Day 1: Vientiane arrival (-/-/-)

Vientiane - Airport: 12km, ~30min drive

Upon arrival at Vientiane airport, you will be met and transferred to hotel by our guide and driver. After making sure of your successful hotel check-in, they will be pleased to leave you free time for your own lunch and leisure to recover after the long flight.

Meals Included: None
Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane

Day 2: Vientiane (B/-/-)

After breakfast at hotel, an optional early start enables you to visit the fascinating local market of Thongkhankham which is where the locals shop and a wide variety of weird and wonderful foods are on offer. We continue to explore Vientiane capital by visiting the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. En route to Lao’s national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. The final visit of the morning will be the excellent COPE exhibition centre. This afternoon we visit the quirky yet impressive Buddha Park, an enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow. A spectacular view of the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane

Day 3: Vientiane - Hin Boun (B/-/-)

Vientiane - Hin Boun: 310km, ~5h drive

Morning after breakfast at hotel, we transfer south along route 13 to the central Laos province of Khammoune. En route we stop at Prabaht Ponsan, a stupa dating back to the 15th Century. It is also home to the Budhhas footprint, discovered in 1933, and now an important religious site in Laos. Afternoon we make a stop at the interesting Ban Ton Na Mae Hmong Market, then continue onwards into Khammoune province and into the mountainous area, where a stop at a view point near Khoun Kham offers a breathtaking view over the surrounding area. Our last stop of the day is Ban Thabuk, the bomb boat village where they use old bomb casings from the Vietnam War as boats. We eventually reach Hin Boun area by mid-afternoon, where you have the rest of the day at leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at Sala Hin Boun

Day 4: Hin Boun - Kong Lor Cave – Thakek (B/L/-)

Hin Boun - Thakek: 29km, ~25min drive

After breakfast at hotel, we drive to Kong Lor village and board a small local boat into the famous Kong Lor Cave. We navigate through the cave, which is over 7km long and includes a spectacular cavern over 100m high, as well as a breathtaking stalagmite gallery which you can explore on foot. On the other side of the cave, we take a short walk past some tobacco drying huts to Ban Pon Ngam, a remote village, where you can enjoy your picnic lunch. Following lunch, we return through the cave by boat, and transfer directly by car to Thakek, arriving there by late afternoon, in time for a stroll along the riverfront to enjoy a sunset over the Mekong.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Thakek

Day 5: Thakek - Budha Cave & Trekking (B/L/-)

After having breakfast at hotel, we depart from Thakek by Tuk-tuk, and follow the old French railway track that was destined for Vietnam but was never finished. Arrival in the village of Ban Nakhang Xang, our local guide who will escort you on the trekking. Passing through secondary forest our guide will point out forest products that form an important part of local people's food resources. Going through a cave, we enter a striking valley with towering cliffs and forest. The trail follows the shoreline of Nong Thao Lake where you can see local fishermen at work. On arrival at Tham Nong Paseum cave more adventurous swimmers can explore the cave. The cave is 400 metres long and contains dramatic stalactites and stalagmites. Back in daylight, the trip continues onto Khammouane's famous Buddha cave for a traditional Lao lunch of Mekong fish, sticky rice and spicy papaya salad.

After lunch, we visit Tham Pa Fa or Buddha cave, which was rediscovered in April 2004. The cave contains 229 bronze Buddhas that are said to be over 300 years old! Time permitting you will also be able to travel by local canoe into the water cave below. And we will return to Thakek in the late afternoon.

Note: Moderate trekking, a good standard of fitness is required. During rainy season (May-September) the program may be changed without prior warning to accommodate the local conditions.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Thakek

Day 6: Thakek - Pakse (B/-/-)

Thakek - Pakse: 335km, ~5h10min drive

This morning after breakfast at hotel, we continue by road south and arrive in Savannakhet. In the afternoon, we have time to admire the old French Quarter of Savannakhet as well as the sacred That Inhang stupa, before heading out of the town to visit Soundra Salt Factory, to learn about the local working conditions. We then continue by road to Pakse, stopping to visit Don Khor, a village specializing in Buddha carvings for temples. We arrive in Pakse at the end of the day.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Pakse

Day 7: Pakse - Tad Lo (B/-/-)

Pakse - Tad Lo: 85km, ~1h20min drive

Bolaven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. Our first stop is to visit Houey Ten, a Katu village specializing in knife-making. We then stop tea plantation, followed by a stop at Tad Fan Waterfall, a picturesque twin chute waterfall. We then make a stop at a coffee plantation, en route to Tha Teng Market, a colorful ethnic minority food market. Next we explore another interesting minority village, Ban Bong Neua, an Alak village, that boasts a sacrificial alter. We arrive at the beautiful Tad Lo Waterfall in the afternoon, where you have the rest of the day at leisure. You also have the option of a short elephant ride to take in the beautiful scenery.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Tad Lo

Day 8: Tad Lo - Kingfisher (B/-/-)

Tad Lo - Kingfisher: 111km, ~2h15min drive

After an early breakfast, we continue our tour of the Bolevan Plateau and visit head Pha Suam waterfall and to explore the ethnic minority villages of Lao Teung. We continue to travel by road to Xe Pian National Park or Kingfisher Ecolodge where you have the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Lodge in Kingfisher

Day 9: Kingfisher - Elephant Safari (B/L/-)

After breakfast, you will experience a full day Adventure Safari in the jungle by elephant. You will start in the morning from the village of Khiat Ngong and, through paddy fields and wetlands, you will be led inside the jungle that surrounds the area. From the top of your elephant you will have a particular point of view of the dry dipterocarp forest that characterize Xe Pian protected area, you will experience the jungle environment while cicadas and birds sounds will accompany you along the way. After two to three hours of ride (depending on trail and weather conditions you will step down from your elephant and, after let them be free to feed in the forest, our guide and mahouts will serve you a delicious picnic lunch. After resting and watching the elephants roaming around in search for food, you will continue your jungle safari on the way back to the village.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Lodge in Kingfisher

Day 10: Kingfisher - Khone Island (B/-/-)

Kingfisher - Khone Island: 55km, ~1h5min drive

After breakfast, we drive south to Ban Hatsaikhone, where we board a local private boat for a boat tour of the 4000 Islands. We reach the picturesque island of Don Khone by lunchtime, and in the afternoon explore the island by bicycle, admiring some of the old French Colonial buildings and the beautiful Liphi Waterfall. We then return to our boat and head back to the mainland, and drive to Don Khong, arriving there by late afternoon.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Khong Island

Day 11: Khong Island - Khone Phapeng – Wat Phou – Don Daeng (B/-/-)

This morning after breakfast, we drive to the famous waterfall of Khone Phapeng - the largest waterfall in South East Asia, also known as the 'Niagara of the east'. We then head north by road and across the Mekong by ferry to visit the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia's most dramatically situated temples. To end the day, we travel by boat to the island of Don Daeng where you will overnight.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Don Daeng

Day 12: Don Daeng - Pakse - Departure (B/-/-)

Don Daeng - Pakse: 144km, ~2h25min drive

After breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred back to Pakse and onto the airport for your flight to next destination.

Meals Included: Breakfast