Marvel at Laos

We wake up early to attend the alms-giving ceremony to the monks. This local tradition takes place every morning around 5:30-6:00 AM in the streets of the city.

We return to the hotel for breakfast. On the way, we observe the morning market.

We then head towards the splendid Kuang Si Falls which are located 32 km from the city. We observe magnificent rice field landscapes and especially, a small permanent exhibition on the protection of Asian black bears from Southeast Asia, an endangered species.

Besides the waterfalls which are a major attraction in the region, we have the opportunity to enjoy swimming in natural pools with turquoise and crystal-clear waters.

Before heading back to the city, we will make a short thirty-minute detour to the buffalo farm « Lao Buffalo Dairy ». We will receive information about the situation of this animal in Laos and the care provided to them.

We will also be able to get close to some of them and bottle-feed the calves. At the end of the visit, we will enjoy artisanal ice cream made with buffalo milk. Available flavors: fruit, sesame, lemongrass (depending on the season).

It should be noted that this animal is emblematic of the countryside of Asian countries. However, this species of bovine is facing extinction despite its importance. The mortality rate at birth is around 50% because at this stage, buffalo calves do not have access to sufficient nutrients. With this in mind, the Lao government has organized itself to multiply its herds with prevention and breeding projects. This is how the Buffalo Farm in Luang Prabang expanded by coupling these programs with local breeders. This farm also focuses on the dairy and cheese industry.

At the end of the visit, we taste ice cream made with buffalo milk which are flavored differently depending on the season: fruit, sesame, lemongrass…

We take the road to the hotel for an evening of relaxation. We have the opportunity to do some shopping in the craft galleries of the city. Among many others, the beautiful craft and textile gallery Bounnachanh is worth a visit. It is nestled in an old characteristic home near the Villa Chitdara hotel.

Dinner on your own. To enjoy a sindad evening, Dyen Sabai is an ideal address. It offers this kind of Lao barbecue where you grill your own meat on a hot plate and boil your vegetables. You eat them with a good Beerlao. This charming place is located on the opposite bank of the Nam Khan river. It is accessible by a small bamboo bridge from the peninsula.

After breakfast, we set off to discover the most important ethnic groups in Laos, namely the Hmongs and the Khamus. We immerse ourselves in the life of a family within a village around Luang Prabang, through participation in daily tasks such as traditional cooking, hunting wild animals, agricultural work…

We share lunch with our hosts. We then play with the village children traditional games from their daily life.

Dinner preparation.

Overnight stay in a homestay in the village with fairly basic comfort.

We have breakfast at 6:30 AM before being transferred to the jetty with our English-speaking guide.

We enjoy a private cruise on the Mékong from 8:00 AM to reach Pakbeng.

We enjoy a stop at Pak Ou, at the confluence of the Nam Ou and the Mékong to discover the mythical caves sheltering hundreds of Buddha statues. These remain an important pilgrimage site for Laotians, particularly during the New Year celebrations held in mid-April.

We have lunch (local specialties) on board.

Late in the afternoon, we arrive at Pakbeng. Transfer and check-in to our room.

Dinner is at your leisure and overnight stay in a guesthouse.

We have breakfast before heading to the market and meeting with the local population. We have the opportunity to immerse ourselves in local life in a small village. We can also visit the elephant camp located on the opposite bank of the Mekong to encounter pachyderms in their natural habitat.

We are transferred by private car to Oudomxay for a journey of approximately 4 hours, with a few stops to meet ethnic villages.

We have lunch at our own expense during the journey or in Oudomxay depending on timing. For this, Mrs Kanya's table is an excellent option. It is simple and frequented by both locals and foreigners.

Arrival in Oudomxay, a town that stands out for its Chinese charm. We climb to the top of Phou That Mountain to enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding area.

We make a short stop at PMC or Productivity and Marketing Center. This place offers a wide selection of handcrafted items made by locals with natural materials. We can find, among other things, massage oils or excellent quality honey.

We settle in at our hotel. The guide offers us a massage at the Red Cross center which has a traditional herbal sauna. Payment is to be made on site.

We then set off in a 4x4 to cross the heart of the countryside over the mountains of the region by meeting local communities and discovering their way of life. This experience allows us to better understand their daily life which varies from one moment to another throughout the year, from one village to another and from one season to another.

We first take road 2 to reach the small ethnic market on the roadside before reaching Ban Kor, a Khamu village.

The vehicle sets off from this village to climb into the mountains to take us to Ban Avo and admire "the sea of clouds", a phenomenon very present in the region, depending on the weather.

We stop at the Ban Houay Sang village where we find the Khamu community engaged in basketry.

On the Ban Tong Seu side, we explore one of the rare Hmong villages in the region. By visiting in December, we will have the opportunity to attend the celebration of the Hmong New Year in all its colors.

We make a small detour to Ban Akhang, an Akha village also known as Ikhos. We are fascinated by its houses with colorful doors and windows.

After passing through the Sea of Clouds, we arrive at Ban Ano, an Akha village housing a landing strip established during the time of the Second Vietnam War.

We return to road 2 and the village of Ban Pakho which allows us to see, among other things, tobacco drying facilities.

Passing through Muang La, we discover the Singkham pagoda which is the subject of particular veneration in the locality. We also take advantage of a moment of relaxation near the natural hot springs.

We return to Oudomxay for a free dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, we head towards Muang Khua located on the banks of the Nam Ou and the Nam Phak. It is the last stop on the road leading to Vietnam and Dien Bien Phu. Former French garrison until the defeat of the French army in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu. This town is part of a region where the ethnic groups are essentially composed of Akhas, Khamus and Tai Dam.

We head to Nong Khiaw to spend the night in a room. For this, we sail on the Nam Ou river for approximately 4 hours.

During the cruise, we reach a sandbank to have lunch in the form of a picnic. We also make stops to explore traditional ethnic villages of the Hmong and Khamu people.

We meet up in Nong Khiau in the middle of magnificent karst landscapes.

We settle in a beautiful setting on the riverside.

NB: When arriving at the Nam Ou dam, the cruise stops upstream of the dam for a transfer by tuk tuk between the two boats. The guide and tuk-tuk driver assist us with luggage transport.

We have breakfast before leaving Nong Khiau around 8 a.m. to head to Ban Nayang Neur village, which is located about 30 km away. This destination offers us the Ban Leu Handicrafts center which specializes in cotton work. We have the opportunity to learn manual cotton spinning techniques for fabric making through a participatory workshop. This center was established to promote and perpetuate the traditional process of cotton work.

Lunch on site.

In the afternoon, we travel along the road towards Luang Prabang. We are then transferred to the hotel for check-in.

Late afternoon and dinner are at leisure. For this, the Pha Khao Lao restaurant is an ideal choice with its table of local flavors. We taste typical specialties of Luang Prabang.

We have breakfast before being transferred to Xieng Khuang province, on the Plain of Jars. Throughout our 5 or 6-hour journey, we make frequent stops to discover the villages.

Lunch is free at a restaurant along the way.

We arrive and visit site 1 of the Plain of Jars which is the closest to the city of Xieng Khuang. Also called Phonsavanh, it represents the gateway to this site, which still holds its mystery.

The Plain of Jars spans several sites, but only a part is accessible to the public. It should be noted that the origin of these jars discovered in 1930 by Madeleine Colani remains a mystery. Some believe they are funerary urns or that these jars were used to store seeds or alcohol.

Returning to Xieng Khouang, we visit the MAG exhibition center to better understand the consequences of the bombardments during the last conflicts on the sites.

We can also visit the QLA Association which helps victims of mines and other UXO to restore hope and pride in them despite their physical disabilities.

Dinner is free in Xieng Khuang at a local restaurant.

After a local breakfast, we take the new road that connects Thasi to Paksan. This beautiful countryside road runs along the Nam San valley.

Lunch is free en route.

We arrive at Paksan, the capital of Bolikhmansai province, where the Nam San river flows into the Mekong.

We take a small break on the banks of the river before heading to Pak Kading which offers a breathtaking view of the Kading River. We approach a mountainous area that we travel through in the direction of the Vietnamese border while enjoying numerous viewpoints made up of karst reliefs stretching as far as the eye can see.

Late in the afternoon, we reach the Kong Lor village which is located in an enchanting setting, nestled in a magnificent valley.

After breakfast, we take the road through Lak Sao and Thalang for a 5-hour journey to Thakhek. This town nestles on the banks of the Mekong River facing the Thai city of Nakhon Phanom.

We stop along the way in a beautiful region full of limestone formations, cliffs and mysterious caves.

Lunch is free at a local restaurant.

About 15 km from Thakhek, we visit an important Buddhist site in Laos, namely the Tham Pa Fa Cave or Buddha Cave. Discovered in April 2004 by a villager, this cave houses a collection of over 200 Buddha representations.

We head towards Tha Falang area, a place appreciated by the English-speaking community of Thakhek during the colonial era. It is an excellent spot for swimming.

We settle into our hotel for the rest of the day. We are invited to admire the charming outdated character of the town with its superb colonial buildings and peaceful atmosphere.

Dinner is free, but it is recommended to visit the Smile Boat restaurant located on the banks of the Mekong with its Lao/Thai cuisine.

We set off to discover the Vat Sikhottabong, a sacred site in Laos located 6 km from Thakhek, on the banks of the Mekong.

The journey continues towards Vientiane, the charming capital for 450 years.

We make a stop near Prabat, on the southern edge of Phou Khao Kouay National Park. We find an ancient stupa there and magnificent kutis in the back courtyard. You can also see one of the largest monastic drums in Laos. Looking across, there is a charming small Vat overlooking the Mekong. This is Vat Phonsane, a temple that hosts the festival of "Naga fireballs" in October annually. Each year, a paranormal phenomenon of orange spheres emerges above the waters of the Mekong at the end of the rainy season. This phenomenon is attributed by local tradition to the Naga, the serpent from Hindu mythology.

Lunch on your own at a local restaurant.

We arrive in Vientiane and are transferred to our hotel for check-in and a free afternoon. We can choose to take a beautiful walk around several active temples that line the main street. It is also possible to admire the beautiful colonial houses in the city center.

We are invited to enjoy the beautiful sunset over the Mekong by strolling through the night market or the Chao Anouvong Park, a popular gathering place for locals.

Dinner on your own, but the Tummor restaurant is recommended. It is located on the banks of the Mekong with views of Thailand on the opposite shore. It allows you to discover an unexpected side of Vientiane in the process of modernization.