Sabaai-dii! Welcome to Laos. You will be met on arrival at Vientiane Airport by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. Please provide your flight arrival details at the time of booking, or at least 14 days before departure, to organise this transfer. If you do not need this arrival transfer, please ensure you are at the joining point hotel by 1pm to meet your local guide. Please note that a morning arrival is required so you have time for afternoon sightseeing. Vientiane is the charming and fascinating capital of Laos, with an intriguing mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, American and Soviet influences. Faded colonial mansions, tree-lined boulevards and old temples create an atmosphere of timelessness, particularly in the older part of town along the Mekong River. You’ll get to know the city better today o...

You can start the day with an independent visit to Vientiane's vibrant and colourful morning market, before an included afternoon flight to Luang Prabang. Once the heart and soul of the ancient Lao Kingdom (Lan Xang) and designated a World Heritage site in 1995, Luang Prabang is endowed with a legacy of historic red-roofed temples and French-Indochinese architecture, not to mention some of the country's most refined cuisine, a multi-ethnic population and rich culture. The city and its people retain a refined, yet relaxed, air and it’s a wonderful place to wander the side streets and dusty lanes and seemingly step back into another era. In the late afternoon, you’ll visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, a building that combines French colonial and traditional Lao architecture. The collection of treasures and ar...

Travel with your local guide approximately 25 kilometres along the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Caves. On the way, you’ll have the opportunity to stop at the small village of Ban Xang Hai, which means Jar-Maker Village, so named because this used to be the local cottage industry here. Nowadays, the jars come from elsewhere and the village residents fill them with fiery lao lao (the local rice wine). The Pak Ou Caves consist of two sacred limestone caverns filled with Buddha images of all styles and sizes, brought by devoted villagers over the centuries. The lower cave, known as Tham Ting, is entered from the river by a series of steps and can easily be seen in daylight. The higher cave, Tham Phum, is deeper and requires a torch for viewing. You will enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to Luang Prabang, stopping at the silk-wea...

Luang Prabang is easily explored on foot, and today is free for you to take a closer look at some of the beautiful temples, try one of the many restaurants along the banks of the Mekong River, or simply soak up the enchanting atmosphere. It’s worth getting up in the misty early morning to view the procession of saffron-robed monks on their daily outing collecting alms, a practice that dates back centuries. The people of the town wait out the front of their houses with food for the monks to collect and take back to the temple. It is done early, as the monks cannot eat anything after midday. By giving food to a monk you ‘het bon’ or make merit, which should augur well for your next life. Make sure you don't miss Wat Xieng Thong, the most enchanting of Laos’ monasteries. Inside you'll find monks eager to practice their English...

This Classic Laos adventure comes to an end today, and with no activities planned, you’re free until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Please advise of your flight departure details at the time of booking. Note that hotel checkout time is normally 12 noon. Speak to you booking agent if you wish to stay on in Luang Prabang.