Highlights of Luang Prabang

5 Days / 4 Nights

Day 1Arrive Luang Prabang

Upon arrival, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day is free to explore the charming old town on your own.

Overnight at Luang Prabang

Day 2Old Town Walking Tour & Traditional Pottery Village

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the former Royal Capital City of Luang Prabang features charming old colonial architecture and well preserved ancient temples. Your walking tour will cover major historic sites including the former Royal Palace, the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, with its roof sweeping low to the ground, Wat Ho Pha Bang and Wat Ho Xiang. Depending on your interests, meet up with a royal descendent, an artist or an expert architect from UNESCO who assisted with many restorations in the Old Town.   

Continue to Chan Nua Village, a traditional pottery village that has been producing clay pots for over 400 years. Ancient Lao kings selected Chan Nua Village for its pottery-making skills, early uses of the pots included fermenting fish and storing water. Today, families produce everything from decorated planters to terra-cotta roof tiles by using hand-made techniques passed down through generations.

Your visit kicks off with a delicious lunch before visiting their pottery center and their village surroundings. Learn about Lao traditional pottery techniques followed by an opportunity to make your own pot. This interactive excursion provides a meaningful insight to traditional life and a great way to give back to the local community. 

Explore the lively night markets on your own this evening, a short stroll from your hotel. Browse for local handicrafts and delicious Laotian street food. 

Overnight at Luang Prabang 

Day 3Monk Offerings & Traditional Lao Cooking

Your journey starts this morning at Ban Don, a small town just 10 minutes’ drive outside of Luang Prabang. Enjoy a simple breakfast at a local market while exploring this local neighborhood with a handful of very old Laotian homes and temples. Continue to a local home where you will help to prepare some simple dishes that will be used as an offering for monks. Later join your host at a temple to present your offerings, a traditional practice that is being performed daily by generations. Return to your host’s home for lunch before bidding them farewell. 

Afternoon, you will learn how to cook in nature like a true Laotian! Cross the Mekong River by a short ferry ride to the small town of Xieng Men where you will help to build your outdoor kitchen. Finding a suitable spot on the riverbanks, build a fire and cut banana leaves used as seating mats and serving trays. Cast your fishing net in the river before foraging for herbs and greens used for your picnic. Learn how to make cooking utensils with bamboo before visiting a local home to learn how to make a Lao papaya salad with a friendly host. 

Overnight at Luang Prabang 

Day 4Pak Ou Caves & Kuang Si Waterfalls

This morning, drive about 40min to Pak Ou Village before crossing the mighty Mekong River by a small boat to the famous Pak Ou Caves set in a limestone cliff facing the Mekong River crammed with thousands ancient Buddha statues. The first lower cave is easily accessible by a short flight of stairs, the upper cave is further up a winding series of stairs to explore the dark interiors filled with ancient Buddhist relics.

Continue with a picnic lunch on your boat and cruise for 1.5 hours to the spectacular Kuang Si Waterfall. On the way, you can make an optional stop at a popular Whiskey Village to sample the locally made “Lao Lao”.

Kuang Si Waterfalls features multi-tiered pools filled with turquoise waters during the dry season and impressive, roaring falls during the rainy season. Take an easy walk along the boardwalks to enjoy the beautiful surroundings or take a refreshing dip at one of the larger pools. Stop by an Asiatic Bear Sanctuary where you can see these beautiful creatures up close and support efforts to care for the animals in the area.

A short drive takes you to a Buffalo Dairy that produces cheese and a range of delicious dairy products. Your visit will support the local community working in this fairy, learn how to milk a buffalo before enjoying a delicious ice cream. You can also interact with their friendly pigs, chickens and cute rabbits. Along the hour drive back to Luang Prabang, you can also stop a weaving village at Ban Thin Keo to pick up some beautiful fabrics or scarves at a reasonable price.

Overnight at Luang Prabang 

Day 5Depart Luang Prabang

Transfer to airport for your onward journey.