Amaze yourself in Laos

We wake up early to attend the alms offering to monks. This local tradition takes place every morning around 5:30-6:00 AM in the streets of the city.

We return to the hotel for breakfast. On the way, we observe the morning market.

We then head towards the splendid Kuang Si Falls which are located 32 km from the city. We observe magnificent rice field landscapes and especially a small permanent exhibition on the protection of Asian black bears from Southeast Asia, an endangered species.

Apart from the waterfalls which are a major attraction in the region, we have the possibility to enjoy swimming in natural pools with turquoise and crystalline waters.

Before returning to the city, we will make a small detour of half an hour to the buffalo farm « Lao Buffalo Dairy ». We will receive clarification on the situation of this animal in Laos and the care given to them.

We can also get close to some of them and bottle-feed the young ones. At the end of the visit, we will enjoy artisanal ice creams made from buffalo milk. Available flavors: fruits, sesame, lemongrass (depending on the seasons).

It should be noted that this animal is emblematic of the countryside of Asian countries. However, this species of bovid is facing extinction despite its importance. The mortality rate at birth is around 50% because at this stage, buffalo calves do not have access to sufficient nutrients. With this in mind, the Lao government has organized itself to multiply its herds with prevention and breeding projects. This is how the Buffalo Farm in Luang Prabang expanded by combining these programs with local breeders. This farm also focuses on the dairy and cheese industry.

At the end of the visit, we taste ice creams made from buffalo milk which are flavored differently depending on the season: with fruits, sesame, lemongrass…

We take the road to the hotel for a relaxing end of day. We have the opportunity to make some purchases in the craft galleries of the city. Among many others, the beautiful craft and textile gallery Bounnachanh is worth a visit. It is nestled in an old characteristic house near the Villa Chitdara hotel.

Dinner on your own. To enjoy an evening sindad, the Dyen Sabai is an ideal address. It offers this kind of Lao barbecue where you grill your own meat on a heating plate and boil your vegetables. You eat them with a good Beerlao. This charming place is located on the opposite bank of the Nam Khan river. It is accessible by a small bamboo bridge from the peninsula.

After breakfast, we set out to discover the most important ethnic groups in Laos, namely the Hmongs and the Khamus. We immerse ourselves in the life of a family within a village around Luang Prabang, through participation in daily tasks such as traditional cooking, hunting wild animals, farming work…

We share lunch with our hosts. We then play with the village children traditional games from their daily lives.

Dinner preparation.

Overnight stay in a homestay, in the village with fairly basic comfort.

We have breakfast at 6:30 am before being transferred to the jetty with our English-speaking guide.

We enjoy a private cruise on the Mékong from 8:00 am to reach Pakbeng.

We make a stop at Pak Ou, at the confluence of the Nam Ou and the Mékong to discover the mythical caves housing hundreds of Buddha statues. These remain an important pilgrimage site for Laotians, particularly during the New Year celebration held in mid-April.

We have lunch (local specialties) on board.

In the late afternoon, we arrive at Pakbeng. Transfer and check-in to our room.

Dinner at your own expense and night in a guesthouse.

We have breakfast before heading to the market and meeting the local population. We have the opportunity to immerse ourselves in local life in a small village. We can also visit the elephant camp located on the opposite bank of the Mekong to encounter pachyderms in their natural habitat.

We are transferred by private car to Oudomxay for a journey of approximately 4 hours, with a few stops to meet ethnic villages.

We have lunch at our own expense during the journey or in Oudomxay depending on timing. For this, Mrs Kanya's table is an excellent option. It is simple and frequented by both locals and foreigners.

Arrival in Oudomxay, a city that stands out for its Chinese charm. We head to the top of Phou That Mountain to enjoy a panoramic view of the surroundings.

We make a brief stop at PMC or Productivity and Marketing Center. This offers a wide selection of handcrafted items made by locals with natural materials. We find, among other things, massage oils or excellent quality honey.

We settle into our hotel. The guide offers us a massage at the Red Cross center which has a traditional herbal sauna. Payment is to be made on site.

We then set off in a 4x4 to cross the heart of the countryside through the region's mountains, meeting local communities and discovering their way of life. This experience allows us to better understand their daily life, which varies from one time of year to another, from village to village and from season to season.

We first take route 2 to reach the small ethnic roadside market before arriving at Ban Kor, a Khamu village.

The vehicle heads out from this village climbing into the mountains to take us to Ban Avo and admire "the sea of clouds", a phenomenon very present in the region, depending on the weather.

We stop at the Ban Houay Sang village where we find the Khamu community engaged in basketry.

On the Ban Tong Seu side, we explore one of the rare Hmong villages in the region. By going there in December, we will have the opportunity to attend the celebration of the Hmong New Year in full color.

We make a small detour to Ban Akhang, an Akha village also known as Ikhos. We are fascinated by its houses with colorful doors and windows.

After passing through the Sea of Clouds, we arrive at Ban Ano, an Akha village sheltering a landing strip established during the time of the second Vietnam War.

We head back toward Route 2 and the village of Ban Pakho which offers the opportunity to see, among other things, tobacco drying houses.

Passing through Muang La, we discover the Singkham pagoda which is the object of particular veneration in the locality. We also enjoy a moment of relaxation by the natural hot springs.

We return to Oudomxay for a free dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, we head towards Muang Khua located on the banks of the Nam Ou and the Nam Phak. It is the last stop on the road leading to Vietnam and Dien Bien Phu. Former French garrison until the defeat of the French army in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu. This city is part of a region where the ethnic groups are composed mainly of Akhas, Khamus and Tai Dam.

We head to Nong Khiaw to spend the night in a room. To do this, we navigate on the Nam Ou River for approximately 4 hours.

During navigation, we reach a sandbank to have lunch in the form of a picnic. We also make stops to explore traditional ethnic villages of Hmong and Khamu people.

We arrive at Nong Khiau in the middle of magnificent karst reliefs.

We settle in a magnificent setting on the riverbank.

NB: When arriving at the Nam Ou dam, the cruise stops upstream of the dam for a transfer by tuk tuk between the two boats. The guide and tuk-tuk driver help us with baggage transport.

We have breakfast before leaving Nong Khiau around 8 a.m. to head to the town of Ban Nayang Neur, which is located about 30 km away. This destination offers us the Ban Leu Handicrafts center which specializes in cotton work. We have the opportunity to learn the techniques of manual cotton spinning for fabric making through a participatory workshop. This center was established to promote and perpetuate the traditional process of cotton work.

Lunch on site.

In the afternoon, we travel along the road to Luang Prabang. We are then transferred to the hotel for check-in.

Late afternoon and dinner are free. For this, the Pha Khao Lao restaurant is an ideal address with its table of local flavors. We taste typical specialties of Luang Prabang.

We have breakfast before being transferred to Xieng Khuang province, on the Plain of Jars. Throughout our 5 to 6 hour journey, we stop frequently to discover villages.

Lunch is on your own at a restaurant along the way.

We arrive and visit site 1 of the Plain of Jars which is the closest to the city of Xieng Khuang. Also called Phonsavanh, the latter represents the gateway to this site, which still holds its mystery.

The Plain of Jars spans several sites, but only a part is accessible to the public. It should be noted that the origin of these jars discovered in 1930 by Madeleine Colani remains an enigma. Some believe they are funeral urns or that these jars had been used to store seeds or alcohol.

Back in Xieng Khouang, we visit the MAG exhibition centre to learn more about the consequences of bombings during the last conflicts in the area.

We can also visit the QLA Association which cares for victims of mines and other UXO in order to revive hope and pride in them despite their physical disability.

Dinner is on your own in Xieng Khuang at a local restaurant.

After a local breakfast, we take the new road that connects Thasi to Paksan. This beautiful countryside road runs along the Nam San valley.

Lunch is free during the journey.

We arrive at Paksan, the capital of Bolikhmansai province, where the Nam San river flows into the Mekong.

We take a short break on the banks of the river before heading to Pak Kading which offers stunning views over the Kading River. We approach a mountainous area that we travel through heading towards the Vietnamese border while enjoying many viewpoints made up of karst formations stretching as far as the eye can see.

Late in the afternoon, we reach the Kong Lor village which is nestled in an enchanting setting, in the heart of a magnificent valley.

After breakfast, we take the road through Lak Sao and Thalang for a 5-hour journey to Thakhek. It nestles on the banks of the Mekong facing the Thai city of Nakhon Phanom.

We stop along the way in a beautiful region full of limestone formations, cliffs and mysterious caves.

Lunch is at your own expense in a local restaurant.

Approximately 15 km from Thakhek, we pass by an important Buddhist site in Laos, namely the Tham Pa Fa Cave or the Buddha Cave. Discovered in April 2004 by a villager, this cave houses a collection of over 200 Buddha representations.

We head towards the Tha Falang area, a place appreciated by the English-speaking community of Thakhek during the colonial era. It is an excellent spot for swimming.

We settle into our hotel for the end of the day. We are invited to admire the old-world charm of the city with its magnificent colonial buildings and peaceful atmosphere.

Dinner is at your own expense, but it is recommended to visit the Smile Boat restaurant located on the banks of the Mekong with its Lao/Thai cuisine.

We set off to discover the Vat Sikhottabong, a sacred site in Laos located 6 km from Thakhek, on the banks of the Mekong.

The journey continues to Vientiane, the charming capital for 450 years.

We make a stop near Prabat, on the southern borders of the Phou Khao Kouay National Park. We find an ancient stupa and beautiful kutis in the back courtyard. You can also see one of the largest monastery drums in Laos. Looking across, there is a charming small Vat overlooking the Mekong. This is the Vat Phonsane, a temple that annually hosts the festival of "Naga fireballs" in October. Every year, a paranormal phenomenon of orange spheres emerges above the waters of the Mekong at the end of the rainy season. This phenomenon is attributed by local tradition to the Naga, the serpent from Hindu mythology.

Free lunch at a local restaurant.

We arrive in Vientiane and are transferred to our hotel for check-in and a free afternoon. We can opt for a lovely walk around several active temples that line the main street. It is also possible to admire the beautiful colonial houses in the city center.

We are invited to enjoy the beautiful sunset over the Mekong by strolling through the night market or the Parc Chao Anouvong, a popular meeting place for locals.

Free dinner, but the Tummor restaurant is recommended. It is located on the banks of the Mekong with a view of Thailand on the opposite shore. It allows you to discover an unexpected aspect of Vientiane as it modernizes.