Thailand Treks and Tours

Day 1 Chiang Khong – Pak Beng (Laos)
Meeting our guide in Ban Houai Xai we will board our boat and cruise down the Mekong River to Pakbeng. Stops are made en route to observe village life along the river and discover dwellings of ethnic minority groups.

Day 2 Pakbeng – Luang Prabang
If one rises early there is a good opportunity to visit the local markets and witness people from the surrounding minority villages exchanging their wares. We return to our hotel for a quick breakfast before rejoining our boat for the second leg of our trip down the Mekong. The total time to spend on the boat today is about 7 hours. We will stop for lunch at a small local restaurant on the way. Further upstream, near the Pac Ou village and opposite mouth of Nam Ou River, we find the Tham Ting caves that emerge directly beside the river where literally hundreds of Buddha images cover the surrounding interior walls. The climb to the caves is quite a challenging one as there are hundreds of steps to reach them. The caves are actually on two different levels- the upper and lower caves. After exploring them we continue on toward Luang Prabang, with a short stop en route to learn about the traditional process of making local rice alcohol or whisky and weaving. We will arrive Luang Prabang before sunset and transfer to our local hotel. ( B/L )

Note: The trip from Chiang Khong can be done with 3 different boats:

3 = Luangsay Cruise (luxury), http://www.luangsay.com/

Day 3 Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang, the former royal capital, is best known for it’s ancient temples and romantic setting at the confluence of the Mekong and Kane Rivers. Because of the compact size of the peninsula, Luang Prabang is best explored on foot. In the morning we embark on a half-day walking tour, visiting the National Museum (formerly known as the Royal Palace), wat Xieng Thong, wat Sen and wat May. The afternoon is free to explore or relax on your own. Perhaps you’d like to climb the Phousi Hill to enjoy excellent views of the lush green World Hertitage city and the Kane and Mekong River (B).

Day 4 Luang Prabang
This early morning you may want to wake up early and participate in a daily Lao morning ritual. Monks carrying their bowls, wander trough town blessing local people who give them offers (mostly sticky rice). After breakfast a day trip to the beautiful Kuang Si waterfalls where turquoise waters cascade over limestone formations. The abundance of water forms a magnificent display of nature. Below the Kuang Si are large ponds perfect for swimming and cooling off under the spray. Before enjoying a picnic lunch next to the pools, we will pass stupendous landscapes, teak forests and several ethnic minority villages (Hmong and Khmu). In Ban Phanom, a weaving village, we can find excellent pieces of Lao textile. Near the waterfalls it’s worth while to visit a centre where the endangered black Asiatic beers found a safe shelter (B,L).

Day 5 Luang Prabang – Plain of Jars
By road we depart this morning to Xieng Khouang, home to the amazing Plain of Jars.
Travelling trough high mountains and karst formations, we have time to stop and visit remote dwellings of ethnic minority villages. Probably you will notice that many houses have looms underneath with which the family’s clothes, bags and accessories are manufactured. Late afternoon we’ll arrive at Phonsavan, the capital of the Xieng Khoung province. We will see the sunset at the site number 1 before checking in hotel (B,L)

Day 6 Plain of Jars – Vang Vieng
we’ll spend the time exploring the Plain of Jars (number 2 and 3) and the surrounding area. The jars are thought to be 2000 years old, although there is little proof to date them very accurately. Archaeologist still struggle to find out the specific purpose of the jars, were they used for funerary urns or to store rice wine. Afterward we keep on going to Vang Vieng we’ll have time to stop to take in the scenery from the viewpoints. Vang Vieng is a small village settled between a spectacular spread of limestone karst and is surrounded by lush green paddy fields and dwellings of ethnic minorities.The terrace of your hotel offers plendid sunsets amidst these magnificent natural settings (B,L).

Day 7 Vang Vieng
Today is free to relax or explore Vang Vieng, a place famous for it’s limestone cliffs. You can visit the caves or cycle in the nearby countryside. Other alternatives include ‘tubing’ down the Nam Song River. Vang Vieng is also the perfect place to unwind(B).

Day 8 Vang Vieng – Vientiane
An approximately three hour drive will take us to the capital of Laos. Vientiane is a friendly sleepy town resting on the shores of the mighty Mekong river. In the afternoon we include a sightseeing tour around the city. We’ll explore some of the best sights including the Victory Gate (Arc de Triomphe), the wat Sisaket, and the impressive That Luang Stupa, the country’s most important monument. Also visit the ‘morning market’ where you can wander around and buy silver, silk or other items you like to take back home. In the evening you can stroll along the banks of the Mekong River (B).

Day 9 Vientiane
Free day to explore yourselves ( B )

Day 10 Vientiane – fly to Pakse – Bolaven Plateau
Early morning we fly to Pakse. Upon arrival we drive to Bolaven Plateau where there are coffee plantation. Overnight at Tadlo Saixe

Day 11 Bolaven Plateau
For those feeling active, it is possible to enjoy some treks in this delightful area. In the morning, we walk trough coffee plantations and local villages.(B)

Day 12 Bolavan Plateau – Champassak – Khong Island
Following breakfast, we driver to Khong Island via Champassak and travel on a wonderful local ferry over the Mekong River to Champasak. Here we visit the sacred Khmer temple of Wat Phu. This complex represents the most eastern border of the Khmer Empire in the 4th centurary. Later in the afternoon we take a scenic drive and ferry boat to Don Khong. This island is one of the larger permanently inhabited islands in the ‘si pan don’ area. Dong Khong is best explored by bicycle. A reasonsable dirt road circumvents the island (B)

Day 13 Khon Phapheng en Liphi falls
By boat we’ll explore the 4000 islands area (si pan don). Here, the Mekong river is at its widest. During the rainy season it is up to 12 km across. When the waters recede, many small islands emerge. It is from this phenomenon that the region takes its name. From far distance you can hear the unmistakeable roar of the Khone Phapheng and Li Phi falls, which we will visit today. Nearby the falls live some hundred Irrawaddy freshwater dolphins. Ban Hang Khon is one of the rare places on earth to spot these endangered mammals. Also see the old locomotive, railway and colonial bridge built by the French to avoid navigating on the rapids and waterfalls that abound on this section of the Mekong. Overnight at Khong Island (B)

Day 14 Khong Island – Dong Galor ( Laos / Cambodia border )
After breakfast we leave early morning to drive to Dong Galor ( Laos / Cambodia border ) for departure to Cambodia
OR we transfer you to Pakse from where you can take a flight to Cambodia or also possible to cross the border to Thailand and continue by bus or train

Trip price includes:

- English speaking guide from day 1 to day 10
- Additional meals as indicated in the itinerary
- All accommodation on twin sharing room with breakfasts
- All transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance fees and permits during guided time
- Government taxes
- Drinking water 1bottle/day during guided time

Trip price does not include:

- International/domestic airfares and taxes
- Foods and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Visas and visa fees
- Entrance fees and permits during free time
- Personal expenses such as: Telephone, laundry, and bar bills
- Tips and gratuitie