Explore this charming city in an eco-friendly and fun manner aboard an electric tuk tuk. Start the day at a morning market, experiencing the daily lives of locals, and sampling tasty Lao dishes. This fresh food market is very colourful and lively and offers up great opportunities for photos.

Next, head to the UXO Laos Visitor Center, which features a simple but informative exhibition about the existence of UXOs (unexploded ordnance) in Laos and the efforts done to clear them. In just under an hour, you’ll gain a good sense of how the UXOs affected, and still affect, the lives of Lao people.

Continue in the tuk tuk just outside of town for a fun and insightful flute-making workshop taught by locals, and learn more about their arts and crafts.

Highlights

• Explore Luang Prabang in a environmentally friendly manner by electric tuk tuk
• Visiting UXO Visitor Center where informative exhibition about existence of UXOs(unexploded Ordnance) in Laos and the efforts done to clear them.
• Joining a flute making workshop taught by the locals.

The former royal capital of Laos, Luang Prabang sits on the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Kham Rivers. In this half-day guided tour by tuk tuk, discover the rich cultural and historical heritage of this charming town.

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel after breakfast. 

Start your city tour at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, where you will learn about the history of Laos. Continue on foot to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief, and Wat Sensoukarahm, which features a beautiful dazzling golden façade.

Finish the tour at Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang. Located at the end of the peninsula, close to the Mekong, this temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat and is decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics.                      

Transfer back to your hotel with your guide.

Note: this tour can be done in the morning or in the afternoon. 

This is a great chance to discover local customs. Participate in a traditional Baci Ceremony at a local house. The ceremony of Baci is held on any day throughout the year and is meant to commemorate specific events in an individual’s life.

The events could be anything related to any life event – such as a marriage, a success in any endeavour, an annual festival, the birth of a child, recovery from illness, or even to honour visitors and guests of importance.

After the Baci experience, head to Petanque venue in the city centre where locals gather in the evenings to play their favorite game, Petanque.

This game originated in the South of France in the early 1900’s and is played widely across the country.

Join in a game with a local group, and as a way of saying “thanks”, surprise them with some snacks and “Beerlao” we’ve brought with us.

Afterwards, head back into town to enjoy typical Laotian dinner at a local restaurant.

Highlights

• A spiritual Baci ceremony at a local house to call escaped spirits back to the body.
• A memorable experience with a close access to the locals while joining them to play their hobby.

Explore the countryside around Luang Prabang by mountain bike on this Full Day 37 km guided bike trip. Cycle off-road, exploring the area with several stops to take pictures before reaching the village of Ban Nakham.

The village is popular for sugar cane and Kaolam (sticky rice and beans in bamboo), which are tasty local treats.

Continue cycling alongside verdant green rice paddies and stop at a village to see villagers making local crafts such as pots, jars and vats.

This is a relaxing one-day trip to enjoy the ride and see how the locals live their daily lives.

A quality mountain bike and helmet are included.

Spend a day feeding bears in a sanctuary and discovering a multi-tiered waterfall. Drive outside the city to the Tad Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre where you will be greeted by the manager who will personally guide you through the park.

See one of Lao’s most endangered species; learn about the threats to these beautiful animals and what is being done to help protect Laos’ precious wildlife.

You will also have a chance to meet the bears at close quarters and aid the keepers at feeding time.

Carry on to the Kuang Si Waterfall where cool, clear water cascades over limestone formations.

The water tumbles down for about 100 metres and gathers into stunning turquoise pools. Relax over a private picnic lunch while enjoying the spectacular scenery.

Highlights

• Spend a day feeding bears during a personalized tour with the Manager at a Bear Sanctuary.
• A private picnic lunch while enjoying the spectacular scenery next to Kuang Si Waterfalls

Enjoy a light trek near Luang Prabang to discover hilltribe lifestyles and lush mountain views in this full-day excursion. Take a long tail boat across the Nam Khan River followed by a short hike through Kamu and Hmong villages.

At around 8 am drive to the Elephant Village, a scenic elephant camp on the outskirts of Luang Prabang where a long-tail boat will transfer you across the Nam Khan River to the starting point for the hike.

Your local guide will lead you along the pathways and through small Kamu villages where you will be able to interact with the locals.

Continue along a narrow rocky track and make your way to a Hmong village and enjoy lunch at a local house. The locals are very welcoming and will be very keen to share their knowledge and tales.

After lunch, take a short walk around the village to learn more about the traditional lifestyles and cultures of the Hmong people. Trek back to starting point by following a stream where a long-tail boat awaits to transfer you back to the Elephant Village.

On the way back to Luang Prabang, a short stop at the Traditional Art & Ethnology Centre offers more insight into the various ethnic groups living in Laos.

Discover the main sights of Luang Prabang and get an insider’s view of the religion and culture from a renowned photographer and author. Along with your own private guide take an eco-friendly electric car to the centre of the city to start your walking tour.

Stroll through the winding streets to the most beautiful and oldest temple Wat Visoun and visit That Makmo, also known as the Watermelon Stupa!

Continue to Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang’s best-known and most visited monastery. The three tiered roof sweeps low to the ground and the walls have been beautifully decorated in black lacquer and gold leaf.

The back of the temple features an intricate glass mosaic of the tree of life set on a dark red background. We walk along Nam Khan River to reach the next sight Wat Khili.

Here at the temple you will meet Hans Georg Berger, a photographer and writer who has produced photography projects about world religions, and participated in art and education projects in Laos. He currently has a permanent exhibition, ‘The Floating Buddha’, in the temple itself.

Hans will take you on a private tour of the exhibition and share his extensive knowledge and expertise about Laos.

Our final stop on this walking tour is the National Museum, which once served as the Royal Palace. After a short orientation tour through the Museum transfer back to the hotel by the electric car.

Explore the beauty of Laos' culture and natural wonders with a full day exploration around Luang Prabang. Travel up the Mekong to the Pak Ou Caves, visit a local rice-wine making village, a local ethnic minority village & picnic by Kuang Si Falls.

This morning you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to a pier on the Mekong River for a boat ride up the River.

Laos has several waterways that have traditionally been used as the local form of transportation and they continue to be used in that manner today in many parts of the country. Taking a local boat cruise is probably one of the most rewarding ways to discover the life along the rivers. 

As you cruise along, observe the daily activities of fishermen. For the villages settled along the Mekong, the river plays an important role in their daily life and usually represents the only means of transportation and commerce. 

Two hours upstream from Luang Prabang, disembark to visit the famous Pak Ou Caves. Locally called Tam Ting, the caves are filled with thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues. The statues range in size from a few centimetres tall to the height of a human and are crammed into the cave, which is nestled in a limestone cliff. The caves are a destination for local pilgrimages. 

After visiting the caves, re-board the boat for a cruise back to Luang Prabang, stopping en-route at Ban Xang Hay, a village that specializes in making traditional rice-wine.

Run by an Australian woman and her Lao husband, Tamarind Restaurant offers a fresh menu of Lao dishes and is dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of the local cuisine. 

In the afternoon, enjoy a visit to Kuang Si Waterfall, 32 km Southwest of Luang Prabang. Along the way, stops will be made to visit some ethnic villages. On reaching the falls, relax and enjoy the scenery, and if the weather is good, you can enjoy a swim in the cool, clear waters.

For the adventurous, it’s possible to walk to the top of the falls via a steep track where stunning views await.

After leisurely time at the waterfalls, transfer back to your hotel in Luang Prabang.

Follow in the footsteps of the pilgrims and visit the revered holy site of the Pak Ou Caves, home to thousands of serenely-smiling Buddha images. Board the boat and meet your private guide who will accompany you on your journey.

As the boat gently drifts along the Mekong River observe the life passing by on the sleepy riverbanks. See children playing at the water’s edge, women washing their clothes, and men fishing for the larger catch that live deep on the riverbed.

Stop along the way at the ‘lao whisky village’ to observe how sticky rice is distilled to become the famous ‘lao lao’ liquor.

See the weavers at work on the looms, and barter for colourful locally-made fabrics. On reaching the Pak Ou Caves make your way up the flight of stone steps to the lower and upper levels.

These ancient caves have been cut into the limestone cliff and are crammed full of Buddha statues of all styles, sizes and ages.

Having sat there for hundreds of years exposed to the elements, many are broken and crumbling, covered in dust and cobwebs. Now a popular pilgrimage site, the caves were discovered in the 16th century and are believed to have been a centre for spirit worship.

Return to Luang Prabang by boat enjoying a selection of typical Lao snacks along the way.

The Living Land is a community enterprise run by local people to support the children of poor farming families with their education. Amazingly fun and educational, this is the best insight into traditional rural lifestyles that you can have in half a day.

Depart from your hotel around 8 am for a short transfer in to the countryside. 5km outside Luang Prabang, The Living Land Community Farm is an entirely organic farm in a beautiful rural setting, flanked by rice paddies. The stilted wooden farm buildings house an interactive museum to give an insight into many aspects of rural life in Laos. 

Enjoy a guided walk through the organic vegetable farm and be introduced to all manner of trades, from thatched-roof making and basketry to noodle production and extracting the juice from sugar cane. 

It’s now time to try farming! Try your hand at various activities, including ploughing the rice fields with one of the resident buffalo. Please expect to get muddy and bring a change of clothes! Showers and western toilets are available. 

Rice is the most important crop throughout Laos. Learn about the 13 steps of rice production today. The 14th step is eating and that comes at the end with a range of rice-based snacks! 

Return to your hotel in time for lunch. 

Visit the gilded halls of temples such as Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Visoun, walk through the historic former Royal Palace and explore the diverse cultures and traditions of Laos’ hilltribes at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre on this Full Day tour.

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel after breakfast.

Start at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, where you will explore the history of Laos. Continue on foot to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief, and Wat Sensoukarahm, which features a beautiful dazzling golden façade.

Finish this morning's tour at Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang. Located at the end of the peninsula, close to the Mekong, this temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat and is decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics.

Run by an Australian woman and her Lao husband, Tamarind Restaurant offers a fresh menu of Lao dishes and is dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of the local cuisine. 

Following lunch, continue your tour of enchanting Luang Prabang. Visit Wat Visoun, the holiest temple of the city, which was entirely rebuilt in 1887 after being destroyed by the invading Black Flags from Southern China.

In the courtyard of Wat Visoun stands the Watermelon Stupa shaped like the fruit from which it takes its name. Continue past Wat Aham, which was first built in the 1500’s, and on to Wat That where the ashes of King Sisavang Vong are kept inside the large central stupa.

Continue to the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre, a museum dedicated to exploring the rich diversity of Laos' ethnic minorities.  Traditional costumes, tools, and artifacts are on display alongside in-depth descriptions and written histories. This is a great opportunity to gain insight in to the Lao people (note: closed on Monday).

As today comes to a close, climb the 328 stairs of Mount Phousi and watch the sun set over the city and surrounding hills.  Visit the hilltribe evening market for some shopping. This colourful market takes place every evening around 5 pm along the main streets of town and is a great place to look for souvenirs.

Transfer back to your hotel or spend more time at the hilltribe market.

Depart Luang Prabang for a day of adventure at the Explorer Camp. Trek through the jungle on back of an elephant, walk through the indigenous rainforest and enjoy a luxury Laos picnic with wine by a cascading waterfall.

Set off after breakfast to the Explorer Camp located 15 km outside of Luang Prabang.

On arrival get an introductory tour of the camp. Your guide will teach you about elephants and you can talk with a vet, feed the elephants or relax by the riverside.

The expedition begins with a 1.5-hour elephant ride, sitting on a ‘Howday’ (elephant seat) through forests and over hills to the protected Huay Sae hidden valley. Here you leave your elephant to spend the night (that’s the elephant, not you!).

Enjoy a luxury picnic lunch of traditional Lao food and wine by a secluded waterfall. Depending on the water level you may be able to enjoy a swim in the natural pools. 

After lunch continue trekking for about an hour and a half on foot. The adventurous trail crosses bamboo bridges and passes waterfalls with blue pools in dense jungle.

As you come to the end of the valley, traditional horses from the hill tribes are waiting for you to carry your bags. They will accompany you for another 30 minutes trekking along fields and forest to the Nam Khan River. 

Board a luxury bamboo raft and slowly float downstream, which is a relaxing 1.5-hour journey with an optional 30-minute stop at the Tad Sae Waterfall.

At around 4:30 your guide will meet you transfer you back to Luang Prabang. 

Bringshoes that can get wet, sun protection, pocket-money for tips, swimsuit, towel and long trousers.