Overview
Anyone who has the chance to visit Luang Prabang, Laos' spiritual capital, should take it and it's easy to add a short (or extended) stay ahead of joining our group tours. Surrounded by green hills on a narrow tongue of land at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, the exquisite setting helps create the relaxed, almost spiritual feeling of this heavenly city. Golden Buddhist temples give way to faded French villas and this fusion of architectural and cultural traditions convinced UNESCO to bestow World Heritage status on the city. For a quote or to discuss options please call or email.
Day 1: Depart on your overnight flight to Luang Prabang via your choice of airport
Day 2: On arrival private transfer to your choice of hotel for 3 nights in Luang Prabang
Day 3: Up early for private guided Alms procession, central market and city tour
Day 4: Private Walking Day to Ban Long Lao Village, Kuang Si Waterfall & Buffalo Dairy
Day 5: Morning free, then fly to Hanoi or Siem Reap and join the Small Group Tour
Full Itinerary
Day 1: UK Airport / Luang Prabang
Depart on a choice of overnight flights to Luang Prabang via Bangkok.
Day 2: Arrive Luang Prabang
On arrival you’ll be met by your private guide and transferred to the city centre where you check in to your choice of hotel for 3 nights. The rest of the day is free. Don’t miss the superb night market that runs through the centre of town every night.
Day 3: Luang Prabang - Private Guided Almsgiving & City Tour (B / L)
It feels to some that the city is bathed in Buddhism and this feeling is at its most accessible each morning as monks rise early for the silent alms procession. Today rise at dawn to watch this beautiful, understated and authentic tradition with your private guide. 
On the way back to the hotel they will take you to the Morning Market, a feast of local and somewhat unusual (to us) produce.
After a leisurely breakfast re-join your guide for a private guided Walking tour around this beautiful World Heritage town. You’ll visit Wat Xieng Thong, one of the largest and most decorative temples and Wat Mai, with its beautiful gilded façade. From here continue on to the former Royal Palace, a commanding structure in the centre of town that until 1946 was the heart of the Lang Xang Kingdom. Today it’s the National Museum and its halls contain rare religious and cultural artefacts. Next climb 328 steps to the top of Mount Phousi and enjoy panoramic views of the city. The tour finishes with a visit to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, a repository of information on the country’s many ethnic-minority groups. Lunch will be in a local restaurant during the tour.
As the sun sets, take a one-hour walking tour of Luang Prabang’s night market, which is open from dusk until about 10pm. Browse for colourful textiles, quilts, carvings, basketry, ceramics, clothing and handmade paper.
Day 4: Luang Prabang - Cruise along Mekong to Pak Ou Caves. Visit Kuang Si Waterfall & Buffalo Dairy (B / L)
After breakfast transfer to the pier for a short boat trip along the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Caves that rest high in the limestone cliffs and house thousands of Buddha statues that were hidden from the looting Chinese Haw. The caves were converted into Buddhist temples in the 15th century and are used as a site for old Buddha images that can no longer be venerated in a temple, either because they are damaged or the temple they were displayed in has been destroyed.
From here transfer to the Laos Buffalo Dairy for an authentic farming experience. Working with people from the surrounding villages this social enterprise produces ice cream, yoghurt and cheeses, whilst supporting local farmers. You’ll have the chance to get up close with the grazing buffaloes, feeding them grass 
and bananas and treating them to a cooling bath before taking part in a hands-on milking workshop. Learn about the nutrients of buffalo milk and finish with a light lunch at their café. Try their delicious buffalo mozarella, feta, ricotta, blue cheese, yoghurt and ice cream.
Finish the day at the Kuang Si Waterfall, a three-tiered waterfall with a drop of 60 metres. The walk travels past lush rice paddies and through forest, offering spectacular panoramas of the surrounding countryside. Arrive at the breathtaking Kuang Si Waterfall, whose multi-tiered cascading falls tumble down jagged limestone reliefs into emerald pools. Quite a walk but you can reward yourselves with a refreshing dip in one of the pools. Back at the hotel late afternoon.
Day 5: Luang Prabang (B) - Fly to Hanoi or Siem Reap
Morning free to enjoy the city then early afternoon airport transfer and short flight to Hanoi or Siem Reap. On arrival met and transferred to youur hotel for the start of the Small Group Tour of Vietnam or Cambodia.
Inclusions
What's Included
This is designed to be an add on for one of our Small Group Tours.
General Inclusions:
- Private transfers
- 3 nights in choice of beach hotel with breakfast
- Private guide & driver for excursions with lunch
- All flights
General Exclusions:
- Optional Tours / Excursions
- Any meals not listed in the itinerary
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
Where You'll Stay
Hotels
The hotels below are there as examples, designed to act as a starting point from which to create your holiday. There are plenty of alternatives to choose from and when we quote we will include other suggestions so we get to understand your likes and dislikes. Quite often clients mix and match hotel categories throughout their holiday.
Laos
Hotels in Luang Prabang