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NORTHERN LAOS EXPLORER
10DAYS/9NIGHTS

Day1) Chiang Rai – Airport to hotel transfer
Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel where you have the rest of the day at leisure to relax. Overnight in Chiang Rai
Meals: (_/_/_)

Day2) Chiang Rai - Huay Xay - Luang Namtha by road
Early this morning we transfer to the Lao border. Following your completion of border formalities, we head out of the town to Luang Namtha. This road has recently been improved, and is now a very smooth and comfortable drive.  We visit hill tribe villages including Khmu and Lu minorities.  In the afternoon, we visit Kao Rao Cave with its impressive limestone formations. We arrive in Luang Namtha mid afternoon where you have the rest of the day at leisure.Duration: 8 hours
Drive time: 6 hours
Overnight in Luang Namtha
Meals: (B/_/_)

Day3) Luang Namtha-1 day trekking (easy)
The trip starts with a climb up to Phoumpok Stupa a great view point, offering panoramic views of Luang Nam Tha town. We then head into the jungle with your local guide, who will show you the different types of medicines and foods you can collect in the forest. For lunch you will have a wonderful picnic prepared by your guide and some local villagers.  They will use bamboo pipes to cook either Black Tai or Akha style food and you will dine in the heart of the jungle.
After lunch, we continue trekking for another 45 minutes, and eventually reach Ban Nammutmai, a picturesque Akha minority village built on the hillside.  Here you will learn about the life of this small ethnic minority group. Your guide will translate and explain to you old folklore stories from the locals.  After this village visit, we travel by pickup truck to the Lanten village of Ban Nam Jang, where they specialize in the making of Saa paper.  The trip ends when we return to the Luang Nam Tha market.  Here you will see many of the forest products found along the trail being sold in the market.  You will arrive back at your accommodation by mid afternoon.
Duration: 5 hours, including about 3  ½ hours trekking
Overnight in Luang Namtha
Meals: (B/L/_)

Day4) Luang Namtha - Muang La by road
This morning we continue our journey south to Muang La.  Just outside of Luang Namtha, we stop at the Lanten village of Namdeng Nua, and then again for a lunch stop in Oudomxay.   After lunch we have chance to visit the intriguing Pra Xack Kham Temple with its sacred Buddha image. The 400 years old legendary statue is said to have many supernatural powers, and is widely worshipped among the local Buddhists. We arrive in Muang La, famous for its natural hot springs by mid afternoon.  Here you can relax by taking a traditional massage, or enjoy the hot springs.
Duration: 5 hours
Drive time: 4 hours
Overnight in Muang La
Meals: (B/_/D)

Day5) Muang La - MLR 7: Meet the Lao ethnic groups (Full Day) 
Day 4x4 to meet Ikhor villages and Hmong, two communities typical of Laois. The track you wil use is superb and offers an incredible climb up 1000m where you will have a memorable and unique point of view. You will visit first a beautiful village Ikhor totally isolated. This community from Yunnan and Tibet has remained extremely traditional. Lunch will be taken on a manificient view. We join in after the Hmong village of Ban Tauser (45mn walking). These ethnic group, originally high steppes of Tibet, you will discover their habits, the important place that keeps the animals (pigs, buffaloes…) in their lifestyle and care they provide. The path leading to the village completely isolated offers many viewpoints impressive. A few minutes from the villages is a viewpoint with 360 degree panorama on the region… unique. Back to the resort at the end of the day.
Duration: around 8 hours
Overnight in Muang La
Meals: (B/L/D)

Day6) Muang La - Nong Khiaw by road and boat via Muang Khua
This morning we drive to the riverside town of Muang Khua and board our local private boat for an unforgettable cruise down the Nam Ou River to Nong Khiaw.  This particular stretch offers stunning scenery and remote villages, including Ban Sob Jaem a Khmu and Hmong village that can only be accessed by boat.  We reach Nong Khiaw by late afternoon.  Upon checking into your hotel, you have the option of taking a short bicycle ride to the picturesque local limestone caves nearby (bicycles available for hire at the resort, and your guide will be happy to assist).
Duration: 8 hours
Drive time: 1 ½ hours
Boat time: 5 hours
Overnight in Nong Khiaw
Meals: (B/L/_)
 
Day7) Nong Khiaw  - Luang Prabang by boat
This morning we cruise by private boat down the Nam Ou River, enjoying the lush green forests and landscape. Along the way we stop to visit the mysterious caves of Pak Ou, two caves set in a limestone cliff facing the Mekong River crammed with thousands Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes.   We continue our trip down the river to Luang Prabang.You will be transferred to your hotel by private vehicle by early evening.
Duration: 7 hours
Boat time: 5 hours
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Meals: (B/L/_)

Day8) Luang Prabang - Half day city tour with guide
You can discuss with your guide for an optional early morning start (5.30am) to witness and partake in the daily morning ritual of ‘Tak Bat’ or giving alms to the monks.  This is a unique ritual still followed by the locals in Luang Prabang.  We can also visit the local fresh market to see how the locals shop, before returning to your hotel for breakfast.
Duration: 2 hours
Your half day city tour starts with a visit to Wat Visoun, known as ‘The Water Melon Stupa’ due to its shape. Next we visit the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, with its roof sweeping low to the ground, representing the classical Luang Prabang style. We also visit the excellent Arts and Ethnology Centre which gives us a great insight into the ethnic mix and culture of Laos. We then visit the weaving and textile villages of Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek.
Duration: 4 hours
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Meals: (B/_/_)

Day9) Luang Prabang - Kuang Si waterfall half day
After breakfast, we visit the local Phosi Market, this is the place where all the locals shop and your guide will show and explain to you the diverse offerings on display. We also stop at Ock Pop Tock, a silk weaving centre. Here you will be given a guided tour and the silk weaving process will be explained.
We then drive out of the town where you have the option of stopping to visit Khmu, Hmong and Lao Loum villages, representing the main ethnic groups of Laos. This then takes us to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the turquoise pool or walk along the forest trails.   Next to the falls is a Bear Rescue Centre, that does a great job in protecting and rehabilitating the rare Asiatic Black Bear.  We then return to Luang Prabang by lunchtime.
Duration: 4-5 hours
Drive time: 1 ½ hours
Tips: bring a towel with you if you’d like to swim at the waterfall
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Meals: (B/_/_)

Day10) Luang Prabang - departure
After breakfast you may have time at leisure, before being transferred to the airport for your departure flight.

Tour price per person in US$
Price valid from 01-Oct-11 to 30-Apr-2012

Tour price per person in US$
Price valid from 01-May-12 to 30-Sep-2012

Supplement for Spanish speaking guide:490 USD for group (The guide services starts from Huay Xay – Laos).

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