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Laos North to South
Laos Uncovered – A North to South Journey Through Culture and River Life
This is Laos with the map opened right out. In eight days, you’ll visit the mellow capital on the Mekong, the limestone drama of Vang Vieng, the golden temples and river-town charm of Luang Prabang, and then the deep south, where the Mekong loosens into islands, waterfalls, fishing villages, and slow, wide skies. It is a big-feeling journey without being exhausting. A high-speed train links Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang, and a domestic flight carries you south to Pakse, so you cover real ground without spending the whole trip on the road.
Itinerary overview
Arrive at Wattay International Airport, where your guide will meet you and transfer you to your h...
Today gives you a proper introduction to Vientiane, a capital with history, spirituality, and a l...
Leave Vientiane behind and travel north to Vang Vieng, a journey of around an hour and a half by ...
After breakfast, transfer to Vang Vieng railway station for the high-speed train to Luang Prabang...
Today is all about Luang Prabang, a compact riverside town where temples, old royal buildings, hi...
Start early with a transfer to Luang Prabang Airport for the flight south to Pakse, the main gate...
Set out by traditional boat into Si Phan Don, better known as the 4,000 Islands, close to the Cam...
Vientiane
Arrive at Wattay International Airport, where your guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is deliberately easy. After a long journey, Vientiane is a kind place to land: low-rise, relaxed, and set beside the Mekong with none of the rush you might expect from a capital city. Unpack, stretch your legs, take a first wander, or settle straight into the trip over dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at sabaidee@Lao Hotel, Salana Hotel or DoubleTree Hilton Vientiane (or similar). Meals: Dinner.
Vientiane
Today gives you a proper introduction to Vientiane, a capital with history, spirituality, and a lovely unhurried pace. Start at Wat Sisaket, one of the city’s most atmospheric temples, where cloister walls are lined with thousands of Buddha images. Continue to Ho Phra Keo, the former royal chapel that once housed the Emerald Buddha, then visit Pha That Luang, the great golden stupa and one of Laos’ most important national monuments. You’ll also stop at Patuxai, Vientiane’s grand memorial arch, before heading out to Buddha Park. This open-air sculpture garden is playful and memorable in the best way, with Buddhist and Hindu-inspired figures scattered across the grounds. In the evening, enjoy dinner with a cultural performance. Overnight at sabaidee@Lao Hotel, Salana Hotel or DoubleTree Hilton Vientiane (or similar). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Vang Vieng
Leave Vientiane behind and travel north to Vang Vieng, a journey of around an hour and a half by expressway. The change in scenery comes quickly as the capital slips away and the road opens onto green fields, river bends, and limestone cliffs. On arrival, visit Angel Cave and Tham Chang Cave, where steps lead up to wide views across the valley. Later, take a motorised pirogue cruise along the Nam Song River. This is where Vang Vieng really makes an impression: the boat moving along the water, cliffs rising around you, and the town appearing in flashes between riverbanks and mountains. After lunch and time to look around, check in for the night at your hotel. Overnight at Silver Naga, Saksiri Boutique Hotel or Tmark Resort (or similar). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Luang Prabang
After breakfast, transfer to Vang Vieng railway station for the high-speed train to Luang Prabang. The journey takes just under an hour, making it a neat and comfortable way to move from the mountain scenery of Vang Vieng to Laos’ former royal capital. On arrival, your Luang Prabang guide and driver will meet you and take you to Kuang Si Waterfall. This is one of the big wow moments of the trip: forest paths, pale-blue pools, and a main cascade dropping through the trees. There is time to swim where conditions allow, walk through the surrounding park, and visit the Free the Bears rescue centre near the falls before lunch. Later, return to Luang Prabang and check in for the next two nights, with dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at Treasure Hotel, Muang Thing Hotel or Sofitel Luang Prabang (or simialr). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Luang Prabang
Today is all about Luang Prabang, a compact riverside town where temples, old royal buildings, historic houses, and mountain views sit close together. You’ll travel by tuk-tuk between key sights, starting with Wat Xieng Thong, one of the city’s most important temples, known for its graceful rooflines and rich decoration, then continue to Wat Visoun and Wat Aham. You’ll also visit Ock Pop Tok, a weaving centre beside the Mekong, where you can see how silk, natural dyes, patterns, and traditional craft still shape Lao textile culture. After lunch, continue to the National Museum in the former Royal Palace, Wat Mai, and Mount Phousi, the hill in the centre of town with views over Luang Prabang, the Mekong, and the surrounding mountains. The day ends with time at the Hmong Night Market before returning to your hotel. Overnight at Treasure Hotel, Muang Thing Hotel or Sofitel Luang Prabang (or simialr). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Champasak and Khong Island
Start early with a transfer to Luang Prabang Airport for the flight south to Pakse, the main gateway to southern Laos. You’ll be met on arrival by a local guide before continuing by road to Champasak, a Mekong-side town with old houses, former royal connections, and easy access to Wat Phou. The day includes Wat Phou Salao, set on a hillside above Pakse with a large golden Buddha, then Wat Phou itself, a UNESCO-listed temple complex at the foot of Phou Khao Mountain. The visit can be hot and involves walking, so light clothing, a hat, and comfortable shoes are a must. After lunch in Champasak, continue south for around three hours towards the 4,000 Islands, where the Mekong widens into channels, rapids, islands, and fishing communities. Tonight you stay on Khong Island, where accommodation is simpler than elsewhere on the trip, but the setting brings you close to the river and the slower pace of the far south. Overnight at Pon Arena (or similar). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Don Det, Don Khon, and Khon Phapheng Falls
Set out by traditional boat into Si Phan Don, better known as the 4,000 Islands, close to the Cambodian border. This part of Laos feels very different from the north, with river life at the centre of everything and small communities spread across the Mekong's islands. Visit Don Det and Don Khon, neighbouring islands with traces of the French colonial period, including railway remains linked to attempts to move goods around the river’s unnavigable sections. Continue by bicycle or tuk-tuk to Li Phi Falls, where the Mekong breaks through rocks and channels in a dramatic rush of water. Later, return by boat to Ban Nakasang and continue to Khon Phapheng Falls, the largest waterfall on the Mekong and one of southern Laos’ great natural sights. Return to Khong Island for dinner and a final evening by the river. Overnight at Pon Arena (or similar). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Depart Khong Island
After breakfast, continue with your onward journey. Meals: Breakfast.
Other Itineraries
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