The Real Luang Prabang

Welcome to Luang Prabang! Upon your arrival at Luang Prabang Airport, you'll be greeted and transferred to your hotel (early check-in subject to availability). Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is celebrated for its rich cultural, historical, and architectural significance. With no scheduled activities today, you can take a leisurely stroll and get your first impressions of this ancient city.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Start your day with a visit to a community-based living rice farm in the scenic countryside near Luang Prabang. Here, you can immerse yourself in rural life by participating in traditional farming activities or simply observing from a traditional Lao rice house balcony. Next, tourists will visit local workshops to see bamboo weaving, blacksmithing, and sugar cane processing, followed by a tour of the organic garden.

In the afternoon, your Luang Prabang city tour begins at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center (closed on Mondays) to explore Laos' diverse ethnic cultures. Then, it's time to visit the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, renowned for its classic Laotian architecture, and the Royal Palace Museum with its fascinating artifacts.

End your day with a climb up Phousi Hill to enjoy a stunning sunset view over the city and the Mekong River. The tour concludes at the Night Market, where you can browse handmade textiles by local and hill tribe artisans.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Rise early to participate in the sacred tradition of morning almsgiving, where over 200 Buddhist monks collect food from the faithful. After this, you'll visit the bustling morning market near the former Royal Palace to see locals trading everything from rice to fresh fish.

After breakfast, you'll head to the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center for a seminar on "Ethnic Diversity and Cultural Change in Laos." Here, visitors can enjoy a sample Khmu lunch at TAEC Café before heading to the stunning Kuang Si Waterfall. It's time to swim in the azure pools and explore the nearby Ban Thapene village, known for its hidden waterfalls.

On your return journey, we can stop by the Bear Rescue Center and the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center to admire local weaving and batik making.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Begin your day with a bike ride to a famous Lao coffee shop by the Mekong River for coffee and Khanom Khrok. Then, you'll explore the morning market, trying various local delicacies. Continue your Laos tour to Wat That Luang for Khao Poon, a coconut noodle soup, and then sample local dishes like Naem Khao and Khao Piak Khao at Ban Vieng Xay village.

Next, we'll cross the Nam Khan River via the old bridge, stopping at the meeting point of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers. After that, we'll cycle through Ban Xieng Lek village, known for weaving and Saa paper handicrafts, before enjoying more local Lao food at a bamboo restaurant on the riverbank. In the afternoon, we can take an in-depth cycling tour through lesser-known parts of Luang Prabang, including traditional Lao houses, French colonial buildings, and Chinese shophouses.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After picking you up from Luang Prabang at 8:30 AM to visit Xieng Lom village. Upon arrival, you are invited to have coffee or tea as your guide for the day provides an introduction to elephant behavior and the ways we should interact with them.

A quick boat ride across the Nam Khan River will deliver you to the waiting elephants. You will be introduced to your new friends and feed them some special treats.

Enjoy observing elephants from the river bank as Mahouts wash them in the Nam Khan River. You can experience elephants washing, swimming, and playing in the water. (On cold days the elephants are less likely to want to get wet.)

After 2 hours of crossing through a beautiful stretch of traditional Lao gardens, you will arrive at the jungle-covered Huay Nok stream. As you walk alongside the elephants and crisscross through the cool water you will experience a sense of caring for these animals. As you prepare to start your walk back to MandaLao, you will leave your new friends with more treats and goodbye.

When you get back to MandaLao, you will head to the restaurant and enjoy a delicious fresh Lao meal.

Following lunch, you will take a short ride back into Luang Prabang and have one more chance to ask your guides any questions. You have ample time to stroll around the camp before walking to the nearby Chateau Orientale.

Set among the beautiful Lao jungle in Ban Xienglom, Chateau Orientale is a tranquil setting, tastefully decorated in an ancient style.

Free for the rest of the day to relax. Overnight at Chateau Orientale.

08:00 AM, our guide & driver will come and transfer you to Nahm Dong Park, which is located in Ban Xiengmouk, 10 km from the city center.

Arriving at the park, we will have a short welcome by the park manager before joining the morning activities here.

First, we will join the cooking class, by which you can discover Lao cuisine through several traditional dishes.

The course has a minimum of 5 dishes depending on the season. The lunch will be served with what you have created.

In the afternoon, we will start exploring the beauties of the park with the Zipline flying over the jungle and the waterfalls admiring the amazing evergreen scenery taking about 1 hour. 

Then we will walk back via the jungle trail crossing some flying bridges, small streams, and clear natural pools, where you can take a refreshing splash if you wish.

You can either spend the rest of the afternoon strolling around the park, relax by one of the huts at the camp, or enjoy the fresh cool clear natural pools.

Late afternoon, we walk to the nearby Hillside Ecolodge, where we will spend the night.

9 AM: Departure from your hotel in Luang Prabang

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Food tour in the local market to pick up fresh ingredients to cook during your stay

12 PM – 12:30 PM: Arrival in the village area and river crossing with local ferry or pirogue. Introduction with the family.

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Lunchtime with family

1:30 PM – 2 PM: Rest

2 PM – 5 PM: Explore local activity in the village, visit the school,  visit the weavers who can tailor-make a local dress for you and other village artisans.

5 PM – 6 PM: Bathe in the river or shower in the house

6 PM – 7 PM: Baci ceremony

7 PM - 7:30 PM: Prepare dinner with Kham or enjoy a fresh beer Lao or a local drink with your hosts

7:30 PM – 9 PM: Dinner with the family

9 PM till ….: Kham’s favorite after-dinner activity is playing cards with her uncle. You are welcome to join, but beware… Kham and her uncle are very good!

5 AM - 6 AM: Wake up early to prepare sticky rice for Monk’s offering later on.

6 AM – 7 AM: Almsgiving in the temple

7 AM – 8 AM: Breakfast with the family

8 AM – 10 AM: Go with Kham and her uncle fishing on the Ou River and learn some new techniques

10 AM – 1 PM: Hike to the rice fields and explore the rural life of farmers. Visit some family organic gardens on the way too.

1 PM – 2 PM: Lunchtime with the family

2 PM – 3 PM: Free time to go around the village and purchase souvenirs if you wish

3 PM - 3:30 PM: River crossing with local boat and departure to Luang Prabang

5 PM: Arrival at the airport in Luang Prabang to take your departure flight