Hidden Charm of Northern Laos
Luang Prabang – Nong Kiau – Muong La – Luang Nam Tha – Muong Sing
10 Days/9 Nights
10 Days/9 Nights
Any trip to Laos is even better with a detour through the mountains of the North! Northern Laos loop hosts off-beaten paths, free-dust roads, breathtaking natural scenery, original hill tribe villages, pristine life style and culture. You will arrive in Luang Prabang, visit all of its must-see highlights before heading up North to Nong Kiau, take a boat trip from Nong Kiau to Muong Khua, overnight at isolated Muong La Lodge, travel to Luang Nam Tha, Muong Sing, and at the end of the trip, you will return to Luang Prabang for departure.
Day 1: Luang Prabang – Arrival (D)
Arrival in Luang Prabang, you will be met by our guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in.
In the evening, enjoy your Welcome dinner at a boutique and elegant restaurant with Lao food or embark on a sunset dinner cruise and motor downstream to moor near a traditional village where traditional Lao dancers perform age-old sets that include interpretations of the royal ballet, rural life, folk tales and legends. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 2: Luang Prabang’s Highlights (B)
There is a very special dawn ceremony that you must see - monks collecting the alms. As the sun begins to rise, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents. It is a beautiful, serene ceremony that highlights the spiritualism of the Laos people. Visit Morning Market where you can find all ingredients for local food. Return to your hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, we visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a previous collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. Continue your city tour with the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham and Wat Mai.
In the afternoon, you visit the city's oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, representing the classic architecture of Luang Prabang temples, we then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view over the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore Street Night Bazaar, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textiles by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave – Kuang Si Waterfalls (B)
After breakfast, you board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives you a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. Before approaching the caves, we get off the boat to visit the village of Ban Xang Hai which has for centuries made the clay jars which are used to ferment Lao wine. Nowadays the tradition continues, however the villagers now specialize in producing ‘Lau Lao’ Lao whisky and ‘Lau Hai’ Lao wine.
Return to the town by noon time for lunch at your own expense.
In the afternoon, you will drive through the Luang Prabang countryside to Kuang Si Waterfalls. Along the way by the Mekong River you will see gorgeous landscapes of many rice fields, hills and villages. You will visit an ethnic minority at a village where their local culture has remained unchanged for centuries. Upon reaching Kuang Si Waterfalls, relax and enjoy the magnificent natural surroundings. Afterwards, we drive back to the town and overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 4: Luang Prabang –Nong Kiau by car (B)
After breakfast, you will explore more hidden charm of Laos by driving further to her northwest loop. Drive 3 hours through amazing scenery of green mountains, forests, rivers, rice and tobacco fields. You’re proceeding upstream of Nam Ou River. Upon arrival, check in to your riverside resort and be free to enjoy the crisp, clean air or to walk around the town, seeing children in their uniform riding bikes from school to home, or to relax at a riverside local coffee shop. All are at your disposal. Overnight in Nong Kiau.
Day 5: Nongkiau –Muong Khua by boat – Muong La by car (B/-/D)
In the morning, take a traditional boat trip on the Nam Ou River, the homeland of river weed that you might eat in your breakfast! Here and there, local men and women are dipping their faces into the water to collect river weed that has grown for a thousand years on the river bed and dyes the river water to a special jade color. This is the answer to your question why water at this part of Nam Ou River has such green color while other parts don’t! Along the river banks, herds of water buffalos and pigs are relaxing on cool sand.
Picnic lunch will be served on boat while the boat continues cruising upstream to Muong Khua. Disembark and our car will pick you up there with more transfer to Muong La. Check in to your lodge and overnight in Muong La.
Day 6: Muong La – free (B/-/D)
Equidistant from China and Vietnam, at an altitude of 470m above sea level and on the banks of the River Nam Pak, Muang La Lodge is the ideal base to explore the region and meet the ethnic minorities that inhabit the mountains and valleys. The lodge is an oasis, separated from the modern world by the beautiful rivers and mountains.
A free day in Muong La to relax by the pool, enjoy incredible scenery of rice fields and mountains or join in a trekking tour to local minority villages, ride a bike or motorbike to explore remote trails, or learn Lao food recipes at a cooking class.
Day 7: Muong La - Luang Nam Tha (B)
After breakfast, you will say goodbye to Muong La Resort and continue your trip further to the North of Laos. More driving thru the breathtaking rugged mountains and beautiful forests. Arrive in Luang Nam Tha after 3.5-4 hours drive. You will visit Tai Dam and Ban Nam Dee Minority Villages and a golden temple on the top of mountain with overview of Luang Nam Tha town. Meet and talk to a monk at the temple (subject to availability). The monk wishes luck for you and ties a red or yellow thread rope around your wrist. Overnight in Luang Nam Tha.
Day 8: Luang Nam Tha - Muang Sing – Luang Nam Tha (B)
After breakfast with bread and omelette, you will drive to Muong Sing, 60km further North and it will take 1hr drive. Muong Sing is a small and undeveloped town, the bordering province with China. Upon arrival, visit the local market in the town, and then a village of Akha minority people. Walk thru the village to see their daily life. Most of the men in the village went to China to work, so you can find here only old people, wives and children. Women are working with traditional loom in front of their house. You can also drive further to a border gate between Laos and China passing by a large field of watermelon fruits. Return to Luang Nam Tha with a stop on the way to see Waterfalls (if you’re happy to trek for 30 minutes each way). This waterfall is small in the dry season, but it still worth a short stop to stretching your leg. Overnight in Luang Nam Tha.
Day 9: Luang Nam Tha – Luang Prabang by car [7 hours drive) (B)
After breakfast, you will visit a local market in the town. Similar to the market in Muong Sing, you will find in here wild animals killed by local hunters using traps such as birds, wild chicken or chipmunks and many kinds of wild plants, vegetables collected by villagers around the town. Back to your lodge for check-out and take 7 hours drive to return to Luang Prabang. Arrival in Luang Prabang when the dark falls and check in to your hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 10: Luang Prabang – Departure (B)
After breakfast, you will be free in Luang Prabang to relax after 9 full days of exploration, or visit more ancient temples on foot, chill out at a coffee shop by the Mekong River Bank, or unwind with Lao Massage before being driven to the airport for your departure flight. Goodbye to Laos!
:>> Our prices include:
> Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room
> Travel in an appropriate private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced safe driver
> The services of an experienced English-speaking guide throughout the tour (please note: guides will be on hand from pick-up until guests’ return to their hotel or reaching their destination)
> Where necessary, entry fees and permission to enter border areas for all visits mentioned in the program
> Lunches and dinners (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available
> Private boat trip from Luang Prabang to Pak Ou Cave and from Nong Kiau to Muong Khua
> VAT and other taxes
:>> Our prices do not include:
> International flight tickets and airport tax
> Visa handling and stamp fee
> Dinners, except as specified above
> Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses
> Camera fees (if any)
> Insurance
Arrival in Luang Prabang, you will be met by our guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in.
In the evening, enjoy your Welcome dinner at a boutique and elegant restaurant with Lao food or embark on a sunset dinner cruise and motor downstream to moor near a traditional village where traditional Lao dancers perform age-old sets that include interpretations of the royal ballet, rural life, folk tales and legends. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 2: Luang Prabang’s Highlights (B)
There is a very special dawn ceremony that you must see - monks collecting the alms. As the sun begins to rise, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents. It is a beautiful, serene ceremony that highlights the spiritualism of the Laos people. Visit Morning Market where you can find all ingredients for local food. Return to your hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, we visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a previous collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. Continue your city tour with the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham and Wat Mai.
In the afternoon, you visit the city's oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, representing the classic architecture of Luang Prabang temples, we then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view over the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore Street Night Bazaar, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textiles by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave – Kuang Si Waterfalls (B)
After breakfast, you board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives you a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. Before approaching the caves, we get off the boat to visit the village of Ban Xang Hai which has for centuries made the clay jars which are used to ferment Lao wine. Nowadays the tradition continues, however the villagers now specialize in producing ‘Lau Lao’ Lao whisky and ‘Lau Hai’ Lao wine.
Return to the town by noon time for lunch at your own expense.
In the afternoon, you will drive through the Luang Prabang countryside to Kuang Si Waterfalls. Along the way by the Mekong River you will see gorgeous landscapes of many rice fields, hills and villages. You will visit an ethnic minority at a village where their local culture has remained unchanged for centuries. Upon reaching Kuang Si Waterfalls, relax and enjoy the magnificent natural surroundings. Afterwards, we drive back to the town and overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 4: Luang Prabang –Nong Kiau by car (B)
After breakfast, you will explore more hidden charm of Laos by driving further to her northwest loop. Drive 3 hours through amazing scenery of green mountains, forests, rivers, rice and tobacco fields. You’re proceeding upstream of Nam Ou River. Upon arrival, check in to your riverside resort and be free to enjoy the crisp, clean air or to walk around the town, seeing children in their uniform riding bikes from school to home, or to relax at a riverside local coffee shop. All are at your disposal. Overnight in Nong Kiau.
Day 5: Nongkiau –Muong Khua by boat – Muong La by car (B/-/D)
In the morning, take a traditional boat trip on the Nam Ou River, the homeland of river weed that you might eat in your breakfast! Here and there, local men and women are dipping their faces into the water to collect river weed that has grown for a thousand years on the river bed and dyes the river water to a special jade color. This is the answer to your question why water at this part of Nam Ou River has such green color while other parts don’t! Along the river banks, herds of water buffalos and pigs are relaxing on cool sand.
Picnic lunch will be served on boat while the boat continues cruising upstream to Muong Khua. Disembark and our car will pick you up there with more transfer to Muong La. Check in to your lodge and overnight in Muong La.
Day 6: Muong La – free (B/-/D)
Equidistant from China and Vietnam, at an altitude of 470m above sea level and on the banks of the River Nam Pak, Muang La Lodge is the ideal base to explore the region and meet the ethnic minorities that inhabit the mountains and valleys. The lodge is an oasis, separated from the modern world by the beautiful rivers and mountains.
A free day in Muong La to relax by the pool, enjoy incredible scenery of rice fields and mountains or join in a trekking tour to local minority villages, ride a bike or motorbike to explore remote trails, or learn Lao food recipes at a cooking class.
Day 7: Muong La - Luang Nam Tha (B)
After breakfast, you will say goodbye to Muong La Resort and continue your trip further to the North of Laos. More driving thru the breathtaking rugged mountains and beautiful forests. Arrive in Luang Nam Tha after 3.5-4 hours drive. You will visit Tai Dam and Ban Nam Dee Minority Villages and a golden temple on the top of mountain with overview of Luang Nam Tha town. Meet and talk to a monk at the temple (subject to availability). The monk wishes luck for you and ties a red or yellow thread rope around your wrist. Overnight in Luang Nam Tha.
Day 8: Luang Nam Tha - Muang Sing – Luang Nam Tha (B)
After breakfast with bread and omelette, you will drive to Muong Sing, 60km further North and it will take 1hr drive. Muong Sing is a small and undeveloped town, the bordering province with China. Upon arrival, visit the local market in the town, and then a village of Akha minority people. Walk thru the village to see their daily life. Most of the men in the village went to China to work, so you can find here only old people, wives and children. Women are working with traditional loom in front of their house. You can also drive further to a border gate between Laos and China passing by a large field of watermelon fruits. Return to Luang Nam Tha with a stop on the way to see Waterfalls (if you’re happy to trek for 30 minutes each way). This waterfall is small in the dry season, but it still worth a short stop to stretching your leg. Overnight in Luang Nam Tha.
Day 9: Luang Nam Tha – Luang Prabang by car [7 hours drive) (B)
After breakfast, you will visit a local market in the town. Similar to the market in Muong Sing, you will find in here wild animals killed by local hunters using traps such as birds, wild chicken or chipmunks and many kinds of wild plants, vegetables collected by villagers around the town. Back to your lodge for check-out and take 7 hours drive to return to Luang Prabang. Arrival in Luang Prabang when the dark falls and check in to your hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 10: Luang Prabang – Departure (B)
After breakfast, you will be free in Luang Prabang to relax after 9 full days of exploration, or visit more ancient temples on foot, chill out at a coffee shop by the Mekong River Bank, or unwind with Lao Massage before being driven to the airport for your departure flight. Goodbye to Laos!
:>> Our prices include:
> Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room
> Travel in an appropriate private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced safe driver
> The services of an experienced English-speaking guide throughout the tour (please note: guides will be on hand from pick-up until guests’ return to their hotel or reaching their destination)
> Where necessary, entry fees and permission to enter border areas for all visits mentioned in the program
> Lunches and dinners (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available
> Private boat trip from Luang Prabang to Pak Ou Cave and from Nong Kiau to Muong Khua
> VAT and other taxes
:>> Our prices do not include:
> International flight tickets and airport tax
> Visa handling and stamp fee
> Dinners, except as specified above
> Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses
> Camera fees (if any)
> Insurance
