Northern Laos Trekking & Culture

Private round trip from Vientiane

10 Days
Artboard 18 Laos
from $2399

Highlights

Sightseeing in Vientiane
Culture in Luang Prabang
Trekking in the mountainous north
Visit ethnic hill tribe villages
Boat trip on the Ou River
Discover national biodiversity conservation hotspots

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Vientiane

Welcome to Vientiane, the laid back capital city of Laos. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be driven to the hotel. You can have a rest before exploring the city's main attractions, including the oldest temple Wat Si Saket and the former royal temple Wat Haw Phra Kaew (also written as Hor Pha Keo). Enjoy your lunch in a local restaurant before continuing on to visit the sacred relic Pha That Luang, a large gold-covered Buddhist shrine in the centre of the city. If time permits, you will visit a local market afterwards. You then spend the night in Vientiane.

(D)

Day 2

Vientiane - Xieng Khuang

Today you will fly from Vientiane to Xieng Khouang, a mountainous province in the northeast with steep mountains and green hills. Upon your arrival, you will be driven to your hotel. After checking in, you will visit Plain Of Jars, an Iron Age archaeological site consisting of thousands of mysterious stone jars clustered around the Xieng Khoung Plateau. You will also explore the old town before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will visit surrounding villages and return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

(B, L)

Day 3

Xieng Khuang - Luang Prabang

Today you will go to Luang Prabang by car, stopping on the way to visit Hmong and Khmu ethnic villages. You will have lunch at a local restaurant. After you arrive in Luang Prabang, check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. You will spend the night in Luang Prabang.

(B, L)

Day 4

Luang Prabang - Ban Na Yang - Nong Khiaw

Today you will head north to the peaceful town of Nong Khiaw by the Nam Ou River. On the way, you will take a short break at the Ban Na Yang, a Thai Lue ethnic village known for silk weaving. Then back to the road again and enjoy your lunch at local restaurant before arriving in Nong Khiew. There you will check into your bungalow and have free time to stroll along the Nam Ou River and enjoy the beautiful sunset over the limestone cliffs at your leisure. You will spend the night in your bungalow in Nong Khiaw.

(B, L)

Day 5

Nong Khiaw - Boat Trip to Muang Ngoi - Hiking to Tham Kang Cave

This morning you take a boat trip upstream the Nam Ou River. Enjoy the one hour scenic boat ride until you arrive at Muang Ngoi, a little hidden picturesque village, where you will check in at a local bungalow. In the afternoon, you will go on a short hike through paddy fields and beautiful landscapes to visit Tham Kang cave and get a glimpse of local life at the Ban Na ethnic village. Return to your bungalow afterwards and spend the night in Muang Ngoi.

(B, L)

Day 6

Muang Ngoi - Nong Khiaw - Oudomxay

Today you take a boat trip back to Nong Khiew and from there start a drive through numerous green mountains to Oudomxay, a northwestern mountainous province and home to numerous ethnic hill tribes. On the way, stop to visit the mountaintop Hmong village of Chong Cha with village houses dotting on the mountainside and overlooking beautiful rolling hills. Once you arrive in Oudomxay, you will have lunch in a local restaurant before checking in to your hotel. Then you can spend the rest of the day to relax or you can explore the area and visit some hill tribe villages. You spend the night in Oudomxay.

(B, L)

Day 7

Oudomxay - Luang Namtha

Today you will visit Oudomxay's morning market, where local farmers sell their crops and medicinal plants. Then we drive to Luang Namtha, a northern town on the Tha River and a popular trekking destination due to its mountainous landscape, dense jungles, and diverse ethnic hill tribes. On the way, you will stop to visit the Ban Lakhamdeng and Ban Lakhammai villages. Upon arrival in Luang Namtha, you will check in at your hotel and then have lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, spend the afternoon at your leisure and stay overnight in Luang Namtha.

(B, L)

Day 8

Riverboat through National Biodiversity Conservations Area - Muang Sing

After breakfast, begin your riverboat trip through the Nam Ha National Biodiversity Conversation Area, home to 25 hill tribe villages of various ethnic groups and greatly diverse flora and fauna. Enjoy the forest scenery and stop at multiple villages along the river to have a glimpse of the diversity of local inhabitants. A picnic lunch will be served at a local village before the boat returns to Luang Namtha. From there, we will drive to Muang Sing, a sleepy town in the Golden Triangle where Laos borders with both Myanmar and China. Upon arrival, you check in at a local guesthouse and spend the rest of the day at your leisure. You stay overnight in Muang Sing.

(B, L)

Day 9

Muang Sing - Luang Namtha

After breakfast, you start exploring Muang Sing by a visit to the local craft shop Hat Yao, where local villagers sell their handmade textiles, basketry and jewelry. Next, you go to the local market where farmers and hill tribe villagers brought their textile, fresh produces, herbs, wild animals for trade. Continue on to the Muang Sing exhibition, which houses artifact collections that represent the cultures of various ethnic groups in the region. Afterwards, you will be heading out of town to visit hill tribe villages of the Thaidam, Hmong and Akha. Back to town for lunch at a local restaurant before heading back to Luang Namtha where you will be spending the night.

(B, L)

Day 10

Luang Namtha - Vientiane - Departure

Enjoy your breakfast and free time before going to Luang Namtha airport for your flight to Vientiane and connecting flight to depart Laos.

(B)

Gallery

Route

Round trip through the north of Laos

  • Artboard 18

    Destination

    Laos
  • Departure

    Vientiane / Vientiane
  • Departure Time

    daily
  • Include

    Included

    Accommodation as described in program
    Boat trips as described in program
    Domestic flights
    English speaking private tour guide
    Entrance fees & excursions as per tour program
    Meals as specified in tour program (B,L,D)
    Mineral water during excursions
    private transfer in air conditioned car
    Travel insurance
  • Not Included

    Intl. flights
    Visa fees
  • Optional

    Additional tours & activities
    private tour guide in other languages ​​on request