Best of Laos

This 6 days trip to Lao of us will help you to visit best destinations of this country: Vientiane - Morning market – Vang Vieng - Tham Jang caves - Mekong river cruise – Pak Ou Buddha caves.
Day 1: Vientiane Arrival
Upon arrive at Vientiane airport, Asia Essence Tours tour expert will welcome you and transfer to hotel for check in. Then enjoy a city tour to Wat Sisaket with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Visit Wat Simuang and Wat Prakeo, which was the original home of the famous Emerald Buddha, which today lives in Bangkok. There are many excellent restaurants in Vientiane, and you will easily find something to suit your taste. Visit the huge golden That Luang monument, where all Lao citizen respect as holy pagoda. Visit Vientiane’s own Victory Monument, which looks like the Arc de Triumph. This was built at the end of the Indochina wars with money rumored to be American, and earmarked for the airport’s new runway. Thus the departing Americans dubbed this monument the vertical runway! Have a look at the lovely arches inside the monument.

Meals: none
Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane 23/2/2016

Day 2: Vientiane – Morning market – Vang Vieng (B)
Breakfast is served at the hotel. After breakfast, visit Morning Market, first market in Vientiane. Then drive to Vang Vieng, about 3 hours from the capital. Once a key military airfield during the Indochina wars, the town’s central feature is the long-abandoned runway along the eastern side of town.  On the west side, a small river separates the town from the nearby caves & mountains, which can easily be visited from town. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant en route.

Accommodation: Hotel in Vang Vieng
Meal: Breakfast
 
Day 3: Vang Vieng – Market – Tham Jang caves – Luang Prabang (B)
Breakfast is served at the hotel, this morning check out of your hotel, visit the local market and then the Tham Jang caves through which flows a crystal clear stream. Drive to Luang Prabang, drive passes through splendid scenery and past many panoramic lookout points on the winding mountaintop road.  There are several stops en route to take in the scenery.  Arrive in Luang Prabang, check into the hotel, and enjoy an exploring the former royal capital & crown jewel of the ancient Lane Xang Empire (pronounced ‘lan sang’) – the Land of a Million Elephants. Shopping at the night market.

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Meal: Breakfast
 
Day 4: Luang Prabang – World Heritage site in Luang Prabang (B)
Breakfast is served at the hotel. This morning, visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao. Continue to visit Wat Mai. Built in 1796, the five-tiered roof of the wooden Sim (chapel) epitomizes the graceful Luang Prabang architectural style. Visit Wat Xieng Thong further emphasizes the uniqueness of Luang Prabang, its several roofs sweeping low to the ground. See also the impressive "tree of life" mosaic here. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts semi-erotic episodes from the Ramayana. Climb up Phou Sii hill stands right in the center of this small city. Climb its 350 steps to enjoy commanding views for many miles in each direction. Wat Phu Sii sits atop the mountain, alongside the skeletons of Indochina war anti-aircraft guns! Shopping Hmong market, where hundreds of Hmong vendors display their handmade handicraft.

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Meal: Breakfast

Day 5: Luang Prabang – Mekong river cruise – Pak Ou Buddha caves (B)
Breakfast is served at the hotel. After breakfast, visit the National Museum, once a king's palace.  Displayed inside is a lovely collection of personal artifacts of the royal family, including photos, musical instruments, and many gifts received from the dignitaries of foreign countries. Begin a Mekong Riverboat trip with your guide on the mighty Mekong River to visit the famous & sacred Pak Ou Buddha Caves. These caves, overlooking the confluence of the Mekong & Ou Rivers from on high, have been home to many thousands of Buddha images that were placed here by local people since 16th century, when King Setthathirat found the caves and declared them a holy spot. On return visit Por Sa Paper Handicraft & textile area at Ban Xang Khong.

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Meal: Breakfast

Day 6: Luang Prabang Depart (B)
Breakfast is served at the hotel. After breakfast, relax until transferring to the airport for your departure flight
Meal: Breakfast

This tour is built upon our firsthand knowledge & experience, offering you the best choices available. The price of this trip varies depending on the number of people in your party, dates of departure, and availability of ground services.

Please click on CUSTOMIZE YOUR TRIPS and supply the required information, enabling us to send you your personalized quote within 24 hours!

Note: Amendments CAN be made to this tour to suite your requirements, but may incur price changes

WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels 
Private Vehicles and Drivers
Private English Speaking Guides (Other languages if available, upon request)
Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
All domestic flights
Airport Taxes and Fuel charges
Entrance fees for all mentioned sights visited
Drinking water available on the vehicles.
Service Charge & Government Taxes
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?
Your International Flights
Personal Expenses (such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc.)
Any bank fees or charges at your end
Meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary
Personal Travel Insurance
Tips for tour guide and driver in each region
Peak season or public holidays surcharge if any
Compulsory Gala dinner on X-Mas or New Year if any
Vietnam visa stamp fee 
Other services not mentioned above

HOTEL SELECTION:

The hotels listed below are our suggestions for the best value on this tour.  However, Asia Essence Tours offers many more options of hand-picked hotels, with different "star ratings", allowing you to customize the vacation to meet your taste and budget.

LOCATIONS

FIRST CLASS CATEGORY

SUPERIOR CATEGORY

DELUXE CATEGORY

Luang prabang

Villa Chitdara hotel

Villa Santi hotel

Maison Souvanaphoum

Vangvieng

Villa Vangvieng Riverside

Villa Vangvieng Riverside

Vansana Vangvieng

Vientiane

Manorom Boutique hotel

Salana Boutique hotel

Green park hotel

ABOUT HOTELS:

We, at Asia Essence Tours, are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. As the hotel cost will be the major expense of your vacation in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, it is essential that all of the hotels chosen by us are the highest quality for the price paid. All of our prices are based on twin, double or queen shared rooms.

BELOW IS AN EXPLANATION OF THE HOTEL "STAR" RATINGS:

First Class/ 3 Star (from US$ 40 - US$ 60 per room/night)

The First Class/ 3 Star Hotels are good value and normally centrally located. They all have comfortable en-suite rooms, good amenities and public areas to relax in. They are usually family run hotels, so offer great personalized service for your enjoyment and comfort. Most first class properties offer an in-house restaurant, and some may even have a swimming pool!

Superior/ 4 star (from US$ 80 - US$ 110/ per room/night)

The 4* superior Hotels offer a wide range of services. Many superior hotels feature a choice of several in-house restaurants. In addition virtually all of them have a swimming pool. Some may even feature a spa or health club. This grade of hotel offers more for your enjoyment and comfort, while still remaining affordable.

Deluxe/ 5 Star (from US$120 - US$ 180++/ per room/night)

These 5* Deluxe hotels are usually owned by Worldwide, well known Hotel chains. The deluxe hotels feature excellent locations, offer the highest standards of service and facilities, and are known as the best hotels in each region. Facilities such as swimming pools and spas are the norm, and guest rooms are luxurious. These hotels offer first class service and amenities throughout.

ASIA ESSENCE TOURS™ BESPOKE STYLE SUITS EVERYONE

Flexibility: The sample itinerary can be modified to suit your interests, budget as well as your personal wishes including departure date, duration, accommodation used & how long you spend in each destination.

Tailor-Made Journey: This trip can be tailor made to create a unique holiday for your individual requirements by travel experts with intimate knowledge of the destination. It is a more individual trip that will suit those who enjoy immersing themselves in new cultures and environments, with the flexibility to plan a trip at your own pace. Quality and value are the hallmark of the trips, with most services being provided on a private basis.

Commitment to Excellence: We enjoys excellent relationships with all of the highly regarded hotels and finest properties in our destinations as well as with service suppliers so that we are able to negotiate the most attractive prices for our clients, which enables us to provide exclusive holidays and affordable special offers. We create one-of-a-kind vacations for groups and individuals. We love our destinations and do our best to make sure that our customers feel the same way. Our job is to make sure that everyone gets the right balance of comfort and excitement to enjoy the experience of a lifetime.


Extend This Tour With...

Vientiane Luang Prabang Highlight


The Hidden World


Laos In Depth