LAOS ENCOUNTER (7 days)

LAOS ENCOUNTER
(7 days)
Day 1 : ARRIAVAL - VIENTIANE
Meet upon arrival, you are welcome to Vientiane, the city of the moon - an ancient city, situated on the bend on the left bank of the Mekong as the largest city and the capital of Laos.
Transfer to our hotel for check-in.
In the afternoon, we take a sightseeing of Vientiane, to visit religious museums of Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple to have been survived from the Siamese war of 1828 and its cloister contains more than 8000 Buddha statues; Wat Ho Prakeo, the former home-temple of the Emerald Buddha statue or Pra Keo, but today it contains a collection of Buddha statues, antiques and all artifacts found in around Vientiane; That Luang Stupa, the single most important monument in Laos, which was built to cover the original small stupa containing a piece of the chest bone of Buddha; Patouxay (Arch de Triumph), built quite recently in commemoration of those who died during the wars in the past and it is today as the land-mark of Vientiane.
Meals: None.
Transport: Private air-conditioned.
Accommodation: hotel.
Day 2 : VIENTIANE - NAM NGUM LAKE - VANGVIENG
Breakfast at hotel, we depart our hotel to visit the Morning Market, the biggest shopping center in Vientiane and we make our way by route No. 10 North to Vangvieng, via Nam Ngum Lake, (90 km N), with hundreds of small islands. En-route, we stop to visit Ban Bor, a village where natural salt is produced.
Arrive Nam Ngum Lake, we enjoy our lunch at local restaurant overlooking panoramic view of the lake.
After lunch, we relax by taking a boat ride about an hour viewing around small islands. We continue to drive north into the central highlands, on the way we also stop at Ban Viengsay, a silk weaving village of Tai Neua who originally migrated from North near China border during the war.
We arrive in Vangvieng and catch the sunset over the mountains.
Meals: B, L.
Transport: Private air-conditioned, boat.
Accommodation: Riverside bungalow.
Day 3 : VANGVIENG - TREKKING - HOMESTAY
Following breakfast, we start the day by exploring the highlights of this scenic area, we drive outskirts of Vangvieng to visit natural caves of Tham Norn, one of the biggest caves in Vangvieng.
We begin to trek through some beautiful forest at the valleys of the range of high limestone mountains as well as rice fields, garden and food gardens to another cave of Tham Phapork. Optional hike or take a local taxi-tractor to visit another cave, Tham Poukham where there is a swimming pool on a stream for your peaceful relaxation or swim in the cool water. Picnic lunch is served under the shady tree along the way.
In the evening, you are welcome by a family host at Ban Nathong, a small village of Low-land Lao.
You will learn more about traditional way of rural life with their fascinating culture of people there. We spend the night in traditional style homes and enjoy the Lao typical cuisine with Lao family
Meals: B, L, D.
Transport: Private air-conditioned, foot.
Accommodation: House of villager.
Day 4 : VANGVIENG - LUANG PRABANG
Breakfast with hosting family, and say good-bye to villagers, we take a local taxi-tractor to get back to Vangvieng.
We also visit Tham Chang, one of the deepest caves which is near Vangvieng. Continue to drive about 5 hrs to Luang Prabang, the ancient first capital of Lane Xang kingdom, the center of religious life in Laos and today the World Heritage City. A long the way, photo-stops can be made for beautiful scenery with mountain range and also to see rural life of various ethnic groups at small villages.
Arrive Luang Prabang and transfer to hotel for check-in and the rest of the day is spent free for own exploration of this ancient town.
Meals: B, L.
Transport: Private air-conditioned, local taxi-tractor.
Accommodation: Hotel.
Day 5 : LUANG PRABANG - PAK OU CAVE
After breakfast, we depart our visit Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple which, more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture and we take a boat trip about a few hours upstream on the Mekong to visit Pak Ou cave in the side of a lime stone cliff and opposite of the mouth of the Mekong and Ou rivers. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist of two large caves, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimeter to two meters in height.
En route, Lao typical villages are barely visible behind a screen of foliage. Slender canoes bobbing by the shore, bamboo poles and floats mark the location of nets and fish traps. Our first stop will be at Ban Muangkeo, a well-known village for Lao traditional rice whisky, namely Laoh-Khao to be distilled. We are welcome to taste it and also take away. Lunch is at a riverside restaurant.
We arrive back at Luang Prabang in late afternoon, and climb Phousi Hill, the 328 steps leads to the summit of Phousi hill that dominates the sky-line of Luang Prabang overlooking the finest panoramic view in the whole Luang Prabang
Meals: B, L.
Transport: Private air-conditioned, boat.
Accommodation: Hotel.
Day 6 : LUANG PRABANG (TREKKING) - KUANGSI WATERFALL
Following breakfast, we begin to drive to upland country through beautiful scenic views to visit Ban Long Laoh, a small Hmong hill tribe village, probably the best-known hill tribe in Laos.
Begin to trek about 3 hrs through beautiful lushly forested area and also rice fields to Kuangsi Waterfall, which though not very high, but it is spectacular and really beautiful with its green surroundings as the national protected forest area.
We enjoy our a picnic lunch in the shady park nearby Kuangsi Waterfall, where there is a plenty of time for relaxing and a swim in the cool water before we drive back to Luang Prabang.
After arriving in Luang Prabang, we continue to drive outskirt of town to visit Ban Xangkhong, a well-known village for its wood paper making and also Lao silk weavings with natural dyes.
Meals: B/L.
Transport: Private air conditioned, foot.
Accommodation: Hotel.
Day 7 : LUANG PRABANG - DEPARTURE
After breakfast, we depart hotel to visit the National Museum, the former Royal Palace which houses the collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue, gifts received from foreign dignitaries…etc, if time permits, the rest of the day is spent free for own experience in this charming town, till transfer to Luang Prabang airport for departure to next destination.
Meals: B.
Transport: Private air conditioned.
Accommodation: None.

Cost in US$ per person in the party (valid 30 Sep'09)	LAOS ENCOUNTER TOUR
	Standard	First	Superior
2 pax	518	540	572
3 - 5 pax	420	434	465
6 -9 pax	342	363	395
10 - 14 pax	285	307	340
15 pax up	263	286	320
Single supplement	56	86	120
Full board supplement	150	150	150

INCLUDING:
• Accommodation in twin or double-sharing room.
• Transfers & tours with English speaking guide.
• Private air-conditioned transport + boat.
• Entrance fees for sightseeing as indicated in the itinerary.
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner).
• Service charge & government tax.
• Baggage handling and porterage.
• Refreshing tower and drinking water on tour.
EXCLUDING:
• Visa fee.
• Travel insurance against any personal injury of illness and damage of the property incurred during the course of this trip.
• Domestic air ticket (separate quoted).
• International air tickets to / from Laos.
• Departure tax.
• Personal expenses such as: drinks, phone calls, laundry, tip...etc.