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North and South

12 Days / 11 Nights

Itinerary ( Huay Xai - Pakbeng - Luang Prabang - Vang Vieng - Vientiane - Tad Lo - Khong Island - Khon Island - Pakse )

NORTH AND SOUTH (LAO-T-10)

DAY 1 : Huay Xai - Pakbeng (-/-/-)
Leave Houey Xay on the Thai border for a leisurely cruise on the Pak Ou boats down the Mekong for Pak Beng. Several stops along the way offer the opportunity to sample rural life first hand and marvel at just how little has changed over the centuries. Arrival in Pak Beng is in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Pakbeng.

DAY 2 : Pakbeng - Luang Prabang (B/-/-)
The boat leaves in the morning for the second leg of the cruise to Luang Prabang. Go on to Pak Ou village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River to visit the Tham Ting Caves of a Thousand Buddha's. Stop off at the village of Ban Xang Hai for a lesson in how rice whisky is made. Arrival in Luang Prabang is in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 3 : Luang Prabang (B/-/-)
After breakfast, a city tour begins at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum and Vat Xieng Thong Temple. In the afternoon continue to Vat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-reliefs and Vat Visun, entirely rebuilt after being destroyed in 1887 by the invading Black Flags from southern China. In the courtyard of Vat Visun stands the Watermelon Stupa shaped like the fruit it takes its name from. In the late afternoon climb the 328 steps to the top of Mount Phousi to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding countryside.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 4 : Luang Prabang - Kuang Si Waterfall - Ban Phanom (B/-/-)
After breakfast, enjoy a visit to the Kuang Si Waterfall, southwest of Luang Prabang with stops en-route to visit some ethnic minority villages. It is possible to walk to the top of the falls via a steep track and if the weather is good, swim in the clear water at the foot of the falls. Picnic lunch by the falls orreturn to Luang Prabang for lunch. Continue to Ban Tha Baen, the Khmu village with a traditional hydro-rice mill. The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure to explore on your own.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 5 : Luang Prabang - Vang Vieng (B/-/-)
Journey south through Muang Kasi and Ban Phatang. Continue to Vang Vieng, a scenic district in Vientiane Province. Breathtaking views of the limestone karst scenrey of mountains, caves and rocky outcrops on the west bank of the Nam Song River.

DAY 6 : Vang Vieng - Vientiane (B/-/-)
After breakfast, visit Tham Chang Cave which once used as a bunker against marauding Chinese in the early 19th century. Tham means cave and Chang is steadfast. Continue to Tham Xang Cave (also called Elephant Cave) It contains a few Buddha images and a Buddha footprint plus the elephant shaped stalactites which give the cave its name. Transfer to Vientiane.
Overnight in Vientiane.

DAY 7 : Vientiane (B/-/-)
visit many interesting wats and lively markets, such as Pha That Luang - the most important national monument in Laos, Patuxia - a large monument in the style of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, Ho Pha Keo - the former royal temple of the Lao monarchy converted into a museum containing Buddhist sculptures found in Laos, Wat Si Muang - the temple which contains the city pillar and acts as the home of Vientiane's guardian spirits, Wat Si Saket - the early Bangkok style tempole containing more than 2,000 silver and ceramic Buddha images, and Talaat Sao - the Morning Market (actually open all day) selling a wide range of fabrics, jewellery and electronic goods.
Overnight in Vientiane.

DAY 8 : Vientiane - Pakse - Tad Lo (B/-/-)
Flight from Vientiane to Pakse and transfer from Pakse to the Tad Lo Resort. Journey north-east towards Salavan through the villages of Laongam and Ban Laongam in Salavan Province. This province has approximately 256,000 inhabitants, including a number of relatively obscure Mon-Khmer groups, such as the Ta-oy, Lavai, Katang, Katu and Kado. The big attraction in the Salavan Province is the Bolaven Plateau.
Overnight in Tad Lo.

DAY 9 : Tad Lo - Pakse - Khong Island (B/-/-)
Journey south in Champasak Province along the east bank of the Mekong River through the villages of Ban Nongsim, Ban Hangdon and Kheo. Visit Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands) and Wat Phu Champasak, the Angkor-period ruins .
Overnight at Khong Island.

DAY 10 : Khong Island - Khon Island (B/-/-)
After breakfast, transfer by boat from Khong Island to Khon Island. Visit Ban Khon Village, main village on the island with several old French colonial buildings. Continue to Wat Khon Tai, Lao temple built on the former site of a Khmer temple possibly from the Chenla era. Then, Visit Tad Somphamit (Li Phi Falls), raging set of rapids at the western end of Khon Island.
Dinner and overnight in Khon Island.

DAY 11 : Khon Island - Pakse (B/-/-)
Journey to Khon Phapheng Falls south of Don Khong Island, the Mekong River features a 13km stretch of powerful rapids with several sets of cascades. Then transfer to Pakse and journey north through Champasak Province along the east bank of the Mekong River through the villages of Kheo, Ban Hangdon and Ban Nongsim.
Dinner and overnight in Pakse.

DAY 12 : Pakse (B/-/-)
End of service.


*B : Breakfast, L : Lunch, D : Dinner