LAOS ACTIVE HONEYMOON

After completing border formalities, our guide will pick you up and transfer by tuk tuk to the boat pier.
Here, you board a traditional boat ready for the trip down the Mekong River. The scenery along this part of the Mekong is arguably at its most beautiful. 
As your journey downriver you will stop at some tribal minority villages such as the Hmong, Yao and Khmu.
Upon arrival in Pakbeng, we visit local market; experience daily lifestyle of colorful hill tribe traders exchanges their goods.
Overnight in Pakbeng.

After breakfast, you will leave for Muang La. On the way, you can observe the local rural life, local markets on the side of the road, clear views on corn and banana plantations and amazing views over the mountains.

Today, we will have chance to visit the amazing Tad Talae Waterfall, which is an amazing waterfall, located in Ban Talae from Pakbeng by 35 kilometers. The waterfall is in the district protected area. 

When you reach the waterfall, you will also get fresh atmosphere under the pristine forest. The length of the waterfall is about 600 meters and consists of 7 different beautiful waterfall levels. 

The best time to visit this waterfall is during June to February of every year. A famous picnic place for the local people there. From there, you can also visit local ethnic hilltribe villages which is very less exploration by the western tourists. (This tour might not be able to operate during raining season)
In the afternoon, we continue all the way to Muang La, passing through the provincial capital, Oudomxay. Once a very sleepy town, this has become an important trading hub and shows the changes which are happening rapidly in the region.
This makes the final leg of the journey, away from the busy town and into unspoiled nature, all the more exciting. The contrast also highlights just how special the experiences are in the remaining wilderness.
Arrive at Muang La Resort in the late afternoon. Check in, relax and enjoy the views.
Facilities include a spa, sauna and steam room (it does get cold in the evenings here, especially November – March).
The resort is built next to a natural hot spring and they fill a small pool every evening with water from the hot spring.
Evenings are a real treat here, with 5 course set menus combining Asian and European influences, to be enjoyed by candle-light with the sounds of nature.
Dinner and overnight in Muang La Resort.

You set off to visit villages of the Ikho, H’mong & Khamu people; three of the many ethnic groups in Laos.
Your route climbs to 1,300m above sea level and offers some magnificent views of the stunning mountain scenery.
We will first visit a Khamu village before driving further into the mountains to an isolated Hmong village.
This ethnic group originates from the high steppes of Tibet and you will learn about their way of life; the importance of their livestock pigs, buffaloes…) and the care that they give to their animals.
From the H’mong village you can choose to do an optional short walk of 30 minutes which will bring you to the first Ikho village.
This ethnic group originates from Tibet and Yunnan Province in China. You learn about the daily life of the village and how the villagers still follow customs passed down through the centuries.
You take your picnic lunch enjoying the amazing surroundings and continue to visit more Ikho villages along the way, before heading back down to the lodge.
You will return to the Lodge at the end of the afternoon.

It’s market day in Lausanne! Enjoy browsing and packing a picnic lunch for our 11 a.m. boat cruise on Lake Geneva. A few miles down-shore we’ll dock at Château de Chillon, where we’ll have a guided tour of this delightfully medieval castle on the water. On our way back we’ll take time to peek into the vineyards surrounding Lutry before returning to Lausanne. Boat: 2 hrs. Bus: 1 hr. Walking: moderate.

Start this day of adventure with a peaceful boat ride on the Nam Ou River where you will be able to explore a small Lao village along the riverside.
Learn about the villagers and their way of life along this Northern Laos River before beginning the ‘100 Waterfalls Adventure Trail’!
Walking through small streams and rice paddies, you will arrive at the bottom of the 100 Waterfalls which were only first explored in October 2008!
For the next few hours you will see only water and jungle and hear the constant sound of clear waterfall cascades. The pools around you are very inviting for a refreshing splash.
Your guide will lead you through the cascades and prepare a local style lunch that you can enjoy on the falls surrounded by amazingly green nature.
A small village trail on the top of the ‘100 Waterfalls’ will lead us on our hike back down into the valley, offering wide views over the expansive Nam Ou valley.
Once back in the village we will have some more time to experience the daily life of the Nam Ou riverside village before heading back to Nong Khiaw (Nong Khiau) by boat.

20-minute transfer | 4-hour trek | 2-hour boat trip

After breakfast, we will transfer back to Luang Prabang.
After about a 20 minute drive, we will take a right turn at Ban Bom onto the dirt road to Ban Na Yang (12km from the main road), which is the Thai Lue minority village. This is the very unique village with the traditional house and hand-weaving technique.
After that, we will transfer directly to Ban Pak Ou, where we will have lunch (your own account) at the riverside restaurant overlooking the Nam Ou River, and Mekong River.
After that, we will check in the nearby Heuan Phae Mekong, where we will spend the night.

Heuan Phae technically means floating house. Heuan Phae Mekong is the special bamboo & wooden bungalow built on Mekong River, which offers a real unique experience on Mekong River.

Free for the rest of the day to admire the view or walk to the nearby village.

Overnight at Heuan Phae Mekong.

After breakfast, visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. 

Then take the boat downstream the Mekong River to the heritage city of Luang Prabang. Along the way, we have chance to visit some more village at Ban Muangkeo, which is famous for its traditional Lao rice whisky distilling.
In the afternoon, your city tour begins with a visit to the Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (closed on Monday) to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures.
We then head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture before continuing further to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. 
A visit to Luang Prabang would be incomplete without ascending the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River.
The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Wake up as the sun rises, we will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, which dates to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temple to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets.
We then visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice, to vegetable, to fish, or chicken.
After breakfast at the hotel, visit UXO Visitor Center (closed on Saturday, and Sunday), where you can find the documentation about the secret war in Laos.
Then transfer directly to the beautiful Kuang Si, which is the biggest waterfall in the Luang Prabang area with three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop into spectacular azure pools before flowing downstream. The pools also make great swimming holes and are very popular with both tourists and locals
There is also the chance to walk to the nearby village of Ban Thapene, and explore the hidden waterfalls, which is rarely visited by other tourists.
If you wish, take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers.

After visiting Kuang Si waterfalls, you can visit the nearby Butterflies Park, where you can enjoy the afternoon tea with the homemade cookies whilst relaxing inside the green peaceful garden full of colorful butterflies.
On the way back to Luang Prabang, we will take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, set serenely close to the Mekong, this beautiful, traditionally styled workshop, where weavers, spinners and batik makers produce top-quality fabrics, offers free tours every half-hour.
Transfer back to your hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After departing at 8:30 am from your hotel, transfer to Nahm Dong park, which locates in Ban Xiengmouk, 10Km from city center.
Arriving at the park, we will have a short welcome by the park manager before joining the morning activities here.
First, we will join the cooking class, by which you can discover the Lao cuisine through several traditional dishes. Not only can you learn techniques and recipes, but you can visit the gardens of the park and pick your own ingredients.
The course is minimum 5 dishes depending on the season. A booklet with all recipes is provided.
The lunch will be served with what you have created.
In the afternoon, we will start exploring the beauties of the park with the Zipline flying over the jungle and the waterfalls admiring the amazing evergreen scenery. The zipline will take about 1 hour.
Then we will walk back via the jungle trail crossing some flying bridges, small streams, and clear natural pools, where you can take a refresh splash if you wish so.
You can either spend the rest of the afternoon stroll around the park, relax by one of the huts at the camp, or enjoy the fresh cool clear natural pools.
Late afternoon, we walk to the nearby Hillside Ecolodge, where we will spend the night

Note: Zipline in 1 hour, trekking min 1 hour – max 3 hours depending on the route that you choose

You are free before taking the early afternoon train to Vang Vieng.

The train will take about 1 hour to reach Vang Vieng.

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in town.

Free for the rest of the day for your own exploration.

Overnight in Vang Vieng.

The limestone cliffs and valleys surrounding the resort complex of Vang Vieng are home to numerous caves and caverns.
The most famous of these caves is Tham Jang, which was used by the local people as a refuge from Chinese invaders 200 years ago.
Your tour continues by crossing the Nam Song River for a short drive to Tham Phou Kham (Golden Crab Cave). After passing through a small entrance hole you descend 100 meters into the ground.
You have ample time to visit Blue Lagoon, which is a great spot to relax and cool off before transferring directly to Ban Thaheua, which locates at the north side of Nam Ngum Lake, the “sea of Laos”.

Upon arrival, check in your lakeview bungalow. 

Overnight in Ban Thaheua.

Optional: Wake up early today, you never want to miss the serene sunrise over the peaceful lake. Our guide will escort you to the nearby area to watch the local villagers preparing for their busy day.
After breakfast, we will have a 2-hour kayaking around the Nam Ngum Lake to explore some islets, and local fishing villages.
The kayaking is easy and fun, requiring no special skills. We will stop at Huay Samom village, chatting with the host family, and learning about the weaving techniques. Return to the resort before noon.
In the afternoon, we drive to the capital, Vientiane. Vientiane is the charming and fascinating capital of Laos. This city conjures up exotic images, with the curious mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French influences. 

The road via the new expressway Vientiane – Vang Vieng will take about 2 hours.

Upon arrival, check in your hotel. Free for the rest of the day for your own exploration. We recommend a sunset walk along the Mekong River whilst enjoying a cold bottle of BeerLao – A real Lao experience!

Overnight in Vang Vieng.

In the morning, we will first visit Wat Si Muang, which is very famous for its supernatural power.
After that drive to Buddha Park which takes around 45 minutes away. Also known as Xieng Khuan, this unusual park is filled with over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues.
We then visit Lao Disable Women Development Center, which assist disable women to cope with their disability and advocate for their rights. Spend time watching the video and learn about the effort to earn their daily living. You can support them by buying some small handicrafts at the shop.
Start the afternoon with a visit to That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. Constructed by King Setthathirat in the 16th century, the temple is resplendent as the sun is shines upon its towering golden spire.
Then, enjoy a panoramic view over the city as you climb the stairs to the top of Patuxai, Vientiane’s own “Arc de Triomphe”.
Continue down Lane Xang Avenue the serene Wat Sisaket, the only temple left intact after the Siamese (Thai) invasion in 1828.
Continue on to the nearby Wat Phra Keo.  Used as a religious museum, Wat Phra Keo displays a collection of both Lao and Khmer works of art.
End your tour of the capital along the banks of the Mekong River as the sun begins to set. Stroll along the river, stop to enjoy a cold drink, or sample a snack from one of the many local food stalls. 
Overnight in Vientiane.

Tips: You can also visit Sinouk Coffee Pavilion to discover the Lao coffee, stroll around the mini coffee gallery, view the in-house coffee roaster and try a cup of delicious and unique coffee or tea. Discuss with our guide about this. Entrance fee and extra coffee/drinks are payable on spot.

Our tuk tuk driver (also our guide) will pick you up at your hotel after breakfast, and take you to an organic rice, fish and vegetable farm on the outskirts of Vientiane.
Run by a Lao non-government organization using traditional Lao farming methods, this is the perfect place to try your hand at rice farming.
The friendly farmers will show you how to get your feet wet planting rice seedlings (during rainy season), or if it’s harvest season then cut and thresh your own rice for lunch!
Do a spot of fishing, collect fresh duck eggs, learn about organic fertiliser and how it is made, and harvest fresh seasonal organic vegetables and bamboo (if in season).
Once you’ve finished in the field, you’ll cook up a traditional Lao lunch with the days’ produce. Learn how to cook sticky rice and make papaya salad and sit down to enjoy a picnic-style lunch and a well-earned rest.
On the way back into town, we’ll take you to a local fresh food market to check out the amazing diversity of Lao food. Stop for a while in the market for a traditional Lao coffee or sample some delicious Lao sweets.
Transfer back to your hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Vientiane.

After breakfast, we take the flight to Pakse, the biggest city of southern Laos.
Upon arrival, we head east to Pakse and onto the Bolaven Plateau. The Bolaven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley.
Stop at a tea plantation, followed by a brief visit to Tad Fan Waterfall, a picturesque twin chute waterfall.
We will also visit the local village at Ban Lak Sipchet, which makes iron knife; and Ban Lak Samsip, which makes bamboo basket.
If time permits, we will also visit Tad Yeung and take some dip into the cool clear natural pool at the foot of the waterfall.
Last stop is at a coffee plantation before arriving at your destination for the evening. Overnight in Bolaven Plateau.

09:00 AM, we will meet the Jeep tour specialist at Chai Coffee, and have some discussion with him there when enjoying a cup of coffee.
After that, we will hop on the Jeep and drive 30 minutes to Tad Moun waterfalls, where we can enjoy the fresh cool water, and visit the nearby vegetable farm.
11:00 Am, we continue driving to the Coffee Farm of Mr. Khamsone via the 10KM bumpy and muddy road, which will take you 01 hour with your special Jeep car.
Upon arrival, Mr khamsone, the Coffee farm’s owner will take 1 hour to demonstrate the coffee roasting step and finishing by a coffee cupping to Savor the different kind of coffee (Robusta, Arabica and Typica). 
We will have the picnic lunch on the farm at around 1:30PM before continuing driving to Laven village to see their daily life and their paddy field.
From there, we will drive to Suay village, where we can find many traditional long houses made by bamboo, which is shared by some generations of 01 family
Finally, we will drive back to your hotel. Free for the rest of the day. Overnight in Paksong.

After breakfast, visit Tha Teng colourful ethnic minority food market. Next explore a couple of fascinating minority villages, Ban Bong Neua, an Alak village that boasts a sacrificial altar, and Ban Kokphung, a Katu village where they keep coffins under their houses.
In the afternoon visit Wat Phou, an ancient Khmer religious complex dating back to the 5th Century.
Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Wat Phou is a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits amidst the rice fields and waterways of southern Laos, which was built by the rulers of the Khmer empire before the construction of Angkor Wat.
The temple served as the most important economic and political centre of the region and still is one of the Lao people’s most revered temples.
After your visit, we continue in to Champassak to see samples of French colonial architecture before driving to Done Khong where you have the rest of the day to relax or to explore the island. Overnight in Done Khong Island.

After breakfast, embark on a 1.5 hour long tail boat for venturing into the widest reach of the Mekong River, where during the dry season the waters recede and leave behind thousands of islets, giving this area a lovely name” Si Phan Done”.
Upon arrival, explore the local peaceful villages of Ban Khone, where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with its locomotive.
We continue to discover the 4000 islands area by tuktuk and visit the marvelous Liphi waterfall, also called the “Corridor of the Devil” one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking Lao border with Cambodia.
Free for the rest of the day for your own exploration of the island. We recommend you take a bike for a ride around the island to see the local life and admire the sunset along the Mekong riverbank.
Overnight in Khone Island.

After breakfast, return to the mainland at the fishing village of Ban Nakasang and drive further south to visit Khone Phapheng, which is considered the largest waterfall by volume in South East Asia
Khone Phapheng is an impressive spot near the Lao-Cambodian border, set within an area which is teeming with wildlife, making this area one of the most breathtaking destinations in Laos.
Afterwards we drive back to Champasak and take the boat to the isolated island of Done Daeng. 

Done Daeng is the home to the charming La Folie Lodge, where we will spend the last 2 nights before concluding the trip in Laos.

Free to stroll around for your own exploration. There are some activities such as cooking class, cycling, or walking around the island.

Check with our guide or the lodge for further information.

Overnight at La Folie Lodge.

Free to stroll around for your own exploration. There are some activities such as cooking class, cycling, or walking around the island.

Check with our guide or the lodge for further information.

Overnight at La Folie Lodge.

After breakfast, we will take the boat back to Champasak and transfer directly to Ubon Ratchathani (Thailand) via Chongmek Border to take the flight to Bangkok and connect with your departure flight back home.

Note: 

+ Transfer time: 4 hours including border time.

+ From Pakse, you can also take the flight to Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane, Luang Prabang, or Bangkok.