5 Days Laos Classic Tour form Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Specially designed for first-time visitors who have a limited time in Laos, this amazing 5-day Laos tour will give you the very first impression on this beautiful landlocked country. Stopping at the two most visited cities, you will have a great time to enjoy the laidback vibe of the capital Vientiane before heading to Luang Prabang for a lot of enjoyable activities to take in the charming atmosphere of this UNESCO-protected town. Whether it comes to stunning nature or rich culture, Laos always has something for you. Come and enjoy!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR

Admire the massive architecture of Patuxay, the Gate of Victory in Vientiane
Marvel at artistic Buddhist and Hindu statues in the amazing Buddha Park
Experience the peaceful silent alms giving in the morning streets of Luang Prabang
Explore traditional Laos architecture at Wat Xiengthong and Royal Palace Museum
Discover Kuang Si, the most beautiful waterfalls of Luang Prabang
Challenge with a zipline course at the top of Hoi Khua Waterfalls
Cruise on the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Sanctuary Caves and visit traditional villages on the shores

DAY 1: VIENTIANE

Transfer:
Activities: Arrive in Vientiane. Visit the Patuxay. Have dinner at a local restaurant.
Upon arrival at Wattay International Airport you will be warmly welcomed by your local driver and Laotian guide who will take you for an orientation city tour . Stop and visit to the Patuxay. The latter was built between 1957 and 1969 in order to dedicate to the unknown soldiers who fought against France for the independence of the country. This is why this place is also called the Gate of Victory or Anousavary. From the terrace on the top floor, you will have a panoramic view of the whole Vientiane capital. This monument is surrounded by the Patuxay Park where there is a magnificent system of fountains.
End of your visit, transfer to your hotel for check-in.
Welcome dinner at local restaurant with typical local food. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 3 Choices

DAY 2: VIENTIANE, LUANG PRABANG

Transfer:
Activities: Pay a visit to Buddha Park. Fly from Vientiane to Luang Prabang.
After breakfast, you will be welcomed by your local driver and Laotian guide who will take you to Buddha Park (also called Wat Xieng Khouane) which is located 25 km south from Vientiane. Along the way, you can observe the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, built by the Australian government, which connects Vientiane with Nong Khai in Thailand.
Upon your arrival, take your time to have a walk in the park. The latter is filled with more than 200 artistic statues linked to Buddhism and Hinduism, including an enormous statue of the 40-meter-high Buddha. All these works of art are mostly made of concrete or bricks coated with cement. Near the entrance is a building 6 meters high, called the Pumpkin Tower, which is divided into 3 floors: Hell, Earth and Paradise. At the top of this tour, you will have an amazing view of all this beautiful Buddha Park. End of your visit, transfer back to town.
After lunch at local restaurant (your own account), transfer to Wattay Airport for your flight to Luang Prabang.
Upon arrival at Luang Prabang International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your local driver and Laotian guide who will take you to the hotel for check-in.
Dinner on your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Experiences:
Enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures at Buddha Park in Vientiane
Buddha Park, also known as Xieng Khuan or Spirit City, is an open-air sculpture garden housing a large number of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures. The park was built in 1958 by Bounleua Sulilat, a priest-shaman and sculpture artist on the bank of the Mekong River, around 25km southeast of Vientiane. There are more than 200 sculptures made from reinforced concrete displayed in the park that vary in sizes and shapes. Some are statues of Buddha and Hindu gods, the others are sculptures of demons, deities, and mythological creatures. The most striking spot is a giant pumpkin with three floors representing Hell, Earth, and Heaven. You can enter inside the pumpkin through a demon head’s mouth serving as the entrance, climb staircases and you will reach a vantage point that offers the entire park view. Another notable attraction is an enormous 40-meter-long reclining Buddha.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 3 Choices

DAY 3: LUANG PRABANG

Transfer:
Activities: Visit Wat Xieng Thong, Royal Palace, Kuang Si waterfalls. Observe daily life of locals in some ethnic minority villages.
Morning option: At about 05:30, the monks walk barefoot in the streets of Luang Prabang in search of offerings (alms). If you wish to attend this original parade with the locals (seen only in Laos), you should get up early.
Return to your hotel for breakfast, then begin your excursion with the Wat Xieng Thong (Monastery of the Golden City), one of the higher symbols of Buddhism in Laos. This place is built in a particular architectural style of Laos, with a curved roof that nearly touches the ground.
Afterwards, explore the Royal Palace Museum, an ideal place to study or learn some history and Royal lifestyle of Laos. The architecture of the building is a mixture of French Beaux –Art style and traditional Laos style, making it not only old, but also contemporary.
Lunch at local restaurant in town. (Your own account)
In the afternoon, you take to the road, (about 30km), to discover Kuang Si, the most beautiful waterfalls of Luang Prabang, 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 centre, 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).
Dinner on your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Experiences:
Royal Palace in Luang Prabang
Located on the banks of the Mekong River and facing the sacred Mount Phousi, the Royal Palace was built in 1904 to serve as the residence of King Sisavang Vong and his family during the French colonial era. After the revolution in 1975, the palace turned into a national museum and opened to the public in 1995. On the palace grounds, there are some buildings such as an exhibition hall, Haw Pra Bang that houses the standing Buddha statue called Prabang – the palladium of Laos, Royal Barge Shelter, Staff Headquarters and the Royal Ballet Theater. Besides enjoying the royal religious objects, the last king’s collection of cars, ancient statues, and paintings dating for centuries, you can also marvel at the stunning architecture of the palace that is a blend of traditional Lao style and French Beaux-Arts. The Royal Palace Museum is really well worth a visit to learn about Lao history and culture as well as the royal lifestyle.

Pay a visit to Wat Xieng Thong – the highest symbol of Buddhism in Laos
Wat Xieng Thong, literally translated the ‘monastery of the golden city’, is one of the oldest and most important temples of Luang Prabang as well as one of the highest symbols of Buddhism in Laos. This Buddhist temple was built in 1559-1560 by King Setthathirath in the northern tip of the peninsula where the Mekong River and the Nam Khan River join. After a number of restorations, Wat Xieng Thong now consists of more than twenty structures on the grounds including a sim, a royal funerary carriage house, pavilions, shrines, residences, and gardens. As the temple still keeps its original form, a visit around will show tourists the characteristics of 16th-century Lao art and craft with the 2-tiered roof, colorful mosaics and carvings depicting Lao legends and the tree of life on the rear temple walls. Wat Xieng Thong is also an important venue where significant annual festivities in Luang Prabang are held.

Spectacular and stunning Kuang Si WaterFalls
No words can describe the stunning of Kuang Si Waterfalls and the emerald water: you must witness in person, the experience will surely exceeds your expectations!Located outside the city of Luang Prabang, Kuang Si Waterfalls are absolutely breathtaking and definitely worth the visit. You can climb up to the falls and take a dip, or walk through the beautiful area and got in the water a bit more downstream, swim or simply put my feet in for a relaxation.Truly, a joyous feast for eyes and ears, for mind and soul !

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 3 Choices

DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG

Transfer:
Activities: Have fun with Zipline course at the top of Hoi Khua Waterfalls. Do cruising on Mekong River to Pak Ou Caves. Stop to visit Ban Xang Hai & Ban Xang Khong villages.
After your breakfast at the hotel, prepare your emotions to take part in the Zipline course at the top of Hoi Khua Waterfalls, located in the village of Ban Pak Luang. Enjoy the refreshing atmosphere with 900 meters of Zipline and 12 stops, through the shaded valley as well as the beautiful Hoi Khua waterfalls.
After lunch at local restaurant (your own account), start a cruise on the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Sanctuary Caves, which were formed thousands of years ago and in recent times have attracted Buddhist pilgrims, who have decorated the caves with thousands of Buddhist statues and paraphernalia, over 4000 at last count. On the way, just contemplate the beautiful scenery on two shores of the Mekong River and stop in the villages of Ban Xang Hai, specializing in the distillation of rice wine, and Ban Xang Khong, where the guide will provide you with information about silk and Sa paper production process. Transfer back to town from Ban Xang Khong village.
Dinner on your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Experiences:
Zipline course at the top of Hoi Khua Waterfalls
Only an hour’s drive from Luang Prabang, Green Jungle Park is a new kind of attraction in Laos with many adventure activities. Zipline course at the top of Hoi Khua Waterfalls may be the most popular among travelers. When joining this course, you first need to fill in the security acknowledgment form then follow a training safety riding zipline with the park’s experienced guides before going to the real ride. Try different levels of zipline from the waterfalls down to the valley, cross the jungle canopy, fly between the trees, and stop at the stations on the high trees. Offering tourists with intrepid experiences in a canopy of trees, this fascinating park is an ideal getaway for an aerial adventure.

Enjoyable Mekong River boat excursion to Pak Ou Cave
When in Luang Prabang, it is recommended to take a boat tour through Mekong river and visit Pak Ou caves. The excursion will bring you pleasant time to see the local life along the way where the mountain, blue sky and spectacular scenery are in harmony to take the picture. The climb to the caves will guide you to superb exploration to see hundreds of Buddha sculptures in a dark cave, which is not only an insight into top attraction in Luang Prabang, but the historical stories of the sacred relics protection from bombings during the Secret War as well.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 3 Choices

DAY 5: Departure from LUANG PRABANG

Transfer:
Activities: Be transferred to the airport
After breakfast, depending on flight schedules, you will be transferred to the Luang Prabang airport by your driver before boarding the aircraft.
Ends of services!

Service Included:

  • Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary;
  • Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
  • Private English-speaking tour guide and vehicle for transfers & sightseeing;
  • Service charge & government taxes;
  • Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
  • Two bottles of mineral water each day;

Service Excluded:

  • Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
  • Chinese visa fees;
  • Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
  • Single room supplement;
  • Tips to guides and drivers;
  • Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff.
  • Personal travel accident insurance;
  • All optional programs;
  • Domestic air tickets fares with airport tax and fuel extra fee based on economy class mentioned in the program.