SIMPLY LAOS

On arrival in Luang Prabang, you will be met and transferred to your hotel (the former residence of Prince Souphanouvong) at the heart of the city.

Stay: Three nights in a Deluxe Room at Satri House – including breakfast

Today begins your exploration of the ‘jewel’ of Indochina.

Start with a visit to the National Museum and the former Royal Palace where you’ll find an impressive collection of valuables, including the famous statues of Prabang Buddha.

In a city with more than 100 temples, the Vat Xieng Thong is considered the most beautiful in town. You’ll also stop by the 16th-century Vat Visoun, before making your way next door to Vat Phou and Vat Aham – beautifully framed by two giant banyan trees. You can also make time for a visit to the UXO Visitor’s Centre, where a museum details the devastating impact of the Second Indochina War.

In the evening, climb the 328 steps of Mount Phousi to enjoy a beautiful sunset over the temples and hillsides.

Wake up before dawn to witness or take part in a traditional almsgiving ceremony involving a procession of hundreds of saffron-robed monks.

Later, you’ll travel by long-tailed boat along the Mekong to visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves – repositories for thousands of Buddha images. En route, typical Lao villages are barely visible behind a screen of foliage. Slender canoes bob along the shoreline, while bamboo poles and floats mark the location of nets and fish traps.

Today you’ll bid Luang Prabang goodbye and head up into the hills of northern Laos, reaching the small village of Muang La. As you travel through the Oudomxay Province, visit the intriguing Pra Xack Kham Temple with its sacred, 400-year-old Buddha image. The legendary statue is said to have many supernatural powers and is widely worshipped among faithful local Buddhists.

Arriving at Muang La, you can relax after your journey (the area is famous for its natural springs!) or enjoy a stroll around the village.

Stay: Two nights in an Executive Deluxe Room at Namkat Yorla Pa Resort – including breakfast and dinner

Today you’ll continue your exploration of rural Laos, calling in at the beautiful villages of Ikhor and Hmong. The journey by road features an incredible 1,000m climb providing spectacular views of the surrounding green hills and forests.

Home to ethnic communities from Yunnan and the high steppes of Tibet, life in these small, isolated villages remains highly traditional. Enjoy learning about their centuries-old culture and way of life, as well as the impressive views that line the path between the two villages.

Drive to the riverside town of Muang Khua, where you’ll board a local boat for an unforgettable cruise down the Nam Ou River to Nong Kiau.

This particular stretch offers views of stunning limestone karst scenery and remote villages, including Ban Sob Jaem – a Khmu and Hmong village that can only be accessed by boat. Stop for a quick visit to Muang Ngoi and the surrounding village.

Continue to explore a few sights en route before reaching your accommodation in Nong Kiau by late afternoon. Upon checking into your hotel, you can take a short bicycle ride to the picturesque local limestone caves nearby.

Stay: One night in a Bungalow at the Nong Kiau Riverside – including breakfast

Rise early for the four-hour transfer to Luang Prabang Airport, where you’ll check-in for your flight to Vientiane. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Lively by Laos’ standards, Vientiane still has a very provincial feel compared to other Southeast Asian cities.

A French trading post in days gone by, Vientiane’s French influence is still very much present in its café culture, pretty bakeries and tree-lined boulevards. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, it’s easy to get around and explore by bicycle or on foot.

Enjoy a half-day tour to discover some of the city’s hidden gems, from the beautiful Wat Sisaket to the religious museum housed within Wat Phra Keo. Nearby lies the Presidential Palace. Although you cannot enter this former French governor’s palace, it offers an interesting glimpse into the town’s colonial past. Continue to the 16th-century stupa of That Luang and the Patuxay monument – Laos’ version of the Arc de Triomphe, whose roof provides sweeping views of the city. Finish with a stroll along the banks of the Mekong, stopping for a snack from one of the many food stalls.

Stay: Two nights in a Grand Deluxe Room at La Seine Boutique Hotel – including breakfast

This morning transfer to Vientiane Airport for your flight to Pakse. On arrival, you will be met and transferred by road directly to the pier for a 20-minute boat ride to your lodge on Don Daeng Island.

Immersed in natural beauty, you will find yourself ideally situated for exploring the delights of southern Laos, including the crumbling Khmer Hindu temple complex of Wat Phou. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this wondrous archaeological treasure dates back to the 10th century, predating Cambodia’s iconic Angkor Wat.

Stay: Three nights in a Superior River View Room at La Folie Lodge – including breakfast

The following day you’ll drive through the beautiful surrounding countryside, stopping at Hat Say Khoun pier where you will embark on a long-tail boat tour of “Si Phan Done”, a stunning riverine archipelago of 4,000 islets.

A region of endless photo opportunities, you’ll explore the area and take in several impressive waterfalls, including the Khone Phapeng (dubbed the “Niagara of the East”). You’ll also be able to visit the local villages of Ban Khone to admire their old French colonial buildings.

Today, you cross the border from Laos to the city of Chong Mek in Thailand. On arrival at Ubon Ratchatani Airport, check-in for your flight to Bangkok.

Stay: One night in a Deluxe Room at the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport hotel – breakfast included

Today you will board your departure flight home.