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Days 1 to 3 - Vientiane
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Stay at the Settha Palace
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Arrive in the sleepy capital of Laos and start the tour with sightseeing tours spread out over two days. Begin on day 1 with the Pha Tat Luang, the former royal temple of Ho Pha Keo, Wat Si Saket and the Patuxai, a monument inspired by the Parisian Arc de Triomphe. VIentiane alos offers several street markets and many local restaurants offering true Laotian food. The next day you will visit the Buddha Park featuring an eclectic mix of Buddhist and Hindu gods. |
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Days 3 to 6 - Luang Prabang
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Stay at Les 3 Nagas
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Fly to Luang Prabang and transfer to your hotel. Luang Prabang is a colonial gem with many sights. You will start your tour at Wat Visoun, an ancient temple, followed by visits to Wat Aham and Wat Xieng Thong. Take a stroll down 'Wat Street', a boulevard lined with dosens of temples. Climb Mount Phousi for sunset views over the temples. Over the next two days you will visit the local market, the National Museum, the Kuang Si Waterfalls and several tribal villages around Luang Prabang |
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Day 6 to 7 - Oudomxai
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Stay at the best available local hotel
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Set out after breakfast for a scenic drives across the scenic Laos countryside in Oudomxai Province. The area is unspoilt, off the tourist trail and populated by many fascinating H'mong and Khmu villages. This mountainous province has 23 ethnic groups each with it own distinct culture, religion, language and colourful style of dress. You will stop at some local villages and a nearby waterfall before arriving in Oudomxai where you will spend the night. |
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Day 7 to 8 - Muang Sing
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Stay at the best available local hotel
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Continue by car from Oudomxai to Muang Sing, home to the Thai Lue people. You will visit the local market which draws peoples from around the region to trade, including Thai Dam, Lao Huan (Lenten), Akha, H'Mong, Mien, Lolo and Yunnanese. Tour the town, visiting the main Buddhist Temples, Wat Xieng Jai and Wat Nam Kaew Luang, before striking out into the countryside and visiting some of the different minority villages in the area. |
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Day 8 to 9 - Luang Nam Tha
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Stay at the best available local hotel
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Drive to Luang Nam Tha, the provincial capital of Luang Nam Tha Province, along winding roads through beautiful tropical forests, passing hill tribe villages en route. Sightseeing includes the local market and Phoum Pouk Pagoda, first built in 1624, the Luang Nam Tha Museum for an overview of the different ethnic minorities that inhabit the area. Later meet the ethic tribes in the area, including Continue to a 200 year old Lenten village and a Khmu Village, each with their own culture and skills.
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Day 9 to 10- Nong Khiaw
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Stay at the best available local hotel
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Continue your drive from Luang Nam Tha to Nong Khiaw, a rustic little town on the bank of the Ou River in Laos. It is squeezed in between some of the most fantastic limestone mountains to be found north of Vang Vieng. The area offers unique hiking and cycling opportunities or you can while away the rest of the day at a local cafe taking in the views and atmosphere.
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Day 10 to 11 - Luang Prabang
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Stay at Les 3 Nagas
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Cruise by boat from Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang with sightseeing at the Pak Ou Caves. From Nong Khiaw, cruise along the Nam Ou River to Luang Prabang, stopping en route at the steep limestone cliffs overlooking the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers, home to the Pak Ou Caves. These extraordinary caves are filled with Buddha images, of every style and material imaginable. Continue to Ban Xang Hai, a local village famous for the production of "lao-lao", the local rice wine whisky, before arriving in Luang Prabang.
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Day 11 to 12 - Vang Vieng
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Stay at the best available local hotel
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Travel by car from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng, with a stop at local villages on the way. The main attractions are the river, laid back countryside and cave-filled rock formations. Visit Xang Cave: also called Elephant Cave, it contains a few Buddha images and a Buddha footprint plus the elephant shaped stalactites which give the cave its name. Spend the rest of the day at leisure to explore this laid-back little town. Bicycles are widely available for rent.
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Days 12 to 14 - Vientiane
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Stay at the Settha Palace
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Travel from Vang Vieng to Viengtiane by car, stop for a visit to Vang Xang, 11th century Buddhist archaeological site where primitive Buddha images are carved on the cliff. Continue to visit Fish Market in Huay Mor before returning to your hotel to spend the rest of your time in Vientiane at leisure. Onward flights from Vientiane to southern China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand can be arranged.
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