The journey
Twenty-two days from north to south across Laos, from a Mekong slow boat and the Plain of Jars to a night wildlife safari, ancient temples and the 4,000 Islands.
Grand Tour of Laos is the complete journey, connecting the country's best-known sights with the places most visitors never reach. Begin with a two-day Mekong slow boat to Luang Prabang, then head into Laos's remote northeast for the mysterious Plain of Jars and the hidden cave city of Viengxay, where thousands sheltered during the Secret War, before a night spotlighting wildlife by silent boat in the Nam Et-Phou Louey protected area. The journey continues south through Vang Vieng's karst scenery and the temples of Vientiane, an underground river cave at Kong Lor, and central Laos's quieter towns, before finishing among the coffee plantations of the Bolaven Plateau, the ancient temple of Vat Phou, and the Mekong's 4,000 Islands.
Highlights
- Cruise two days down the Mekong from the Thai border to Luang Prabang, stopping at hill tribe villages and the sacred Pak Ou Caves
- Explore the mysterious Plain of Jars, a 2,500-year-old archaeological site whose origins remain unexplained
- Discover the hidden cave city of Viengxay, where more than 20,000 people sheltered during the Secret War
- Spend a night spotlighting wildlife by silent boat on the Nam Nern Night Safari
- Cruise Kong Lor's underground river cave and explore the temples and monuments of Vientiane
- Visit Vat Phou, a pre-Angkorian Khmer temple complex recognised by UNESCO
- Cycle the 4,000 Islands and watch for endangered Irrawaddy dolphins on the Mekong
Included
Accommodation
21 nights spanning Pakbeng, Luang Prabang, Phonsavan, Sam Neua, a Nam Nern ecolodge, Nong Khiaw, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Ban Kong Lor, Thakhek, Pakse, Champasak and Don Khong
Activities
Two-day Mekong slow boat & Pak Ou Caves · Luang Prabang cycling city tour, Ock Pop Tok weaving centre & Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre · Kuang Si Waterfalls, optional bear sanctuary & buffalo farm · Plain of Jars & MAG Centre · Muang Khoun ruins · Sam Neua town tour & weaving houses · Viengxay Secret War caves · Nam Nern Night Safari · Nong Khiaw & scenic train to Vang Vieng · Tham Jang Cave & organic mulberry farm · Vientiane temples, Buddha Park & Patuxai · Kong Lor Caves underground boat journey · Thakhek to Savannakhet, including the Dinosaur Museum · Bolaven Plateau waterfalls & coffee plantations · Vat Phou Khmer temple complex · 4,000 Islands cycling & dolphin spotting
Also included
Private guide & vehicle throughout, plus boats, a scenic train and a longtail boat through Kong Lor Caves where noted · Daily breakfast from Day 2, plus 16 lunches and 1 dinner · Entrance fees
The route
22 days across Laos
14 stops · Pakbeng to Pakse
Pakbeng
Luang Prabang
Phonsavan
Sam Neua
Nam Nern
Nong Khiaw
Vang Vieng
Vientiane
Ban Kong Lor
Thakhek
Pakse
Champasak
Don Khong
Stop 1 of 14
Journey's end
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Stop 1 of 14
Day by day
The route in detail
Day 1
Houay Xay to Pakbeng
Begin at the border town of Houay Xay, where your guide and driver meet you for the transfer to the pier and the start of a two-day slow boat cruise along the Mekong to Luang Prabang. Stop en route at an ethnic village for a first-hand look at traditional rural life, with lunch served on board. Arrive in Pakbeng, a peaceful hillside town of wooden houses halfway between Houay Xay and Luang Prabang, in time to watch the sunset over the Mekong from the boat. Overnight in Pakbeng.
Day 2
Onward to Luang Prabang via Pak Ou
Early risers can visit the morning market, where hill tribe villagers gather to trade goods, before the second leg of the cruise. Stop at Ban Baw village to see traditional rice alcohol, known as lao lao, being made, then enjoy a buffet lunch on board. Continue to the Pak Ou Caves, where thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues, from a few centimetres to life-size, fill two caves carved into a limestone cliff above the river, with sweeping views over the Mekong and Nam Ou. Reach Luang Prabang by late afternoon and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 3
Luang Prabang Cycling City Tour
Set out by bike to explore Luang Prabang's temples, starting at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, then continuing to Wat Mai, known for its golden bas-relief, the holy Wat Visoun, and Wat Aham and Wat That, resting place of King Sisavang Vong's ashes. Ride along the Nam Khan River to Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in the city. In the afternoon, browse Phosy Market with your guide, then visit Ock Pop Tok, a non-profit working to preserve traditional Lao weaving, for a short introduction to silk dyeing and loom weaving. Finish at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, dedicated to the country's ethnic minorities, before cycling back to the hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 4
Kuang Si Waterfalls
Early risers can witness the dawn alms-giving ceremony, as monks leave their pagodas to receive food offerings from residents, a serene glimpse into the spiritual life of the city. Return for breakfast, then transfer to Kuang Si Waterfalls, stopping at a small ethnic village along the way. Swim in the falls' turquoise pools or trek to the top for sweeping views, then enjoy a picnic lunch beside the water. On the way back, make an optional stop at a sanctuary caring for Asiatic black bears rescued from poaching, and the Lao Buffalo Dairy Farm, a social enterprise producing sustainable cheese alongside a menagerie of playful animals, finishing with a homemade ice cream. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 5
Onward to Phonsavan
Depart on the six to seven hour drive to Phonsavan, with a stop for lunch along the way. Known locally as Xieng Khuang, the town was rebuilt after being destroyed during the Secret War and today serves as the gateway to the Plain of Jars. After checking in, take a city tour and visit the MAG Centre, run by a humanitarian organisation working to clear the remnants of conflict from Lao PDR, the most heavily bombed nation in the world per capita. Overnight in Phonsavan.
Day 6
The Plain of Jars
Spend the day exploring the Plain of Jars, a vast archaeological site scattered with mysterious stone jars, some 2,500 years old and up to four metres tall, whose true origin remains unexplained. Visit the three main sites, from Site 1, the largest and closest to town, to Site 3, the most impressive with more than 150 jars, along with nearby villages and a small monastery at Ban Xieng Di. The route passes former battlefields from the Secret War, still marked by bomb craters, so stay on the defined trails at all times. Lunch is at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Muang Khoun, another town destroyed by American bombing, home to a giant sitting Buddha and the ruins of Wat Phia Wat, along with a 30-metre stupa dating to the Lan Xang period. Return to Phonsavan. Overnight in Phonsavan.
Day 7
Onward to Sam Neua
Drive around six to seven hours to Sam Neua, taking in village life and scenery along the way, with lunch at a local restaurant. On arrival, tour the town, including a stroll along the Nam Sam River promenade, Wat Phoxay Sanlam and its Buddha statue dating to 1565, and nearby weaving houses producing cotton and silk textiles. Finish at the market, known for Houaphanh textiles, woven bamboo and traditional foods. Overnight in Sam Neua.
Day 8
Viengxay's Secret War Caves
Drive around an hour to Viengxay, a town surrounded by limestone peaks riddled with hundreds of caves that sheltered more than 20,000 people, including the country's future leaders, during the Secret War of the 1960s. Unable to farm or work except at night, this hidden city built schools, hospitals, markets, a radio station and the headquarters of the Lao Patriotic Front into the caves. Follow an audio tour, including interviews with people who lived through this extraordinary chapter of Lao history, before lunch at a local restaurant and the drive back to Sam Neua. Overnight in Sam Neua.
Day 9
Nam Nern Night Safari
Depart for the Nam Et-Phou Louey protected area, staying at a simple ecolodge for a night safari developed by the local community. Arrive at Ban Son Koua, a Khmu village, for lunch, then join a village tour to learn about the animist tradition of appeasing the village spirit before a ninety-minute longtail boat journey along the Nam Nern River, spotting monitor lizards and birdlife along the way. Hear from park staff about ongoing efforts to protect tigers and their prey, then set out for the night safari, hiking near a salt lick to learn how local trackers follow deer and other animals. A picnic dinner is held around a campfire on a sandy riverbank, with Khmu folktales shared before the boats set off spotlighting, engines off, drifting silently downriver in search of sambar deer, otters, civets, slow loris, porcupines and owls. Overnight at the Nam Nern ecolodge.
Day 10
Nam Nern to Nong Khiaw
Before breakfast, join a guided walk through the jungle to learn about medicinal plants and the area's history, then float back to the village at a relaxed pace, spotting birds along the way. Sample earthen jar rice wine, known as lao hai, and help fill out a wildlife monitoring form, a small but meaningful part of what channels tour proceeds into a village development fund tied to wildlife conservation. After lunch, continue around four hours to Nong Khiaw, checking in with time to enjoy the sunset over the river. Overnight in Nong Khiaw.
Day 11
Onward to Vang Vieng
Drive around two and a half hours to Luang Prabang, stopping for lunch at Tangor restaurant, then continue to Luang Prabang's train station for one of Southeast Asia's most scenic rail journeys south to Vang Vieng, arriving among its dramatic limestone karst scenery. The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure, with options ranging from exploring nearby caves and villages to visiting an organic mulberry tea farm, or, at an additional cost, cycling, kayaking, rock climbing, trekking or tubing. Overnight in Vang Vieng.
Day 12
Vang Vieng at Leisure
A flexible day to enjoy Vang Vieng at your own pace. For the adventurous, add trekking, kayaking, mountain biking or rock climbing at an additional cost, or take a guided tour of Tham Jang Cave, learning the local mythology behind its stalactites and stalagmites before a dip in its natural spring waters. Round out the day with a visit to an organic mulberry tea farm or the local markets, with the afternoon free at leisure. Overnight in Vang Vieng.
Day 13
Onward to Vientiane
Drive around ninety minutes south to Vientiane, with the rest of the day free to enjoy the capital's cafes, restaurants and spas, or browse the evening market on the banks of the Mekong. Overnight in Vientiane.
Day 14
Buddha Park and Vientiane City Tour
Drive to Buddha Park, passing the Friendship Bridge linking Thailand and Laos along the way. Also known as Xieng Khuan, the park is filled with more than 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues built in 1958 by a Lao shaman, set in a tranquil spot along the Mekong. On the return drive, stop at the Lao Disabled Women Development Centre, which trains disabled women in practical skills toward self-sufficiency, before a Lao-style lunch. In the afternoon, visit sixteenth-century That Luang, the holiest site in Laos, and climb Patuxai, Vientiane's own Arc de Triomphe, for panoramic views over the city. Continue to Wat Sisaket, one of the capital's most beautiful temples, and nearby Wat Phra Keo, now a religious museum housing Lao and Khmer art. Overnight in Vientiane.
Day 15
Onward to Ban Kong Lor
Drive south from Vientiane, stopping at Wat Prabath Phansane, the Temple of the Footprint of Buddha, with lunch at a local restaurant. Leaving the main road, enter the Phou Hin Poun protected area, where the scenery turns to dramatic limestone karsts, forests and rice paddies. Arrive in the small town of Ban Kong Lor with the rest of the day free to admire the views, with the option to walk through the surrounding villages with your guide. Overnight in Ban Kong Lor.
Day 16
Kong Lor Caves to Thakhek
Early risers can take a walk around the villages as they wake for the day. After breakfast, drive a short distance to Kong Lor Caves, where life jackets and head torches are provided for a longtail boat journey along an underground stretch of the Hin Boun River, more than seven kilometres through the mountain without daylight, taking in vast stalactite and stalagmite formations along the way. On the far side, stop for refreshments and a walk through local villages, then return by boat downstream to Ban Kong Lor for lunch on your own before the four-hour drive south to Thakhek. Overnight in Thakhek.
Day 17
Onward to Pakse via Savannakhet
Drive toward Savannakhet, stopping at the sixteenth-century temple of That Ing Hang, one of Laos's most revered. In Savannakhet, take a short tour of the town's French villas and St. Teresa Catholic Church, then visit the small Dinosaur Museum, built around fossil remains found nearby dating back up to 250 million years, with proceeds supporting the resident paleontologists' ongoing work. After lunch, continue around three and a half hours to Pakse, with the rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight in Pakse.
Day 18
Bolaven Plateau to Champasak
Take a short orientation tour of Pakse before heading into the Bolaven Plateau, a mountainous region of hill tribes, waterfalls and coffee and tea plantations. Stop first at Tad Fane, a set of twin 120-metre waterfalls, and Tad Yuang, before continuing to a coffee estate where an expert leads a tour through the plantation and its processing methods, followed by lunch and a coffee tasting. On the return drive, stop at Tad Lo, a formation of three separate waterfalls, and the small village of Ban Houay Houn, known for Katu textiles woven without a traditional loom. Transfer to Champasak, a small town on the banks of the Mekong. Overnight in Champasak.
Day 19
Exploring Vat Phou
Visit Vat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed pre-Angkorian temple set among the rice fields and waterways of southern Laos. Built across three levels, from a water reservoir and promenade at the base to galleries of carvings and a sanctuary at the summit, the temple once served as the region's most important economic and political centre and remains one of the most revered sites in Laos. The rest of the day is free to enjoy Champasak, whether at your hotel or exploring the town independently by bicycle. Overnight in Champasak.
Day 20
Champasak to the 4,000 Islands
Drive south to Si Phan Don, the 4,000 Islands, where the Mekong stretches more than fourteen kilometres wide, flowing between countless islands, waterfalls and rapids. Stop for lunch en route, then cross by boat from Ban Nakasang to the small island of Don Khone, home to plantations and simple villages. Spend the afternoon exploring on foot. Don Khone and neighbouring Don Det once linked Laos to Cambodia and southern Vietnam during the French colonial era, and remnants of the railway and bridge built to bypass the waterfalls, along with a handful of colonial buildings, still remain. Overnight on Don Khong.
Day 21
The 4,000 Islands to Pakse
Spend the morning cycling around Don Khone, visiting the impressive Liphi Falls, known locally as Tad Somphamit, close to the Cambodian border, where locals believe the falls trap bad spirits. Take a short boat trip for a chance, though never a guarantee, of spotting the rare Irrawaddy dolphin, with mornings and late afternoons the best times to look. Lunch is at a local restaurant before the boat back to the mainland at Ban Nakasang and the drive back to Pakse, arriving in the late afternoon. Overnight in Pakse.
Day 22
Departure
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight, bringing your grand tour of Laos to a close.
Moments
Along the way
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