Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
Your flight departs today heading to Thailand. Once you arrive, you'll be landing in the land of smiles and starting your two-country adventure across Thailand and Laos.
- Day 2
Chiang Mai
After landing in Chiang Mai, your guide picks you up and transfers you to the hotel for breakfast. From there, you'll walk through the old town visiting a herb garden, taking a longtail boat on the Mae Ping River, browsing Warorot market, and checking out Wat Chedi Luang temple plus the Monument of the Three Kings. Dinner that evening is traditional Thai food at the riverside Sai Ping restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Thai cuisine at Sai Ping restaurant on the banks of the Sai Ping River)
Included Activities
- Herb garden visit and Thai cuisine learning
- Longtail boat ride on Mae Ping River
- Warorot market exploration
- Wat Chedi Luang temple visit
- Monument of the Three Kings visit
- Traditional Thai dinner at Sai Ping restaurant
Landmarks Warorot Market Wat Chedi Luang Monument of the Three Kings 
- Day 3
Lamphun - Chiang Mai
A scenic train takes you to Lamphun where you'll see Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, one of Thailand's oldest temples. At the Yok Dok Thai Silk Center, you'll learn about traditional silk and create your own batik piece. Lunch happens in a terracotta garden. You return to Chiang Mai through rubber tree-lined routes, then explore the city's nightlife by Vespa, stopping at various spots for regional cuisine and to experience local culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious lunch in Baan Phor Liang Meun terracotta garden, built in 1975, surrounded by terracotta statues and works of art inspired by Khmer architecture), Dinner (Multiple dining stops during Vespa nightlife tour sampling diverse regional cuisine)
Included Activities
- Train ride to Lamphun
- Wat Phra That Hariphunchai visit
- Yok Dok Thai Silk Learning and Conservation Center visit
- Batik workshop with hands-on creation
- Lunch at Baan Phor Liang Meun terracotta garden
- Return train ride to Chiang Mai
- Vespa nightlife tour with multiple dining stops
Landmarks Wat Phra That Hariphunchai Yok Dok Thai Silk Learning and Conservation Center - Day 4
Chiang Mai to Chiang Saen
Head out early and climb about 300 steps to reach Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the holiest temple in northern Thailand with its golden pagoda and panoramic views. Next you'll visit the jungle-set Wat Pha Lat and receive a monk's blessing. By bus, you travel north toward Chiang Rai passing mountain and rice field views. A café stop and visit to the unique white-decorated Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) and its Cave of Art follows before you arrive in Chiang Saen and check into your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep climb and temple visit
- Wat Pha Lat visit
- Monk blessing ceremony
- Stop at local café
- Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) visit
- Cave of Art visit at White Temple
Landmarks Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Wat Pha Lat Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) - Day 5
Golden Triangle Region
Today you'll explore the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet. Start in Mae Sai, the bustling border trading town between Thailand and Myanmar, then head to Sop Ruak at the official three-country meeting point. In Chiang Saen on the Mekong banks, you'll check out the city museum learning about the historic Lanna Kingdom, visit Wat Pa Sak Ngam (a 14th-century stupa) and Wat Phra That Chom Kitti with Mekong views, then tour the Hall of Opium museum understanding the region's history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Mae Sai visit
- Sop Ruak (Golden Triangle meeting point) visit
- Chiang Saen city museum visit
- Wat Pa Sak Ngam visit
- Wat Phra That Chom Kitti visit
- Hall of Opium museum visit
Landmarks Mae Sai Sop Ruak (Golden Triangle) Wat Pa Sak Ngam Wat Phra That Chom Kitti Hall of Opium - Day 6
Chiang Saen to Huay Xai
Start the morning at Athita The Hidden Court in Chiang Saen for a teakwood block printing workshop where you'll design and print your own Lanna-style T-shirt. From there, head to the border crossing at Chiang Khong and make your way into Laos. Board the Mekong Sun riverboat in the afternoon, complete the safety drills, and settle in for dinner onboard as your 3-night cruise begins.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box from Athita The Hidden Court), Dinner (Welcome dinner)
Included Activities
- Teakwood block printing workshop at Athita The Hidden Court
- Attend safety exercises on the Mekong Sun riverboat
Landmarks Athita The Hidden Court Chiang Khong Border Checkpoint Friendship Bridge - Day 7
Golden Triangle to Luang Prabang (Mekong Cruise)
This morning on your riverboat, you'll wake to the gentle sound of water lapping against the hull. After breakfast, you'll explore a Khmu people village and visit a local school experiencing rural Laos. Back on the ship, relax on the sun deck as you cruise through lush mountains, impressive rock formations, and remote villages. The upper Mekong journey toward Luang Prabang offers scenery throughout the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (On board the ship), Dinner (On board the ship)
Included Activities
- Khmu people village visit
- Local school visit
- Mekong River cruise observation
- Day 8
Mekong Cruise to Luang Prabang
You'll continue downstream through mostly deserted natural landscape with rocky scenery and sandbanks. Tropical forests with exotic plants, teak trees, and bamboo thickets line both banks. Another village stop lets you meet friendly locals. As you head further south, river traffic increases since the Mekong remains the only transport connection for some remote communities. Your river cruise ends with a barbecue dinner right on the riverbank.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Barbecue on the riverbank)
Included Activities
- Mekong River cruise
- Remote village visit
- Barbecue dinner on riverbank
- Day 9
Pak-Ou Caves to Luang Prabang
Visit the famous Pak-Ou caves, a crucial Buddhist site in Laos. You'll access the lower cave Tham Loum and upper cave Tham Theung by boat from the Mekong, both containing countless small Buddha statues donated as offerings by pilgrims for centuries. Walk to a village where traditional schnapps is still distilled. Then by boat to Luang Prabang, disembarking in the afternoon. Your Laotian guide meets you for a special evening with a traditional Baci ceremony with a local family, followed by authentic Laotian-style dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Laotian-style dinner with local family following Baci ceremony)
Included Activities
- Pak-Ou caves visit (Tham Ting cave temple)
- Tham Loum cave visit
- Tham Theung cave visit
- Traditional schnapps distillery village visit
- Baci ceremony with local family
- Traditional Laotian-style dinner with local family
Landmarks Pak-Ou Caves (Tham Ting) - Day 10
Luang Prabang
Explore Luang Prabang by bicycle on flat, quiet streets starting at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre with colorful costumes and local artifacts. You'll visit the National Museum in the former royal palace learning the city's history. Stop at Wat Mai with its gold leaf covering and Wat Visoun, rebuilt in the 20th century after Chinese destruction. Cycling through quiet side streets past wooden houses, tropical gardens, and temples brings you to Nam Khan river. Wat Xieng Thong, an important temple with ornate carvings and mosaics, is your final stop before afternoon petanque with locals. Dinner features traditional Laotian sin-dat barbecue.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Laotian sin-dat barbecue)
Included Activities
- Bicycle tour of Luang Prabang (approximately 7 km, leisurely pace with multiple stops on flat terrain)
- Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre visit
- National Museum visit (former royal palace)
- Wat Mai visit
- Wat Visoun visit
- Wat Xieng Thong visit
- Laotian petanque game with locals
- Laotian sin-dat barbecue dinner
Optional Activities
- Tuk-tuk alternative to bicycle tour (must be arranged at least 4 weeks before departure; tour guide will not accompany tuk-tuk option)
Landmarks Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre National Museum (Former Royal Palace) Wat Mai Wat Visoun Wat Xieng Thong 
- Day 11
Kuang Si Waterfall
An eventful day starts before breakfast with a drive to Ban Nong Xai village to experience Tak Bat, the Buddhist almsgiving procession where monks receive food donations, a daily centuries-old tradition. You'll visit a local market then return for breakfast. Travel to Long Lao village to experience Khmu and Hmong life and culture. Hike to the famous Kuang Si Waterfall through green fields, vegetable gardens, and forested mountains on a medium-difficulty 10 km trek with a cave visit along the way. Cool off in the clear blue waters and relax at this highlight before returning to your hotel in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Tak Bat (Buddhist almsgiving procession) in Ban Nong Xai village
- Local market visit
- Long Lao village visit
- Khmu and Hmong culture experience
- Kuang Si Waterfall hike (medium difficulty, approximately 10 km, approximately 3.5 hours)
- Cave visit during hike
- Swimming and relaxation at Kuang Si Waterfall
Optional Activities
- Hike alternative - direct bus transport to waterfall without hiking (must be arranged at least 4 weeks before departure; tour guide will not accompany bus option)
Landmarks Kuang Si Waterfall - Day 12
Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng
Visit a traditional Laotian house to learn about bamboo and its role in local culture. You'll participate in a bamboo weaving demonstration and then move to a hands-on cooking class where you'll prepare lunch using bamboo shoots. After eating what you've cooked, head to the train station by bus and take the train to Vang Vieng for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional lunch featuring bamboo dishes)
Included Activities
- Visit traditional Laotian-style house
- Bamboo weaving workshop
- Bamboo cooking class
Landmarks Nam Song River - Day 13
Vang Vieng
Early on, take a leisurely boat trip down the Nam Xong river, passing limestone formations and stopping for swimming. Next, walk through a local Khmu village where a cutler teaches you knife-making techniques. Share a traditional lunch with a Khmu family and learn about animism, then spend the afternoon hiking through rice fields with your guide to reach Than Nam cave.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional lunch with Khmu family)
Included Activities
- Boat trip on the Nam Xong river
- Visit to local Khmu village
- Knife-making demonstration with local cutler
- Traditional lunch with Khmu family
- Hiking tour through rice fields to Than Nam cave
Optional Activities
- Sunrise hike to viewpoint before breakfast - EUR 280 for 1 participant, EUR 160 per person for 2-3 participants, EUR 120 per person for 4-5 participants, EUR 80 per person for 6+ participants. Approximately 45 minutes ascent, requires good physical condition. Around 1.5 hours by vehicle and 2 hours on foot total. Must be booked at time of tour booking.
Landmarks Nam Xong River Than Nam Cave - Day 14
Luang Prabang to Vientiane
After a leisurely morning, you'll travel to Vientiane, the country's capital. Visit the Patuxai Monument, erected after Laos gained independence from France in the 1960s, and climb to the upper platform for city views. See the towering golden stupa That Luang and tour the COPE visitor center learning about the country's history. Dinner is a hands-on experience with a chef in an open-air kitchen where you'll prepare and cook authentic Laotian dishes like khao niaw, laap, jeow, and mok pa, then enjoy your home-cooked meal together.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Open-air cooking class experience followed by home-cooked Laotian meal with local chef, featuring khao niaw, laap, jeow, and mok pa)
Included Activities
- Patuxai Monument visit with upper platform access
- That Luang stupa visit
- COPE visitor center visit
- Open-air cooking class with local chef
- Dinner with home-cooked Laotian cuisine
Landmarks Patuxai Monument That Luang COPE Visitor Center 
- Day 15
Vientiane Departure
Your last day in Laos starts visiting two of the oldest Buddhist temples in Vientiane. You'll stroll through the airy corridors of Wat Si Saket with its countless miniature Buddha statues, then visit Haw Phra Kaew, a former temple now housing an impressive collection of Laotian and Khmer religious art. See the Presidential Palace from outside, the former French governor's palace reflecting colonial and recent history (not open to the public). Transfer to the airport in time for your evening flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wat Si Saket visit
- Haw Phra Kaew (former temple and museum) visit
- Presidential Palace exterior viewing
Landmarks Wat Si Saket Haw Phra Kaew Presidential Palace - Day 16
Return to Germany
You land back in Germany with countless memories from your Thailand and Laos journey and return home.
