Women's Adventures - Laos Explorer

Sabaidee! Welcome to Luang Prabang, the cultural capital of Laos. On arrival you will be met by your expert English speaking guide and driver and transferred to your boutique hotel located in the old quarter. This afternoon you will have free time to explore Luang Prabang, perhaps the best preserved traditional city in South East Asia. Overnight: Sala Prabang Hotel or similar

Meals:  Nil

Following breakfast, we hop in a vintage tuk-tuk to venture around the old Luang Prabang town. Our first stop will be the morning market, where you can learn more about the local products. We also visit Wat Xieng Thong - the largest and most splendid temple of the royal city of Luang Prabang. Built on the Mekong River bank in 1560 under the reign of King Setthathirat, the temple is best known for its impressive Tree of Life mural depicting the Buddhist story. From here we continue to Wat Visoun, the oldest and perhaps the most beautiful temple of Luang Prabang. The temple strikes visitors with its huge stupa, called That Makmo, which dominates the temple compound. Because of its odd shape, this stupa is commonly known as the watermelon (Makmo) stupa instead of its official name That Pathum (Lotus Stupa). We end our morning walking around the old town, stopping at the Ock Pop Tok social crafts centre to delve into the beauty of Laos craftsmanship and enjoy lunch at their adjacent café. In the afternoon, we embark on a traditional longboat and cruise upstream along the mighty Mekong River to visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, with their thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues left by pilgrims. The trip offers a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside. Locally called Tam Ting, the caves are filled with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues. Hundreds of Buddhist figures take many different positions, including meditation, teaching, peace, rain, and reclining (nirvana). We will return to our hotel in Luang Prabang by vehicle and the remainder of the day is at your leisure. This evening you may wish to explore the night market which is a great place for wandering on your own. Here you will find a lovely variety of handmade textiles crafted by local and hill-tribe people, along with street food, knick-knacks and friendly banter. Overnight: Sala Prabang Hotel or similar

Meals:  B,L

This morning we rise early to witness the captivating centuries old tradition of the alms giving ceremony, Tak Bat. Before first light, hundreds of saffron-clad monks file out from the old town’s 35 temples to collect their daily alms from local residents. We return to the hotel for breakfast before heading out to Ban Long Lao, a Hmong minority village, to learn more about life in this rural lowland. From here we begin our trek leading through paddy fields before entering dense mixed growth jungle. We stop at the Free the Bears Sanctuary, a rehabilitation center for Asiatic Black bears before continuing on through the forest to see the stunning Khuang Si Waterfall. A 60m cascade feeds into multi-tiered turquoise pools set in a beautiful lush forest setting. There is time to enjoy a refreshing dip in the pools or you may choose to walk up the trails to the upper section of the falls. Please note: The alms giving ceremony this morning is a daily religious event not a show for tourists. Therefore, please be respectful - dress conservatively, turn camera flashes off and carefully follow the instructions of your guide. Hike: ~8.5km, ~3.5hrs Drive: ~2hrs Overnight: Sala Prabang Hotel or similar

Meals:  B,L

This morning we say goodbye to Luang Prabang and drive to Xiang Khoang Province. The drive takes us through stunning countryside and we will stop to enjoy spectacular viewpoints and local villages. The province is home to the amazing Plain of Jars. The jars, which are scattered over more than 90 sites are thought to be 2,000 years old although there is little proof to date them very accurately. Archaeologists have also struggled to find out the specific purpose of the jars, some of which weigh up to 1 ton - theories range from a form of sarcophagus to large wine or rice storage receptacles. This afternoon we will explore the fields were the jars are located. Drive: ~7hrs Overnight: Vansana Plain of Jars or similar

Meals:  B

This morning we further explore the Plain of Jars, an truly impressive archaeological site, before transferring to the airport for an afternoon flight to the capital. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Although it is the capital city Vientiane has the feel of a small provincial town. The wide boulevards are almost devoid of traffic, and with its many temples, the city retains the feel of another age. Overnight: Family Boutique Hotel or similar

Meals:  B

An early start provides an exciting opportunity to visit the local markets. We explore Thong Khankham market with its bright colours, exotic aromas and baskets piled high with local produce. Breakfast is at the market, the only problem being what to choose from this abundant array. Food stalls offer noodles, soups, and 'food to go' wrapped in banana leaves. We then continue on to the flower market with its bunches of jasmine, orchids, and marigolds - the latter woven into garlands for temple offerings. Discover the Vientiane Orchid centre, a truly unique experience where passionate French orchid expert Bertrand Laville hosts one of the largest orchid collections in the world. In the afternoon, we take a tuk-tuk to Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. En route to Lao’s national icon, That Luang Stupa, we will stop at the Patuxay Monument, known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. We then head to the riverside for a relaxing sundowner drink overlooking the Mekong River, a great way to end the day. Overnight: Family Boutique Hotel or similar

Meals:  B

After breakfast we explore COPE educational centre, a heartbreaking but compelling location that displays Laos’ Hidden War. Afterwards we continue on to the surreal and unique Buddha Park or Xiang Khouan as it’s known by the locals. A park filled with hundreds of Buddhist and Hindu statues that are definitely a world apart from your average temple visit. After lunch at the park, we travel to Wat Sokepaluang, a sacred temple known as a centre for Buddhist education. Here we meet our guide, a monk who will host an educational session on Lao culture and traditions. You 'll learn about the relationship between Buddhism and Lao history, society, meditation, and any other topic that may interest you. Overnight: Family Boutique Hotel or similar

Meals:  B

Our day begins with a morning flight to Pakse, we then travel by road to the ancient temple complex of Wat Phou. Located on an escarpment overlooking the Mekong River, Wat Phu reflects the Hindu culture of the pre-Buddhist Khmer society that constructed it. The summit, Phu Kao, immediately commands attention because of its shape, identified in ancient times with the linga, the phallic symbol of Shiva, from which originated its ancient name, Lingaparvata, and its reputation as a sacred hill. The permanent spring at the foot of the cliffs is probably one of the main reasons the ancient rulers of the area established a sanctuary to Shiva at this spot. After lunch we will continue to the 4,000 Islands region. Here, the Mekong can reach up to 14km wide during the rainy season and it is dotted with thousands of islands of various sizes. Don Khong is the largest of the Mekong Islands at 16km long and 8km wide, and the site of Muang Khong, a small former French settlement. This afteroon you can enjoy some free time to explore this quaint island and its villages on foot. Drive: ~3hrs (Pakse airport - Wat Phou & Don Khong Island) Overnight: Pon Arena Hotel or similar

Meals:  B,L

After breakfast, we transfer to Nakasang and board a long trail boat sailing to the widest reaches of the Mekong. During the dry season the waters recede and leave behind thousands of islets, giving this area a lovely name” Si Phan Done”. Reaching Khone Island you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French architecture buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway. From here we cycling to visit Liphi Waterfall, "the Devil’s Corridor" before contining on to Ban Hang Khone. Cruise: ~4hrs round trip Overnight: Pon Arena Hotel or similar

Meals:  B,L

Your trip concludes today with a transfer to Pakse airport for your flight home.

Meals:  B