VL05 Konglor cave ( 7 days/ 6 nights )

Vientiane – Prabaht Ponsan – Sala Hin Boun – Kong lor Cave – Vientiane – Luang Prabang – Kuang si – Pak Ou Cave

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 – Prabaht Ponsan – Sala hin Boun

You will be picked up from your Vientiane Hotel this morning and travel south along Route 13.  Stop en route at Prabaht Ponsan, an Ancient stupa dating back to the 15th century.  It is also home to an ancient Buddha footprint, discovered in 1933, and now an important religious site in Laos. Following lunch we continue to Khammoune province and into a mountainous region, where a stop at a viewpoint near Khoun Kham offers a breathtaking view over the surrounding area. After arriving in Ban Nakang, we will board a local boat on the Hin Boun River. The journey upstream takes us past some stunning limestone formations, as well as a number of local villages. In the late afternoon, arrive at our destination of Sala Hin Boun. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight in Sala Hin Buon [Breakfast, Lunch]

Day 3 Sala Hin Boun – Kong Lor Cave

After breakfast in Sala Hin Boun, continue by boat upriver to Kong Lor village, where you have the chance to explore before boarding a smaller boat into the famous Kong Lor Cave. We navigate through the cave, which is over 7km long and includes a spectacular cavern over 100m high. Afterwards, enjoy lunch in a remote village on the other side of the cave. We will return to Sala Hin Boun before sunset.

Overnight in Sala Hin Buon [Breakfast, Lunch]

Day 4 Sala Hin Boun – Vientiane – Luang Prabang (flight)

Following breakfast, set off by road for a drive to the Vientiane airport for your flight to Luang Prabang.  Upon arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight in Luang Prabang [Breakfast, Lunch]

Day 5 Luang Prabang – Kuang Si waterfall and half day city tour

In the morning visit the Phou Si Market with its array of offerings including dried buffalo skin, local tea, saltpeter and hill-tribe weavings as well as vegetables and livestock. After that we will do a half day city tour with the highlights of Luang Prabang. We will visit the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. Then head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground (a signature feature of classic Lao architecture). We also have time to visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. In the afternoon, drive to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfalls where we can splash around in the pools or walk along forest paths. Return to Luang Prabang. On the way we stop at ethnic villages of Ban Ouay, (Hmong), Ban Ou (Lowland Lao) and Ban Thapene (Khmu).

Overnight in Luang Prabang [Breakfast]

Day 6 Luang Prabang – Big Brother Mouse – Ban Khia Luang – Pak Ou caves

The day starts with a visit to the Big Brother Mouse shop to select some books for the village visit.  We head north by car along route 13 then take an unpaved road to Ban Khia Luang village. We then have ample time to visit the school, play with the children and watch them enjoy their new books.  We will also take some time to explore the rest of the village, where you can see the weaving process and visit the local temple.  Stop for lunch at the village, which can either be a western picnic lunch or traditional Lao food such as sticky rice, laap and fresh vegetables cooked by the villagers (except school holidays). After lunch say goodbye to the village and drive to Ban Khoklin; the route features some beautiful scenery of mountains and paddy fields.  At Ban Khoklin we then board a private boat down the Nam Ou River for 30 minutes to the Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves filled with thousands of lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Afterwards, continue down the Mekong River to Luang Prabang, arriving in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Luang Prabang [Breakfast, Lunch]

Day 7 Luang Prabang – departure

Depending on your flight, you may have leisure time before transfer to the airport for your departing flight. [Breakfast]