Discover Laos

A trip in Laos is a journey of discovery along the mighty Mekong River and its tributaries. It takes you to some truly hidden places in a country that’s still off the radar of mainstream tourism. As you travel through this tranquil, unhurried land, you find everything an adventurer could wish for: lush rugged mountains, astonishing biodiversity, a wealth of ethnic cultures and a deeply rooted history epitomized by romantic Luang Prabang, where saffron robed monks move silently past ancient gleaming temples and evocative French colonial mansions.

There are many options!  In the very south of Laos you paddle through a calm reach of the Mekong River.  You cycle through rice paddies, visit an astonishing Angkor temple complex and chill out riverside in Champasak, where time has stood still. On the lush Bolaven Plateau you go deep into the countryside to meet an organic farmer who proudly tours you around his coffee plantation, then take a jeep to a stunning waterfall.

In central Lao you can paddle through an astounding 7 kilometer  cave, tube down a dramatic gorge, trek in a National Park or visit the famous studio of American textile artist, Carol Cassidy, who founded Lao Textiles, helping to revive tradition silk weaving.

In northern Lao, immerse yourself in the history and beauty of Luang Prabang, a famous UNESCO World Heritage site. Your base is a gorgeous boutique hotel in a restored colonial building right in the heart of old Luang Prabang. We take a boat ride up the Mekong to a mysterious cave; visit hilltribe villages; spend a morning with rice farmers and get some truly hands on experience in rice growing! At dawn, respectfully watch monks filing barefoot from a monastery to gather alms. Wander through a lively local market, and in a family home we take part in an ancient and moving animistic ceremony.

Sample Itinerary

This spectacular trip in Laos is a journey of discovery through a tranquil, unhurried country that’s still off the radar of mainstream tourism. Here you will find lush rugged mountains, the mighty Mekong River and its tributaries, astonishing biodiversity, a wealth of ethnic cultures and a fascinating mix of Buddhist and French colonial heritage.

Day 1

Meet your guide at the airport and settle into your boutique hotel in this sleepy town. Have a pre-dinner drink at a rooftop bar, in watching the setting sun bathe the Mekong River and surrounding hills in gold.

Day 2

Head up to the cool heights of the Bolaven Plateau to get the skinny from a local coffee farmer on how to grow the best beans. Take a jeep to the far reaches of the plateau to visit some ethnic minority villages.

Day 3

Jump on a funky riverboat and head down the Mekong River to one of the fabled and laid-back Four Thousand Islands.

Day 4

Take a leisurely cycle across rice fields and have lunch with a local family.

Day 5

Transfer to Champasak, where a go-slow life is the rule of the day! Settle into your lovely riverside lodge, explore its grounds and learn about its eco friendliness and community work. Or simply watch the world go by on the Mekong!

Day 6

Cycle along a red dirt road through friendly villages, then wander through an ancient Angkor temple complex carved into a hillside amid massive trees.

Day 7

Fly north to Luang Prabang, and soak in the ambiance of its Buddhist and French colonial architecture. Take part in a moving animistic ceremony, and after dinner shop for ethnic treasures in the bustling Night Market.

Day 8

Rise early to the beating of gongs and watch hundreds of saffron-robed monks file out from their temples to receive alms. Meet experts on Laos textiles and visit a cooperative to learn all about silk production.

Day 9

Hop onto a long riverboat and cruise up the rushing Mekong River to visit a revered cave. After lunch afloat return to Luang Prabang for a walking tour of its ancient Royal City.

Day 10

Trek through lush countryside. Have lunch by the stunning Tad Sae waterfalls then float by kayak downriver to Luang Prabang, stopping to visit the grave of the French explorer Henri Mouhot.

Day 11

Head to an organic farm for a fun and hands-on experience in planting, harvesting and processing rice! In the afternoon, have some free time to shop and wander in Luang Prabang, visit Big Brother Mouse (an NGO working on literacy projects), or discuss another option with your guide, such as a visit to the famous Kuang Sy waterfalls.

Day 12

Say goodbye to your guide and travel companions and return home or continue with your onward journey.

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