The Unseen Laos

Arrival in the morning at Tay Trang, Vietnam-Laos border (assuming arrive at the border at around 10.00 am), we cross the border to enter into Laos side. You are welcome by your guide and transfer to Muang Khua, you can enjoy the nice scenery along the road. Lunch is at local restaurant along the way, then free time at leisure. Dinner will be at the local restaurant. Accommodation in Muang Khua

Hiking on small paths, enjoy great view to explore ethnic diversity in Muang Khua as: Akha and Khmu, the first day stay overnight in the Akha village and the second day in the Khmu village, learn about traditional Akha and Khmu architecture. Start from Muang Khua by slow boat down on Nam Ou River about 3 Km, then start trek at Ban Houy Yang through scenery forest up and flat 4 hours including picnic lunch and break overnight in Akha village – Ban Seng Luang. Accommodation is in Akha bamboo house. Approx. 4-5 hour.

After breakfast continue walk through Akha village (Ban Kiaw Kam) to visit Khmu village (Ban Kung Ha) where we stay overnight for the second day to learn about their culture and traditional. Overnight is in Khmu Bamboo house (basic).

From Ban Kung Ha down and flat to other Khmu village near the river Nam Ou that we called Ban Pak Leng 2.5 hours, lunch will provide at the village, then take the boat down on Nam Ou River 40 minutes to Muang Khua, On arrival to Muang Khua, collect your main luggage and embark to the other boat and continue cruise down the Ou River to Muang Ngoi. On arrival check into your accommodation in Muang Ngoi, the rest of day is free at leisure. Dinner is at the local restaurant and overnight in Muang Ngoi.

This trekking tour offers all the best of overnight trekking from Muang Ngoi to ethnic villages for exploring authentic rural life. Mountain trail gives all trekkers very good chance to admire the most beautiful unspoiled nature, particularly mountains capes along Nam Ou River. In the morning, begin to trek uphill, which is about 1200 m above the sea level, to Ban Kioukhan (about 4-5 hours), a Village of Khmu ethnic group. On the way, stop to visit Tham Kaang, the former sheltering cave for local villagers during the last Indochina War (1960 – 1972) which has never damaged with beautiful surroundings. A long the way, it is particularly picturesque of mountain views. After the picnic lunch, we arrive Kioukhan and explore local people’s working and living conditions. Dinner and overnight at the villager’s homes

Breakfast at villagers’ homes; continue to trek downhill through beautiful natural surroundings to visit Ban Hadsapheai (about 4-5 hours), a small village of Khmu ethnic group which is on the bank of Nam Ou River. Continue to take a boat ride downstream to Muang Ngoi. Between Ban Hatsaphuai and Muang Ngoi, it is thought to be one of the most beautiful views on the Nam Ou River with rock cliffs and rock formation rising dramatically above rain forest. Lunch is at the local restaurant in Muang Ngoi. After lunch continue short boat ride to Nong Kiau. Dinner at the restaurant of the hotel & overnight in Nong Kiau

Enjoy a morning visit to the beautiful small town by your own, morning our guide will pick you up and cruise down to Luang Prabang. Lunch is served on board. Visit Pak Ou caves on the way down, thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues are crowded into the two caves carved out of a towering limestone cliff. They range in size from a few centimeters to the size of a human. The boat arrives Luang Prabang before sunset. On arrival to Luang Prabang enjoy visit to the beautiful Wat Xieng Thong and then transfer to the mount Phousy to enjoy an amazing panoramic view over the town. Then drive to your hotel in town for check in. Dinner at Tamnak Lao restaurant and overnight in Luang Prabang

After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sen and the magnificent Royal palace now transformed into the National Museum (closed on Tuesday). Our stroll will also lead us at Wat Mai. Lunch is at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we continue our excursion toward Khouangsi Waterfall, en route, we visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest trails. The Khouangsi Waterfall setting really illustrates the paradise. We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon. Dinner is at Roots & Leaves restaurant with Lao traditions dance during the dinner. Overnight in Luang Prabang

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. Around 8:30 am, we drive to Xieng Lom Village and start our elephant day care full day tour: “Inside the hearts of elephants” Upon arrival you are invited to have coffee or tea as your guide for the day provides an in-depth introduction to elephant behavior and the ways we should interact with them. A quick boat ride across the Nam Khan River will deliver you to the waiting elephants. You will be introduced to your new friends and feed them some special treats—a sure way to begin an instant friendship.

Then, you will enjoy observing elephants from the river bank as Mahouts wash them in the Nam Khan river. You can experience elephants washing, swimming and playing in the water. Please note this is voluntary activity for the elephant’s and Mandalao does not force them to get in the water. (On cold days the elephants are less likely to want to get wet.) After 2 hours crossing through a beautiful stretch of traditional Lao gardens you will arrive at the jungle-covered Huay Nok stream. As you walk alongside the elephants and crisscross through the cool water you will experience a profound sense of understanding, respect, and caring for these amazing animals. You and your elephant companions will continue walking past a lovely stretch of rice fields and enter a patch of forest where you can rest, relax, and eat. Lunch will be served in traditional Lao fashion, eating on bamboo mats on the forest floor. Then, you will visit Tad Kuang Song Waterfall, which was named after a Golden Deer spirit seen standing on its crest many centuries ago. If you like, you can take a cool dip, wade, stand under the soft showers of the waterfall, and spend time meditating and admiring the private beauty of this rarely seen natural treasure.

You will sit, watch, and learn as the MandaLao mahout’s show how they communicate and listen to their elephants. This will highlight the special skills each elephant has and give you deeper insight into their individual personalities. After this, you can take what you have learned from the mahouts and guides throughout the day and spend quiet, uninterrupted time with the elephants—reading their emotions just as they read yours. You will experience first-hand why humans and elephants have shared such an unwavering bond for thousands of years. Along with the mahouts, you will bring your elephants to their nighttime feeding grounds. Take time for a long goodbye and in knowing that the connection you have built is not only felt by you, but by your new friend as well. Enjoy a few moments to think about your experiences from the day as you look out at the vast Luang Prabang mountain range from the terrace at MandaLao. We will then drive you back to town. Arrive at your hotel at approximately 4:00pm.

Free time is at leisure till your transfer to the airport for your flight to the next destination. End of services.