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Discover Laos - An exploration of SE Asia’s best kept secret!

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Discover Laos - An exploration of SE Asia’s best kept secret!
  • Category: Cultural/Adventure/Laos
  • Season: 17 - 29 November
  • Location: Laos
  • Cost: US $3,900/-per person + tax
  • Min Group: 8-10
  • Customizable: No
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About the trip

Join us on this one-of-a-kind trip, exploring some truly hidden places in Laos, a country still off the radar of mainstream tourism. As we travel throughout this tranquil, unhurried land, we find everything an adventurer could wish for: lush rugged mountains, the mighty Mekong River and its tributaries, astonishing biodiversity, a wealth of ethnic cultures and a deeply rooted history epitomized by romantic Luang Prabang, where saffron robed monks move silently past ancient gleaming temples and evocative French colonial mansions.

Beginning in the very south of Laos, we paddle into a calm reach of the Mekong River to watch the rare river dolphins surface around us. We cycle through rice paddies, visit an Angkor temple and chill out in Champasak, where time has stood still. From a traditional village we take elephant-friendly rides through the forest, and see them set free at night in the nearby wetlands. In the coffee growing area of the Bolevan Plateau we hike to a stunning waterfall, then head to the sleepy capital city of Vientiane to meet a world-renowned weaver.

Journeying to Northern Laos we pass through wild mountains with unsurpassable views, stopping to paddle the tranquil Nam Song River through dramatic karst landscapes. In Luang Prabang, we immerse ourselves in the history and beauty of this famous UNESCO World Heritage site, take a boat ride up the Mekong to a mysterious cave, and visit ethnic minority villages. On our final day we take a magical trek with elephants up through an enchanted forest, picnicking by a cool river and heading down along a series of glacial-blue waterfalls and picture-perfect pools. On our final night we share yet another fabulous meal in Luang Prabang to celebrate our discovery of Laos!

 

Note: A detailed packing list will be shared with you once you have signed up for the trip


Duration – 13 days
Acco - hotels/lodges 12 nights
Activities - Gentle hiking and kayaking; biking on flat ground; river boat cruising; elephant-friendly riding; cultural tours; village visits.
Begin / End - Pakse, Laos / Luang Prabang, Laos

 

Cost Inclusive of

1.  All ground transportation
2.  Airport transfers on the first and last days of the trip
3.  Equipment and entry fees for all activities if any
4.  All accommodation and most meals (some lunches might be on your own)
6.  Cultural tour guiding and entrance fees

Cost Not Inclusive of

1.  International flights
2.  Internal flights
3.  Visa processing fees
4.  Beverages and alcoholic drinks .
5.  Personal insurance and gratuities
6.  Medical insurance, including emergency evacuation (We also strongly advise you to purchase trip cancellation insurance.)
7.  Any expenditure of personal nature, such as telephone calls, laundry and others not mentioned in the itinerary

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Add-on Excursions;
Siem Reap/Angkor Wat:

No journey to SE Asia is complete without a visit to the mystical Angkor temples around Siem Reap, Cambodia. Watch the sun rise over the stunning towers of Angkor Wat; sit in the roots of a giant tree to gaze at the peaceful four side faces of Bayon temple; marvel at the intricate carvings in Banteay Srei and hike through cool forest to the astounding riverbed carvings in Kbal Spean. As our knowledgeable guide brings history alive, you will be spellbound and moved by this incomparable UNESCO World Heritage Site.


Suggested length: 3 to 5 days
Please let us know your preferences and we will put an amazing excursion together for you.

Itinerary

Day 1 
From your rooftop restaurant in Pakse, watch the setting sun bathe the Mekong River and surrounding hills in gold.

Day 2 
In an off the beaten track village, ride elephants through a forest and in the evening watch their mahouts send them out to graze freely in lush wet lands.

Day 3
Jump on a funky riverboat and head down the Mekong River to one of the fabled and laid-back  Four Thousand Islands.

Day 4
In your kayak, float down quiet reaches of the Mekong River listening for the breath of the rare Mekong river dolphins.

Day 5 
Wander through an ancient Angkor temple complex carved into a hillside amid massive trees. Overnight in a small,  forgotten French colonial enclave.

Day 6 
Head up to the cool heights of the Bolaven Plateau, to get the skinny from a local coffee farmer on how to grow the best beans. Hike to the top of a dizzying waterfall. Go for a refreshing swim.

Day 7 
A short flight takes you to Vientiane, the sleepy capital of Laos, to meet a famous weaver and have dinner in a great restaurant that supports and trains street kids.

Day 8 
Drive to Vang Vieng, set among stupendous karst formations, and relax in a spa hotel.

Day 9 
Have your cameras at the ready as we head through mind blowing mountainous landscapes. In Luang Prabang, soak in the ambiance of Buddhist and French colonial architecture. Shop for ethnic treasures among the many of stalls in the bustling  Night Market. 

Day 10 
Rise early to the beating of gongs and watch hundreds of saffron-robed monks file out from their temples to receive alms. Then head to the hills for a fabulous day, trekking with elephants along lush river banks to a beautiful waterfall.

Day 11 
Step onto a traditional,  long riverboat and cruise up the rushing Mekong River. Hang a right and follow the pristine Nam Ou River through a magical green valley of rice fields and mountains. Camp out and watch the stars.

Day 12 
The mist curls off the Nam Ou River as you begin a trek through ever changing landscapes of green rice terraces, bamboo, tropical forest and streams. Relax in the evening on the balcony of your riverside bungalow.

Day 13 
Back in Luang Prabang, celebrate our Discover Laos adventure with the best French food and wine this side of Paris!

Day 14 
Say goodbye to your travel companions and return home or continue with your onward journey.

Trip Ends Here!
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