THE CULTURAL TRACES OF LAOS

Arrival at Luang Prabang Airport, welcome by the iLOTUS TOURS guide and transfer to your hotel. This peaceful city, world heritage, is located in the heart of a mountainous region in the north of the country.

This day is dedicated to the most important sites of Luang Prabang: venture into Wat Visoun, a temple from the 16th century rehabilitated into a small religious museum, then into Wat Aham, a temple from the early 19th century. Two guardians, laid at the foot of the staircase, represent two characters from the Ramayana (Hanuman, the monkey god and the ferocious Yaksa). Next, Wat Xiengthong, the most important temple of the city dating from the 16th century and embodying the elegance and grace of  Luang Prabang architecture. Climb up the 328 steps of Mount Phousi leading to the top of the sacred hill. This shady Mount dominates the sky of Luang Prabang and offers a splendid 360° panorama of the surrounding villages and the Mekong. At the end of the day, enjoy some free time to wander through the wide night market, where you can find a collection of beautiful textiles handmade by local tribes. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the elephant village, where you will enjoy a pleasant elephant trek experience. Then a boat trip will take you to Tad Se waterfall before returning to the village. This waterfall is particularly spectacular in the rainy season, feel free to go for a swim. Take a break for lunch at a local restaurant, before getting back to Luang Prabang in the afternoon and enjoy some free time. Night at the hotel.

In the morning, embark on a narrow, fast local boat, for an excursion on the Mekong River to Pak Ou. Many wonders await you on this journey: lush landscapes, typical villages and authentic local life. Pak Ou sanctuaries consist of two large caves and thousands of Buddha representations ranging from a few centimeters to two meters in height. Typical Laotian villages in the area are barely visible behind this thick screen of foliage. You will pass by slender canoes sailing near the shore, floats and bamboo poles marking the location of nets and fish traps. Take a break in Ban Muang Keo, a village well known for distilling traditionally Lao Lao whiskey rice. In the afternoon, get back to the city to visit the National Museum, once the Royal Palace and the residence of the King. This building houses a collection of valuables including the famous Buddha Prabang statue, as well as original and sometimes strange gifts given to the king by foreign dignitaries. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, drive south for about 30 km to a protected national park where are the Kuang Si Waterfalls. These famous low waterfalls offer a spectacular and beautiful sight in their green setting. Stop along the way and explore Talad Phosy Market, famous for its fresh fruits from all over the region. Discover the village of Ban Na Oune, populated by Hmong, probably the most famous minority group in Laos. Continue your journey and just before getting there, explore the village of Ban Tha Pane, inhabited by the Khmu ethnic minority. Take a short walk to Kuang Si waterfalls. Have a picnic lunch in nature or at a local restaurant before transfer to Luang Prabang airport. Flight to Vientiane. Ovenight at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore the most important historical and religious sites of the capital: Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple to survive the Siamese war in 1828, and its cloister with more than 8000 Buddha statues; Wat Phra Keo, the former royal temple turned into a museum of religious art, originally erected to house the famous emerald Buddha that the king brought back from northern Siam. Today, it displays a collection of Buddha statues, antiques and artifacts found around Vientiane. On the way to the famous stupa That Luang, stop to take pictures of the imposing Patuxay monument, which recalls the Parisian Arc de Triomphe. The rest of the day is free for you to shop at Vientiane Market. Do not miss out on Laotian textiles, hill tribe artworks, crafts and ancient items in general. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Pakse. Upon arrival, meet with your guide, and drive (on a road known as the old coffee route) to Tadlo on the Bolovens Plateau. Stop after about 35 km to visit the famous Tad Fan Waterfall and the ethnic villages in the surrounding countryside. Overnight in Tadlo.

After breakfast, transfer to Wat Phu, a unique site in Laos where there are Khmer remains dating from the 9th to the 12th century. A 2-hour tour will take you to explore these Khmer ruins on top of a green hill, a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO in 2001. Get back on the road towards the region of 4000 islands. Hop on a motor boat for a short ride to reach Don Khong, the most important island of this unspoiled site. Overnight at Don Khong.

After breakfast, cruise in a huge area named "the four thousand islands", famous for its biodiversity and its picturesque karst peaks. Discover the falls of Lippi, whose name, "spirit trapper" in Lao, refers to the local beliefs that currents act as a trap for evil spirits. Stop to explore an old railway, built in 1897 by the French to bypass the powerful rapids preventing navigation. Return to Ban Nakasang and head south to visit Khone Phapheng, the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia. Overnight at Khone Island.

After breakfast, transfer to Pakse airport for departure flight. End of our services.