Highlights
Join us for 4-day private tour exploring the cultural and natural highlights in and around Luang Prabang. Experience a traditional morning almsgiving ceremony with hundreds of monks. Enjoy a relaxing cruise through the scenic countryside along the Mekong River. Witness the myriad of Buddha images at the sacred Pak Ou Caves and the stunningly beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall. Meet the furry residents at the Bear Rescue Centre. Get hands-on experience of life on a local farm and learn how to grow organic rice and vegetables in a traditional way. This short journey will give you a lovely memory of the Laos’ old capital.
Details
Day 1: Luang Prabang Arrival
Welcome to Luang Prabang! Upon arrival, our local English speaking guide will meet you at the airport and then escort you to your hotel for check-in.
Late afternoon, we will climb up 328 steps of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. We then will explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the hill tribe and local people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 2: Luang Prabang - Ancient Town - Pak Ou Caves (B/L)
You have the option to wake up before dawn to witness and participate in offering alms to hundreds of saffron-robed monks – an awe-inspiring sight. Please tell your guide a day in advance if you wish to make an offering so he/she can prepare some food for you to hand over to the monks. This early morning ritual dates back generations in Laos. Watch the town come to life in the morning then return to the hotel for breakfast or join the locals for a bowl of delicious noodle soup after the alms giving ritual. (If you do not wish to make an offering, please keep an appropriate distance and observe the ritual in silence. Dress appropriately – shoulders, chest and legs should be covered).
We then visit the Morning Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.
After breakfast at hotel, we visit the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we will make a stop at Ban Xang Hai villagewhere rice wine is distilled. We will visit the caves of Tham Ting and Tham Phoum which house hundreds of Buddha statues.
Lunch at local restaurant. We return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon, continue to visit Ban Xang Khong, a village well known for silk hand-weaving and traditional Saa paper-making. The rest of day is free at leisure.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 3: Luang Prabang - Rice Experience - Kuang Si Waterfall (B/L)
Breakfast at hotel. Spend a morning on a community based living rice farm situated in the idyllic countryside and surrounded by mountains and rice paddies. Experience the life of a farmer and try your hand at some activities. Or just view it all from the comfort of our traditional Lao rice house balcony, which is surrounded by rice terraces and our organic vegetable farm. All can join in and there are great photo opportunities. While there, spend some time to visit some local handicraft workshops like bamboo weaving, blacksmith work, and sugar cane processing. Finally, join a tour of the organic garden with explanation on how natural herbs are used in traditional medicine. Lunch at Living Land Farm.
After lunch, transfer by private vehicle to Kuang Si waterfall. On the way, you can visit to the Lao ethnic minority group at Ban Na Ouane Village, H’Mong Village. Once at the waterfalls, take a leisurely hike through the national park towards the Kuang Si waterfall and pass by the Asian Bear Rescue Center. You will enjoy feeling the mist of the cool, turquoise waters of the different waterfalls. Swimming in the refreshing waters is possible. We also have chance to visit the Butterfly Park (closed on Tuesdays) nearby. Return to the city by late afternoon to catch the sunset at Wat Phabath.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 4: Luang Prabang Departure (B)
After breakfast at hotel, we enjoy a short-guided tour visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace where displays a lovely collection of the artifacts, reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. Afterthat, we visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center (close on Mondays) where you are able to observe valuable artifacts and traditional clothing and implements from each of the 20 ethnic minority groups which inhabit the Luang Prabang area. Next, we will 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 1500s.
Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Special Rates
Please contact us for the best rates.
HOTELS TO BE USED
LUANG PRABANG
Economy: Sanctuary Luang Prabang Hotel/ Deluxe or Le Sen Boutique Hotel/ Deluxe
Superior: Maison Dalabua Hotel/ Deluxe
Deluxe: Pullman Hotels & Resorts Luang Prabang/ Premium Deluxe
Luxury: Sofitel Luang Prabang Hotel/ Garden Suite
Hotels are subject to availability. In case any above hotel is not available, another similar hotel will be used.
Services included
+ Hotel accommodation in half-twin/double shared room with daily breakfast
+ Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D = Dinner)
+ English speaking local guide (for other languages supplements apply)
+ Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air conditioned vehicle unless stated otherwise
+ Entrance fees for mentioned visits
+ Private boat trip to Pak Ou Cave
+ Rice experience at Living Land Farm (join-in)
+ 2 bottles of drinking water per day during the tour
+ 2 cold towels per day during the tour
+ Taxes and service charges
Services not included
+ International and domestic flights
+ Visa fees, travel insurances
+ Meals other than mentioned above
+ Early check-in or late check-out fees
+ Camera/video entrance fees (if any)
+ Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, telephone, tips etc)
+ Additional transfer required due to emergency situation
+ Peak season surcharge and compulsory gala dinner on 24 Dec and 31 Dec
+ Guide and driver tips: USD8/pax/day
+ Other services not clearly indicated in the package inclusions above
Terms & Conditions
CHILDREN POLICY
Child under 2, without extra bed: Free of charge
Child 2 - 11, without extra bed: 75% of adult rate
Child 2 - 11, with extra bed: 90% of adult rate
Child 12 and above: To be charged as adult
A maximum of two children under 12 can share room with two adults. The second child is required to book extra bed. Some hotels might restrict one child per room. We will inform you at the time of booking.
PAYMENT
Booking is made more than 30 days prior to cruise date: A 50% deposit of total value is required upon confirmation. The balance must be paid at least 30 days prior to cruise date.
Booking is made less than 30 days prior to cruise date: 100% of total value is required upon confirmation.
Payment method: by bank transfer or by credit card. Client/remitting party must cover their own bank charges. Credit card payment incurs a merchant service fee of 2% for Visa, Mastercard and 3% for American Express, in addition to the total amount payable.
Booking will be cancelled if payments are not received on due date(s).
CANCELLATION/AMENDEMENT
Cancellations or amendments must be informed in writing. E-mail cancellation or booking amendments are only effective once re-confirmed by FantaSea Travel. We strongly recommend to advice passenger to purchase travel insurance to cover cancellation cost if any. We do not cover any costs related to passengers’ travelling risk. Should you have to cancel or amend, the following terms will apply:
More than 30 days: 10% of total value
From 15 to 30 days: 25% of total value
From 8 to 14 days: 50% of total value
Within 7 days or no show: 100% of total value
Certain special offers may be non-refundable/non-amendable. These will be advised to you at the time of booking. Refund can take up to 45 days after cancellation date.
COVID-19 POLICY
For all new bookings made from 1 January 2021, we grant free cancellation up to 7 days prior to arrival (thereafter 100% charge) if the reason for cancellation is related to COVID-19 such as the following:
+ Guests suspected or confirmed to carry the virus
+ Guests being denied to board an airplane
+ Border closures in Vietnam, in a neighboring country for tour bookings or in the guests’ country of residence
+ Quarantine obligation
+ New lockdown
In such circumstances, FantaSea Travel will allow you to change the dates of your tour or offer you a credit for another tour. This policy is only valid if the ability to travel is beyond the control of the guest. Guests are required to provide reasonable documentation confirming that their inability to travel is due to COVID-19 related matters. The final decision to waive cancellation charges lies entirely with FantaSea Travel at all times.
For cancellations or booking modifications due to reasons not related to COVID-19 our standard policies as stipulated in this offer apply.