Laos – A Journey into the Heart of Southeast Asia

From Luang Prabang to the Mekong Waterfalls

09 January - 25 January 2027

Authentic, enchanting, magnificent, unique – just some of the many words that perfectly describe Laos, the jewel of Southeast Asia. During this journey, you will discover fascinating temples and sacred caves, stroll through charming towns, small villages and colourful markets. You will admire glossy black water buffalo and impressive limestone karst formations surrounded by lush green rice fields, and enjoy atmospheric boat trips along the Mekong and its tributaries. Thundering waterfalls and important archaeological sites, fascinating insights into the world of coffee and tea farmers, as well as the everyday lives of fishermen and craftsmen, complete this varied journey.

You will stay in carefully selected accommodations full of character, almost always in prime locations in historic town centres or along the banks of the Mekong. Together with your knowledgeable local Lao guide, you will immerse yourself in a country that has not yet been overwhelmed by mass tourism.

Itinerary

Day 1: Heading towards Southeast Asia

• Flight Luxembourg-Istanbul (Turkish Airlines, 18:00-23:25)

Day 2: Bangkok

• Flight Istanbul-Bangkok (Turkish Airlines, 01:40-15:05)
• Welcome and transfer to the hotel
• Dinner cruise in Bangkok aboard a traditional wooden boat
• Overnight at Amaranth Hotel*** at Bangkok Airport

Day 3: Welcome to Laos, sunset cruise

• Transfer to the airport terminal
• Flight Bangkok-Luang Prabang (Bangkok Airways, 10:55-13:05)
• Welcome and transfer to the hotel
• Free time
• Sunset cruise on the Mekong, including a light dinner
• Overnight at Le Bel Air Boutique Resort**** in Luang Prabang

Day 4: Luang Prabang

• Witness the Tak-Bat ceremony, the traditional almsgiving to monks
• Sightseeing in Luang Prabang: temples and the Royal Palace Museum
• Walk through the city centre
• Visit to the Hmong Market
• Dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight at Le Bel Air Boutique Resort****

Day 5: Buffalo cheese and Kuang Si Waterfalls

• Visit to a water buffalo farm/dairy, including a cheese tasting
• Walk to the Kuang Si Waterfalls
• Opportunity to swim in the natural pools
• Free time in Luang Prabang and a game of pétanque with local residents
• Overnight at Le Bel Air Boutique Resort****

Day 6: Flower offerings & the Buddhist caves of Pak Ou

• Discover how traditional flower offerings for monks are made
• Visit a local temple and receive a blessing from a monk
• Visit the cave temples of Pak Ou
• Return to Luang Prabang by boat
• Overnight at Le Bel Air Boutique Resort****

Day 7: Free time in Luang Prabang, train journey to Vang Vieng

• Free time in Luang Prabang
• Travel by modern high-speed train to Vang Vieng
• Sunset boat trip on the Nam Song River
• Dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant
• Overnight at Amari Hotel**** in Vang Vieng

Day 8: Karst landscapes and caves, optional hot-air balloon ride

• Journey to a Hmong village
• Approx. 1.5-hour walk through rice fields and karst landscapes
• Visit to two caves
• Visit to the “Elephant Cave”, featuring a Buddha footprint
• Optional hot-air balloon ride in the afternoon
• Dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant
• Overnight at Amari Hotel**** in Vang Vieng

Day 9: On the way to Vientiane: Hmong market and swimming break at the reservoir

• Visit to a Hmong market
• Boat trip on Nam Ngum Reservoir
• Lunch featuring freshly grilled fish
• Opportunity to swim in the reservoir
• Overnight at Souphattra Vientiane Hotel****

Day 10: Relaxed capital city atmosphere

• Sightseeing in Vientiane
• Visit to the most important temples
• Panoramic view from the Patuxay Victory Monument
• Visit to Buddha Park
• Overnight at Souphattra Vientiane Hotel****

Day 11: First glimpse of the South: Pakse

• Transfer to the airport
• Flight Vientiane-Pakse (Laos Airlines, 11:20-12:20)
• Visit to Vat Luang Temple in Pakse
• Discover traditional sandstone carving in a village
• Buddha statue at Wat Chomphet
• Insight into traditional noodle making
• Dinner at the hotel restaurant
• Overnight at La Folie Lodge**** boutique hotel in Champasak

Day 12: Khmer temple and free time by the Mekong

• Visit to Vat Phou Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Free time
• Dinner at the hotel restaurant
• Overnight at La Folie Lodge**** boutique hotel

Day 13: The Bolaven Plateau: the garden of the South

• Excursion to the Bolaven Plateau
• Walk to the waterfalls
• Visit to a coffee plantation and a tea plantation
• Dinner at the hotel restaurant
• Overnight at La Folie Lodge**** boutique hotel

Day 14: In the paradise of the 4,000 Islands

• Boat trip through the islands of southern Laos
• Discover life on the Mekong islands
• Overnight at Senghaloune Resort*** on Don Khone

Day 15: A spectacular finale: the Mekong waterfalls

• Boat trip to the Mekong waterfalls
• Journey to Champasak
• Overnight at The Riviera Champasak*** in Champasak

Day 16: Farewell to the Mekong, farewell to Laos

• Boat trip to Pakse
• Transfer to Ubon Ratchathani Airport
• Flight Ubon Ratchathani-Bangkok (Thai Airways, 17:55-19:00)
• Overnight at Amaranth Hotel*** at Bangkok Airport

Day 17: Back home

• Transfer to the nearby airport using the hotel’s airport transfer service
• Flight Bangkok-Istanbul (Turkish Airlines, 05:55-12:35)
• Connecting flight Istanbul-Luxembourg (Turkish Airlines, 15:40-17:05)