Private Tour
Treasures of Northern Laos - 9 Days / 8 Nights
Northern Laos offers some of the most spectacular road trips in South East Asia and hill tribe villages that hardly see any visitors. This area is accessible from Luang Prabang and features an upscale lodge that offers intimate insights and experiences at surrounding villages. Home to reclusive communities originating from China and Tibet, Muang La is a small provincial town surrounded by rolling hills, tranquil farmlands and Nam Pak River. Enjoy easy day hikes or relax at the lodge’s natural hot spring with sumptuous meals made with fresh ingredients from their own organic fields.
Private, Local Guides!
Whether you are a single person, a couple, or a group, you'll have your own guide and driver for all airport pickups, drop offs, and daily excursions.Choose Your Dates!
This is not a fixed-departure-date tour. Just let us know the dates that work best for you and we will arrange everything.Customizable!
Need more time? Less time? Want to see or do something that isn't included? The options are unlimited, so talk to us about the different possibilities and our recommendations.Great Accommodation!
We've scouted the best hotels in the best locations of all categories. We'll recommend accommodation to suit your budget and travel style.- Traditional Pottery Class at Luang Prabang
- Ikhor & Hmong Hill Tribe Villages at Muang La
- One of the Most Scenic River Boat Ride to Nong Khiaw
- Easy Day Hikes to Villages
- Mysterious Ancient Buddhist Caves of Pak Ou
Private Tour
Treasures of Northern Laos - 9 Days / 8 Nights
Northern Laos offers some of the most spectacular road trips in South East Asia and hill tribe villages that hardly see any visitors. This area is accessible from Luang Prabang and features an upscale lodge that offers intimate insights and experiences at surrounding villages. Home to reclusive communities originating from China and Tibet, Muang La is a small provincial town surrounded by rolling hills, tranquil farmlands and Nam Pak River. Enjoy easy day hikes or relax at the lodge’s natural hot spring with sumptuous meals made with fresh ingredients from their own organic fields.
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Day 1Arrive Luang Prabang
Upon arrival you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel located in the center of the old town. Rest of the day is free at leisure, you can stroll around the night market at the old town easily on your own.
Overnight at Luang Prabang
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Day 2Old Town Walking Tour, 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.
Overnight at Luang Prabang
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Day 3Drive about 6-7h to Muang La
Depart today through the fertile plains and beautiful rolling hills. After two hours or so, the road starts to climb to 4,500 ft above sea level. Your journey will take between 6 to 7 hours with stops for photo opportunities and comfort breaks to stretch your legs.
On arrival, check in at your beautiful upscale lodge located by the riverside. Enjoy a relaxing massage or a dip at their outdoor hot tub that utilizes a natural hot spring.
Overnight at Muang La
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Day 4Hill Tribe Villages
Today you will explore the villages of Ikhor and Hmong, two typical hill tribe communities of Laos. Drive along a beautiful road besides the Nam Pak River to the village of the Ikhos people. The Ikhos are one of the most reclusive communities in Laos originating from Yunnan Province in China and Tibet. See traditional houses made of wood and bamboo, learn about their way of life and their belief in the spirit world. Enjoy a picnic lunch from a beautiful viewpoint. After visit a Hmong village that requires 45 minutes of walking. The path leading to the village is completely isolated and offers many impressive viewpoints.
Overnight at Muang La
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Day 5Relaxing Free Day
Today is free at leisure to relax at your charming lodge or go on a village hike. You can also explore on your own an amazing salt mine and see how the locals extract salt using traditional methods passed down from many generations. There are also many opportunities for walking, cycling to the town, meeting the local people and visiting the revered Buddha temple that overlooks the Resort.
Overnight at Muang La
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Day 6Drive and Boat Ride to Nong Khiaw
Today you will travel to the charming riverside town of Nong Khiaw by an overland drive and a scenic cruise on a private boat on the river. Driving across rolling hills and the Nam Pak River where locals used to pan for gold.
About 1.5 hours’ drive, arrive at Muang Khua for the start of your spectacular river cruise. The river journey from Muang Khua to Nong Khiaw is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the region! After cruising for about 2.5 hours, disembark and board a minivan for a short 15min ride to pass the newly constructed Nam Ou Dam. Then board another boat for the downstream cruise to Nong Khiaw for about 2 hours. This stretch offers stunning scenery with limestone formations rising majestically from the water.
Overnight at Nong Khiaw
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Day 7Village Hike, Tad Mok Waterfalls and Phathok Caves
This morning cruise about 30min along the river to visit two Khamu villages at Ban Sopkhan and Ban Sopkong. Meet friendly villagers and learn about their culture. From Ban Sopkong, hike about 1.5 hours across farmlands and rice paddy fields to a beautiful waterfall at Tad Mok with 7-tiered limestone pools.
Break for a picnic lunch and enjoy some swimming in the pools if you like. After hike back to Ban Sopkong where you will cruise 20 min by boat back to Nong Khiaw. Today’s approximate hiking time is about 3 hours with some uphill sections, you can discuss with your guide on your preferred hiking duration.
Afternoon take a tuk tuk ride to discover the Phathok Caves. It is an easy walk up concrete stairs where you will be guided around the largest cave and then walk 10 minutes along a small trail to the second cave. Nong Khiaw villagers used this cave during the “Secret War” to shelter people from bombs dropped in the region.
Overnight at Nong Khiaw
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Day 8Drive to Luang Prabang via Pak Ou Caves
This morning you will drive about 4 hours to Luang Prabang. On the way, stop to visit the mysterious caves of Pak Ou, two caves set in a limestone cliff facing the Mekong River crammed with thousands Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes.
Overnight at Luang Prabang
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Day 9Depart Luang Prabang
Transfer to airport today for your onward journey or extend your stay to enjoy more activities.
Private Tour
Treasures of Northern Laos - 9 Days / 8 Nights
Our private tours include the things that make it so you don’t have to worry about logistics for your trip.
This Tour Includes
- Airport Transfers
- Accommodation, including all Taxes and Service Fees
- Private, Local, English-speaking Guides for Tours and Activities
- All Tours and Activities as described
- Entrance Fees to Sights
This Tour Does Not Include
- International Airfare
- Visa Fees and Application
- Travel Insurance
- Tips for Guides and Drivers
Itinerary Add-Ons to Consider
Consider a pre- or post-tour extension to this itinerary in either Thailand or Cambodia depending on which city your international flight is routed through. It’s quite easy to add a couple of days in Chiang Mai to continue your hill tribes adventure or Siem Reap, home to the majestic Angkor Wat temples and Tonle Sap, biggest freshwater lake in South East Asia.
Chiang Mai Getaway
Starting Price : $1200 / Person
Explore more colorful hill tribes in North Thailand or nature hikes around Doi Inthanon, the tallest mountain in Thailand. Enjoy special private culinary experiences, unique hill tribe cuisine deep in the mountains or a fun cooking class with a multi-generation family in their traditional home. Return to the city to feast at our secret celebrity chef restaurant with an instragammable tasting menu.
Angkor Wat Highlights
Starting Price : $1200 / Person
Explore various famous archaeological sites including Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, and other lesser known ones along with fascinating cultural activities in and around Siem Reap such as the floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake, a cooking class with a celebrity chef, and the creative arts scene like the Phare Circus, and Bambu Stage puppet shows.
Private Tour
Treasures of Northern Laos - 9 Days / 8 Nights
Here’s an explanation of what to expect and the planning process with a Red Lantern Journeys travel consultant.
The price for this trip will vary based on many factors including:
- Dates of travel – high vs. low vs. shoulder season
- Your preference of hotel standards – 3, 4, or 5-star categories. We’ve scouted the best hotels and the best locations in each category and will make our recommendations based on your budget and travel style. We’ll even try to book specific room categories to avoid street noise or other inconveniences.
- The number of people in your group
- Customization of tours and activities
- How far in advance you book the trip
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Personal Travel Consultant
Your personal travel consult to work with you to prepare your itinerary, recommend tours and activities and accommodation and explain the reasoning behind every aspect of your tour.
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Private Vehicles with Driver and Guides
You'll have your own private, chauffeur-driven vehicle for all of your airport transfers and daily excursions. These will also include your personal, English-speaking guide who is licensed and will provide the insights to make each of your tours an exceptional experience.
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Hotel Recommendations
We've inspected hundreds of hotels and can recommend accommodation that fits your style and budget.
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Activity Recommendations
We have access to a wide range of activities to make your trip truly memorable. Activities range from visiting iconic sights to meeting local personalities, adventure sports, and exclusive dining experiences!
Private Tour
Treasures of Northern Laos - 9 Days / 8 Nights
Any time of year is okay to visit Laos, but November to March is probably the best weather with low humidity. It can be a bit chilly at night in December through early February with temperature around 50F, but day time is comfortable around 70F. The monsoon season, which consists of light rain falling throughout the day and occasional heavy rain showers can lasts throughout June to September.
Private Tour
Treasures of Northern Laos - 9 Days / 8 Nights
Customize This Itinerary
Starting From: $3200 / Person
Call us at 206-568-0710 or fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you within 1 business day!
Please provide as much information as you can to help us prepare before contacting you. For example:
- Number of travelers – adults and children with ages
- When you want to travel – are your dates fixed or flexible?
- Destinations of interest – country or countries, plus destinations within a country
- Activities of interest – like beaches, wildlife, hiking, shopping, art, local culture, adventure, etc.
- Purpose of trip and Special Occasions – holiday, honeymoons, important birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
- Approximate budget per person
Submit Your Inquiry Here
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