Discovery Central and Southern Laos

Vientiane Arrival (D)

Upon arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel.

You have the rest of the day to relax.

Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Vientiane.

Vientiane – City Tour – Buddha Park (B/L)

Wake up early to visit the fascinating Thongkhankham local market, where you can meet local people and discover a wide variety of unusual and wonderful foods.

After breakfast, we continue exploring the capital city of Vientiane, visiting its major attractions, including the oldest temple, Wat Sisaket, with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which once housed the famous Emerald Buddha image.

Continue toward one of Laos’ most treasured national monuments, the sacred That Luang. You will also have the opportunity to take some photos of the Patuxay Monument, also known as the Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane.

The final visit of the morning will be the COPE Visitor Centre, which provides an overview of the serious problems faced by local people as a result of bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War.

An optional lunch can be enjoyed at the excellent Mak Phet Restaurant, which helps disadvantaged young people build careers in the hospitality industry.

This afternoon, visit the unusual yet impressive Buddha Park, a fascinating collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures located along the banks of the Mekong River.

The sculptures were created by a mysterious monk who sought to spread his philosophy of life and his ideas about the universe.

On the way back to Vientiane, there is an option to stop at the Disabled Women’s Development Centre, where you can learn more about education and vocational support for women with disabilities in Laos.

A spectacular view over the Mekong River at sunset is a wonderful way to end the day. Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner on your own and overnight in Vientiane.

Vientiane – Hin Boun (B/L/D)

After breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred south along Route 13 toward Khammouane Province in central Laos.

On the way, stop at Prabaht Ponsan, a stupa dating back to the 5th century. It houses a Buddha footprint discovered in 1933 and is now an important religious site in Laos.

After lunch, continue through Khammouane Province into the mountainous region. A stop at a viewpoint near Khoun Kham offers magnificent views of the surrounding landscape.

Arrive at Ban Naphouak, where you will board a local boat on the Hin Boun River.

The upstream journey takes you through spectacular karst landscapes and past several villages, where children wave and smile from the riverbanks.

Arrive at your accommodation for the night, Sala Hin Boun, in the afternoon.

The rest of the day is free at leisure. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at Sala Hin Boun.

Hin Boun – Kong Lor - Thakhek (B/L)

After breakfast at Sala Hin Boun, continue by boat upstream toward Kong Lor Village before boarding a small boat to explore the famous Kong Lor Cave.

Cruise through the cave, which stretches for more than 7 km, and discover a spectacular cavern reaching up to 100 metres in height.

After lunch in a remote village on the other side of the cave, return through the cave and continue by car toward the Mekong River and the town of Thakhek, arriving in the early evening.

Dinner on your own and overnight in Thakhek.

Thakhek – Buddha Cave (B/L)

After breakfast, explore Thakhek by tuk-tuk and see the old French railway line that was intended to connect with Vietnam but was never completed.

Continue through impressive landscapes to Ban Xang Nakhang Village, where you will meet local village guides who will accompany you on the hike.

Walk through secondary forest while your guide explains the forest products that form an important part of the local people’s food resources.

Passing through a cave, you will enter a valley surrounded by impressive cliffs.

The trail follows the edge of Nong Thao Lake, where you may see local fishermen at work. Upon arrival at Nong Tham Paseum Cave, more adventurous swimmers can explore the cave.

The cave is 400 metres long and contains enormous stalactites and stalagmites.

Return in daylight and continue toward the famous Buddha Cave of Khammouane for a traditional lunch of Mekong fish, sticky rice, and spicy papaya salad.

After lunch, visit Tham Pa Fa Cave, which was rediscovered in April 2004. The cave contains 229 bronze Buddha statues dating back more than 300 years.

Weather permitting, enjoy a canoe trip beneath the waterfall.

Your guide will accompany you back toward the village and along another path through the forest before returning to Thakhek in the afternoon.

Dinner on your own and overnight in Thakhek.

Note: This is a moderate hike and a good level of physical fitness is required. During the rainy season (May–September), the program may be modified without prior notice depending on local conditions.

Thakhek – Pakse (B/L)

After breakfast, depart from Thakhek and travel south toward Pakse.

On the way, stop in Savannakhet to visit the sacred That Ing Hang Stupa, as well as the interesting small Dinosaur Museum.

Arrive in Pakse in the late afternoon. Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner on your own and overnight in Pakse.

Pakse - Tadlo (B/L/D)

After breakfast, drive east toward the Bolaven Plateau.

The Bolaven Plateau is known for its cooler climate due to its elevation above the Mekong Valley. The area is famous for its many waterfalls, and you will visit one of the most beautiful, Tad Fane. This spectacular double waterfall plunges into a deep gorge surrounded by lush vegetation.

A journey across the plateau offers a refreshing break and the opportunity to observe plantations of coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops along the way.

This journey also offers visitors the chance to venture off the beaten track, discover some of the lesser-known regions of Laos, and explore the wild beauty of the south.

In the afternoon, arrive at Tad Lo, another magnificent waterfall surrounded by villages inhabited by ethnic minority groups such as the Alak, Nge, and Katu.

Overnight at Tad Lo Lodge, located beside the beautiful waterfall.

Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Tad Lo.

Tadlo – Kingfisher (B/L/D)

After breakfast, continue exploring the Bolaven Plateau, including a visit to Pha Suam Waterfall and the villages of the Lao Theung ethnic minorities.

Continue by road toward Xe Pian National Protected Area and Kingfisher Ecolodge, where you will have the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at Kingfisher.

Kingfisher – Elephant Safari (B/L)

After breakfast, take part in a full-day jungle safari adventure on elephant back, just as early explorers often did during their journeys.

From the back of your elephant, you will enjoy a unique viewpoint over the forests of the Xe Pian protected area. Experience the jungle environment while the sounds of cicadas and birds accompany you along the way.

After two to three hours of riding, depending on the route and weather conditions, you will leave your elephant. Once the elephants are free to feed in the forest, your guide will serve you a delicious picnic lunch.

After resting and watching the elephants search for food, continue your safari on the return route to the village, with arrival expected at around 4:00 PM.

Dinner on your own and overnight at Kingfisher.

Kingfisher – Khone Island (B/L)

After breakfast, depart from Kingfisher and Xe Pian, then transfer by road toward the 4000 Islands region.

Board a boat to Khone Island to discover its French colonial past, where several old colonial houses remain alongside Laos’ first railway and an old locomotive.

Continue exploring Khone Island on foot and visit the beautiful Liphi Waterfall, also known as Somphamit, which forms a natural border between Laos and Cambodia.

If you are lucky, you may spot the rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins of the Mekong at Ban Hang Khone.

Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner on your own and overnight on Khone Island.

Khone Island – Khone Phapeng – Vat Phou – Don Daeng (B/L/D)

This morning, after breakfast, head toward the famous Khone Phapheng Waterfall, the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia, also known as the “Niagara of the East.”

Then travel north by road and cross the Mekong River by boat to visit the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Vat Phou, one of the most significant ancient temple complexes in Southeast Asia.

To end the day, travel by boat to Don Daeng Island.

Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight on Don Daeng Island.

Don Daeng / Free Day (B)

Today, after breakfast, enjoy a free day at leisure. Relax by the swimming pool or take bicycles to explore the island and its charming small villages.

Lunch and dinner on your own. Overnight on Don Daeng Island.

Don Daeng – Pakse – Departure (B)