Rise early this morning and see brightly-robed Buddhist monks collecting alms, following an ancient ritual known as Takbat. Afterwards explore a morning market on foot, and see and sample some of the delectable Lao fruits and snacks that make up the local diet. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the National Museum formerly Royal Palace, full of fine examples of Lao art and furniture and the former residence of the now deposed royal family. After a visit, take a short boat trip along the Mekong to the mysterious 'Cave of 1,000 Buddhas' at Pak Ou. Here, in a tradition that has lasted for centuries, local people add annually to a repository of Buddha statues. The trip to the cave will take approximately 1.5 hours each way, depending on current strength. You will also have the chance to visit a riverside village and may even get to sample the local rice wine (Lao-Lao). At the conclusion of your boat trip, you will be transferred from the boat landing back to your hotel.

After breakfast Afterwards, be transferred to Bamboo Experience’s venue where you will have an interactive cooking class and ‘bamboo weaving’ exercise, learn about the importance of the ubiquitous bamboo plant to Lao culture. After class, relax on the pavilion terrace and savour your culinary creations with views of the countryside. In the afternoon, we head to Kuang Si falls, a journey of 50 minutes. Swim in the turquoise waters, or simply explore the beautiful surroundings. Enjoy free time before visiting a nearby sanctuary which cares for and rehabilitates bears rescued from animal traders, or from deforested habitat. Return to Luang Prabang, stopping as you like for photos of countryside and villages. Arrive back at your hotel in the late afternoon. Lunch included.

This morning is free at leisure until your transfer to the train station. On arrival at Vang Vieng train station, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in. After freshening up, you’ll begin your visit to Tham Chang located on the banks of the Nam Song River. After ascending the steps to the cave entrance, take in the panoramic views of karst limestone formations and Vang Vieng town. The cave is quite deep and is fun to explore. At its base is a natural spring which is fed by icy-cool cave water. Next, you will take a long tail boat trip (2 people per boat). This is one of the best ways to enjoy the landscapes of Vang Vieng! Look at the rising mountains and the rice paddies that touch the villages near the river. After the boat ride, hop onto a minivan and transfer to the Blue Lagoon #2 for your relaxation and swim in the crystal-clear turquoise water. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.

In the evening, you can enjoy walking to the night market or sit in a nearby restaurant on the bank of Nam Song River for some local food.

Wake up early and drive to the base of a mountain. The hike to the viewpoint, called Pha Nam Xay, takes around 1 hour to get to the top of the Viewpoint, it offers stunning panoramic view of the town and surrounding area. Return to your hotel for breakfast.

This morning, after breakfast free at leisure until your transfer to Vientiane airport for your flight to Xieng Khuang. On arrival at Xieng Khuang airport, you’ll be met by your guide and driver and transfer to the town of Phonsavan, the main town in the Plain of Jars. The jars are one of Asia's most unusual sights and are thought to be over 2,000 years old - however origins are still a mystery. Archaeologists speculate that the jars were funerary urns, but discoveries in recent times have uncovered nearby unusual treasures of statues and precious artefacts. Late afternoon, check-in to your accommodation to watch the sun fade behind the surrounding hills.

Begin with a visit to the morning market, to see unusual wares and foodstuffs for sale. Then, explore the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) visitor centre, which gives you an excellent introduction into the war-torn history of this region and showcases the unprecedented volume of munitions left in this area. You will then set out for the visit at the Quarry Phou Keng, Keng mountain is 1400 meters above sea-level, there are 1250 steps to get to the top. You will see VietCong secret tunnels & natural caves that locals used to shelter during the 2nd Indochina war. Continue your exploration to the main Plain of Jars sites. Begin with a trip to site 2, one of the smaller sites, but with excellent surrounding views of the countryside. Site 3 is possibly the most beautiful jars site and is set atop a small rise, surrounded by scenic yet bomb-scarred rice paddies. After site 3, return in the direction of town to site 1, the most famous of all the jars sites. Here, the jars are largest and most numerous. You will leave this site wondering about the true purpose of these amazing stone urns.

This morning, drive to Muang Khoun town. In colonial days this hamlet was the capital of Xieng Khouang Province and was the site of a unique style of Buddhist temples (low-lying, to withstand strong winds), French administrative buildings, and a bustling market. It was also a centre of opium trading … During the secret war, the town was unfortunately the site of much conflict and was almost razed to the ground. Today, little remains of the old town, however the journey from Phonsavan (30 kilometers) passes through pretty countryside and adds depth to your stay in the area. You will see the standing ruinous remains of a sitting Buddha statue (at Wat Phia Wat), and the ravaged That Chomsi (famous for a hole through its base made by treasure-hunting thieves). Return to Phonsavan town airport for your flight back to Vientiane, you will be transferred to Vientiane and check in to your hotel.

Starting at 8:30am, your touring will take in the city's intriguing main sights. First visit 'Talat Sao', the capital's main market. Here, see silk and cotton textiles, gold and silver jewellery, and wooden carvings. This is a good place for souvenir shopping, or just browsing. Next, visit exquisite Wat Sisaket, Vientiane's oldest original temple, built in 1818 (all other temples in Vientiane were re-built after the Siamese invasion of 1828). Across the street, Haw Pha Kaew, the former royal temple of the Lao Monarchy, has now been converted into a museum. After a break for lunch (to allow for choice, lunch is on your own), continue to the COPE Visitor's Centre, an inspiring organisation which provides prosthetic limbs to victims of exploded ordinance and vehicle accidents. This centre gives you both an informative and interactive experience into some of the issues still plaguing Laos from the Indochina war era. Travel towards the Thai/ Lao Friendship Bridge to ‘Buddha Park.’ Located on the banks of the Mekong, this eclectic venue is full of larger-than-life concrete statues lifted from Buddhist and Hindu epics. The creator of these statues was rumoured to have been eccentric, so a visit here is interesting and makes for great photos. Finally, finish your day with stops at Phra That Luang (the most important national monument in Laos and symbolic of both the monarchy and the Buddhist religion) and the Patuxai Monument, reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. At the end of the day, be dropped-off at your hotel.

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Pakse. Meet your guide and driver and drive to the Tad Yeang and Tad Fane waterfalls. As you continue on to the lush Bolaven Plateau, Laos' premier coffee growing region, you will notice a change in both temperature and landscape. Encounter some of the plateau's Laven minority people and stop at local coffee plantation to sample some of the beans which many consider to be the world's finest. After the visit, transfer to Champasack and check in to your hotel.

After breakfast, visit to Wat Phou, a pre-Angkorian Khmer temple and UNESCO World Heritage site. This temple used to be the capital of the once-powerful Khmer Empire and is set on the end of a hill, overlooking the surrounding countryside. Check out at your hotel and you will travel by car down south to 4,000 Islands, stop en route at Ban Phon Sa-Art a village renowned for its artisans skilled in weaving bamboo using techniques passed down for generations. You'll be able to observe the meticulous weaving process and perhaps interact with the artisans to understand the cultural significance of their craft. Along the way, you'll reach the spectacular Khong Pha Pheng Falls, one of the most impressive natural attractions along the Mekong River. Often compared to a miniature version of Niagara Falls, these cascades offer a breathtaking visual and audio experience as the water roars into the pool below before arrive at Ban Nakasang and board a small long tail boat for 30 minutes by open-top boat trip (depending on season) to Khone Island, home to interesting fishing villages and a handful of dilapidated French colonial houses. Upon arrival check in to your hotel.

After breakfast, travel by tuk tuk and foot to the site of the only railway in Laos, and the old French railway bridge, built at the end of the 19th century. Visit the beautiful Li Phi falls where you can sip on a fresh coconut as you take advantage of the numerous photo opportunities of the rocky falls. Return by long tail boat to Ban Nakasang, where you will meet your driver and transfer back to Pakse. En route stop at Phou Salao for the great view of Mekong River and the town of Pakse before check in to your hotel. After checked-in you may like to walk around old-quarter of Pakse town to see the old colonial French era buildings, you might like to dine at a local restaurant for your farewell dinner.

After breakfast, today free at leisure until your transfer to Pakse airport for your ongoing flight…