Itinerary
- Day 1
Luang Prabang
After arriving at Luang Prabang airport, you'll arrange your own transfer to the hotel and check in from 2:00 PM. The afternoon is yours to relax and settle in. Later in the evening, your guide picks you up and takes you to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner at local restaurant
- Day 2
Luang Prabang
This morning you'll take a guided tour through Luang Prabang's most important sites, starting with the Royal Palace (now National Museum) and the sacred Phrabang Buddha. From there, you'll board a local motorboat heading to Pak Ou Caves, the area's most famous Buddhist site with thousands of Buddha statues inside. Lunch is prepared by villagers on a traditional Lao bamboo platform where you can enjoy river views. After a 2-hour boat ride back, you'll visit Vat Mai, a prestigious sanctuary built in the late 1700s.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at traditional Lao bamboo platform overlooking Mekong River, featuring local food)
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Luang Prabang
- Visit Royal Palace and National Museum
- Visit Phrabang Buddha
- Local motorboat to Pak Ou Caves
- Lunch at traditional Lao bamboo platform overlooking Mekong River
- Visit Vat Mai temple
Optional Activities
- Baci ceremony (Sou Khouan) - traditional Lao blessing ceremony - approximately 40 minutes, starting between 18:00-20:00 (additional cost approx. EUR 80 per person). Note: Modest dress required - shoulders and knees must be covered; shawls provided.
Landmarks Royal Palace National Museum Phrabang Buddha Pak Ou Caves Vat Mai - Day 3
Kuang-Sy Waterfalls
You'll drive through the valley past local villages to reach the Hmong ethnic community in Ban Long Lao Kao. After visiting the village, you'll hike to Kuang-Sy waterfalls, walking through vegetable gardens, rice fields, and shaded forests. Lunch happens at a local restaurant, and then you have time to rest or swim before heading back to Luang Prabang. If you're interested, the night market is available for exploring on your own later.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box)
Included Activities
- Visit Hmong ethnic community in Ban Long Lao Kao
- Hike to Kuang-Sy waterfalls
- Lunch at local restaurant at Kuang-Sy
Optional Activities
- Swimming at Kuang-Sy waterfalls
- Night market visit (self-guided)
Landmarks Kuang-Sy Waterfalls - Day 4
Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw
You'll drive from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw and visit the Nong Kiew viewpoint. The hike takes you along narrow paths through lush forest to the mountain top, where bamboo benches let you rest and ropes help with steep sections. At the summit, you'll get a 360-degree view of Nong Khiaw and the Ou River. After relaxing at the bamboo sala up top, you'll head back down, check into your hotel, and have the rest of the day free.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Nong Kiew viewpoint
- Mountain hike with panoramic views of Nong Khiaw and Ou River
Landmarks Nong Kiew Viewpoint 
- Day 5
Nong Khiaw to Muang Ngoi
A boat takes you from Nong Khiaw to Muang Ngoi, then you start an easy hike from your accommodation. About 30 minutes in, you'll reach Tam Khang Cave, which served as a refuge during the Indochina War (1960-1972). There's an optional chance to cool off in a rock pool. Continuing through lush vegetation and rice fields, you'll arrive at Ban Na village where you can explore community life or relax at a restaurant terrace with views of rice fields and surrounding hills. Later, you'll take a boat back to Nong Khiaw at a time that works for you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Boat trip from Nong Khiaw to Muang Ngoi
- Easy hike starting from accommodation
- Visit Tam Khang Cave
- Visit Ban Na village
- Boat transfer from Muang Ngoi back to Nong Khiaw
Optional Activities
- Swimming in rock pool at Tam Khang Cave
Landmarks Tam Khang Cave Ban Na Village - Day 6
Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang
In the morning, you'll drive north from Nong Khiaw back to your hotel in Luang Prabang. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city on your own at whatever pace you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- A taste of Laos - gastronomic walking tour near city center featuring popular Lao dishes including khao soi, pho, salapao, namvan, spring rolls, cucumber salad, kaojee, and khao nom kok. Night market visit included. Start time 17:00-18:00 (additional cost approx. EUR 90 per person)
- Day 7
Bolaven Plateau
After checking out, you'll catch a flight from Luang Prabang to Pakse (your ticket is separate). Upon arrival, you'll start a waterfall tour of the Bolaven Plateau, an area known for its high altitude, cool weather, coffee plantations, and waterfalls. You'll visit Tad Fan, which reaches 120 meters and is among the highest in the country, with water forming two parallel streams. A short walk takes you through a coffee plantation where you can buy traditional handicrafts. If you want, an optional hike continues to Tad Yuang waterfalls cascading from a 60-meter gorge in the National Biodiversity Conservation Area. You'll relax at a panoramic restaurant and try the famous Bolaven coffee.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Waterfall tour of Bolaven Plateau
- Visit Tad Fan waterfalls
- Walk through coffee plantation
- Visit Tad Yuang waterfalls
Optional Activities
- Coffee tasting at panoramic restaurant at Tad Yuang waterfalls
- Purchase traditional handicrafts at coffee plantation
Landmarks Tad Fan Waterfalls Tad Yuang Waterfalls - Day 8
Bolaven Plateau
You'll drive to Paksong, Laos's coffee capital and gateway to the Bolaven Plateau at 1,300 meters altitude. This region was originally developed by French colonists and now is home to various Mon-Khmer ethnic groups and produces world-recognized coffee. Traveling by jeep off the main routes, you'll meet a passionate coffee farmer who shows you a magnificent waterfall where you can bathe and relax. Then you'll visit his plantation and watch traditional coffee roasting. Small paths through plantations and forests lead to a lunch spot in a natural, relaxing landscape. After eating, you'll jeep through remote areas to visit bamboo villages of the Laven and Souay ethnic minorities.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch featuring local dishes in middle of natural and relaxing landscape on coffee plantation)
Included Activities
- Visit coffee plantation and meet local farmer
- Swimming at waterfall on coffee plantation
- Watch traditional coffee roasting
- Lunch in natural landscape
- Visit remote bamboo villages of Laven and Souay ethnic minorities
- Day 9
Bolaven Plateau to Don Khong Island
Your morning in the Bolaven highlands is at leisure. Later, you'll leave the highlands and travel to Pakse as the temperature warms up. Along the way, you'll stop to see local blacksmiths and visit a tea or coffee store. Lunch happens in Pakse. After spending a bit more time in the southern Lao countryside, you'll head to Don Khong Island in Siphandone, an archipelago of 4,000 islands known for its laid-back feel. Optional stops at Vat Hatxaikhun and Ban Ponsaad are available on the route.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit local blacksmiths
- Visit tea/coffee store
- Lunch in Pakse
Optional Activities
- Visit Vat Hatxaikhun
- Visit Ban Ponsaad
Landmarks Vat Hatxaikhun Ban Ponsaad - Day 10
4,000 Islands Exploration
You'll drive to the south side of Don Khong Island to visit a local family in a Laotian lowland village and learn how they make traditional rice paper and rice noodles. By boat, you'll then go to Don Som Island and Ban Thapho to see how locals make farmers' hats from palm leaves, a handmade souvenir you can purchase. The ancient Keng Koum temple comes next, blending Buddhist and Hindu influences. Continuing down the Mekong, you'll visit Don Thorlathee Island where villagers sell bamboo handicrafts, then Don Xang Island for a walk through natural surroundings. You'll finish at Don Khone Island seeing the famous Liphi Waterfalls and an old French colonial locomotive. A samlor or tuk tuk takes you through local life with incredible Mekong views before you return to Don Khong Island by car via Nakasang jetty.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit local family in Laotian lowland village
- Learn traditional rice paper and rice noodle production
- Visit Ban Thapho on Don Som Island
- Learn traditional palm leaf farmer hat making
- Visit Keng Koum temple
- Visit Don Thorlathee Island for bamboo handicrafts
- Walk on Don Xang Island
- Visit Liphi Waterfalls on Don Khone Island
- See old French colonial locomotive
- Travel by samlor/tuk tuk viewing Mekong and local life
Landmarks Keng Koum Temple Liphi Waterfalls - Day 11
Vat Phou UNESCO World Heritage Site
You'll drive north to Champasak and visit Vat Phou, a pre-Angkorian temple complex and UNESCO World Heritage Site. An electric car takes you to the foot of sacred Phou Kao mountain, passing two artificial lakes. Walking along the ancient axis marked by stone pillars, you'll reach the first terrace with ruined Khmer Hindu palaces decorated with beautiful sculptures. Ancient stairs lined with frangipani trees lead to a third temple dedicated to Shiva with a unique structure. Behind the temple, you can see a natural spring and stone animal carvings. Then you'll explore Champasak itself on a walking tour starting at Vat Muang Kang, the oldest active temple in Champasak, which mixes French colonial and Lao Buddhist architecture. You'll walk through gardens with historic buildings and wooden dormitory for monks, stroll through bamboo-shaded paths, and visit traditional villages where locals make sticky rice boxes, handicrafts, and culinary specialties. Later, a boat takes you to Don Daeng Island in the late afternoon with free time at La Folie Lodge Resort.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Vat Phou temple complex - UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Electric car tour to foot of Phou Kao mountain
- Walk along ancient axis to first terrace
- Visit ruined Khmer Hindu palaces
- Climb to third temple dedicated to Shiva
- Explore natural spring and stone animal carvings at temple
- Visit Vat Muang Kang - oldest active temple in Champasak
- Walk through traditional villages
- Visit Vat Phanon
- Boat transfer to Don Daeng Island
Optional Activities
- Explore La Folie Lodge Resort area (free time)
Landmarks Vat Phou Phou Kao Mountain Vat Muang Kang Vat Phanon - Day 12
Don Daeng Island to Pakse
Your morning is at leisure depending on your flight departure time. If you have time, there's an optional chance to explore surrounding villages on foot before leaving the island and heading back to Champasak. You'll travel to Pakse airport for your departure flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore surrounding villages on foot (depending on flight departure time)
