Day 1: Arrival in Luang Prabang, Airport Pick-up
Greetings from Luang Prabang, one of Laos’ UNESCO World Heritage Sites! Upon arrival, your private guide and the driver will pick you up and escort you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at your disposal. Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, and its northern part features a hiking paradise with untamed tropical rainforests, plateau grassland, thousand-year-old Buddhist temples, and primitive villages. In the coming 10 days, let’s embark on this Laos tour package of trekking adventure!
► Recommended Activities upon Arrival (at your own expense)
If you arrive early, consider visiting the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre on your own, at House 355, Ban Khamyong Kitsalat Road, where you can learn about Laos’ ethnic cultures from their traditional attire, handicrafts, and religious ritual implements. The entrance fee is LAK 35,000 (USD 1.5) per person, and it closes at 17:00. Afterward, ascend Mount Phousi for panoramic views of Luang Prabang: brown, orange, and grey-white sloping-roofed houses are densely packed along the street or scattered among green forests. You can also admire how the setting sun dyes this hidden paradise in orange hues. The entry cost is LAK 30,000 (USD 1.5) per person.
► Trekking Tips
1. The treks in this itinerary aren’t difficult, and there’s no need to bring professional gear. A lightweight hiking backpack with necessities like moisture-wicking clothing, hiking shoes, insect repellent, and Band-Aids is enough.
2. Power outages occur frequently in mountainous areas, and some villages even have no electricity, so it’s advisable to bring a power bank.
3. Exchange Laotian kips in Luang Prabang, particularly in small denominations, as there are few money exchangers in small villages.
4. Please get permission before taking photos of the shy mountain folk.
Accommodation: Victoria Xieng Thong Palace, Luang Prabang (4 stars) - Palace Deluxe Room or similar
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Day 2: Luang Prabang: Alms-giving Ceremony, Royal Palace Museum, Ethnic Villages & Kuang Si Falls
This early morning, kick off today’s itinerary with the traditional alms-giving ceremony! Your private guide will accompany you to set off at around 5:30 am to witness the locals’ making preparations. The orange-robed monks walk barefoot half an hour later to receive alms from reverent devotees sitting along the road. The alms, usually including sticky rice, fruits, and snacks, make up the primary meal of the monks, who rigidly adhere to the tradition of not eating any solid food after midday. In a cycle of compassion, they’ll give extra food to stray animals and the underprivileged. If you want to participate in almsgiving, consider purchasing food at a store beforehand, which is cheaper than buying it on site. You can also share the snacks and candies with child monks.
► Trivial Fact: Males in Laos are expected to become monks at least once in their lifetime, for a period that may last from several months to even a lifetime, to accumulate merit for themselves and their families. Many poor families send their children to temples at the age of four or five.
After the ceremony, return to the hotel for breakfast and then visit the Royal Palace Museum. Admire the famed Phra Bang image, which inspired the city’s name, as well as the royal items, religious instruments, and rare Buddha statues collected from India and Cambodia. Next, explore the bustling Phousi Morning Market, brimming with specialties, such as dried cowhide, local tea, and tribal woven products.
Your guide will also accompany you to some ethnic minority villages. Visit Ban Ouay Village to catch a glimpse of the Hmong people’s textile skills, food storage methods, and hunting techniques; Ban Ou Village to observe how the Lao Loum people weave bamboo and cotton fabrics; and Ban Thapene Village to get insights into the bamboo cottages of the Khmu people. Grab your chance to chat with the hospitable folks and learn more about their way of life.
After lunch, let’s enjoy breathtaking views of the multi-layered Kuang Si Falls. After passing by a moon bear rescue center, arrive at the stunning falls with emerald pools. If you are a swimmer, change into your swimsuit in the simple changing room, and dive into the cool water! You can also ascend to the top to find the source of the falls. In the evening, we’ll return to downtown and visit Wat Xieng Thong, the city’s most beautiful temple, to appreciate the delicate mosaic "Tree of Life" that brightly shines in the setting sun. Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Victoria Xieng Thong Palace, Luang Prabang (4 stars) - Palace Deluxe Room or similar
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Day 3: Take a 10-hour Cruise to Pakbeng, Visit Pak Ou Caves En Route
★ An Epic Journey of a 2-Day Mekong Slow Boat Cruise!Today, embark on a 2-day Mekong River cruise from Luang Prabang to Houayxay, with an overnight stop in Pakbeng! Your guide will pick you up from the hotel at 6:30 am and escort you to the pier, where you’ll board the boat departing at 7:00 am. The Mekong River, dubbed Laos’ blood vessel, connects the scattered, simple villages nestled among the mountains. Immerse yourself in the rustic landscape on both banks: the thatched huts with sloping roofs built on the mountain slopes, and messy-haired kids playing joyfully and excitedly waving to people as boats pass by. We’ll go ashore to explore Pak Ou Caves, a Buddhist relic nestled within a cliff. Marvel at the thousands of large and small Buddha statues stacked in the upper and lower stone caves, in different postures, materials, and ages. After the tour, return to the boat and resume the journey. Most of the passengers on the boat are locals and backpackers, and you can chat with them to share fantastic travel experiences. At around 17:30, arrive at the pier in Pakbeng, where the local guide and the driver will pick you up and escort you to the well-selected lodge.
► Friendly Tips:
1. The departure time of the cruise may be subject to the annual maintenance and weather changes.
2. You can bring books or download some TV shows ahead of time, as the ship's signal is spotty or even nonexistent most of the time. Additionally, please take some toilet paper, as the ship's restroom doesn't provide any.
3. Bring a light coat, as the morning wind is typically cool. Besides, the ship has wooden benches, so it’s advisable to take a cushion to make your trip more comfortable. If you are prone to seasickness, pack some anti-seasickness medicine.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Luang Say Lodge, Pakbeng - Bungalow or similar
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Day 4: Continue the 10-hour Cruise Trip from Pakbeng to Houayxay
Today, you still need to get up early, and your guide and the driver will escort you to the pier to continue the cruise trip to Houayxay, departing at 7:00 am. This river section is narrower than yesterday, with more rainforests, rice fields, and scattered settlements. On drizzling days, the misty view is even more alluring. On the way, we’ll visit a hill tribe village, where the skilled craftspeople live a primitive life and even rarely use electricity. After the visit, return to the cruise ship and enjoy lunch as well as seasonal fruits, beverages, and snacks. You’ll sign some required documents at Pak Tha before reaching Houayxay at around 17:00. The town is known as the heart of the Golden Triangle, where the Mekong River separates two worlds: fishing boats and modest villages are dispersed on the Lao side, while golden temples in Chong Kong gleam in the sunlight on the Thai side. Your 2-day slow boat journey ends here. Disembark and meet your local guide and the driver, who will escort you to the hotel.
► Dinner Recommendation (at your own expense)
Consider dining at Bokeo Café tonight, which features a diverse menu at reasonable prices. Try the curry chicken with rice, and crispy pork. They also serve pasta, hamburgers, and vegetarian alternatives. Besides, don't miss cooling off with some Beerlao!
Average Cost per Person: LAK 80,000-180,000 (USD 4-8)
Address: 7CG6+JMQ, Houayxay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Huayxay Riverside (3 stars) - Standard Room or similar
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Day 5: 4.5-hour Scenic Drive from Houayxay to Luang Namtha
After breakfast, enjoy a 4.5-hour private car ride northward to Luang Namtha, a wonderland with mysterious protected areas, ethnic minority communities, and rainforest adventure spots! For a cozier trip, you can bring your neck pillow. We’ll travel through Nam Ha National Biodiversity Conservation Area (Nam Ha National Park), along which you’ll be smitten by the dense primeval jungle that not only houses rich, rare, wild flora and fauna, such as clouded leopards, hornbills, and various butterflies and mushrooms, but also serves as the home of diverse ethnic minorities, including the Hmong, Khmu, and Akha. Upon arrival in the afternoon, check into the hotel and save energy for the upcoming trek!
► Recommended Activities in Luang Namtha (at your own expense)
If you’re still energetic, you can rent a bicycle for just LAK 30,000 (USD 1.5) to tour the town by yourself, and head northwest to the iconic hillside golden Samakkhixay Stupa and enjoy a panoramic view of the city. In the evening, visit Luang Namtha Night Market to savor local snacks, such as khao soy (dry noodles) and coconut-flavored grilled bananas. You might also see locals playing pov pob, a traditional ball-tossing game similar to curling.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Pou Villa Resort, Luang Namtha (4 stars) - Superior Room or similar
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Day 6: Luang Namtha: Full Day Trekking in Nam Ha National Protected Area
Today, lace up your hiking shoes and conquer the Nam Ha National Protected Area! After breakfast, your guide will accompany you to take a 35-minute ride by tuk-tuk auto-rickshaw to Doiluckkam (Gold Mountain), the starting point of Nam Ha trekking tours. Upon arrival, your local guide will accompany you to delve deep into the tropical jungle, sharing fascinating knowledge about wild animals, useful hunting skills, and how to distinguish medicinal plants and edible leaves that you’ve never seen before. Please be cautious when walking on rough and slippery sections. At noon, let’s enjoy a wonderful picnic lunch, sitting on the ground, using on-site banana leaves as tablecloths, drinking with a bamboo cup, and savoring simple yet yummy food, some of which even comes from the guide’s collection along the way, such as banana flowers and vine seedlings! After a short break, continue trekking to the Khmu tribe settlement of Nalan. The primitive village lacks water and even bathing is done with saved water or in the river; electricity is also scarce, and residents would go to bed early and rise early for labor. January is the coldest month here, with the lowest temperature dropping to around 10℃ (50℉), so it’s advisable to cover yourself with a thick coat. After a brief visit, your trekking concludes. Your guide will escort you back to the hotel by tuk-tuk. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Pou Villa Resort, Luang Namtha (4 stars) - Superior Room or similar
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Day 7: Drive 5.5 Hours from Luang Namtha to Nong Khiaw
After breakfast, enjoy a 5.5-hour private car transfer to Nong Khiaw, a charming and quaint small town by the Nam Ou River. Along the way, soak up northern Laos’ natural beauty of vast rice fields and villages scattered among layers of karst mountains. As the long journey involves many bumpy dirt roads, you can bring a neck pillow and some of your favorite snacks. Upon arrival, check into the hotel with your guide’s help, and then have a rest or explore the city on your own.
► Recommended Activities in Nong Khiaw (at your own expense)
If you are still energetic, consider visiting the nearby Som Nang View Point on your own, the best spot to enjoy a stunning sunset, a bird's-eye vista of the town, and the Nam Ou River. Wear comfortable shoes to climb the slightly bumpy path for around 20 minutes, and you’ll reach the summit. The entrance fee is LAK 40,000 (USD 2). Then, head to the riverside Watering Hole Bar, have a terrace seat, and sample grilled fish, seafood fried rice, and Beerlao. It costs around USD 5 per person.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Nong Kiau Riverside (3 stars) - Standard Room or similar
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Day 8: Cruise Trip along Nam Ou River, Visit Riverbank Villages, Trek in Muang Ngoi Village
Today, follow your guide to explore the ethnic villages in Nong Khiaw by traditional long-tail boat along the Nam Ou River. En route, pass through Hoay Hoi Village, pay a visit to Ban Sop Jam Village, and finally reach Muang Ngoi Village. Some of the villages have no internet, and some even have no electricity. The locals are expert weavers of traditional Lao silk, cotton fabrics and fine textiles, and even children can spin cotton threads using traditional wooden tools. The area is also a paradise for backpackers, with English-labeled lodging, restaurants and handicraft stores on the main streets. Many young natives work as guides, earning about USD 20 per day. Despite the limited income, they work hard for their dreams of building a stone house. In Muang Ngoi Village, enjoy a cup of coffee to refuel and then start today's short trek through limestone cliffs, small hills, rice fields and historical caves, during which you might see the wooden huts hidden amid the trees, children fishing with bamboo baskets, water buffaloes bathing in the river, and wild boars roaming around. Aside from boats, simple bamboo bridges with a single handrail on one side are one of the only two ways to link the outside world. Thanks to your guide’s translation, you can chat with the kind and warm-hearted villagers and feel extremely cherished during this peaceful moment. Return to Muang Ngoi after the trek, and take a boat back to Nong Khiaw. If it’s a sunny day, the breathtaking sunset over the river will surely amaze you. Upon arrival, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel. ► Recommended Massage in Nong Khiaw (at your own expense) After a multi-day trek, you can unwind with a traditional massage or herbal steam bath at Tarpom Lao Massage & Herbal Steam Sauna. Despite its simple furnishings, it features skilled and highly praised masseurs. It closes at 21:00, and it’s best to book in advance via WhatsApp. Average Cost per Person: LAK 50,000-120,000 (USD 2.5-5.5) Address: HJC7+87, Nong Khiaw Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Nong Kiau Riverside (3 stars) - Standard Room or similar
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Day 9: Boat Trip to 100 Waterfalls; Drive 4 Hours to Luang Prabang
After breakfast, your guide will accompany you on a boat trip along the calm Nam Ou River to a nearby small village. A vivid scene of rural daily life unfolds on the murky river: women washing clothes, fishermen smoking leisurely on boats, and innocent kids romping nearby. We’ll travel along the streams in the jungle to reach 100 waterfalls, where you can enjoy some free time. You may wade into the shallow waters of the waterfalls, and explore upwards with the guide, during which the jungle on both sides becomes denser, and the stream steeper. On the trail’s summit is a daunting 20-meter (66-foot) high waterfall with a thick mist that makes you feel quite chilly. Afterward, hike back to the village and return to Nong Khiaw by boat. Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you back to Luang Prabang by a 4-hour private car ride.
► Tips:
1. Proceed with caution, as the muddy roads are slippery and infested with leeches.
2. Wear hiking shoes before reaching the falls, and bring beach shoes for water activities.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Victoria Xieng Thong Palace, Luang Prabang (4 stars) - Palace Deluxe Room or similar
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Day 10: Luang Prabang Departure, Airport See-off
Your 10 days guided Laos tour ends today. Your private guide and the driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby and escort you to the airport for your homeward flight. Wish you a pleasant journey home!
Southern Laos is also full of attractions, such as the Bolaven Plateau rich in coffee and tea production, the primitive 4,000 Islands, and age-old Buddhist temples in Champasak. If they seduce you, please contact us at any time, and we’ll customize an exclusive itinerary for you!
► Recommended Activity for Later Departure (at your own expense)
If time permits, you can take a tuk-tuk to visit the small yet significant UXO Lao Visitor Center by yourself. It showcases the legacy of unexploded bombs and the current mine clearance through bomb fragments, survivors’ stories, and documentary films. Be astonished by the huge bomb casings intricately carved with peaceful scenes of villages, animals, and children, showing a satirical contrast. The center, located at V4JP+QH7, Luang Prabang, is free of charge and open from 8:00 to 16:00, with a 1-hour break at 12:00.
Meal: Breakfast
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