VL04 Plain of Jars ( 5 days / 4 nights )

Vientiane – Xiengkhouang – Plain of Jars – Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves

Day 1 Vientiane arrival
Arrive in Vientiane and transfer to a hotel. If time permits, enjoy a city tour including the ancient Wat Sisaket, a temple of thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha. Also visit the Lao national icon, That Luang Stupa, and stop to take pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.
Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 2 Vientiane – Xiengkhouang– Plain of Jars [Flight]
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Xiengkhouang.  Upon arrival, transfer out to visit Site 1 of the Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are littered across the plateau. Then transfer to your hotel for the night. 
Overnight in Xiengkhouang. [Breakfast]

Day 3 Xiengkhouang– Luang Prabang [Overland]
In the early morning, visit the Central Market of Phonsavanh to watch the different hill tribe people barter and exchange merchandise. Then head to Luang Prabang.  Stop en route to see Buddha images at Thampra, a site more than 200 years old, and various Hmong and hill tribe minority villages along the way. After several photo stops, continue driving and enjoying the splendid natural scenery of the mountains, forest and landscape. The journey will take us over mountainous regions until we approach Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang. [Breakfast]
(This journey is about an 8-hr drive through the mountains)

Day 4 Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves – half day city tour
Embark on a cruise on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves filled with thousands of lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. On the way back, stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. Then drive to visit the traditional villages of Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek which are famous for their hand weaving and hand made Jute Sar paper. Arrive in downtown Luang Prabang and climb to the top of Mount Phou Si to see the sunset over the Luang Prabang ancient capital. Afterwards, enjoy visiting the Street Night Market where local people and surrounding hill tribes display their textiles, silk worms and hand-made traditional garments and wares.  
Overnight in Luang Prabang. [Breakfast]

Day 5 Luang Prabang - Alms-Giving - Departure
This morning, you may rise early if you wish to participate in the daily morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black alms-giving bowls receiving offerings from the local people, including the ubiquitous sticky rice. After breakfast visit several local highlights, including the Former Royal Palace, now the National Museum (closed on Tuesdays). If time permits, visit the Luang Prabang Market and a number of shops selling antiques and silver jewelry made by mountain tribes. Transfer to airport for departure.
[Breakfast]