Flight: PG941 Bangkok - Luang Prabang 10.05 - 12.05

Meet & greet: Upon arrival at Luang Prabang airport, you will be welcomed to Laos by your private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Villa Maydou (Heritage Garden Side Room)

Morning walking tour of the ancient city of Luang Prabang: Your morning tour starts with a visit to the quaint Royal Palace Museum, which gives a good overview of the local history and features a guided audio tour. Afterwards, begin your walking tour, taking in some of Luang Prabang’s hidden secrets, including a stroll down the quiet back lanes. Along the way, stop at Wat Chomkhong, which is known for its decorative carvings. This area contains a mix of beautiful old French colonial buildings, and traditional old Lao houses, which you will have time to admire, along with a stop at the small but charming Wat Phapai. Your final visit of the morning is the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, with its roof sweeping low to the ground, representing the classical Luang Prabang style.

Afternoon at leisure in Luang Prabang: The rest of the afternoon is free to explore this picturesque & atmospheric ancient capital independently. Staying within the city, there are a number of excellent cooking classes, plus great shopping opportunities in local craft centres.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Villa Maydou (Heritage Garden Side Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning visit to Kuangsi Waterfall: After breakfast, take a tour of the local Phosi Market, a place, where all the locals shop and your guide will show and explain to you the diverse offerings on display. Continue to Ock Pop Tock, a silk weaving centre, to see the process of silk weaving and see some traditional textiles. You will then drive out of the town towards the waterfalls, and there will be the option of stopping to visit Khmu, Hmong and Lao Loum villages, which are the main ethnic groups of Laos. Upon arrival at the beautiful Kuangsi Waterfall, you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the turquoise pool, or walk along the forest trails. After spending time relaxing by the falls, you can visit the Bear Rescue Centre which does a great job in protecting and rehabilitating the rare Asiatic Black Bear. Return to your hotel in Luang Prabang by lunchtime and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Villa Maydou (Heritage Garden Side Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road & boat journey to Nong Khiaw, via Pak Ou: This morning, board a private boat for a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which will give you a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside. Your first stop will be the village of Ban Muangkeo, where you will start a short trek to reach the mysterious caves of Pak Ou. These two caves, set in a limestone cliff facing the Mekong River, are crammed with thousands of Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. After visiting the caves, continue by private vehicle on to Nong Khiaw. The drive will pass through rolling countryside, where you can admire the beauty of the Nam Ou River and the surrounding rice paddy fields. You will arrive in Nong Khiaw in the early afternoon.

Afternoon at leisure, with an optional tour to Tham Pha Thok Caves: This afternoon, you have some time at leisure, with the option of taking a cycling or walking tour to the caves of Tham Pha Thok (time-permitting). These caves are located just over a mile outside Nong Khiaw, where locals took shelter from bombings during the Second Indochina War. Please note that the bicycles will need to be rented locally from your lodge - your guide can assist you with this.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Nong Khiaw Riverside Resort (Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day trek around Muang Ngoi: This morning you will take a boat trip up the Nam Ou River to Muang Ngoi, an isolated fishing village one hour from Nong Khiaw. On arrival, you will start your scenic walk. Shortly after leaving the village, the trail leads through lush rice paddies to the authentic Lao Loum village of Ban Na, which is only accessible on foot. After lunch in the village, continue to the Thai Daeng village of Huay Sen, before trekking back to Muang Ngoi through a mixture of forest and paddy fields. Travel back to Nong Khiaw by boat in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Nong Khiaw Riverside Resort (Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch 

Morning at leisure: Enjoy the morning at leisure or explore the area by bicycle. If you are up for a challenging trek, the 1.5 hour hike up the viewpoint is rewarded with spectacular views over the surrounding scenery. The hike down will take about one hour more.

Road journey from Nong Khiaw to Vieng Thong: After lunch, you will set off on the drive to Vieng Thong in Hua Phan Province, the gateway to the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park. Today's journey is a long one through one of the most remote areas of Laos, but there is some wonderful scenery along the way. Reach Vieng Thong in the afternoon and check in to your simple local guesthouse. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Souksakhone Guesthouse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road & boat journey to Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park: This morning, join the rest of the group and set off by road in a shared vehicle to the village of Ban Son Koua. Here, you will board a long tail boat for the 1.5 hour cruise up the Nam Nern River to the park headquarters. Along the way, learn about upland rice cultivation and look out for monitor lizards (depending on the time of year) and bird life.

Afternoon activities: Upon arrival at the national park substation, you will be shown to your bamboo hut close to the river, and then offered a local lunch prepared by the village cooking group. All food uses locally available ingredients in order to support local farmers and create an authentic culinary experience. After lunch, learn about the conservation and park management from the rangers, and their efforts in protecting tigers and their prey.

Nam Et Narn Night Safari: In the middle of the afternoon, depart for the night safari. Continue upriver by boat for around 50 minutes, then hike a short distance to a salt lick, where your local guide, a skilled hunter and tracker, will identify any animal tracks. The boats continue upriver to a sandy river bank, where the team will light a campfire. After sunset, relax around the fire and enjoy a BBQ dinner. Once it is completely dark, set off on a wildlife spotting adventure, floating down the river with the boat engines off. The guides (one per boat) use their headlamp to spot wildlife. If they see something, they will give a clear sign. Then you can switch on your own flashlight to have a better look at the animal. You should have your flashlight switched off most of the time to avoid scaring any animals. The guides and boat drivers communicate via hand signals to avoid talking which might disturb the animals. Animals that might be seen include sambar deer, otters, barking deer, various species of civets, loris, porcupines, and owls. Seeing tigers is very rare because they usually don't come close to the river. After around 2 hours, you will arrive back at the park headquarters, and settle in to your traditional Lao style hut for the night.

Accommodation: Stay tonight in a Simple Lao-Style Hut 

Accommodation on the Nam Et Nern Night Safari is in the form of traditional Lao style huts in the forest, near the national park substation. Mosquito nets, mattresses, sheets and blankets are provided. Both Western and Lao bathrooms are shared, and a simple shower is available, although bathing in the river is also possible in the warm season. The ecolodge was constructed by the villagers using local materials and recycled wood.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning activities: Rise early this morning to explore the jungle before breakfast. The local guides will teach you about medicinal plants and explain the history of the area. Return to the main hut for breakfast and to pack up your kit in preparation for your onward journey.

Boat & road journey to Sam Neua: Later this morning, set off by boat back to Ban Son Koua, making a stop en route at a prime spot for bird watching. Continue by road to Sam Neua. On the way, a stop will be made at Hintang, where you will find some mysterious menhirs (standing stones). No one is certain who built them or for what reason, but it is likely they were burial sites or markers of some kind. The next stop will be Ba Saleuy, a village famous for weaving high-quality skirts, and the nearby waterfall which has a 100-metre drop into a deep pool. Arrive in Sam Neua in the afternoon, and after checking in, you have the remainder of the day at leisure. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Xayphasouk Guesthouse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day tour of the Vieng Xai Caves: Begin the day with an optional short walk around Sam Neua Town. The area is particularly famous for its weaving products, particularly the traditional Lao skirt, and you can stop to visit a local weaving house showroom. You can also visit the local wet market, before setting off on the 45 minute drive to the Vieng Xai caves, where the Pathet Lao leaders lived during the "Secret War". A number of these caves are open for visitors, and your guide will show you the stark living environments and the dark, damp conditions that they had to put up with to avoid being bombed. Chambers were used as schools, hospitals, living quarters and government departments. After exploring a number of caves, return to Sam Neua in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Xayphasouk Guesthouse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Sam Neua to Mai Chau: After breakfast, you will drive to the Vietnamese border at Nam Meo. After completing the border formalities, you will be met by your Vietnamese guide and driver for the journey to Mai Chau. Travel through Thanh Hoa province, one of the least visited and unexplored provinces in the country. Stop along the way at several Mong villages and at the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, an area of beautiful limestone scenery, cultural interest and biodiversity.

Afternoon at leisure: You will arrive at the Ecolodge in the mid-afternoon. Check-in, relax, and enjoy the picturesque surroundings.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Mai Chau Ecolodge (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning cycling tour: After breakfast, take a cycling tour around the valley floor; a great way to explore the Mai Chau area. Return to the Mai Chau Lodge for a refreshing shower and a hearty lunch.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon is at leisure to relax at the lodge. Alternatively, you can arrange a trekking tour, or a visit to a handicraft market in a nearby minority village.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Mai Chau Ecolodge (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Mai Chau to Hanoi: Depart Mai Chau this morning for the drive to Hanoi, a scenic journey of approximately 3 hours.

Afternoon at leisure in Hanoi: After arriving and checking in, you have an afternoon at leisure to explore the Vietnamese capital independently. Stroll around the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake, take in a water puppet show, go shopping in the Old Quarter, or sample some of Hanoi's many culinary delights.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the La Siesta Premium Hang Be (Junior Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: Your final day is at leisure to relax, explore the surrounding area or go on a last minute hunt for souvenirs.

Private transfer: This evening, your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport in time for your departure flight

Flight: TG565 Hanoi - Bangkok 20.45 - 22.35 

Meals: Breakfast