Today, get a true taste of the local culture, traditions and lifestyles with this immersive Vientiane experience.

EAT: Get picked up at 09:00 at your hotel. After a short drive, arrive to a lovely house in a quiet local residence area, where you will experience a hands-on Lao cooking class. This unique cooking class is hosted by Jo, a passionate culinary instructor who has been living in Laos for more than 10 years and Kham, a local intuitive cook. They will help you explore the ins and outs of traditional Lao dishes, knowledge of local cuisine culture, and especially, alternatives for ingredients which you can’t find in your countries.

PRAY: After lunch (around 13:30), transfer outside the city to Wat Sok Pa Luang, a temple described by many as a ‘forest temple’. On the way to the temple, stop with the guide at a local market to buy snacks and fruit to give as offerings to the monks. Monks of all ages live and study here, and as part of the visit, enjoy a one-on-one, informal discussion on Buddhism and the life of a monk.

LOVE: Complete the experience with a relaxing one hour Lao traditional massage in one of the best spa centres in town.

Transfer back to the hotel early this evening.

Overnight       : Vientiane  
Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch

Vientiane – Vang Vieng: 3 – 4 hour driving

After breakfast, embark on the scenic drive north, stopping en route at a salt factory and Nam Ngum Lake. The total drive time is approximately 3.5 hour; arrive in Vang Vieng in time for lunch at the Organic Farm. After lunch, begin a short tour to learn about the farm's range of livestock and organic crops.

Cross the Nam Ou River further north to Tham Xang and hike 30 min (if you are fit enough) to 2 other and lesser known caves of Tham Loup and Tham Hoy . You will come across rice fields, cows and many fruit gardens along the way.

The journey then continues to Vang Vieng’s most important cave, Tham Chang (or Jang), which became home to migrating people during a civil war. The cave’s elevated position offered perfect views of Vang Vieng and the surrounding area, so the entire village moved there to sit out the war.

Return to the hotel in time to enjoy a beautiful sunset on the banks of the Nam Song River.

Overnight       : Vang Vieng
Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch

Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang: 5-hour drive

Enjoy a leisurely morning in Vang Vieng before continuing the journey north to the spiritual capital of Laos, Luang Prabang. The drive will take approximately five hours.

Arrive in Luang Prabang and check in to the hotel.

At the end of the day, climb the 328 steps to the top of Mount Phousi, which affords spectacular views of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, the city and surrounding hills. Descend the steps on the opposite side of the hill and stroll to the nearby night market, where local ethnic people gather to sell a large selection of handicrafts.

Overnight       : Luang Prabang  
Meal               : Breakfast

Start the day with a hotel pick up after breakfast, departing for the Luang Prabang cycling tour around 08:30.

After doing a fitting and adjusting the bikes, begin the city tour at the former Royal Palace. Now home to the National Museum, this site offers some excellent insight into the history of Laos. Afterwards, pay a visit to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief.

Next head to Wat Visoun, the holiest temple in the city, passing along the 16th century Wat Aham to reach Wat That, where the ashes of King Sisavang Vong are kept inside the large central stupa. End the temple explorations with a visit to Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang.

Lunch today will be at Tamarind (Note: closed on Sundays), offering some of the best Lao cuisine in Luang Prabang.

After lunch, leave town and head for Phosy Market. The guide will help explain what’s being sold here and will encourage sampling some of the most delicious items. Anything purchased at the market directly benefits the vendors selling them.

Continue the ride to Ock Pop Tock, a non-profit organization seeking to preserve traditional weaving techniques, a trade which was once an important source of income for many Lao families.

Ride along the Mekong for the final stop of the day: the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre. Dedicated to exploring the rich diversity of Laos’ ethnic minorities, this centre displays traditional costumes, tools, and artifacts, offering a great insight into the Lao people (Note: closed on Mondays).

Return to the hotel by bike.

Overnight       : Luang Prabang  
Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch

Begin the day after breakfast, meet the guide and tuktuk driver at the hotel for a short transfer to the royal boat pier behind the National Museum.

After a 5-minute cruise to the other side of the Mekong, arrive at the quiet village of Ban Chan, famously known for the making of clay pottery. Back in the days, Ancient kings of Laos chose this village for their pottery making skills and it became the major way of life for the people. Today, pottery making is a disappearing trade.

Get to meet the Lamphet Family who has created a Pottery House in cooperation with the Luang Prabang Tourism Department from their genuine desire to preserve the history and tradition of this treasure. Through pottery, there is a chance to share the culture, history and food of Ban Chan Village while learning and helping to keep this unique craft alive and support the local community.

First, go behind-the-scenes to have a look at these ancient techniques but will also provide a hands-on opportunity to work with clay. Be guided by the skilled pottery makers and get an up close and personal authentic Lao cultural activity.

Once done, join in a traditional Lao lunch cooked by the Lamphet family! All the ingredients come from local sources and if the season is right might even come from the family’s very own organic garden.

Say goodbye to the hosts and return to Luang Prabang by boat before being transferred back to the hotel by 13:30.

Overnight       : Luang Prabang  
Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch

Luang Prabang – Kamu Lodge: 3-hour boating

After breakfast, transport will be provided to the pier to embark on a cruise up the Mekong River from Luang Prabang to the Kamu Lodge.

Along the way, the boat will stop at the Pak Ou Caves. The caves, which are an important destination for local pilgrims, are carved out of towering limestone cliffs and contain thousands of gold Buddha statues.

Continue upriver for another hour to reach the Kamu Lodge in time for lunch. The lodge features 20 private canvas tents with thatched roofs. The tents are decorated with bamboo and wooden furniture and come equipped with private bathrooms, solar powered hot water and electricity.

During the afternoon, participate in a selection of traditional activities such as rice planting and harvesting, gold panning in the Mekong (January to June), traditional fishing, or visiting a local village.

Dinner and overnight at the Kamu Lodge

Overnight       : Kamu Lodge 
Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Enjoy breakfast in the cool morning air and spend the morning at leisure. The guide is available for a quick visit to the nearby villages before check out (check-out time: 10:30).

After lunch at the Lodge, the boat will depart around 14:00 for the cruise down to Luang Prabang, arriving around 17:00.

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight       : Luang Prabang  
Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch

Transfer by private car to the airport for the departure flight.

Meal               : Breakfast