Laos For Families

Upon arrival at Vientiane International Airport, you will meet your tour guide and driver who will take you to your hotel. In the evening, you'll be transferred to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner and then walk around the city night market. (D)

• Hotel Description

Start your day at Talaat Sao, Vientiane’s Morning Market, to try local coffee and snacks. Visit Wat Sisaket, Vientiane’s oldest original temple, known for its frescoes and over 6,000 Buddha images. Nearby, see Haw Phra Kaew, which houses fine Buddhist sculptures and artefacts. Stop by Putousay, the victory gate inspired by Paris' Arc of Triumph, and the Phra That Luang stupa, built in 1566 and a national symbol.

After lunch at a local restaurant, visit Xieng Khuan Buddha Park, located 35 kilometres from the city, to see a large collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures. On the way, view the Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River.

If time permits and you're interested in textiles, visit Carol Cassidy’s Lao Textiles Gallery to see silk weaving and unique textiles. Return to Vientiane. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

Depart from Vientiane in the morning by high-speed train to Luang Prabang. Explore the city’s cultural highlights, including Wat Xieng Thong, one of the largest and most decorative temples, and the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum with rare religious and cultural artefacts. Climb 328 steps to the top of Mount Phousi for panoramic views of the city. Visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center to learn about the country’s ethnic-minority groups.

In the evening, take a one-hour walking tour of Luang Prabang’s Night Market to browse colourful textiles, quilts, carvings, basketry, ceramics, clothing, and handmade paper. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

Start your day with an early morning departure to Long Lao village, home to the Khamu and Hmong ethnic groups. Trek through the village, experiencing local traditions and the natural beauty of lush paddy fields, orchards, and vegetable gardens. The trek continues into the jungle-clad mountains. Break for lunch at a local restaurant by a waterfall. After lunch, visit the Kuang Si Waterfall, known for its multi-tiered cascade and turquoise pools, perfect for a swim.

In the evening, meet Mrs. Thidavanh and enjoy a dinner with a private Baci Ceremony. This ritual, involving tying strings around wrists to preserve good luck, celebrates important events. The ceremony is hosted in a local home, where you'll interact with the family before returning to your hotel. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

Rise early to witness Luang Prabang’s daily ritual of about three hundred monks collecting food as part of a Buddhist tradition. You can participate in offering food with guidance from your tour guide. Spend the rest of your morning exploring Luang Prabang’s morning market.

After breakfast, visit Ban Xang Khong village, known for silk weaving and traditional saa papermaking. Learn the papermaking process from start to finish. Next, visit the weaving studio of Mone and Keo, the Two Weaving Sisters from the Katu minority group. They have honed their weaving skills and contributed to the local economy through their work with Ock Pop Tok.

In the afternoon, take a sunset cruise on a traditional wooden boat along the Mekong River, enjoying views of Luang Prabang and the countryside. The cruise concludes with a dinner before returning to your hotel. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

This morning, drive from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw, enjoying scenic landscapes along the way. Take a traditional boat up the Nam Ou River to Muang Ngoi Kao. From there, hike three kilometres to visit Tham Kong Cave, used as a shelter during the Lao civil war in the 1960s. Have lunch during the excursion. Return to Nong Khiaw in the late afternoon. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

This morning, visit the sacred Pak Ou Caves, housing various styles and sizes of Buddha statues. Along the way, there will be a stop to explore Ban Na Gnang village, inhabited by the Lue ethnic group, one of Laos' many ethnic groups. Lunch will be provided during the excursion. In the afternoon, cruise on the Mekong River towards Luang Prabang, enjoying views of daily life and landscapes along the riverbanks. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

Free time at your own leisure before transferring to the airport for your departure flight. (B)