Meals: None

Arrival Luang Prabang.

Welcome to Laos.  Upon arrival, obtain your Laos Visa on arrival if you haven’t already obtained this prior to travel, then clear Immigration and Customs. Proceed into the arrival area, meet your guide and driver, transfer to your accommodation,

Rest afternoon at leisure.

Overnight at Satri House, Deluxe Room

Meals: B L

Luang Prabang, Pearl of the Mekong.

Transfer to begin your journey at the most popular of temples – Wat Xieng Thong. This 500-year-old temple is exquisite and is the best example of the classic Luang Prabang style. You will also visit nearby Wat Sene and Wat Mai. From here, explore some local and interesting small side streets, along back alleys and through temples – a city that could have been designed with slow travel in mind, this tour allows you to soak up the ambiance and appreciate the hidden charms of Luang Prabang.

Through your guide, feel free to ask the locals questions as they go about their daily lives. Continue wandering up the peninsula, stopping at temples and other sites as you wish. Visit the National Museum, which is the former Royal Palace. Relics from Laos’ royalist past remain here. Overlooking the palace is Phousi Mountain. It is said that those who do not climb the 328 steps up have not really made it to the city. Venture up the hill and be rewarded with remarkable views of the area.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Kuang Si Waterfall.

After lunch, you will travel south of town to the Kuang Si Waterfall. Stop along the way to visit the Living Crafts Centre, a place where you will have a short visit and see how textiles are made and meet the weavers who help to keep these traditions alive.

At the falls, crystal waters cascade into idyllic turquoise pools. Bring a bathing suit if you would like to swim! Also take time to visit the nearby Sun bear Refuge to learn more about the poaching of these endangered creatures.

On the way back to the town, you will stop to visit the Buffalo Dairy, known for their sustainable approach on local farming. An excellent way to finish your day. Definitely not only fun for kids but a real educational experience. This includes: A guided tour of the farm & information on how they work with the local community, Buffalo feeding & bathing, milking demonstration, Feeding chickens, pigs and rabbits, Bottle feeding calves. Relax in the café and enjoy the

‘Cake of the day’ served with ice cream and tea or coffee.

Baci Ceremony in a Local Village.

In this late afternoon, you will be treated to the refined grace of a private Baci ceremony at a small village called Ban Mano. These gentle villagers led by their Nai Ban (village chief) offer visitors tidings of good luck and fortune for their life and travels by gently tying cotton cords symbolizing luck, friendship and good health around your wrists. The Baci ceremony will be held at a private family home.  Traditionally, Baci ceremonies can be held for a number of different occasions. Before going on a longer trip, for a new house, a new born child or, like in your case, to welcome visitors to a home.

Overnight at Satri House, Deluxe Room

Meals: B L

Participate in Almsgiving.

At 05:30am. The bells of the town ‘s monasteries toll at dawn when golden lines of monks emerge to receive their morning rice from the townspeople.

Wake up early and have some hot tea and cookies. After this you will have the opportunity to respectfully witness this sacred ritual typical of old Laos-long lines of barefoot monks weaving through the streets on their alms rounds. This will be in a village out of town where rarely any tourists are seen. Here fore you will have the opportunity to witness the almsgiving in a real traditional way. You will be supplied with alms you can traditionally give to the monks.

We also encourage that if you must take photographs that it does not interfere with this highly revered Ritual. Afterwards, visit the Morning Market and see an array of meats, vegetables and spices the locals use in their cooking.

Return to your hotel for breakfast.

It's all about food – a home cooking class.

A full day of exploring Lao food first hand - from market to home cooking, snack making and whiskey tasting. Today you will be picked up by your guide and continue by car to a local fresh market, where you will meet your chef and teacher for today, Mrs. Noy. After learning about local products, you will soon be boarding a boat to cross the Mekong River where you will be greeted by friendly villagers and the family of Noy. Don’t expect a star awarded kitchen but a simple private cooking lesson in the family's home with local specialties.

Visit the Pak Ou Caves.

After you have enjoyed your lunch in the local village, you will continue by boat to reach the Pak Ou caves. Peering into dark corners, your eyes gradually adjust to reveal the serene faces and figures of more than 3.000 Buddha images, some inlaid with semiprecious stones. That these images remain undisturbed in this remote site in one of the world‘s poorest countries is a testament to the devotion of the people.

Return by boat to Luang Prabang, cruising along the Mekong and enjoy the lush river life along its banks while sipping a drink and tasting some Lao snacks. You will stop at some local villages. One of the villages is a wonderful silk weaving village called Ban Xang Khong.  The weaving techniques employed in Ban Xang Khong date back many centuries and are used to create some of Asia‘s most highly prized textiles. Some villagers are also engaged in Sa Paper production.

Visit some more villages where the famous river weed snacks, rice crackers and other delicacies are produced.

At the end of the day, while floating gently down the water, enjoy a Lao rice whiskey tasting while slowly approaching Luang Prabang.

Overnight at Satri House, Deluxe Room

Meals: B L

Inside The Hearts of Elephants (Full day private excursion).

After picking you up from town or your hotel around 09:00am., we will leave Luang Prabang for the nearby village of Xieng Lom. Upon arrival you are invited to have coffee or tea as your guide for the day provides an in- depth introduction to elephant behavior and the ways we should interact with them.

After 2 hours crossing through a beautiful stretch of traditional Lao gardens you will arrive at the jungle-covered Huay Nok stream. You and your elephant companions will continue walking past a lovely stretch of rice fields and enter a patch of forest where you can rest, relax, and eat.  Lunch will be served in traditional Lao fashion, eating on bamboo mats on the forest floor.

You will visit the Tad Kuang Song Waterfall spend time meditating and admiring the private beauty of this rarely seen natural treasure. After this the mahout’s will show how they communicate and listen to their elephants. You can take what you have learned from the mahouts and guides throughout the day and spend quiet, uninterrupted time with the elephants

While the elephants take their time to eat their lunch, you have the chance to visit a small Khmu village and experience one of the many different ethnic groups living in Laos. The Khmu have a different language and religious beliefs than other Lao people. They will offer you a warm welcome and will proudly offer to sell you their traditional handmade crafts.

After the elephants have eaten and are full (for a moment at least), you and the mahouts will walk with them to their nighttime feeding grounds. Take time for a long goodbye and know that the connection you have built is not only felt by you, but by your new friends as well.

We will then drive you back to town. Arrive approximately 4:00 P.M.

Overnight at Satri House, Deluxe Room

Meals: B

This morning, you will be transfer with your guide to the airport for your onward flight to Siem Reap.

Transfer Siem Reap Airport - Hotel (Driver + Guide)

Welcome to Cambodia! Upon arrival in Seim Reap, if you have not done, so already please obtain your Cambodia visa. After clearing immigration and customs, proceed into the arrival area where you will be met by your private guide and driver to transfer you to your hotel.

Enjoy the day free at your own leisure.

Overnight at Treeline Urban Resort, Room with Breakfast/ Deluxe Urban View Room

Meals: B L

Temple Biking & Quiet Trails

Explore Angkor Temples by bicycle. Cycle quiet back trails, explore breathtaking temples in the stunning and friendly Cambodian countryside. This trip runs outside Siem Reap. Escape the crowds, the busy roads and the well-worn trail at Angkor. Cycle the small tracks and minor roads to see a different side of the Angkor Temples. This is a guided tour of the most intriguing of the major temples. We visit Tha Prom, The Elephant Terrace and the Bayon as well as a couple of less visited ones along the way. We finish with a ride on small trails through the villages and back to town. This is a truly enjoyable ride on a good bike with a friendly Cambodian cycling guide. If you can ride a bike, then you will love this ride. 

The distance is approximately 30km on mainly flat tracks and small roads. We will stop often for photos, temple exploration on foot and refreshments. Notice: visiting temples or other religious sites, visitors are advised to follow a dress code consisting of "long trousers or skirt which cover the knees, and covered shoulders". Skirts, small shorts, tank tops, and other items of revealing clothing are not allowed.

Overnight at Treeline Urban Resort, Room with Breakfast/ Deluxe Urban View Room

Meals: B L

HeroRats "Apopo" and Beng Mealea

This morning, your private driver and guide will pick you up at hotel's lobby for drive to visit trained landmine detecting rats as nickname “HeroRats”, the bomb finding rats are out savings lives by using their super senses to sniff out the past and help create a safe future for rural areas. After learning about their interesting work, you will direct to Beng Mealea. Beng Mealea is a spectacular jungle temple, located about 40 km north of Siem Reap. Beng Mealea (meaning lotus pond in Khmer) is a sizable temple, orientated towards the east. It has been largely reclaimed by nature with trees and moss covering the ruins. It gives a shady and quiet atmosphere and the lack of other visitors makes this temple really special. There is extensive carving of scenes from Hindu mythology, including the Churning of the Sea of Milk and Vishnu being born by the bird god Garuda. Causeways have long balustrades   formed   by bodies of the seven headed Naga serpent.  Constructed during the reign of king Suryavarman II, the layout is similar to that of Angkor Wat. Its scale is huge; being well over 1 square kilometer. The moat has no perimeter wall unlike Angkor Wat. If you approach via a causeway Beng Mealea appears to be a huge pile of rubble partially hidden in the trees. Once you get closer the high walls and the ancient Khmer Architecture reveals itself.

Return to the town in early, enjoy free at leisure!

Overnight at Treeline Urban Resort, Room with Breakfast/ Deluxe Urban View Room

Meals: B L

Stilted Houses in Kampong Khleang

Hotel check out at 12:00noon!

After breakfast, check out your hotel and meet your private guide and driver and drive to Kampong Khleang.

An authentic experience with a family living in a stilt house on the famous Tonle Sap Lake. Kompong Khleang is located on the northern lake-edge about 45 Km east of Siem Reap. It is a remote area dotted with wooden houses on 10-meter-tall stilts, surrounded by water in the wet season and on the flood plains of the lake in the dry season.

Leave Siem Reap in the morning at 10:00am for an hour drive to Kompong Khleang; along the road, we visit a local market “Phsar Thnal Chek”. Kampong Khleang has grown in popularity among tourists in recent years, but still provides an opportunity for a unique experience. We will start our visiting a local house where you will have lunch and have an opportunity to help the family to cook and learn about Khmer cuisine. Enjoy your local Khmer lunch on the terrace and learn about the details of this fishing community.

In the afternoon, we will catch a wooden boat from Kompong Khleang to the Tonle Sap Lake.  Both sides of the river are lined by floating houses that look amazing nestled on the great lake. From here you have a picturesque view of the floating house and local people’s way of life and take as many photos as you want. We include a few soft drinks and local beers on the boat so you can enjoy some sundowners before heading back to Siem Reap.

Note: Due to government policy, unfortunately we are not allowed to help fishing or stay on the same boat as the fishermen.

Then you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to your next destination.