DAY 1 CHIANG RAI

Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Day at leisure. In the evening take your time to explore the little, but colorful night- and food market.

DAY 2 CHIANG RAI - CHIANG KHONG/HOUAY XAI - PAK BENG

Early morning pick up from the hotel and drive for approx. 2 hours to Chiang Khong at the Laotian border. Stamp your passport at the Thai immigration and then cross the Mekong with a shuttle boat to the Lao immigration. Here our Laotian partner agency will welcome you and assist with the visa- and passport formalities. Then board the boat and enjoy an interesting boat trip down the Mekong with some brief stops on route. Late afternoon arrive Pak Beng for overnight.

DAY 3 PAK BENG - OUDOMXAI - MUANG KUA

In the morning take a stroll over the local market where people from the nearby hill tribe villages trade their goods. Then continue your journey, today on the raod through the fascinating wilderness in the north. Lunch break will be in Oudomxai. On route you have the chance visit Akha and Khmu hill tribe villages. Late afternoon you will reach Muang Kua. Take a walk around the little town and observe the daily life in a typical small Laotian town. Overnight in Muang Kua.

DAY 4 MUANG KUA - MUANG NGOI - NONG KIAU

Today start a bit more slowly. Also in this little town a visit to the colorful morning market is recommended. Then you will board the "longtail" boat and enjoy an approx. 4 hour scenic ride on the Ou River. Have picnic lunch at a river beach and opportunity to take a bath. After lunch continue down the Ou River along beautiful landscapes with some bizare limestone rock formations. On route take some brief stops at small villages, such as Muang Ngoi. You will arrive the village of Nong Kiau in the afternoon and spend the night at a riverside resort.

DAY 5 NONG KIAU - PAK OU - LUANG PRABANG

Have breakfast on the veranda overlooking the river. Then continue your journey, today on the road again. On route see lot's of rural hill tribe villages and possibility to stop at some of them. Later you will reach Pak Ou, the junction where the Ou River flows in to the Mekong. There you will visit the holy Thum Ting caves which enshrine numerous Buddha statues. Lunch on route. In the afternoon arrival at the former royal town of Luang Prabang, which is also an UNESCO world heritage site. Here you will enjoy a sightseeing tour and see some of the famous ancient temples. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

DAY 6 LUANG PRABANG

Transfer to the airport...or extend your stay, depends on your further schedule.

REMARKS/FLEXIBILITY:

Visa for Laos available on arrival at the border against a fee of US$ 30.- (you should bring a passport photo with you).
This tour can also be done v.v., start in Luang Prabang and finish in Chiang Rai. As well it is possible to start with the tour in Chiang Mai or direct at the border in Chiang Khong.
Additional nights before the tour in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai or Chiang Khong, but also after the tour in Luang Prabang can be booked with us.
Also flights from Luang Prabang to Bangkok or Chiang Mai we can book for you.
There is a reduction of the tour price in case you are willing to travel by public boat (instead private boat) from Houay Xai to Pak Beng on the second day.

Price includes:

Airconditioned transportation during the tour, English speaking tour guide, all transfers and excursions mentioned in the above itinerary, accommodation for 2 nights at a good middle class hotel and 3 nights at a tourist class hotel/guest house incl. breakfast, half board (lunch during tours), entrance fees

Not included:

Visa for Laos, drinks, tips and personal expenses