NORTHERN THAILAND & LAOS 15-DAY PACKAGE
(This package combines a tour of northern Thailand and Laos by crossing the Thai-Lao border at Chiang Khong-Huay Xai. After you have toured northern Thailand in the “Land of Smiles” we take you by boat down the Mekong River to the heritage site of Luang Prabang, and southwards to Vientiane and Pakse in southern Laos, the “Land of a Million Elephants”.)

Day 1: Arrival in Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand) – (L,D)

Arrive at Chiang Mai airport, meet and transfer to your hotel.

Chiang Mai is a charming city founded on ancient Lanna culture by King Mengrai of Chiang Saen and Chiang Rai. It is set among rolling hills with great natural scenery of valleys, streams, mountains and temples. Traditionally the people are soft and gentle following Buddhist tradition and welcome people into their circle. We show you this charming aspect of life in a tour of the sacred temples like Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang and of course Wat Prathat Doi Suthep up in the mountains from where you can have a panoramic view of the city below. While in a temple, engage in a “Monk Chat” to learn from the monks how they practice Buddhism or just simply living their lives. We introduce you to northern Thai food in a lunch at the Tha Nam Restaurant. We show you the artistic nature of the Chiang Mai artisans in their workplaces of silk weaving, celadon making, teakwood carving and lacquer ware. You will be charmed by the colourful umbrellas being made at the village of Bor Sang. Return to your hotel to refresh yourself, have a swim in the pool, or a massage.

Then at 7pm we pick you up for a Khantoke dinner with northern Thai and hill tribe cultural shows. The Khantoke dinner with entertainment is a special feature of the northern Thai inviting friends into their home to share a meal and relax in chat while the dances go on.

After that you can stroll in the interesting Night Bazaar which offers a great variety of northern Thai crafts, foods, drinks and other things to delight the tourist.

Overnight at Royal Lanna (3-star) / Rydges or Duangtawan Hotel (4-star), Chiang Mai.

Day 2: Chiang Mai – Elephants & Elephants (B,L)

Buffet breakfast at your hotel. We go to the foothills with many meandering rivers to the “Elephant Nature Park” of TV fame where people interact with these pachyderms having fun bathing the young and not-so-young elephants, feeding them, give them commands and going on an hour’s safari into the jungle. You get to learn a whole lot about elephants this way. Have lunch buffet-style at a riverside restaurant. Then enjoy an ox-cart ride as the Thai did centuries ago and even today in the rural areas, a bamboo rafting down river to where your transport waits to take you back to the city. Be at leisure to enjoy Chiang Mai at will for the rest of the day.

Overnight at Royal Lanna / Rydges or Duangtawan Hotel, Chiang Mai.

Day 3: Chiang Mai – Chiang Rai (B,L,D)

Buffet breakfast at the hotel. At about 8.30am we depart Chiang Mai to tour Chiang Rai province. The 3-hour drive takes you through teak forests, ascend gentle hills, cross streams and see villages of Lanna style along the way. We stop awhile at a hot spring to relax. Visitors like to boil quail and chicken eggs in the hot water besides taking a health bath in one of the private rooms there. We take in a couple of hill tribe villages as we move among the hills of Chiang Rai province.

Lunch in a Chiang Rai restaurant before setting off to the ancient city of Chiang Saen on the west bank of the Mekong River. This is a 750-year-old city dotted with very old wat like Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Pa Sa, Wat Prathat Chom Kitti to name a few. A small museum next to Wat Chedi Luang holds artefacts dug up in the surrounding area. The ancient double-layered city walls are crumbling but distinctive. Lanna culture had its beginnings here and spread to cover much of northern Thailand and northern Laos. Unobstructed views of the Mekong River and Laos are seen as we drive along the riverbank in the opposite direction to the flow. Soon we are at the Golden Triangle. In its heyday it was the hub of the opium trade legal and otherwise. But today you don’t see the opium-growers, drug-traffickers, CIA and FBI agents milling with the unsuspecting tourists – but they are there. If you are fascinated by opium, there is the “Hall of Opium” at the Golden Triangle to give you the history, production and the effects of this narcotic on society. Take your photos at the monument of the Golden Triangle opposite which is a coffee stall selling arabica coffee by the cup. Lots of souvenirs here for sale. Our last destination is the border town of Mae Sai, said to be the recipient of smuggled Burmese jade and rubies from the Mogok mines. The shops have an interesting range of things. For the thrill of it we can cross the bridge into Burmese Tachileik for a total payment of USD10 to both the Thai and the Myanmar immigration. Tachileik has a horde of pests pressing their shoddy goods on you. But in the shops are goods from China – blankets, satin bedspreads, clothes and shoes, and foodstuffs like preserved fruits, fresh fruits, mushrooms and beans of many kinds. By evening we should be in Chiang Rai. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight at Diamond Park (3-star) / Rimkok Resort or Legend Hotel (4-star), Chiang Rai.

Day 4: Chiang Rai (B)

Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Today we take a rest from our dashing about. It’s a free day for you to relax in this laid-back city surrounded by beautiful hills. Enjoy the hotel’s pool. Try a health-giving massage either of foot or body – why not both? Go to the hot spring in nearby Bandu for a medicinal soak. People with back pains are said to sprint around after a few soaks. Take a boat to cruise up the Kok River to visit a cave-temple, a Lahu village and a Karen village with elephants! 

Overnight at Diamond Park / Rimkok Resort or Legend Hotel, Chiang Rai.

Day 5: Chiang Rai – Laos (Pak Beng) - (B,D)

Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning transfer to Chiang Khong, a 2-hour drive through lovely scenery, here to do the immigration formalities for crossing the border into Huay Xai (Laos). Our Lao guide will take you in hand here. Board a slow boat (much safer than the fast long-tailed boats - especially when the river flow is swift) down the Mekong River and let the scene drift by. Conjure up the exploits of the French explorers who also used this river to penetrate Laos from the mid-nineteenth century for the glory of French civilization. At Pak Beng we disembark. If you have the energy to look around, go ahead; you can’t stray far as the jungle hems you in. Hill tribe villages dot the surrounding hills. Your guide can take you to one, if you wish. Or two, if your legs don’t give way by then. Dinner at the lodge.

Overnight at the Sarika lodge in Pak Beng.

Day 6: Pak Beng – Luang Prabang (B,D)

Breakfast at the lodge. Morning departure from Pak Beng in another safe slow boat. (We can give you the fast one if you are daring.) You spend a lazy morning trailing your hand in the Mekong River water and hear the sounds of the jungle as your boat slips slowly pass. By about noon as your boat takes the last bend of the Mekong River, Luang Prabang glides into view – a picturesque jewel-like town that the modern world has forgotten. This former royal city of a long line of Laotian kings is a world heritage site adopted by UNESCO. We rush you to your hotel by the river and leave you there for an hour or so to do whatever you must. Refreshed, you will be taken on an orientation walking tour of the town. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in the Mekong region. The street of interest is the main street, Thanon Sisavangvong. Visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Phousi Hill for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as see a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. Down at the foot of Phousi Hill, we stroll in the street bazaar, where you can find lovely collections and handmade textiles of the lowland Laotians and ethnic peoples from the hills surrounding Luang Prabang. Dinner of authentic Lao cuisine at Pakhuay Mixay restaurant.
Overnight at the Hotel Souphannaphoum (3-star) or Grand Luangprabang Hotel (4-star), Luang Prabang.

Day 7: Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Caves (B,D)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel with a splendid river view from the terrace. Morning sightseeing of Luang Prabang to include the city's oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground in the grand style of Lao classical temple architecture.
 We then board a boat to cruise up the Mekong River to the Pak Ou caves. The riverine views soothe the eyes and conjure up bygone days of simplicity and serenity as the countryside slips by. Visit the interesting and mysterious Pak Ou caves crammed with thousands of gold-lacquered and other Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xang Hai, where they make the potent local rice wine. On the return, we take a short drive to Ban Xang Khong and Ban Xienglek, well known for its hand-made jute and sar papers. We drive back to the city following the scenic river as it flows down the valley. Have a French set dinner at “L’Elephant Blanc” restaurant.
Overnight at the Hotel Souvannaphoum or Grand Luangprabang Hotel, Luang Prabang.

Day 8: Luang Prabang - Khouangsi Falls (B,L)
This morning you may want to rise early at about 6am to participate in the daily morning Buddhist ritual of giving food to a file of saffron-robed monks carrying their black alms bowls and walking slowly pass along the street in single file while devotees knelt by the roadside and reverently put things into the alms bowls to gain merit for themselves and others. Return to the hotel for our buffet breakfast on the terrace.This morning we visit the morning Phosi Market where you will see such diverse produce as dried buffalo skin, skinned live frogs, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Not to be missed is the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a unique collection of artefacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit the pottery villages of Lao Loum at Ban Xom and Ban Thapene.
Lunch at Indochina Spirit restaurant of Lao cuisine.
Then we drive to the lovely Khouangsi waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or walk along the shady forest paths. A stop at Ban Phanom, a local village well known for its weaving to see the simple lifestyle and local handicrafts can be made before we return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon. From Wat Siphouthabath we can see a lovely sunset before returning to the hotel.
Overnight at the Hotel Souvannaphoum or Grand Luangprabang Hotel, Luang Prabang.

Day 9:  Luang Prabang - Vientiane (B,L)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
Morning visit to the Central market as we drive to the airport to board our flight to Vientiane. At the airport, our local guide will meet us and
transfer us to our hotel to check-in.
We go on a half-day city tour seeing Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple still standing in Vientiane. This amazing structure features remarkable frescoes and Buddha statues. The following sight is the former royal temple of Haw Pha Kaew, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha image now in Bangkok. We also visit the imposing Patouxai Monument well known as Vientiane's own Arc de Triomphe before continuing to the imposing sacred structure and symbol of Laos, That Luang Stupa.
Lunch of Lao cuisine at Kua Lao restaurant.
Overnight at Royal Dokmaideng or Lao Plaza Hotel, Vientiane.

Day 10:  Vientiane - Xiengkhouang (B)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
A short morning flight to Xiengkhouang for an excursion to the mysterious "Plain of Jars" where hundreds of large stone jars are littered in a vast plain. In spite of severe devastation by American bombings between 1964 and 1973, many of these artefacts remain intact. Here is a unique and impressive archaeological site that scholars are still debating over. We will have time this afternoon to see the old capital of Muang Khoun Province and the nearby
villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe and Thai Dam people. They have an interesting local culture and a colourful history.
Overnight at Phou Chanh or Phou Pha Daang Hotel, Phonsavanh.

Day 11: Xiengkhouang - Vientiane (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the central market, then free at leisure for
your own exploration of the town before we catch a flight back to Vientiane. After checking into hotel, if time permits, we continue our sightseeing tour of Vientiane visit the impressive Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge and the Buddha Park, a display of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures created by a mystical monk on parkland located by the Mekong River. A view of the spectacular sunset over the Mekong River is a nice way to finish the day.
Overnight at Royal Dokmaideng or Lao Plaza Hotel, Vientiane.

Day 12: Vientiane - Pakse - Khong Island (B)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport for the early flight to Pakse, departing at 6.30am. Pakse on the confluence of the Mekong and the Sedon rivers was the French administrative capital of southern Laos since its establishment in 1905 until they were forced to retreat in 1954. Pakse has a population of half a million people made up of Phu Thai, Khmers, Mon-Khmer communities like Chieng, Inthi, Kaseng, Katang, Lavai, Laven, Salao, Tahang and eight other groups. Timber is its main source of revenue, followed by extensive acreages of coffee, tea, cardamon and rattan. Its central market is very lively with an astonishing number of local produce. Now in Lao hands it is a laid-back town and the main tourist attraction is the ancient Wat Phou Champasak 8km to the southeast. It is smaller than the temples in Angkor (Siem Reap) and the ones in Buriram and Phimai (both in Thailand) but it has a grandeur of the Chenla kingdom of the 6^th century and the Khmer kingdom of the 13^th century. On arrival in Pakse, we drive on the National Road 13 southwards to Champasak and visit the ruins of Wat Phou, which is well known as the most important Hindu sanctuary of the Khmer Empire between 9th -13th centuries. It was a Cambodian satellite town within the great Angkor empire until Angkor’s demise in the 17^th century. Here is also a chance to visit some nearby Khmer temples and Hindu-Buddhist shrines. We continue our way to Khong Island by a local slow boat admiring the views as we sail along.

Overnight at Villa Muang Khong, in Khong Island.

Day 13: Khong Island - Surrounding (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we enjoy a cruise venturing into the widest reach of the Mekong River from where thousands of islets jut out in the dry season, giving this area a lovely name "Si Phan Done".

In this stretch of the Mekong River are fast-flowing sheer-drop rapids, thunderous waterfalls and a rare species of river dolphins found here only. Villages where time stood still scatter around. Villagers are self-sufficient growing their own rice as a staple, sugarcane for sugar, coconut for oil and a variety of uses, vegetables supplemented by fish from the bountiful Mekong River, and weaving their own textiles for clothing. Along the way, we stop at the Liphi waterfalls and the fishermen village of Ban Khone. On the return, we take a short drive to the Lao-Cambodia border at Weukham and the sight of Khone Phapheng, which is reputedly South-East Asia's largest waterfall, with frothing rapids and tumbling cascades. At Hat Sai Khun on National Route 13 we cross by ferry to Khong Island, a large 18km by 8km island in the middle of the Mekong River. It is a scenic island with hills and rice-fields in the centre and vegetable gardens and villages with 100-year-old wat of their own around the sides. It is famous nationally for its smoothest of lao-lao liquour. Muang Khong on the eastern coast is the largest village on the island.
Overnight at Villa Muang Khong in Khong Island.

Day 14:  Khong Island - Tatlo - Pakse (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Upon leaving Khong Island, we continue our journey towards Tatlo, through the Bolaven plateau where tea and coffee plantations produce high quality tea-leaves and coffee beans that are among the most expensive in the world. The vegetation is lush and the red basaltic soil all along the way is incredible to behold. En route, there are some opportunities to explore a part of the Bolaven plateau and visit some hilltribe villages of the Katu, Alak and Nge ethnic minority peoples. Arrive in Pakse by late evening.
Overnight at Pakse Hotel or Hotel Residence du Champa, Pakse.

Day 15:  Pakse - Departure (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. There is free time for your own exploration of Pakse town before either catching a flight to Siem Reap (Cambodia) to enjoy another tour with Mekong Treks, or be transferred overland to exit Laos at the Chongmek border checkpoint to Ubon Rachathani (Thailand) airport or railway station.
   End of Programme.

INCLUDING:
- Air ticket LPQ-VTE, VTE-XKH-VTE, VTE- PKZ
- Accommodation in hotels as stated
- Transportation in private air-con vehicle with driver
- English or French speaking guide
- Entrance fees to indicated sights
- Meals as stated in the programme
- Boat trips
 

NOT INCLUDING:
- International air tickets to and from Laos
- Visa fee (Visa-on-Arrival USD30 in Laos. Some nationalities are

 exempted. )
- Departure airport tax
- Travel Insurance
- Meals not stated in the programme
- Tip, drinks, personal expenses and others not stated.