4 Days Luang Prabang Explorer

Today, we enjoy a short-guided tour. We will visit the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Afterwards, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which will give us breathtaking views of the quiet Laotian countryside. We will explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes which were left by pilgrims.  Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai. Here you’ll see how locals make the rice wine. A next stop will be Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for its silkweavings and for its Saa (jute) papermaking. On our way back, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai. We then climb to the top of mount Phousi to have an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa. Here we will also enjoy the panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textile made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight at the same hotel in Luang Prabang.

f you want to get up early today, you will have the great opportunity to see and participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession.

After breakfast, we leave the town for about 15KM to visit the elephant camp (Elephant village) at Ban Xienglom. On the way, we stop at a famous and well-known village, Ban Phanom, most of whose villagers are weavers. They used to be servants and made handicraft souvenirs for the last king of Laos. Another stop at Henri Mouhot monument (grave) at Kaeng Noon, a French explorer who discovered Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, but he died 1861 from malaria at Kaeng Noon when he moved to Laos for further discoveries.

Then we continue to the camp.

• Arrival at the Elephant Village Camp: Welcome greeting by your guide and participate in a short briefing about elephants
• Elephant Feeding: come close to the elephants
• Explore Elephant Village:  Visit our elephant hospital, museum, gallery and dung paper making facility!
• One on One Experience: Enjoy the impressive experience of being a Mahout! 1 person per elephant

While we return to the town, we also visit some small local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups such as Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village. We continue direction the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest trails. We’ll return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon. We return to the city by late evening to observe the sunset at Wat Phabath Tai.