The journey
Thirteen days across Laos, from a Mekong slow boat and Luang Prabang's temples to Kong Lor's caves, the Bolaven Plateau and the Mekong's 4,000 Islands.
Laos in Depth is the fullest way to see the country, an overland journey the length of Laos from the Thai border to the Cambodian frontier. Drift down the Mekong by private slow boat to Luang Prabang, ride the scenic railway south to Vientiane, and journey by longtail boat through Kong Lor's spectacular cave system, before continuing south through Savannakhet and the Bolaven Plateau's waterfalls and coffee plantations to the ancient temple of Vat Phou and the Mekong's 4,000 Islands. This is Laos at full length, from its northern hill country to its southern rivers.
Highlights
- Drift down the Mekong by private slow boat over two days to Luang Prabang, stopping at a hill tribe village and the sacred Pak Ou Caves
- Explore Luang Prabang's UNESCO-listed temples, witness the dawn alms-giving ceremony, and swim beneath Kuang Si Waterfalls
- Ride the scenic railway south to Vang Vieng, then continue on to Vientiane's temples and monuments
- Journey by longtail boat through the 7.5-kilometre Kong Lor Cave, one of the region's most spectacular cave systems
- Discover the Bolaven Plateau's coffee and tea plantations and the twin Tad Fane Waterfalls
- Visit the pre-Angkorian temple of Vat Phou and explore the Mekong's 4,000 Islands, home to the Liphi and Khone Phapheng Falls
Included
Accommodation
12 nights across Pakbeng, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Ban Kong Lor, Savannakhet, Tad Etu, Khong Island and Pakse
Activities
Two-day private Mekong cruise with hill tribe village visit & Pak Ou Caves · Luang Prabang temple tour (Royal Palace/National Museum, Wat Mai, Wat Sensoukharam, Wat Xieng Thong) · Dawn alms-giving ceremony, Kuang Si Waterfalls, optional bear sanctuary & buffalo farm · Scenic railway, Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng · Vientiane full-day city tour (Wat Sisaket, Wat Phra Keo, Presidential Palace, COPE Centre, Patuxay, That Luang, Wat Simuang) · Kong Lor Cave longtail boat journey · Savannakhet city tour, That Ing Hang temple & Dinosaur Museum · Bolaven Plateau, Tad Fane Waterfalls & coffee/tea plantation · Vat Phou Khmer temple complex · 4,000 Islands, Liphi Falls, colonial railway viewpoint & Khone Phapheng Falls
Also included
Private guide & driver throughout · Laos-China Railway ticket, Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng · Daily breakfast from Day 2, plus 6 lunches and 1 dinner · Entrance fees
The route
Thirteen days across Laos
9 stops · Pakbeng to Pakse
Pakbeng
Luang Prabang
Vang Vieng
Vientiane
Ban Kong Lor
Savannakhet
Tad Etu
Khong Island
Pakse
Stop 1 of 9
Journey's end
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Stop 1 of 9
Day by day
The route in detail
Day 1
Arrival Houay Xay, Mekong Cruise Begins
Cross the border into Laos at Houay Xay, where a representative will meet you for the transfer down to the pier and the start of a two-day private cruise along the Mekong. Settle in for the first leg of the journey, stopping en route at a hill tribe village for a look at rural riverside life, with a buffet lunch served onboard. Arrive into Pakbeng, a small hillside town lined with wooden houses along a single steep street, in the late afternoon, with a chance to catch the sunset over the river depending on the current.
Day 2
Continue the Mekong Cruise to Luang Prabang
Continue downstream after breakfast, with two stops along the way: first, a village known for its traditional rice alcohol, then the Pak Ou Caves, known locally as Tam Ting, twin caves carved into limestone cliffs and filled with thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues of every size. From here, it's a further two hours downstream to Luang Prabang, arriving at the pier before sunset, where a guide and driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.
Day 3
Luang Prabang City Tour
Spend a half-day exploring Luang Prabang's UNESCO World Heritage old town with a private guide. Begin at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, tracing the history of Laos, before continuing to Wat Mai, known for its golden bas-relief, and Wat Sensoukharam, with its dazzling gilded facade. Finish at Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang's most revered temple, built in 1560 on the tip of the peninsula where the Nam Khan River meets the Mekong. The rest of the day is free at leisure.
Day 4
Alms-Giving Ceremony and Kuang Si Waterfalls
Early risers can witness the dawn alms-giving ceremony, as lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas at sunrise to collect offerings from residents along the streets, a serene ritual at the heart of Luang Prabang's spiritual life. Return to the hotel for breakfast before setting out for Kuang Si Waterfalls, where turquoise pools cascade through the forest, perfect for a swim, with a steep trail leading to the top of the falls for those wanting the view. On the way back, stop at a sanctuary caring for Asiatic black bears rescued from poachers, and the Lao Buffalo Dairy Farm, a social enterprise producing sustainable cheese alongside a menagerie of animals, finishing with a scoop of homemade ice cream. The rest of the day is free at leisure in Luang Prabang.
Day 5
Onward to Vang Vieng by Rail
Travel south on Laos's scenic railway to Vang Vieng, a small town on the banks of the Nam Song River ringed by dramatic limestone karsts. The afternoon is free to explore, whether visiting nearby caves and villages, touring an organic farm known for its mulberry tea, or arranging cycling, kayaking, rock climbing or trekking with your guide, or simply relaxing along the riverbank for the sunset.
Day 6
Onward to Vientiane
Head south to the capital, Vientiane, arriving in around ninety minutes. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, with a stroll along the Mekong riverside promenade or the city's evening market a good way to settle in.
Day 7
Vientiane City Tour
Spend a full day uncovering the capital's history and spiritual life, beginning at the serene Wat Sisaket, one of Vientiane's most beautiful temples, and nearby Wat Phra Keo, now a religious museum of Lao and Khmer art, close to the Presidential Palace. Continue to the COPE Centre, an organisation supporting landmine and UXO survivors, offering an in-depth look at the lasting legacy of unexploded ordnance in Laos and the work underway to clear it. In the afternoon, climb the Patuxay monument, Laos's answer to the Arc de Triomphe, for sweeping views over the city, then visit the sixteenth-century That Luang, the holiest site in the country, and Wat Simuang, Vientiane's most venerated temple. Close the day with a sunset stroll along the Mekong, a good spot to find dinner among the locals.
Day 8
Onward to Kong Lor Caves
Depart Vientiane for the drive into the countryside, stopping at Wat Prabath Phonsane, the Temple of the Buddha's Footprint, before entering the Phou Hin Poun National Protected Area, where the scenery turns to dramatic limestone karst, forest and rice paddies. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route before arriving at the small town of Ban Kong Lor and heading straight to the Kong Lor Caves. Donning life jackets and headlamps, board a longtail boat for a 7.5-kilometre journey through the cave along an underground stretch of the Hin Boun River, entirely without daylight, past vast formations of stalactites and stalagmites. On the far side, stop to stretch your legs with a walk through a local village before returning by boat to Ban Kong Lor.
Day 9
Kong Lor to Savannakhet
Take an early morning walk with your guide through the surrounding villages, best enjoyed before breakfast in the cool of the day. Continue by road to Thakhek, a sleepy town with a handful of attractive colonial buildings, before continuing on to Savannakhet. Break the journey at That Ing Hang, a revered sixteenth-century temple with a central stupa flanked by statues of the Buddha, in a style echoing Wat Sisaket in Vientiane. In Savannakhet, take a short tour past French colonial villas and St. Teresa Catholic Church, then visit the Dinosaur Museum, a modest building holding a surprising collection of dinosaur remains uncovered nearby, dating back up to 250 million years. The rest of the day is free to relax by the Mekong.
Day 10
Onward to the Bolaven Plateau
Set off early for the Bolaven Plateau in Salavan Province, a highland region east of Pakse sitting between 1,000 and 1,300 metres, home to dozens of coffee and tea plantations and hill tribe communities. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Tad Fane Waterfalls, twin falls dropping 120 metres, fed by the Champy and Pak Koot rivers, with a stop en route at a coffee or tea plantation to learn how the region's beans, grown across 250 villages, produce some of the world's most celebrated coffee.
Day 11
Vat Phou and the Journey South
Travel to 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 carved galleries and a hilltop sanctuary, the temple was once the region's most important economic and political centre and remains among its most revered. Pass through Champasak, where French colonial buildings sit in contrast to the ancient temple, for lunch at a local restaurant, before continuing south to Si Phan Don, the 4,000 Islands, where the Mekong widens to more than fourteen kilometres. Cross by boat to your accommodation on Khong Island, arriving in the late afternoon.
Day 12
The 4,000 Islands
Spend the day exploring the peaceful islands of Don Det and Don Khone, home to small plantations and villages best explored by bicycle or tuk tuk. Begin at the impressive Liphi Falls on Don Khone's western edge, revered locally as a trap for bad spirits, close to the Cambodian border. Take in one of the area's best viewpoints, a colonial-era railway and bridge once built to carry traffic over the falls, linking Laos to Cambodia and southern Vietnam, before lunch at a local restaurant. Finish at the immense Khone Phapheng Falls, the widest waterfall in Southeast Asia and the one stretch of the Mekong that cannot be navigated by boat, before returning to Pakse by road in the late afternoon.
Day 13
Departure
Transfer to the airport or the Thai border for your onward journey, bringing your journey through Laos to a close.
Moments
Along the way
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