Laos In Depth

Laos in Depth trip of Asia Essence Tours will bring you to visit some hightlight destinations: Luang Prabang - KuangSi Waterfall - Xieng Khouang - Plain of Jars - Vang Vieng - Vientiane - Pakse – 4000 Islands.
Day 1:  Luang Prabang 
Arrive in Luang Prabang, and enjoy a half-day tour around this beautiful World Heritage town. Nestled in a stunning setting amid lush mountains, this sacred city of golden temples and saffron robed monks provides endless opportunities for sightseeing. Visit a number of Wats (temples) and other fascinating sites. Spend the afternoon exploring on your own at the relaxed pace of laid-back Laotian life.
 
Day 2:  Luang Prabang 
Cruise the Mekong River to visit the famous and sacred Pak Ou Caves. Since the 16th century, the local people have brought images of the Buddha to place in the caves—by now there are thousands. Visit the village of Ban Xang Khong where weaving of traditional Lao textiles takes place on ancient wooden looms.
 
Day 3:  Kuang Si Waterfall  
If you wish, get an early start and participate in the traditional Lao rite of giving alms to the monks. Every morning, some 300 monks file through the city silently collecting offerings. After breakfast, drive to beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall. The falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. You can cool off with a swim before returning to Luang Prabang. Enjoy a local lunch before returning to the hotel for an evening at your leisure.
 
Day 4:  Luang Prabang – Xieng Khouang  
An eight-hour drive to the mountainous plateau of Xieng Khouang is a great way to see more of rural Laos. There are plenty of stops along the way to stretch your legs and photograph the spectacular views.
 
Day 5:  Xieng Khouang – Plain of Jars  
After breakfast, our guide will take you to the Plain of Jars, one of the more mysterious sites in Laos. Visit the Old Town and the stupa and temple at Muang Khoun. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before returning to the hotel. 
 
Day 6: Xieng Khouang – Vang Vieng 
Take a six-hour drive along picturesque winding roads to Vang Vieng. There are stunning vistas of towering limestone karst hills around every turn. Enjoy lunch along the way. The afternoon is free for you to relax on the scenic banks of the Song River or explore the lovely town.
 
Day 7:  Vang Vieng 
Enjoy the scenic wonders of Vang Vieng at your leisure. You can go inner-tubing in the cool, lazy river, try your hand at kayaking or caving, or just relax and enjoy the amazing views from your balcony.
 
Day 8: Vang Vieng – Vientiane  
Drive three hours to Vientiane. Visit Wat Sisaket, with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues, as well as many other picturesque sites and monuments, followed by lunch.
 
Day 9: Vientiane – Pakse  
After a very early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Pakse. Your first adventure here is an easy four-hour hike up to the Bolaven Plateau. This hike goes through a local village, coffee plantations, over a hanging bridge, and on to the plains. Huge boulders, pine trees, epiphytes and wild orchids abound. Return to the hotel for lunch. The afternoon is free for you to explore Pakse.
 
Day 10:  Pakse – 4000 Islands   
Drive south to the famous Khmer Temple complex of Wat Phou. This UNESCO World Heritage Site represents the easternmost border of the Khmer empire. Continue on to an Elephant Camp to see how handlers (“mahouts”) train these giant, friendly beasts! Ride one of the friendly pachyderms to the top of Phou Asa to see mysterious ruins there. After lunch, you’ll continue to 4000 Islands by van and boat. 
 
Day 11: 4000 Islands 
The section of the Mekong River that runs through southern Laos boasts thousands of tiny islands. This morning, you’ll cruise through this tropical paradise to the largest waterfalls in Asia, Khone Phapeng & Li Phi Falls. If you’re lucky, you might see some of the 50-100 Irrawaddy (freshwater) dolphins that make 4000 Lakes their home. Spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring an island on your own.
 
Day 12:  Pakse Depart
After breakfast, drive north to Pakse airport for your flight.

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


Best of Laos


The Hidden World