Visit Laos from Vientiane is the capital city of the coutry then continues to the old city of Phonsavan to explore the Plain of Jars and learning the old culture from the ancient capital Muang Khoun. Continues your Laos Holiday to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang to see and learn more about their people as well as the minority people. Spending a day to see and swim at the crystal clear water at Kuangsi Falls and enjoy the long tail boat excursion upstream to discover Pak Ou Caves.
Brief Itinerary:
Day 1: Vientiane – City Tour
Day 2: Vientiane - Phonsavan
Day 3: Plain of Jars – Phonsavan - Ancient Capital Muang Khoun
Day 4: Depart - Phonsavan
Day 5: Luang Prabang - Kuangsi Falls
Day 6: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou caves
Day 7: Luang Prabang – Departure
LaosTravel Time:
There are two seasons in Laos, wet and dry. From early May to the end of October is the rainy season. It often rains heavily but for short periods of time, mostly later in the day or during the night, after which the sun returns. The rain cools the air and freshens up the lush green of the rice plantations. It is cooler in the dry season, which runs from early November to early February, when it starts heating up again, building to the hottest month of April. So the best time for rain lovers is between May and October and from November to early March for those who like it dry and cool.
Weather
Laos has two distinct seasons throughout the year;
1. Laos' Wet Season: The southwest monsoon arrives in Laos between May and July and lasts into October, and as with many Southeast Asian countries, the wet season is characterized by a downpour for a few hours each day rather than all-day torrential downpours. While the rainy season tends to strike Laos pretty much uniformly, there are a couple of regional oddities. Laos' wet season tends to hit Phongsali a little early due to it catching a bit of rain from southern China, while Hua Phan and Xieng Khuang tend to get a little early rain from Vietnam.
Generally speaking, the higher you are, the more rain you get, and the towns along the Mekong River south of Vientiane get the least rain.
As with Cambodia, the most obvious effect of the wet season is damaged infrastructure. Landslides are common, as are severely rutted roads. While the road network is generally far better (that is, sealed) than Cambodia's, the topography of Laos (pretty mountainous) lends itself to landslides, some minor, some not so minor. Also, with all this rainfall, the rivers can become beastly and delays due to bridges being down are not uncommon. Don't be surprised if your trip takes longer than expected.
Don’t be strange, land transport during wet season in Laos can be slow and soggy.
On the upside, boat transport comes into its own during the great wet. Rivers are high so the showboats can make better pace. Along the Mekong River many of the rapids are submerged, helping the showboats with their deeper drafts, but if you're considering a speedboat trip, be warned that the heavy rainfall brings a lot of refuse into the river, and hitting a submerged log at 50km/h can be very messy. This is yet another reason not to get on a speedboat.
Other advantages of this season are lower temperatures, cleaner air and smaller crowds.
2. Laos' Dry Season: The monsoon is followed by a dry period, has two distinct sub-sections. First comes the cool dry season and then comes the hot dry season. The former is one of the most popular times to visit Laos, the later less so. The cool dry season runs from November to February and the hot dry season from March to April. What the hot season lacks in length it makes up in ferocity, they don't call it the hot season for nothing.
What makes the hot season even more unbearable is the smoke factor, from March to May farmers set fire to rice fields to improve soil fertility in preparation for a new rice crop. The resulting fires bathe most of Laos in a layer of smoke which, aside from ruining vistas and photos can become really irritating to the eyes.
The cool dry season on the other hand is an excellent time to go. Temperatures are relatively low, the air is cleaner and, particularly in November and December, the rivers are high enough to make river travel a breeze. Not surprisingly, this period in Laos is the peak season.
Day 1: Vientiane – City Tour
Upon arrival at the airport your tour guide will greet you and then transfer you to down town of Vientiane to embark on a full city tour to include: Wat Phrakeo (the original home of the Emerald Buddha) , Wat Sisaket (the house of thousand Buddha images), Anou Savari (Vientiane’s Arc de Triomphe), Pra That Luang Stupa (the stupa that kept the relics of Lord Buddha). You will transfer to the hotel after visiting then could have sometime to relax or explore on your own.
Overnight in Vientiane
Meals: Breakfast and lunch included
Day 2: Vientiane - Phonsavan
After breakfast, you make an early visit in the morning, market and the Revolutionary Museum with your guide. Then you will be transfer to the airport to catch a domestic flight to Xieng Khouang. On arrival you will be met your tour guide and transfer to the hotel. You will have free time at your hotel till transfer to have dinner at the local restaurant.
Overnight in Phonsavan
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 3: Plain of Jars – Phonsavan - Ancient Capital Muang Khoun
In the morning after you finished your breakfast then your tour guide will be met you in the lobby then trasfer you to see Xieng Khuang the mysterious Plain of Jars, well known as one of Asia’s most unusual sights: hundreds of stone jars some weighing up to a ton can be found scattered over a large area of countryside. The jars are thought to be over 2,000 years old but their origins are still a mystery. Then you continue on to the ancient capital of Muang Khoun with a stop to visit a minority village along the way
Overnight in Phonsavan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Day 4: Depart - Phonsavan
After breakfast you will follow by checking out from the hotel then explore the local market before taking a scenic drive to Luang Prabang, along mountainous roads with plenty of photo opportunities along the way. In the evening we arrive at Luang Prabang follow by check in at your hotel then free to relax. Tongiht will enjoy the Laos dinner at local restaurant then enjoy to walk along the night market near Puxi hill.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Day 5: Luang Prabang - Kuangsi Falls
After breakfast you will start the tour by visiting Wat Xienthong, one of the city’s most beautiful temples, built in the 16th century. This is followed by a visit to Wat Visoun, the Melon Stupa, then finally Wat Aham. Next it’s a drive of about 30 Km south, following the Mekong River to the Kuangsi waterfalls where you can take a refreshing swim in the clear waters. In the evening you head back to town for an overnight stay.
Overnight in Phonsavan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Day 6: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou caves
After your breakfast visit the Royal Palace in the morning then embark on a slow boat trip to the Pak Ou caves, which are located 32 km up river. You stop en route to visit the whisky village and discover the process used by villagers to distill Lau Lao (rice whisky) then continue on board our boat to the caves. After visiting the caves you cruise slowly back to Luang Prabang, passing on the way Ban Xangkhong (a weaving and mulberry paper village). On arrival, you climb up the 328 steps of the sacred Mount Phousi located in the heart of the town, catch the sunset then head back down to the central night market for some good shopping (silk weaving, carvings, cottons, silver etc.).
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Day 7: Luang Prabang – Departure
You have an early start today, about 5:45 am when you leave by car to Ban Vat Sean to watch a long line of monks collecting alms in this daily ceremony. Then it’s back to the hotel for breakfast and then checking out. you visit the morning market before transferring to the airport for the departure flight to your next destination.
Meals: Breakfast included
End of Service with an unforgettable Laos Tour.
This tour is private and can be tailor-made to suit your travel needs. As a result the price is quoted in US dollars and shown on a per-person basis. The 'Price From' quoted above is for parties of 2, 4 and 6 people and for accommodation in 3 star hotels. The final price will be privately quoted, based on the number in your party, your preferred time of travel, grade of hotel and any additional services requested. Please click on the BOOK NOW button and fill in the booking form, after which one of our travel consultants will customize the best value holiday for you.
REMARKS:
We are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. In Indochina particularly, hotel price makes up most of the cost of your Cambodia cycling, Vietnam cycling, Laos cycling, Myanmar cyclingor Thailand cycling. All of our prices are calculated on a twin-shared basis. As a guide, Travel Loops defines hotel grades as follows:
>>Superior Level (3 star hotels in good locations): > 40 USD/room/night
>>Deluxe Level (4 star hotels):> 80 USD/room/night
>>Luxury Level (5 star hotels): > 180 USD/room/night
Price based on twin shared accommodation.
Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.
More people means more discount. Please enquire for more details
If, after reviewing the details of this tour, you would like to receive a "Special Offer" tour price, just click on the "INQUIRY" button below. If you wish to “Tailor Make" your trip, simply click on the "CUSTOMIZE TRIP" and enter your contact details.
COST INCLUDED:
- Experienced English speaking guide
- Private transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
- Accommodation in double/twin sharing rooms with daily breakfast
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water for sightseeing
- All sightseeing entrance fee where required in the itinerary.
COST EXCLUDED:
- International/domestic airfares & tax
- Travel Insurance. (We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance from home)
- Personal expenditure (telephone, laundry, shopping and so on…)
- Tips for guide, driver, porters and project cost
- Beverage and alcoholic drinks
- Any other services not clearly mentioned on itinerary and trip inclusive portion.
The hotels listed below are just our suggestions offering the best value for this trip according to the hotel category chosen, but Travel Loops also offers more options to cater for different grades, personal taste, and budget. Please let us know if you have any specific choice of hotels, or personal preferences/requirements.
Note: Our choices for each level of accommodation have been highlighted in orange. As mentioned above our selection criteria are based on: prior client reviews, hotel management and staff training, facilities maintenance, location, business relationship and advantages given exclusively to our clients on price and service.