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Highlights

• Sightsee the UNESCO World Heritage town, Luang Prabang

• Mekong River boat trip to Pak Ou Caves

• Observe the Buddhist monks' Morning Alms Giving

• Take a dip in Kuang Si Waterfalls OR ride an elephant at the Elephant Village

Overview

Luang Prabang is Laos’ foremost tourist show piece. Deservedly so! The gleaming temple roofs, partially renovated provincial French architecture and eclectic mix of residence gives this town loads of character and style. This four day sightseeing tour presents the highlights of UNESCO World Heritage town, Luang Prabang and surrounding areas. From pagodas to temples, old colonial architecture to a boat trip on the Mekong River and a refreshing swim at Kuang Si Waterfalls.

 

Itinerary at a glance

Day 1	Arrive Luang Prabang, walking tour & Mt Phou Si Arrive in Luang Prabang and transfer to your hotel. Explore Luang Prabang’s old colonial architecture and the town’s main temples and monasteries. Walk to the top of Mt Phou Si for grand views of this magical town. Wander the night street markets before dinner at a local restaurant with a traditional music show. Meals: Dinner Accommodation: Luang Prabang
Day 2	Morning Alsm Giving & Mekong River boat trip Up early for the morning monks' round (Tak Bat), this is a living tradition for the people of Laos, who line the streets and offer rice to the monks. After breakfast, take a private boat trip 25km upriver to the ‘Cave of a Thousand Buddha statues’. Lunch at Ban Pak Ou before driving to Ban Phanom, a famous cotton and silk weaving village. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Luang Prabang
Day 3	Luang Prabang countryside Choose one of these options for day 3: Option 1: Kwang Si Waterfalls & Bear Rescue Centre Drive to Kuang Si Waterfalls, stopping off to visit interesting Hmong and Khamu villages. Take a two to three hour walk along forest trails to a limestone cave. In the afternoon, laze by the pools and enjoy a picnic lunch. Visit the Bear Rescue Centre and learn about how bears are saved from the cruelty of animal trading. Drive back to Luang Prabang early afternoon for some free time for shopping or massage, dine out at one of the great restaurants along the banks of the Mekong. Option 2: Elephant ride at Elephant Village Pick up from your hotel for a drive to the Elephant Village in the Nam Khan Valley about 15km from Luang Prabang. Meet the Elephants and learn about the protected programs for Asian Elephants. Enjoy a one hour Elephant ride through the Nam Khan River and Conservation Area. Lunch is served on the river view terrace overlooking the Nam Khan River and the lush landscapes. Drive back to Luang Prabang early afternoon, where you have the rest of the day free to enjoy this peaceful town. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Luang Prabang
Day 4	Breakfast in your hotel, free time to explore until your transfer to the airport. Meals: Breakfast

Please note this itinerary can be easily amended to suit your needs. Let us know if you would like to make any changes and we will be more than happy to suggest an alternative itinerary for you.

Includes:

• Hotel accommodation based on twin share
• Return airport transfers
• Transportation in a private car
• English speaking guide for sightseeing
• Entrance fees + village permission
• All activities and sightseeing as per itinerary
• Meals as per the itinerary

Excludes:

• Airfares and departure taxes
• Travel insurance (compulsory)
• Visa, passport or vaccination costs
• Other meals not specified in the itinerary
• Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, bar charges, tips, optional activities

Prices

Private tour	Standard Hotel $AUD price person	Deluxe Hotel $AUD per person
Per Person/ twin share	689	999
Validity	31 December 2012	31 December 2012

Prices are in Australian dollars based on per person, twin share accommodation. Price is land content only & subject to currency fluctuations. Credit card payments incur an additional surcharge.

Discover Luang Prabang trip notes

Hotel

In Luang Prabang, you stay in a centrally located and comfortable hotel with private facilities. Standard hotels have a three star rating and deluxe hotels are four or five star.

Food

All meals, indicated in the detailed itinerary, are included in the price.

Local guides

English speaking guides support your sightseeing activities. These guides are proud of their job and consider it an honour to show you their country. They have been fully trained in guiding outdoor tours around Luang Prabang. If you feel your guide provided you with great service, a tip at the end of the tour would be truly appreciated… a little bit goes a long way in Laos.

What to bring

Your luggage should include: comfortable walking shoes; sandals or thongs; light weight long sleeve shirt; long pants & shorts; warm clothes for at night; bathers; hat, sunglasses and sun block; raincoat; strong insect repellent (Deet medicated preferred); small medical kit; flashlight; toiletries; water bottle; camera & spare batteries; pen & paper; original passport; personal medication; small day pack for day trips.

If you have room in your backpack, packs some books to donate. You can help local children improve their reading skills by buying picture books printed in their own language. For more information on this worthwhile project, visit Big Brother Mouse.

Note on client safety

We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reason, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village, or for any other factor that may impact client safety.

 

Tipping guidelines

It is customary to express a personal thank you to your guide and driver at the end of your trip, especially if he or she has provided you with excellent service. As a guideline only, we suggest tipping around AUD$4-$5 per day for the guide and AUD$2-$3 per day for the driver. You can pay this in local currency or US dollars. Of course whether you tip and how much is always at your discretion.

Laos visa

Most visitors can receive a 30 day single entry Tourist Visa on arrival at Luang Prabang or Vientiane airports or at the Friendship Bridge at the Thai Border Crossing and other border crossings (please check with your Lao Embassy). You need a valid passport for no less than six months, 2 x passport size current photographs & USD$30pp cash.

Laos Climate Laos has three distinct seasons. The cool dry season between November and February with temperatures dropping below 10 degrees Celsius in mountain regions. During this season, the rivers are navigable and the roads are passable. This gives way to the hot dry season from March to June where temperatures can soar over 35 degrees Celsius. Some rivers are harder to navigate, and boat journeys in remote places may not be possible. In the north, the months from March through to the first rains in May or June can be very hazy as smoke from the burning of secondary forest hangs in the air. June to October is the wet season where temperatures are in the 30s. The country is at its most beautiful and lush and rivers are accessible, however it can be difficult to get around in remote places by road. Health issues Good medical advice usually recommends vaccinations in advance of travel to Laos. We suggest you consult with your doctor to discuss health care needs specific to your holiday. Insurance You must have comprehensive travel insurance to travel with us. Insurance should include cover for personal accident and medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation, baggage loss and cancellation or curtailment of your holiday. Your final trip dossier vouchers will not be confirmed until you confirm possession of appropriate insurance. Better be safe than sorry! Pre and post tour arrangements We can arrange additional hotel nights at the beginning or the end of your tour or if you are interested in doing additional touring we can organise a private tour to cater to your interests and time frame. Handy travel tips For assistance in planning your trip go to Laos Practical Info >

What next

To book this trip, contact us now and we will send you a booking form. To guarantee your booking you must send your passport details and your non-refundable deposit of 30% of total tour cost. The balance of payment is due 50 days prior to your departure. If you departure date is less than 50 days then full payment is required now. Once your booking is confirmed and you have paid in full you will receive a tour voucher and detailed itinerary.