Luang Prabang 5-Day Tour: Trek & Elephants | Ideal Travel Asia

Welcome to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you at the airport and then escort you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

In the morning, we will climb up 328 steps of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful overview of the city and the Mekong River. We then visit Wat Mai the largest and most richly decorated of the temples in Luang Prabang, was built in the 20th century; National Museum at the former Royal Palace 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.

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 village where rice wine is distilled. We will visit the caves of Tham Ting and Tham Phoum which house hundreds of Buddha statues. 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.

We 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

COMMUNICATION WITH ELEPHANT

Today you will discover a little about the secret of bamboo work in Laos as well as enjoying some of the beautiful nature and rice fields surrounded just in Luang Prabang town. Begin your half day at The Bamboo Experience (Please arrive there by 8:30am) where you will meet with the rest of your group for an explanation of the bamboo works in Laos and its meaning to Lao people. Your guide will show you the technique and/or the usage of each product as such fishing tools, music instruments etc. Start your simple bamboo weaving class with an expert (but patient!) teacher, try your hand at the knife sharpening, bamboo cutting (into pieces) and then try the traditional bamboo weaving for about one hour to complete your own mat to take home with, as a souvenir. Then, proceed to the bamboo cooking demonstration (you are free to assist) such as bamboo shoot soup, bamboo shoot steamed in banana leaf, fermented bamboo shoot dipping and sticky rice and more. Savour your creations at the end of the session in a traditional Lao house (Pavilion style) overlooking the wonderful scenery and rice fields. The emphasis is to have fun and learn a little about bamboo work and bamboo dishes.

*Note: Local games are available during the session, have fun!

In the afternoon, meet the tour guide and transfer to MandaLao, we will get an in-depth introduction into elephant behavior and communication. Then hand on preparing special treats for the elephants that help in their digestion. Fun hands-on time preparing tasty food we only feed the elephants in the afternoon. After that, we’ll cross the Nam Khan river by longtail boat for the first introduction to our elephants. MandaLao guides introduce guests to our elephants and mahouts, providing background on our elephants. We feed the elephants the special treats we prepared for the elephants. We will take a short 1 Km trek up Hoy Kang stream side by side with these gentle giants. This trek is flat and can be catered to clients’ needs.

After a few more treats head back across the Nam Khan river to MandaLao. Enjoy the afternoon with snacks on our beautiful deck. Return to Luang Prabang

Overnight in Luang Prabang

FULL DAY TREKKING TO KHOANG SI WATERFALL (B/L/-) 

This morning we’ll drive to the nearby valley southeast of Luang Prabang. Long Lao Village will be the next stop, where you will begin our hiking tour. Before trekking, you can explore the life and culture of this village where Khamu and Hmong people live. How peaceful Lao people are! Continue trekking into the mountainous Lao countryside of Luang Prabang. And then hiking along, you will enjoy the freshness when passing the orchards, rice fields, and vegetable gardens and before reaching the forested mountains with quite wild jungle scenery and some graded climbs.  (NOTE:  We’ll ensure an easy/moderate hike option)

In the afternoon you will arrive at the crystal clear Kuang Si Waterfall, which is known as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Southeast Asia. An exciting forest trail will lead you to the end of your trek and your reward – enjoy the paradise on the ground deep into the cool water, listen to the sound waterfall down from the fall, and Kuang Si Waterfall where we will have plenty of time to relax and swim. Experience the new Lao Buffalo dairy to taste some ice cream!

We’ll return in the late afternoon by vehicle. The tour concludes late afternoon in Luang Prabang

Overnight at the hotel in Luang Prabang.

Breakfast at the hotel. Rooms available until 12h00. Free at leisure until transfer back to Luang Prabang airport for departure flight.

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