Serene Discovery in Luang Prabang and Thailand (19D18N)

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning alms giving ritual to saffron clad monks. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving this procession. Stop and visit fresh local markets and back to hotel for breakfast.

This morning, depart to visit Wat Visoun, the site of the impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao.  Continue to visit Wat Aham. Then, visit to the most photographed temple, Vat Xiengthong. Located at the end of the peninsula closed to the confluence of Mekong and Khan River.

This afternoon, continue to former Royal Palace, now the National Museum. Visit Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief. During Pimai, the Lao New Year, the Prabang normally housed in the Royal Palace Museum is brought and put on public display in this temple. 

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast

This morning, ferry to otherside of Mekong to visit Ban Xiemienne village.  Take a walk to discover Wat Long Khoun temple, located in the jungle. This monastery historically had important ties with the royal family of Luang Prabang. From its beginnings Wat Long Khoun served as a retreat center for spiritual revitalization. It was traditional practice that the new king-designate spend three days there in ceremonial bathing and meditative retreat.

Then, embark on a traditional long trail boat, for a relaxing cruise upstream on the mighty Mekong River. Enjoy stunning mountain scenery and witness the simple rural lifestyles. You will reach Pak Ou caves at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. In these 2 caves are displayed hundreds of sacred centuries-old Buddha images which are the object of pilgrimages during the Lao New Year festivities around mid-April. Cruise back Luang Prabang. Stop and visit Ban Xangkhong, a weaving village, where you can jump into wooden looms with local expert for practical and experience.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, spend the morning exploring the rice culture and farming experience with some hands-on activities along the way. Be welcomed by the hospitable farmers who will show you how rice is grown and harvested. You can plant rice in the rice paddy together with the farmers while seeing the buffalos plough the rice paddies. Discover what rice can be used to produce different products

This afternoon, driving through green rice paddies and farms. On your arrival at the Kuang Si waterfall, enjoy your short walking on trails of falls to visit the bear rescued centre. Enjoy spectacular views and the surrounding of orchids inside the park and falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. Return to Luang Prabang.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel

Accommodation: At the hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast

Pick up at your hotel in Luang Prabang and transfer to the pier. The boat leaves Luang Prabang at 7:00am for upstream the Mekong to Pakbeng.
French Breakfast is served on board.
In the morning, we will stop to visit Pak Ou Caves (Tham Ting) and its over two thousand Buddha statues. It is one of the most important Pilgrimage places for lao people. After the visit, our English-speaking guide will organize a small lecture and will explain the different
ethnicities here in Laos. Lao traditional Lunch set is served on board. In the afternoon, quick visit at Ban Baw village, a complex but harmonic mixed of three ethnicities: Lao Loun, Shan and Tai Lue. Today the village is famous for its laol ao whiskey making. The boat arrives in Pakbeng before the night. Overnight in Pakbeng

Accommodation: In Pakbeng Lodge 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Embark at 7:00am on the boat. Normally your hotel in Pakbeng must have prepared a take away breakfast box for the shompoo cruise travelers that they can eat on board. In the morning, our guide and cooker will make a short demonstration on how to make some Laos desserts and local drinks that travelers will eat later in the afternoon. Just before lunch, the boat will stop to visit a traditional Kamu village (Ban Houa Phalam), a tinycozy place which host about 90 families. Travelers will learn about rural lifestyle in a very remote area. Lao traditional Lunch set is served on board.

Before to reach Houay Xay pier, enjoy the homemade desserts and drinks made by our team and the travelers. The boat will arrive at destination before 4:30pm. Pick-up at Thai Border Control and Immigration Check Point in Chiang Khong, transfer to Chiang Rai. Check-in at the hotel and free time. Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Chiang Rai

Meals: Breakfast

Morning after breakfast, we will visit the local market to discover the local products. After that we visit the world famous Wat Phra Kaew where the Emerald Buddha image was once enshrined. 

Move on to Wat Phra Singha where one of Thailand’s most beautiful Buddha images is now enshrined. 

Then, visit Black House, (Baandum Museum); belongs to the national artist Thawan Dachanee who is celebrated for his eerie sculptures made from horns and bones, reptile skins, traditional African sculptures, old boats, Lanna-style woodcrafts and art installations housed across 32 buildings, most of which are Lanna-style pavilions made from black wood.

Lunch at local restaurant and afternoon we will continue to Blue Temple (Rong Sued Ten Temple); designed by the local Chiang Rai artist who used to the team work of White Temple before. The main temple building is a distinctive blue colorwith the new philosophy of Buddhist art

You will also visit to White Temple (Rong Khun Temple); designed by the famous national artist. The main temple building is a distinctive white color, decorated with fragments of reflective glass which can be seen from afar. 

Check-in at the hotel. 

Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Chiang Rai

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, depart to Chiang Mai. Lunch on your own at local restaurant in Chiang Mai. 

Then, visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the most famous pagoda Chiang Mai. It is reached after climbing a staircase of 290 steps with ramps represents two giant naga. From the square, you can admire the panorama of the whole Chiang Mai Valley.

We continue to embark on a cruise leaving from the jetty at Wat Chai Mongkol and travel north out of the city (2 hours trip). The river soon shows its true rural identity as city bridges pass from view and are replaced by scenes of wide water stretching from green tree-lined bank to bank. Kids play, daring each other to swing through an old motor tyre and plunge into the cool river below. Smiles, Yells and the boat chugs on to reach its destination point, the ‘’Thai Farmer’s house”  Agriculture remains Thailand’s largest source of income and here the visitor can discover the basic elements – rice, local herbs, fruits, fishing – all thriving in a chemical – free environment.

Then transfer back to the hotel. 

At night, you are free exploring the Chiang Mai Night Market, full of exotic handicrafts and wonderful fabrics.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Chiang Mai 

Meals: Breakfast

06:30 – 07:00 Pick up from your hotel or accommodation

07:00 Drive approximately 1.5 hours South of Chiang Mai through rolling hills, forest, and local farming areas.

08:30 Arrive at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. Learn about the elephants and change into traditional Karen clothing.

09:00 Meet the elephants. Feed, interact, and play with the elephants in a natural environment as you learn about their behavior and history. Take photos with the elephants.

09:45 Mud Spa with the elephants

10:30 Walk with the elephants to a river and bathe them.

11:30 Eat a traditional meal and then say goodbye to the elephants.

12:00 Leave the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and drive approximately 1.5 hours to Chiang Mai.

13:30 Drop off at your hotel or accommodation.

* Please Note: At the Sanctuary, we will allow you to spend as much time as possible with the elephants. Therefore, there is no formal schedule and aside from pick-up times, the times shown here are approximations.

The afternoon will be mainly devoted to visit the old city with a stop at the ancient wall, the moat and a door of the old city. You will see more   beautiful temples in Chiang Mai:   Wat Prah Singh Temple, Wat Phan Tao temple and the temple Wat Chedi Luang. Then you will stroll along streets lined with traditional houses, where you make a rickshaw ride. From there, you'll be at large Central Market Warorot. 

Return to the hotel for free time.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Chiang Mai 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

After breakfast, free time until transfer to the airport for flight to Phuket. Upon arrival at Phuket airport, you will be met by our driver and transferred to the hotel. Free time to relax. 

Overnight at the hotel in Phuket

Accommodation: At the hotel in Phuket  

Meals: Breakfast

You have free time to enjoy resort pool or relax at the beach 

Accommodation: At the hotel in Phuket  

Meals: Breakfast

You have free time to enjoy resort pool or relax at the beach 

Accommodation: At the hotel in Phuket  

Meals: Breakfast

You have free time to enjoy resort pool or relax at the beach 

Accommodation: At the hotel in Phuket  

Meals: Breakfast

Early morning, transfer to Rassadar Pier to take the joint ferry to Koh Lipe island (08h30 – 13h30). Arrival in Koh Lipe, check-in at the hotel. Overnight in Koh Lipe.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Koh Lip 

Meals: Breakfast

You have free time to enjoy resort pool or relax at the beach 

Accommodation: At the hotel in Phuket  

Meals: Breakfast

You have free time to enjoy resort pool or relax at the beach 

Accommodation: At the hotel in Phuket  

Meals: Breakfast

You have free time to enjoy resort pool or relax at the beach 

Accommodation: At the hotel in Phuket  

Meals: Breakfast

You have free time to enjoy resort pool or relax at the beach 

Accommodation: At the hotel in Phuket  

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, you will take the joint ferry to return to Phuket (09h00 – 14h30). Arrive at Rassadar Pier, pick up and transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. End of services.

Accommodation: NA

Meals: Breakfast