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Day 1: Arrival - Luang Prabang On arrival at the airport, you are met by our guide and transferred to hotel. The royal capital of the former Lane Xang Kingdom, Luang Prabang with its gleaming temple roofs, colonial architecture and stunning mountain backdrop, retains an unique charm rarely found in all Asia. There are plenty to see in this delightful town, some of which are the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the Srilankalese styled temple of That Marko, the shrine of Wat Aham and the five tiered roof Wat Mai. We include these sites in a half day guided tour before we embark on a climb up to Phousi Hill for a beautiful panorama view from the town center to the mighty Mekong River. There are 329 steps leading us on zigzag way past various temples to the sacred, gilded stupa of Wat Phousi at the summit. Overnight in Luang Prabang Day 2: Luang Prabang – Elephant Riding – Trekking. Meals: B The mountainous areas around Luang Prabang Town are also home of many ethnic groups and various stunning waterfalls littered in dense jungle. Today we drive on a rugged road to Lao spirit resort just 15 km out of town. On arrival we see the Asian Elephants and begin a scenic ride of an hour and half along the Nam Khan River though the lush and green forests to the amazing Tad Sae waterfall. This is an enjoyable stop for lunch near the cascade. We get well off the beaten track as we walk through the forest. En route we make stopover at a Khmu Village to explore the simple lifestyle of villagers who are almost fishermen or farmers living from their slash and burn tradition. They even speak a different language but the guide are on hand to help you ask questions. We continue our walk along the mountain side past a new jungle camp before completing a super day. Overnight in Luang Prabang. Day 3: Luang Prabang – Oudomxay. Meals: B Today we continue seeing this town with the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, which nestles at the meeting of the Mekong and the Nam Khan River. The temple structures are decorated in various ways with gilded stuccoes, doorways and marvelous tree life mosaic pattern on an outer wall, representing the ancient temple architecture of Luang Prabang. We follow it with the national museum. This interesting structure displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. Upon leaving Luang Prabang Town we start to drive northwards and reach Oudomxay by early evening. This is basically an overnight stop to break our long journey. Overnight in Oudomxay. Day 4: Oudomxay – Luang Namtha – Muang Sing. Meals: B The northern scenery is unequalled although the conditions are very simple. We spend our day drive north towards Luang Namtha, a land of rugged mountains, beautiful forest and rich river plain. This mountainous region is also sharing the border with China and Myanmar. There are over twenty ethnic groups who are settled in Luang Nam Tha, making it one of the most ethnically diverse provinces in Laos. We cross Luang Namtha Town to Muang Sing, stopping en route at the Akha hill tribe village. This ethnic group was originally in China but immigrated into Laos down centuries. On arrival we stroll around this hill town where many ethnic minorities are frequently seen on the main street and small vendors along the street sell local textiles and handicraft. Overnight in Muang Sing. Day 5: Muang Sing – Ban Lao Khao – Trekking, Meals: B, L, D The traditional morning market of Muang Sing also attracts numerous ethnic minorities who converge from the outlying valleys and mountainsides to sell their goods and buy provision. We visit this conglomeration before embarking a truck for a short drive towards That Xieng Tueng. On arrival we blaze a trail with our local guide and traverse the tropical forest to the scenic Nam Keo Noi Waterfall. This is an interesting stop for lunch and breather near the falls. We continue our walk across a pine forest and have some opportunities to partake in forest activities such as birth watching, collecting bamboo shoots or medicinal plants. By mid afternoon we arrive at Ban Lao Khao and stroll around the village. This walk enables us to understand a little more about their simply lifestyle. Overnight at Ban Lao Khao Lodge. Overnight in Vientiane (B) Day 6: Ban Lao Khao – Ban Tamee – Trekking. Meals: B, L, D Upon leaving the village of previous night we set forth to Ban Tamee. The trekking is challenging at times; however some physical preparation will allow you to maximize enjoyment from the walk. On arrival at Ban Phou Yae we will be toasted as honored guests and sample some of their homemade foods. The next stop is Houeinagang village where we can join some village activities. Along the way we traverse several rustic villages and see many mountaineers doing their daily works such as logging, herding buffalo and tilling the field. The blend of verdant mountain backdrop and colorful population makes for an unforgettable experience. Overnight at Ban Tamee Lodge. Day 7: Ban Tamee - Muang Sing – Luang Nam Tha. Meals: B, L The trekking expeditions will be complete with a few more hour walk. We follow the local footpath to Ban Nam Hou before trekking across the forest to catch a magnificent view of Muang Sing. On arrival at Ban Piyer , we visit some local handicraft shops and embark on a short drive back to Muang Sing Town. By early afternoon we travel by roads to Luang Nam Tha past many hamlets linked to the road which is the main artery of trade in the northern region. Along the way we can make stop at pleasure, to catch some wonderful photographs and see the Akha, Lao Houei and Iko people. They are very poor, but have an interesting local culture and a colorful history. O/N in Luang Namtha. Day 8: Luang Namtha – Oudomxay - Muang Ngoy. Meals: B The following destination of our trip is Muang Ngoy. This charming village set by the Nam Ou River, boasts a stunning limestone mountain backdrop and genuine local color. We begin our day with a visit to Luang Namtha Market, an important trading hub of this mountainous area. The colorful hill tribe people are often seen in this conglomeration. Today we again catch our vehicle for an interesting drive though a beautiful mountain region to Nam Bak or Nong Khiow. On arrival we board a boat for a short cruise upstream on the Nam Ou River to Muang Ngoy. The remainder of our day will be free for our exploration or simply relaxation by riverside. Overnight at Muang Ngoy. Day 9: Muang Ngoy - Nam Ou – Mekong River - Pakou Caves - Luang Prabang. Meals: B, L Upon leaving the tranquil village of Muang Ngoy we board a boat cruising along the Nam Ou River through the breathtaking mountain scenery to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. They are crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various sizes, all brought there by devoted villagers. We visit these famous grottos and navigate on the Mekong River to Luang Prabang with stop over at Ban Xang Hai where villagers make the potent local rice wine. The exciting river cruise deliver us to Luang Prabang Town by late afternoon. An ideal way of spending your last evening in Luang Prabang is to relax in a café by the riverfront. Overnight in Luang Prabang. Day 10: Luang Prabang - Departure. Meals: B There is a free time for your own exploration of the city or strolling around the shopping areas. The trip ends after your transfer to Luang Prabang Airport for departure. Notes: Price Included: Excluded:
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