants the special treats we prepared for the elephants. We will take a short 1 Km trek up Hoy Kang stream side by side with these gentle giants. This trek is flat and can be catered to clients’ needs.

After a few more treats head back across the Nam Khan river to MandaLao. Enjoy the afternoon with snacks on our beautiful deck. Return to Luang Prabang

Day 4: Luang Prabang – Full day trekking to Khouang Si waterfall (B,L)

This morning we drive to the nearby valley southeast of Luang Prabang. Long Lao Village will be the next stop, where you will begin our hiking tour. Before trekking, you can explore the life and culture of this village where Khamu and Hmong people live. How peaceful Lao people are!

Continue trekking into the mountainous Lao countryside of Luang Prabang. And then hiking along, you will enjoy the fresh when passing the orchards, rice fields, and vegetable gardens and before reaching the forested mountains with quite wild jungle scenery and some graded climbs. (NOTE: We’ll ensure an easy/moderate hike option)

In the afternoon you will arrive at the crystal clear Kuang Si Waterfall, which is known as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Southeast Asia. An exciting forest trail will lead you to the end of your trek and your reward – enjoy the paradise on the ground deep into the cool water, listen to the sound waterfall down from the fall, Kuang Si Waterfall where we will have plenty of time to relax and swim.

Experience the new Lao Buffalo dairy to taste some ice cream!

We’ll return late afternoon by vehicle. The tour concludes late afternoon in Luang Prabang

Day 5: Luang Prabang – departure (B)

Breakfast at hotel. Rooms available until 12h00. Free at leisure until transfer back to Luang Prabang airport for departure flight.

End of services./.