Laos
Journey through Laos
14 days from £4,450 pp
Includes: flights & transfers, accommodation, some meals as per itinerary, guides, drivers & their tips.
Overview & Highlights
For the traveller seeking a destination beyond the usual tourist trail, Laos is one of the most fascinating destinations in south-east Asia. A mysterious, mountainous, landlocked country with an wonderful mix of culture, cuisine and experience led activities.
Nothing happens quickly in Laos. You will fall in love with this slow, beautiful and fascinating land and leave with a sense of good fortune.
The mighty Mekong River, which runs through the country, provides a lifeblood to Laos and enthralling and mythical journeys can be taken along its winding route. Laos has many ancient historical sites including the perplexing Plain of Jars and some fantastic pre-Angkorian ruins.
Laos is a beautiful country offering some of the best and most varied eco-tourism, adventure and trekking experiences in the region. Stay in excellent, comfortable hotels and meet charming people.
Laos is also one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. A distinctive mix of remote indigenous cultures, urban areas like Vientiane and magical towns such as Luang Prabang, where it feels as if time has stood still.
Highlights
- Wonderful scenery as you spend two days on a slow-boat travelling along the Mekong River.
- Explore the romantic, beautifully preserved town of Luang Prabang with your expert local guide.
- Travel by train to the sleepy capital Vientiane.
- Evening street food tour.
- Head to the top of Patuxai monument.
- Relax at a lovely retreat on a small island in the south.
- Experience life with a Lao farmer.
- Visit traditional temples and learn about ancient, traditional rituals
“Ideal for a first visit to Laos, this two week holiday is a suggestion of a balanced itinerary to give you a sense of what makes this sleepy country so unique and special. We recommend exploring at a slow pace, experiences are privately guided and always ethical to the local customs, culture and environment.”
This journey takes you from the top to the bottom of Laos, travelling easily by slow boat and train. On the way, pass dramatic river gorges and karst scenery, stopping to explore magical Luang Prabang, the capital, Vientiane and the peaceful islands of the south.
- Day 1: Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Chiang Rai in Thailand
- Days 2 & 3: Relax after your flight with two nights immersed in nature near Chiang Rai at the Thai/Laos border, staying at a delightful property in the hills. Activities include trekking, bird watching, cooking classes and yoga.
- Days 4 & 5: You’ll be driven to the border crossing at Chiang Khong, where you will take a short boat ride across the river to Laos. Depart on your private boat cruise down the Mekong towards Luang Prabang. The journey takes two days and includes an overnight stop by the river in Pakbeng. This is a lovely way to experience the dramatic mountain scenery and rural day-to-day life along the Mekong. On the second day, you’ll arrive in Luang Prabang in the afternoon.
- Days 6-8: With your private guide, you’ll get an insider’s perspective of the temples, learn more about the country’s diverse traditions and experience one of the most traditional and ancient Laotian rituals – a Baci Ceremony. Experience the life of a Lao farmer through a fascinating visit to the Living Lands Organic Farm and get involved in ploughing, planting and harvesting the rice crops.
- Days 9 & 10: Board the train for the journey from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. Until 2021 this would have been an epic drive taking a couple of days, but the train has reduced the trip to just a couple of hours. During your time in Vientiane, you’ll experience the sleepy capital from an insider’s perspective. Explore vibrant Chinatown, discover ex-residences of colonial rulers and follow the Mekong River downstream to the historical temple of Wat Inpaeng. Head to the top of Patuxai monument (a replica of the Arc de Triomphe) at dusk for a panoramic view of the city, and then take an evening tour of the food stalls where you can taste a traditional barbecue and experience typical Lao-style dinner culture.
- Days 11 – 13: Transfer to the airport early this morning onto your flight to Pakse. Upon arrival in Pakse, board a traditional private boat for a 2-hour cruise to Champassak. On arrival in Champassak, there is a chance to visit Wat Phou, an ancient Khmer religious complex dating back to the 5th Century. This dramatically sited temple is one of the highlights of any trip to Laos. After stopping to visit Wat Phou, the boat will take you to Don Daeng Island in time for lunch. You’ll have the rest of the day to relax or explore this peaceful island. Your accommodation is at La Folie Lodge, where you can either stay in one of their delightful rooms or a beautiful private villa overlooking the Mekong River. Your time here is free to relax. If you’d like to explore in more depth, you could hire a bike, cycle around the nearby little villages, or take a trip to Don Khone Island. On the island of Don Khone, you can trace the route of an old, abandoned railway, admiring some of the old French Colonial buildings and the spectacular Khone Phapheng Falls, one of the largest and most powerful waterfalls in Southeast Asia.
- Day 14: Depart Laos for your journey home
This is just one example of a tailor made, private journey through Laos. There are also options for small group tours and Mekong cruises or combine Laos with neighbouring countries of Indo-China.
Contact me for your own personal holiday request.
A few impressions…
“One of our highlights was dinner with the locals in Laos and then the all day boat trip the next day. It was so wonderful to watch the river and beautiful mountains go by. The part of the river they took us on was spectacular. Laos was incredible – Hiking over farms and mountains to waterfalls and caves is my kind of thing and it allowed us to see everyday life.”
Penny K
Let us begin the journey that will create memories to last a lifetime.
