The 10-Day Laos Discovery Tour from Luang Prabang to Vientiane begins at Luang Prabang International Airport and concludes at Vientiane International Airport. This varied journey connects Luang Prabang, Nong Khiaw, Muang Ngoi, the Bolaven Plateau, Wat Phou, the 4,000 Islands, Pakse and Vientiane.
Explore Luang Prabang’s temples and royal heritage, join a hands-on Bamboo Experience, prepare bamboo-based Lao dishes and visit Kuang Si Waterfall. Continue through northern Laos to Nong Khiaw and cruise the Nam Ou River to peaceful Muang Ngoi, with village stops and views of limestone mountains. The route then moves south to the Bolaven Plateau’s coffee-growing landscapes and waterfalls before continuing to Wat Phou, Don Khong and Don Khone.
Scenic boat journeys, guided cultural visits, rural community encounters and time for independent exploration create a balanced pace throughout the tour. From Pak Ou’s sacred caves and Khmer-era ruins to the Mekong waterfalls of Liphi and Khone Phapheng, this itinerary offers a richly varied introduction to Laos before concluding in Vientiane.
Begin the morning with an optional visit to observe the traditional alms-giving ceremony, during which local residents offer food to lines of saffron-robed monks. Travelers participating in this cultural experience are requested to dress modestly, behave respectfully and avoid interrupting the ceremony.
Continue to a nearby morning market before returning to the hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, begin your guided Luang Prabang city tour with a visit to Wat Visoun, home to the distinctive That Makmo stupa. Proceed to Wat Aham and Wat Xieng Thong, one of the town’s most important and photographed temples, beautifully positioned near the meeting point of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers.
Following lunch at a local restaurant, visit the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, to learn about the history and royal heritage of Laos. Complete the day’s sightseeing at Wat Mai, renowned for its elaborate golden bas-reliefs.
Following today’s sightseeing, return to your hotel. The evening is free for independent exploration, with dinner at your own expense.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
After breakfast, travel to a peaceful village surrounded by rice fields for the interactive Bamboo Experience. Please note that this activity is normally unavailable on Sundays and remains subject to confirmation.
Learn about the importance of bamboo in Lao daily life and discover how it is used in construction, household items, food and traditional handicrafts. Take part in local childhood games before joining a hands-on bamboo-weaving workshop led by a local instructor. Prepare and weave a small handmade item to keep as a souvenir.
Continue with a traditional cooking activity featuring bamboo-based dishes, including bamboo shoot soup and bamboo preparations wrapped in banana leaves. Afterwards, enjoy the dishes you have prepared for lunch, served with sticky rice in a traditional Lao-style pavilion.
In the afternoon, travel through the countryside toward Kuang Si Waterfall, passing rice paddies, farms and rural villages. Along the way, visit communities inhabited by Hmong and Lao Loum people, where your guide will introduce local weaving, cotton spinning, rice farming and vegetable cultivation.
On arrival at Kuang Si, follow the forest trails and admire the multi-tiered limestone cascades flowing into turquoise pools. Enjoy free time for photography, relaxation or swimming in designated areas when conditions permit.
The walking is generally easy, although comfortable shoes, insect repellent, sun protection and swimwear are recommended.
Travel back to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. Dinner is at your own expense.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
After breakfast, leave Luang Prabang and travel through the mountainous countryside of northern Laos toward Nong Khiaw.
Stop at Nam Park Market to observe local trading activities before visiting Ban Nayang, a traditional village known for its rural lifestyle and handicrafts. Continue to Nong Khiaw for lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, board a local boat for a scenic journey of approximately one hour and forty minutes along the Nam Ou River. During the cruise, admire the limestone mountains, forested riverbanks and remote communities scattered along the river.
Stop at Ban Sojam to learn about everyday village life before continuing upstream to Muang Ngoi. Upon arrival, walk to your guesthouse, check in and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure in this peaceful riverside settlement.
The boat journey is subject to local weather and water conditions. Dinner is at your own expense.
Overnight in a simple guesthouse in Muang Ngoi.
After breakfast, board a local boat and cruise downstream from Muang Ngoi toward Nong Khiaw.
Along the way, stop at Houi Hoy, a village situated on the banks of the Nam Ou River, where you can observe the quiet rhythms of daily community life.
Upon arrival in Nong Khiaw, continue by road toward Luang Prabang. The journey includes a lunch stop at a local restaurant.
En route, visit the Pak Ou Caves, located near the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers. Inside the caves are hundreds of Buddha images in different sizes and styles, many of which have been placed here by pilgrims over several centuries.
The visit involves stone steps and uneven surfaces, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Afterwards, continue to Luang Prabang and check in at your hotel. The evening is free for independent exploration, with dinner at your own expense.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
After breakfast, transfer to Luang Prabang International Airport for your flight to Pakse.
Upon arrival at Pakse Airport, meet your local guide and begin the journey toward the Bolaven Plateau. As the road gradually climbs into the highlands, the landscape changes to coffee plantations, tea farms, forests and deep valleys.
The Bolaven Plateau is known for its cooler climate, fertile volcanic soil and high-quality coffee production.
Lunch is served at a local restaurant, with the timing arranged according to the confirmed flight schedule.
Continue to Tad Fane Waterfall, where two streams plunge dramatically into a forested gorge. Afterwards, visit Tad Yuang Waterfall, which is reached by a short walk involving steps and potentially slippery sections.
Depending on the operating schedule, visit a local coffee plantation to learn about coffee cultivation, harvesting and production in southern Laos.
Check in at your accommodation on the Bolaven Plateau and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
A light jacket, rain protection and secure walking shoes are recommended due to the cooler and changeable highland weather. Dinner is at your own expense.
Overnight in Bolaven Plateau.
After breakfast, leave the Bolaven Plateau and travel toward Champasak to visit Wat Phou, one of the most significant archaeological and religious sites in southern Laos.
Explore the ancient temple complex, ceremonial pathways, stone structures and hillside sanctuary while learning about its historical importance and connection with the ancient Khmer civilization.
The upper sections of the site offer sweeping views across the surrounding plains and the Mekong River.
The visit involves stone steps, exposed areas and uneven ground. Comfortable footwear, drinking water, a hat, and adequate sun protection are advisable.
After lunch at a local restaurant, continue south through the countryside toward the 4000 Islands region. Cross to Don Khong, the largest island in the area, and check in at your hotel.
Spend the remainder of the afternoon at your own pace. Relax beside the Mekong River or take a self-guided walk through the nearby village.
Dinner is at your own expense.
Overnight on Don Khong Island.
After breakfast, leave Don Khong Island and transfer to Ban Nakasang.
From the village pier, board a traditional long-tail boat for a scenic cruise through the waterways of the Mekong River to Don Khone.
Upon arrival, explore historical remains from the French colonial period, including former railway structures, an old pier and surviving colonial-era buildings. Learn about the railway that once connected the islands and was used to transport goods around the Mekong waterfalls.
Continue to Liphi Waterfall, also known as Somphamit Waterfall, where powerful channels of the Mekong flow through rocks and narrow gorges. Enjoy time to walk around the viewing areas and appreciate the dramatic river scenery.
Return by boat to Ban Nakasang and have lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, visit Khone Phapheng Waterfall, one of the most powerful and impressive sections of the Mekong River in southern Laos.
The long-tail boat provides simple local-style seating. Passengers are advised to protect cameras, mobile phones and personal belongings from water spray.
Following the visit, drive north to Pakse and check in at your hotel. Dinner is at your own expense.
Overnight in Pakse.
After breakfast, transfer to Pakse Airport for your flight to Vientiane.
Upon arrival in the Lao capital, meet your local guide and continue with the day’s sightseeing programme, subject to the confirmed flight arrival time.
When time permits, travel to Buddha Park, located near the Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge. Explore the open-air garden, which contains more than 200 Buddhist and Hindu-inspired sculptures in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.
Your guide will introduce some of the religious stories and symbolism represented throughout the park.
After the visit, return to central Vientiane and check in at your hotel. The remainder of the day is free for leisure and self-guided activities.
Lunch and dinner are left to your own arrangements.
Overnight in Vientiane.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and spend the remaining time at leisure until your scheduled airport transfer.
Depending on your departure time, relax at the hotel, take a self-guided walk through the surrounding area or complete some last-minute shopping.
Standard hotel check-out is normally required around midday. Requests for late check-out are subject to availability and may incur an extra charge.
At the appointed time, meet your driver and transfer to Vientiane International Airport for your onward flight.
End of the 10-Day Laos Discovery Tour.
If you need help arranging anything beyond the program, our team will be happy to assist.
Optional: snacks, a camera, and a small daypack for daily excursions.
Don’t worry — we’ll guide you with more details before your trip.
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Everything you need to know about this tour
Most walking is generally easy, but several visits include stone steps, uneven ground, exposed areas, or potentially slippery sections. These include Kuang Si Waterfall, Pak Ou Caves, Tad Yuang Waterfall, and Wat Phou. Comfortable and secure walking shoes are recommended, together with sun and rain protection where appropriate.
Swimming may be possible in designated areas at Kuang Si Waterfall when local conditions permit. Travelers also have free time for photography and relaxation around the multi-tiered limestone cascades and turquoise pools. Swimwear, insect repellent, comfortable walking shoes, and sun protection are recommended for this excursion.
Yes. Free time is available on the arrival day in Luang Prabang, during several evenings, after arriving in Muang Ngoi, on the Bolaven Plateau, on Don Khong Island, and after sightseeing in Vientiane. The final morning is also at leisure until the scheduled airport transfer, depending on your departure time.
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