Laos Family Tour 12 Days 11 Nights

Upon arrival at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, transfer to your hotel in town (early check-in upon availability).
From its sleepy tuk-tuk drivers to its location on the right bank of the lumbering, lazy Mekong, this former French trading post is languid to say the least.
Indeed, despite being the capital and largest city of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, there’s not a whole lot to do in Vientiane. But that is also, quite honestly, its selling point.
There is no activity planned for today, so you can stroll around the town for your own exploration.
Overnight in Vientiane.

Our tuk tuk driver (also our guide) will pick you up at your hotel after breakfast, and take you to an organic rice, fish and vegetable farm on the outskirts of Vientiane.
Run by a Lao non-government organization using traditional Lao farming methods, this is the perfect place to try your hand at rice farming.
The friendly farmers will show you how to get your feet wet planting rice seedlings (during rainy season), or if it’s harvest season then cut and thresh your own rice for lunch!
Do a spot of fishing, collect fresh duck eggs, learn about organic fertilizer and how it is made, and harvest fresh seasonal organic vegetables and bamboo (if in season).
Once you’ve finished in the field, you’ll cook up a traditional Lao lunch with the days’ produce. Learn how to cook sticky rice and make papaya salad and sit down to enjoy a picnic-style lunch and a well-earned rest.
On the way back into town, we’ll take you to a local fresh food market to check out the amazing diversity of Lao food. Stop for a while in the market for a traditional Lao coffee or sample some delicious Lao sweets.
Transfer back to your hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Vientiane.

We leave the capital early for our journey northbound to Ban Thaheua via the highway Vientiane – Vang Vieng.
We will see some breathtaking scenery enroute as we pass through spectacular countryside towards the mountainous region.
We will arrive in Ban Thaheua around noon.
In the afternoon, we will have a 2-hour kayaking around the Nam Ngum Lake to explore some islets, and local fishing villages. The kayaking is easy and fun, requiring no special skills. We will stop at Huay Samom village, chatting with the host family, and learning about the weaving techniques.

We are then free to stroll around the resort or the nearby area for your own exploration.

Overnight in Ban Thaheua.

7:30 AM In the morning, our driver will transfer you to the meeting point where we will join the minivan of Elephant Conservation Center for the transfer to Xayabouly (about 90KM).
When you have arrived at the pier at Nam Tien Lake, we will transfer you to the center by boat. You might be able to catch a quick glimpse of one of our elephants while our boat docks.
You will have some time to install yourself in your private bungalow before lunch is served. After enjoying a Laotian style meal, your guide will take you for a visit of the Center’s facilities and present our ongoing projects.
During the hospital visit our veterinarian and biologist will take you into their world and explain about the projects they are undertaking.
Through the visit of the only Elephant Hospital in Laos, you will discover the conservation actions implemented by The Elephant Conservation Center.
You will then observe the elephants’ daily bath and learn more about our giant guests’ playful characters. Elephants are surprisingly good swimmers and love water. They also use this time to socialize.
After the elephants have washed themselves, you will meet our mahouts, who will show you how they get on and off the elephant and the commands they use.
You will then have the opportunity to interact with the elephants with the mahouts at your side.
Get a feel for the elephant’s amazing skin and prickly hair, and experience up close the dexterity of their trunk as you offer them some food.
Feel free to take photos standing next to our giants!  For those who really want to get a feel of being on top of the elephant, mahout style, you can request to do so later on when bringing the elephants to the forest or socialization area.
But this is absolutely not central to the experience we propose and is strictly on the neck, not in a chair on the elephant’s back!
While walking the elephants to their nightly resting ground you will witness the unique bond between the mahout and his elephant.
Our experienced mahouts use vocal commands to steer the animals through the thick foliage.  As you stroll together with these magnificent creatures into the dense forest of Nam Tien, take a moment!
This is the REAL land of elephants!  Your guide will give you some interesting information about the biodiversity of our protected forest.
Before dinner, take some time to take in the surroundings from our viewpoint. You can also go for a swim in the lake or visit the museum.
During meal time, feel free to ask your unresolved questions to the staff or share one of the Lao style cocktails!

The limestone cliffs and valleys surrounding the resort complex of Vang Vieng are home to numerous caves and caverns.
The most famous of these caves is Tham Jang, which was used by the local people as a refuge from Chinese invaders 200 years ago.
Your tour continues by crossing the Nam Song River for a short drive to Tham Pou Kham (Golden Crab Cave). After passing through a small entrance hole you descend 100 meters into the ground.
You have ample time to visit Blue Lagoon, which is a great spot to relax and cool off before transferring to the train station to take the afternoon express train to Luang Prabang.

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in town.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, you will first visit Royal Palace Museum, which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family.
We then embark on a leisure cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.
Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine.
On arrival back in the city, we will visit the old Wat Sene and the nearby magnificent Wat Xiengthong a superb piece of Lao temple architecture, which presents a sweeping two-tiered roof and ornate mosaics including a beautiful ‘tree of life ‘glass montage on the rear temple wall.
If time permits, we will drive out of the city to visit Ban Xangkhong, the Thai Lue village, which is famous for its arts and crafts. We also visit the nearby village of Ban Xienglek specializing in making the traditional Saa paper.
You can either get to the nearby village and join a petanque game with the local team.
Late afternoon, we will make a stop at Wat Prabath to admire the sunset; this is the ideal place to catch the last beauty of the day.
The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Wake up as the sun rises, we will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, which dates to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temple to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets.
We then visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice, to vegetable, to fish, or chicken.
After breakfast at the hotel, we ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the Mekong River.
If time permits, we will visit UXO Visitor Center (closed on Saturday, and Sunday), where you can find the documentation about the secret war in Laos.

Then, transfer the Buffalo Dairy Farm on the way to Kuang Si waterfalls, which offers the fun and interesting experience for the kids.
We arrive at the beautiful Kuang Si, which is the biggest waterfall in the Luang Prabang area with three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop into spectacular azure pools before flowing downstream. The pools also make great swimming holes and are very popular with both tourists and locals
There is also the chance to walk to the nearby village of Ban Thapene, and explore the hidden waterfalls, which is rarely visited by other tourists
If you wish, take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers.
On the way back to Luang Prabang, we will take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, set serenely close to the Mekong, this beautiful, traditionally styled workshop, where weavers, spinners and batik makers produce top-quality fabrics, offers free tours every half-hour. This is also one of the best spots to admire the sunset in Luang Prabang.
Transfer back to your hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Today, we will visit the Namkhan Ecolodge and have a morning learn about their organic farm tour to learn more about organic farming, including insect repellents, the importance of plants and trees and how the animals integrate with the green cycle agricultural practice.

The afternoon is your own free time to explore the ecolodge by yourselves. There are plenty of activities on spots such as kayaking, Yoga class, or bamboo weaving class. For the kids, we recommend a 1.5-hour horseback riding class including 15-minute pony ride.

There is also an inviting swimming pool if you just want to relax and cool off.

Check further information with our guide or the lodge.

Overnight at Namkhan Ecolodge.

10:00 AM: Departure from your hotel or guest house in Luang Prabang
10:40 AM: Arrive in Ban Lae. Settle in your house
11:15 AM: Visit the local school
12:00 PM: Lunch in the house. Relax
2:00 PM-3:00 PM: Have a walk with the locals in their gardens. Explore the river with a local boat. Have a look at the traditional charcoal oven. Enjoy a swim in the river
5:00 PM: Back to the house, shower time
6:00 PM: Visit a neighbor who will teach you Kaen (traditional music instrument)
7:00 PM: Before having dinner, we will join a special Baci Ceremony with at the house of the host.

Time to sleep

5:30 AM: Time to wake up.
6:00 AM: Alms giving in the village temple. Back to the house
8:00 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM: Morning fishing in the Nam Xuang River
Experience local handicraft traditional techniques by the locals such as:
– Bamboo weaving
– Silk weaving
– Fishing net-making
11:00 AM: Departure time
11:30 AM: Arrival in Luang Prabang and drop-off at your next hotel or guesthouse

The afternoon is free for your last-minute shopping around the various shops in the city old quarter.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

You are free to stroll around the town for your own exploration before taking the departure flight.