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Day 1:
Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. Upon arrival, you're welcomed by your guide and transferred to the hotel for check in. Then you will climb up to Phousi Mount for spectacular sunset and panoramic views of Luang Prabang. From there, walk down to Night Street Bazaar, which offers various handicrafts made by hill tribes around the area.
Accommodation in Luang Prabang: (4*+) Victoria Xieng Thong Palace (Palace room) (three nights)
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Day 2:
Optional Morning Almsgiving & Market Visit
For early risers, there is a very special dawn visit to watch the monks collecting the alms. As the sun begins to rise, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents. It is a beautiful, serene ceremony that highlights the spiritualism of the Laos people. Visit the morning market where you can find all ingredients for local food. Return to your hotel for breakfast. (Note: There is no additional charge for this optional activity.)
After breakfast, you will go to Utopia for a mediation retreat for one hour. Then return to hotel, where you will have the rest of the morning at leisure.
In the afternoon continue to KuangSi Waterfall, where you will enjoy overlooking the beautiful multi-tiered falls. You also have the opportunity to cool off in the turquoise blue pools. Afterwards you return to Luang Prabang. On the way back, visit a Hmong minority or Na Aouan Village to learn about their culture and traditional.
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Day 3:
After breakfast, continue your mediation retreat for one hour at Utopia. After the treatment, return to hotel and be free at leisure.
In the afternoon, visit National Museum, the former Royal King’s Palace and Wat Mai temple. Continue the tour by walking down to Wat Sene, Wat Xieng Thong and then Visoun temple, Wat Aham which is decorated with carvings. You will pass by the fine art school, where you can see some of the quality artworks.
Optional Private Baci Ceremony (additional charge applies) and Home Hosted Dinner
Late afternoon, travel by tuk-tuk to a local house. You will be warmly welcomed by your host before taking part in a Baci ceremony where you will have white cotton strings ties around your wrist for good luck! Baci is a ceremony to celebrate a special event, whether a marriage, a homecoming, a welcome, a birth, or one of the annual festivals. The Baci ceremony can take place any day of the week and all year long, preferably before noon or before sunset. The term more commonly used is su kwan, which means “calling of the soul”.
After that, enjoy the authentic home cooked Laos cuisines, chat with the locals and then return to your hotel. (Includes: Transfer by local tuk-tuk, tour guide in your language, private Baci ceremony, home hosted dinner.)
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Day 4:
After breakfast, you will travel approximately 20 miles by car to Pak Ou Cave. Along the way, you will stop to visit the whisky village and discover how the villagers make Lau Lao (potent rice whisky) before continuing to the cave where a thousand Buddha figures are kept. After the visits, stop at Smile Elephant restaurant in Manifa Elephant camp for a buffet lunch (excludes drinks at all kinds). Before lunch, you may choose to take care of elephants (watch and feed them) and take photo. After that, continue your land journey to Nong Kiaw. This route will take three hours by car with a beautiful mountain view. Upon arrival to Nong Kiaw, check into your resort with the rest of your day at leisure.
Accommodation in Nong Kiaw: (4*+) Nong Kiaw Riverside Resort (ROH room) (two nights)
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Day 5:
In the morning, take a boat trip along Nam Ou River, the homeland of river weed that you might eat in your breakfast. You will see how local people collect river weed along the river, which has a beautiful green color. Also, here and there, hundreds of water buffalos and pigs relax on cool sand of river’s banks. Disembark at Muong Ngoi village and take a short walk around the village visiting Tham Kang and Tham Pha Kaew. Return to Nong Kiaw at noon time and the rest of your day is at leisure.
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Day 6:
After breakfast at your hotel and check out, you will meet your guide and driver and travel back to Luang Prabang in time to connect to your flight to Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. (It takes four hours from Nong Kiaw to Luang Prabang Airport. Also, the cost for the flight to Vientiane is not included in the per person pricing. Ask your sales consultant for additional details on pricing and flight schedules.)
Accommodation in Vientiane: (4*+) Crowne Plaza Vientiane (Deluxe room) (two nights)
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Day 7:
After breakfast, you will drive to Vientiane Yoga Studio to meet your teacher, Nanci Traynor. Start your yoga lesson and other treatments under her instruction.
In the mid-afternoon, visit all of its highlights including the oldest Wat Sisaket. Wat Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to That Luang Stupa, miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple, you also will stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument.
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Day 8:
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Vientiane airport for your departure flight.
