LUANG PRABANG STORY (9D8N):

After breakfast, our guide will take you on an in-depth walking tour of the city. The walk is oriented towards the lesser known parts of the town including charming lanes showing the more traditional atmosphere of the heritage town. Along the way, we will see the four different types of buildings categorized by UNESCO. The first one is the traditional Lao house which is made from tropical hardwood or bamboo and built on stilts. The second is a half wood and half cement house built after the arrival of the French.

The third is the traditional French colonial building that are similar to those found in Vietnam and Cambodia. The last form of architecture you will see is the old Chinese shop houses that were built to be used for both commercial and residential purposes.

In the afternoon, we will visit some famous attractions inside city center including the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then continue with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts.

Late afternoon, we climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. 

The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Tip: In the evening, we recommend joining the Royal Ballet Theatre at the National Museum to watch the traditional show of Phralak Phralam and learn about the history and culture of Laos (not included – payable on spot)

After picking you up from town or your hotel we will leave Luang Prabang around 08:30 for the nearby village of Xieng Lom. Upon arrival you are invited to have coffee or tea as your guide for the day provides an in-depth introduction to elephant behavior and the ways we should interact with them. A quick boat ride across the Nam Khan River will deliver you to the waiting elephants. You will be introduced to your new friends and feed them some special treats - a sure way to begin an instant friendship.

Enjoy observing elephants from the riverbank as Mahouts wash them in the Nam Khan river. You can experience elephants washing, swimming and playing in the water. Please note this is voluntary activity for the elephants and Mandalao does not force them to get in the water. (On cold days the elephants are less likely to want to get wet.)

After 2 hours crossing through a beautiful stretch of traditional Lao gardens you will arrive at the jungle covered Huay Nok stream. As you walk alongside the elephants and crisscross through the cool water you will experience a profound sense of understanding, respect, and caring for these amazing animals. As you prepare to start your walk back to MandaLao, you will bid farewell to your new friends with more treats and goodbye hugs. When you get back to MandaLao, you will head to the restaurant and enjoy a delicious fresh Lao meal made from our own organically grown produce. There you can relax, kick-back, and process the day’s experiences on the veranda overlooking the river and misty mountains.

Following lunch, you are free to stroll around the camp for your own exploration before walking to the nearby beautiful Chateau Orientale Resort, which may remind you about the faraway land lost in the mist of history. Leisurely relax at the terrace overlooking the Nam Khan River or enjoy plenty activities offered by the resort. Overnight at Chateau Orientale. Private transfer with escorting guide

You have the full day to relax at the resort or enjoy plenty of activities offer on spot including kayaking, cycling, or walking. Overnight at Chateau Orientale

After breakfast, 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 that, visit the nearby Butterflies Park, where we will 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. This is also one of the best spots to admire the sunset in Luang Prabang. Transfer back to your hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Tip: For the dinner, we recommend you try a bowl of Khaupoon at Tamarind Restaurant, which will be the highlight of your culinary exploration of Luang Prabang (not included – payable on spot – pre-reservation is recommended)

After breakfast, transfer to boat pier to take the Nomad Cruise upstream the Mekong River to Pak Ou cave . Our first stop will be the remote island temple shrine of Wat Done Khoun Nelemith, 16 km from Luang Prabang. Surrounded by the Mekong River on all sides, this fascinating temple and its monks see very few visitors. We continue north to the famous Pak Ou Caves. These ancient shrines are filled with thousands of Buddha images and have long served as a pilgrimage for all, including the former Royal Family. Leave the dramatic karst caves and head back downstream, savouring a luscious lunch on board. Arriving back in town, we will enjoy a traditional Lao massage at Lao Red Cross, which will help you recover from the exploration in the last some days. After that, stroll along the Mekong river to admire the sunset before joining the cinema at Amalea Restaurant to watch the 100-year-old Chang Movie, which is the oldest film about Laos. This is a silent film about a poor farmer in northern Nan Province (northern Thailand) and his daily struggle for survival in the jungle.

The dinner will be served after that at the restaurant before transferring back to your hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang

 Tip: If you are fond of various ethnic cultures, you can visit Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (closed on Monday).

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. We will first start 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. The picnic lunch will be served at the viewpoint where you can spread your view over the region, including the view of mount Phousi in the city center. 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. We then walk to the nearby hidden charm of Hillside Resort where you will spend the rest of the day relax by the inviting pool or walk around to explore the surrounding area. Overnight at Hillside Resort

Note:

+ Zipline in 1-hour, trekking min 1 hour - max 3 hours depending on the route that you choose

Free for the whole day for your own exploration for just relax to enjoy your last day in Laos. Overnight at Hillside Resort

You are free before transferring back to Luang Prabang International Airport to take the departure flight. End of services!