Laos Through Young Eyes
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Highlights:
Sharing the exploration of a new culture with a variety of generations can be educational for all participants and not to mention fun. This program is ideal for a multi-generational exploration of a rarely mentioned and overlooked area of Southeast Asia.
Experience the local culture, meeting and interacting with friendly Lao families to better understand their way of life. Explore pristine landscapes; wash an elephant and come back appreciating both Laos and your home.
Sharing the exploration of a new culture with a variety of generations can be educational for all participants and not to mention fun. This program is ideal for a multi-generational exploration of a rarely mentioned and overlooked area of Southeast Asia.
Experience the local culture, meeting and interacting with friendly Lao families to better understand their way of life. Explore pristine landscapes; wash an elephant and come back appreciating both Laos and your home.
SKU:
Explore: Laos through young eyes
Customizable Itinerary - 13 Days (from $2,437 per person)
Days 1-2: USA-Laos
Your connecting flight will bring you across the International dateline so you lose a day but make it up on the return.
Day 3: Welcome to Laos
Upon arrival in Luang Prabang you will be met by one of our guides and a driver who will transfer you to your hotel where you have the rest of the morning to relax. In the afternoon, get to know this UNESCO-celebrated town with a short tour. Soak up the French colonial buildings and traditional architecture on the way to a game of petanque a game brought over from France. This is a perfect way to interact with the locals along with some snacks and Beerlao (for the adults). Dinner will be at Coconut Garden a great introduction to Lao cuisine, appealing to all ages.
Dinner
Day 4: Temples and Palaces
After breakfast you will meet your guide for a half day tour of Luang Prabang. Start the tour at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, to discover the history of Laos. Continue on foot to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief, and Wat Sensoukarahm, which features a beautiful dazzling golden façade. Finish the tour at Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang. Lunch will be at Tamarind Restaurant. Enjoy a fresh menu of Lao dishes in a family run restaurant dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of local cuisine. The friendly staff will happily explain the ingredients and customs of the cuisine during the meal. The rest of the day is left open for exploring this charming town.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: A Day with Elephants
Today you will spend the day up-close and personal with Asian elephants. After breakfast your guide will pick you up and take you to the Explorer Camp which is about 10 miles outside Luang Prabang. Your guide will give you an introduction on elephants and you may then have the opportunity to feed the elephants. After, proceed on a bareback ride taking you through the forest and along the river bank. Your mahout will give you an elementary training on how to guide the elephant and you get to ‘take the controls’ for a while. Return to camp for a delicious lunch and a chance to cool off in the pool. After lunch you take “your” elephant down to the Nam Khan River for an exhilarating and once in a lifetime bathing experience. Say goodbye to your new found pachyderm friend who will head back to the forest for the night. You will continue by Lao longboat to the Tad Sae Waterfall to relax, dip your feet or take a swim in the clear cool water. In the late afternoon you return to Luang Prabang.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6: Kuang Si, Bears and Butterflies
Today you will be leaving Luang Prabang. Your first stop is in a small ethnic village where you will learn about local traditions and culture - much of which has remained unchanged for centuries. Then arrive at Kung Si where you enjoy the natural surroundings and explore the dense jungle on foot. You can also walk to the top of the falls where beautiful views await although it may be too steep for some younger climbers. The falls collect into tranquil pools which are perfect for swimming. After a morning of adventure, enjoy a picnic lunch next to the falls. You then visit 'Free the Bears' sanctuary where Asiatic bears are housed after being rescued from poachers. You will also visit a Butterfly Park where beautiful gardens are filled with hundreds of butterflies. Later, drive down spectacular Route 13 stopping in Kasi, a fruit-growing area. The journey passes through incredible scenery and there will be plenty of opportunities for photos. You arrive in the town of Vang Vieng on the banks of the Nam Song River surrounded by spectacular limestone karst scenery.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: The Many Facets of Vang Vieng
This morning offers the chance to start the day with a splash as our guide takes you across the Nam Song River before driving to Golden Crab Cave and the Blue Lagoon. You have the opportunity to take a dip in the waterhole of the Ka River which will certainly wake you up for the rest of the day. A water slide and life jackets are available for younger participants. Transfer back to Vang Vieng with a stop at a local village where women still weave on traditional looms. You then ride in a local longtail boat for a cruise upstream enjoying beautiful scenery along the way. Disembark at an organic farm that specializes in mulberry tea. Take a short tour of the Organic farm prior to having lunch. After lunch return to Vang Vieng for some free time.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Nam Ngum Lake and the Road to Vientiane
Enjoy a leisurely morning before starting the drive to the Laotian Capital of Vientiane. Along the way you stop to admire Nam Mgum, the country’s largest lake, before continuing on to your hotel in Vientiane. In the evening, enjoy dinner at Xang Khoo Restaurant which offers a selection of Lao and Western dishes including French crepes. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 9: Vientiane… Day and Night
After breakfast you head out on the highway that takes you into Thailand. You arrive at Buddha Park which is an unusual park filled with more than 200 Buddhist and Hindu Statues. The quiet and tranquil setting along the Mekong River is in stark contrast with the slightly eccentric sculptures which were created in 1958 by a Lao shaman. Return to Vientiane for a tour of the highlights and a Lai-style lunch at Lao Kitchen. In the evening enjoy a stroll along the banks of the Mekong riverside promenade as the sun sets. Stop to enjoy a cold drink, explore the variety of souvenir stalls and enjoy Lao street food selected for you by your guide.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Vientiane to Ban Kong Lor
Today you will be traveling to Ban Kong Lor which lies south of Vientiane. You will stop at Wat Prabath Phansane which translates to “Temple of the Footprint of Buddha” and then stop for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch you leave Route 13 and enter Phou Hin Poun NPA (National Protected Area). The scenery will become much more spectacular, featuring limestone karsts, forests and rice paddies. You will arrive in the small town of Ban Kong Lor where you will check into your resort situated on a scenic river and offering spectacular views.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: A Thrilling Ride through the Kong Lor Caves
You have journeyed to Ban Kong Lor specifically to travel through the Kong Lor Caves, a natural phenomenon that puts “Pirates of the Caribbean” to shame. After breakfast you will meet your guide for the short drive to the Caves. Life jackets and head torches will be provided before a short walk to the entrance of the cave. Upon entering the cave you will board a longtail boat for a journey through the length of this unique cave along an underground section of the Hin Boun River. It will be close to five miles before you see daylight again but your lamps provide a large amount of illumination. The river flows all year round and reveals vast formations of stalactites and stalagmites, some of which can be explored on foot whilst inside the cave. Once the family reaches the other side of the cave you can stop for refreshments and walk to local villages. Return by boat traveling ‘downstream’ through the cave and back to Ban Kong Lor where you'll have lunch. Later in the afternoon take a guided walk through the villages surrounding Ban Kong Lor. The soft light of the late afternoon is arguably the most photogenic and there will be plenty of photo opportunities as the friendly locals come home from the fields and markets. Finish off the day with another dinner as you enjoy the river views.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Return to Vientiane and a Traditional Lao Ceremony
In the morning you will have a leisurely drive back to Vientiane and some free time for last minute shopping or a swim in the pool. In the evening the family will participate in a unique traditional Lao ceremony. The Baci is performed in celebration of important events such as weddings, births, or welcoming guests and is a means of expressing good will and good luck to others. The Lao believe that each person has 32 spirits which constitute their spiritual essence and the Baci is the ritual used to call back any escaped spirits into the body. During the Baci, special flower trays and food treats are prepared, which are then touched by the participants while a Buddhist mantra is chanted. After the chanting is completed, cotton threads are tied around the participants’ wrists while they receive an individual blessing. After the ceremony you will travel to Vieng Sawan where food is cooked to order. It is a favorite of the locals so English is not well understood but a guide will accompany you to help you all sample a variety of foods cooked to order.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 13: Return Home
After breakfast, have a day free until you are transferred to the airport for the return flight where you gain back the day 'lost’ on the way over.
Breakfast
Your connecting flight will bring you across the International dateline so you lose a day but make it up on the return.
Day 3: Welcome to Laos
Upon arrival in Luang Prabang you will be met by one of our guides and a driver who will transfer you to your hotel where you have the rest of the morning to relax. In the afternoon, get to know this UNESCO-celebrated town with a short tour. Soak up the French colonial buildings and traditional architecture on the way to a game of petanque a game brought over from France. This is a perfect way to interact with the locals along with some snacks and Beerlao (for the adults). Dinner will be at Coconut Garden a great introduction to Lao cuisine, appealing to all ages.
Dinner
Day 4: Temples and Palaces
After breakfast you will meet your guide for a half day tour of Luang Prabang. Start the tour at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, to discover the history of Laos. Continue on foot to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief, and Wat Sensoukarahm, which features a beautiful dazzling golden façade. Finish the tour at Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang. Lunch will be at Tamarind Restaurant. Enjoy a fresh menu of Lao dishes in a family run restaurant dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of local cuisine. The friendly staff will happily explain the ingredients and customs of the cuisine during the meal. The rest of the day is left open for exploring this charming town.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: A Day with Elephants
Today you will spend the day up-close and personal with Asian elephants. After breakfast your guide will pick you up and take you to the Explorer Camp which is about 10 miles outside Luang Prabang. Your guide will give you an introduction on elephants and you may then have the opportunity to feed the elephants. After, proceed on a bareback ride taking you through the forest and along the river bank. Your mahout will give you an elementary training on how to guide the elephant and you get to ‘take the controls’ for a while. Return to camp for a delicious lunch and a chance to cool off in the pool. After lunch you take “your” elephant down to the Nam Khan River for an exhilarating and once in a lifetime bathing experience. Say goodbye to your new found pachyderm friend who will head back to the forest for the night. You will continue by Lao longboat to the Tad Sae Waterfall to relax, dip your feet or take a swim in the clear cool water. In the late afternoon you return to Luang Prabang.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6: Kuang Si, Bears and Butterflies
Today you will be leaving Luang Prabang. Your first stop is in a small ethnic village where you will learn about local traditions and culture - much of which has remained unchanged for centuries. Then arrive at Kung Si where you enjoy the natural surroundings and explore the dense jungle on foot. You can also walk to the top of the falls where beautiful views await although it may be too steep for some younger climbers. The falls collect into tranquil pools which are perfect for swimming. After a morning of adventure, enjoy a picnic lunch next to the falls. You then visit 'Free the Bears' sanctuary where Asiatic bears are housed after being rescued from poachers. You will also visit a Butterfly Park where beautiful gardens are filled with hundreds of butterflies. Later, drive down spectacular Route 13 stopping in Kasi, a fruit-growing area. The journey passes through incredible scenery and there will be plenty of opportunities for photos. You arrive in the town of Vang Vieng on the banks of the Nam Song River surrounded by spectacular limestone karst scenery.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: The Many Facets of Vang Vieng
This morning offers the chance to start the day with a splash as our guide takes you across the Nam Song River before driving to Golden Crab Cave and the Blue Lagoon. You have the opportunity to take a dip in the waterhole of the Ka River which will certainly wake you up for the rest of the day. A water slide and life jackets are available for younger participants. Transfer back to Vang Vieng with a stop at a local village where women still weave on traditional looms. You then ride in a local longtail boat for a cruise upstream enjoying beautiful scenery along the way. Disembark at an organic farm that specializes in mulberry tea. Take a short tour of the Organic farm prior to having lunch. After lunch return to Vang Vieng for some free time.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Nam Ngum Lake and the Road to Vientiane
Enjoy a leisurely morning before starting the drive to the Laotian Capital of Vientiane. Along the way you stop to admire Nam Mgum, the country’s largest lake, before continuing on to your hotel in Vientiane. In the evening, enjoy dinner at Xang Khoo Restaurant which offers a selection of Lao and Western dishes including French crepes. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 9: Vientiane… Day and Night
After breakfast you head out on the highway that takes you into Thailand. You arrive at Buddha Park which is an unusual park filled with more than 200 Buddhist and Hindu Statues. The quiet and tranquil setting along the Mekong River is in stark contrast with the slightly eccentric sculptures which were created in 1958 by a Lao shaman. Return to Vientiane for a tour of the highlights and a Lai-style lunch at Lao Kitchen. In the evening enjoy a stroll along the banks of the Mekong riverside promenade as the sun sets. Stop to enjoy a cold drink, explore the variety of souvenir stalls and enjoy Lao street food selected for you by your guide.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Vientiane to Ban Kong Lor
Today you will be traveling to Ban Kong Lor which lies south of Vientiane. You will stop at Wat Prabath Phansane which translates to “Temple of the Footprint of Buddha” and then stop for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch you leave Route 13 and enter Phou Hin Poun NPA (National Protected Area). The scenery will become much more spectacular, featuring limestone karsts, forests and rice paddies. You will arrive in the small town of Ban Kong Lor where you will check into your resort situated on a scenic river and offering spectacular views.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: A Thrilling Ride through the Kong Lor Caves
You have journeyed to Ban Kong Lor specifically to travel through the Kong Lor Caves, a natural phenomenon that puts “Pirates of the Caribbean” to shame. After breakfast you will meet your guide for the short drive to the Caves. Life jackets and head torches will be provided before a short walk to the entrance of the cave. Upon entering the cave you will board a longtail boat for a journey through the length of this unique cave along an underground section of the Hin Boun River. It will be close to five miles before you see daylight again but your lamps provide a large amount of illumination. The river flows all year round and reveals vast formations of stalactites and stalagmites, some of which can be explored on foot whilst inside the cave. Once the family reaches the other side of the cave you can stop for refreshments and walk to local villages. Return by boat traveling ‘downstream’ through the cave and back to Ban Kong Lor where you'll have lunch. Later in the afternoon take a guided walk through the villages surrounding Ban Kong Lor. The soft light of the late afternoon is arguably the most photogenic and there will be plenty of photo opportunities as the friendly locals come home from the fields and markets. Finish off the day with another dinner as you enjoy the river views.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Return to Vientiane and a Traditional Lao Ceremony
In the morning you will have a leisurely drive back to Vientiane and some free time for last minute shopping or a swim in the pool. In the evening the family will participate in a unique traditional Lao ceremony. The Baci is performed in celebration of important events such as weddings, births, or welcoming guests and is a means of expressing good will and good luck to others. The Lao believe that each person has 32 spirits which constitute their spiritual essence and the Baci is the ritual used to call back any escaped spirits into the body. During the Baci, special flower trays and food treats are prepared, which are then touched by the participants while a Buddhist mantra is chanted. After the chanting is completed, cotton threads are tied around the participants’ wrists while they receive an individual blessing. After the ceremony you will travel to Vieng Sawan where food is cooked to order. It is a favorite of the locals so English is not well understood but a guide will accompany you to help you all sample a variety of foods cooked to order.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 13: Return Home
After breakfast, have a day free until you are transferred to the airport for the return flight where you gain back the day 'lost’ on the way over.
Breakfast