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All of our private trips can be arranged on dates to suit you and customised to your requirements.
For something really different in Laos, why not try:
- learning to "drive" an elephant
- taking a dyeing and weaving course
- staying in a the home of a hilltribe family
River and Forest: from Vientiane to the South
Day 1: Arrival in VIENTIANE, the capital city of Laos. When you fly in you will see the green from the country around you, and you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After lunch, take a guided walking tour to That Stupa national monument, the National Museum, Wat Sisaket - the oldest temple in Vientiane – and the Ho Phra art museum.
Day 2: In the morning, visit a humanitarian project which works with children living on the streets, to understand about the issues facing the poorest people in the city and appreciate what is being done to help them. They also have a training restaurant where you can have lunch. In the afternoon, walk to the independence monument (which looks very much like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris but without the traffic!), where you can climb the steps to the top and see the view over the city.
Day 3: Drive to the South of Laos, one of the most stunning areas of the country. There will be an overnight stop at SAVANNAKHET, a town with many influences from the bordering countries of Thailand and Vietnam. On arrival, visit the only Christian church you will see in the whole time you are in Laos, and one of the most important Buddhist stupas in the country. In the afternoon, you can take a forest walk with knowledgeable local guides who work for a conservation project .
Day 4: Drive to BOLOVEN PLATEAU, a cool green forested area. On the way, visit the tea plantations, where you can see how it is prepared for sale (and also buy some if you wish). Your guest house lodge is on the water with a view to a beautiful waterfall where it is possible to swim.
Day 5: Today is a gentle walking day in the mountains to appreciate the truly beautiful scenery. There will be a packed lunch (included).
Day 6: Travel to DONE KHONG ISLAND, one of the 4000 islands in the Mekong, where you will stay overnight. On the way, visit Champasak, home of Angkorian-era temples, where there is also a small Buddhism museum.
Day 7: After breakfast, travel by boat to visit the biggest waterfalls in South East Asia - Khon Phapheng and Somphamit Falls – where you can have lunch. On the way back, make a few stops to look at the old French architecture and the old railway (still with a train abandoned in the jungle!), before returning to the guesthouse for a cool drink while watching the sunset.
Day 8: Trip ends after breakfast. We can arrange transfers to Pakse airport, the Thai or Cambodian borders.
From GB£795 per person for a private trip for two people
History and Heritage: from Vientiane to the North
Day 1: Arrival in VIENTIANE, the capital city of Laos. When you fly in you will see the green from the country around you, and you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After lunch, take a guided walking tour to That Stupa national monument, the National Museum, Wat Sisaket - the oldest temple in Vientiane – and the Ho Phra art museum.
Day 2: In the morning, visit a humanitarian project which works with children living on the streets, to understand about the issues facing the poorest people in the city and appreciate what is being done to help them. They also have a training restaurant where you can have lunch. In the afternoon, walk to the independence monument (which looks very much like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris but without the traffic!), where you can climb the steps to the top and see the view over the city.
Day 3: This morning you will drive to VANG VIENG, famed for its intricate network of limestone caves. There will be several stops on the way to see some Buddhas carved out of rocks in the forest, and one of the minority villages. A packed lunch is included. We will spend some time exploring the caves before continuing to our peaceful guesthouse on the outskirts of town, away from the tourist hordes.
Day 4: A beautiful drive to Phonesavan, the site of the PLAIN OF JARS, travelling through the mountains. On the way, stop at a cave that was used as a hospital during the time the Americans were fighting the Vietnamese – Laos, although neutral, was bombed repeatedly during this time and suffered many casualties.
Day 5: Visit the market in the morning, to see all the fruit and vegetables available (and maybe even try a few!) Continue to visit some of the Jar sites - covering an area of around 50km, with jars of up to 3 metres high, they continue to baffle historians. Recent theory is that they are funeral urns – the larger the jar, the more important the person – but other historical artefacts found in the area have brought the experts no closer to understanding the civilization that created them.
Day 6: Travel to LUANG PRABANG. This is a very scenic trip - driving through many mountains, and you can stop to see the tea plantations. Also you will probably see many different kind of ethnic groups walking besides the road. On arrival, it will be possible to go for a traditional Laos massage, before visiting the night market – an opportunity to buy some beautiful locally-made items at very reasonable prices.
Day 7: Take a boat trip up the Mekong River to the famous caves of Pak Ou - housing thousands of retired Buddha statues. We will have a packed lunch here (included) overlooking the river. In the afternoon, visit the Kwang Xi Waterfall, where you can have a swim surrounded by jungle.
Day 8: In the morning, visit the Royal Palace museum for a guided tour to learn about the history of the Royal Family. After lunch, transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
From GB£735 per person for a private trip for two people.
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