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THE PHONGSALY LOOP
 12DAYS/11NIGHTS
ONLY DURING THE DRY SEASON (Oct/Apr)

Day1)Luang Prabang - Airport to hotel transfer
Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and driver and transferred to your hotel.

Day2)Luang Prabang - Full day city tour
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
After breakfast we visit the quaint Royal Palace Museum, which gives a good overview of the local history and features a guided audio tour.  We then begin our temple tour taking in some the cities most beautiful structures, including the country’s most historic and enchanting temple Wat Xiengthong, with its roof sweeping low to the ground, representing the classical Luang Prabang style, as well as the unique Wat Mai, with its five tiered roof and Wat Visoun, known as ‘The Water Melon Stupa’ due to its shape.
In the afternoon we 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.  Our final stop of the day is a climb Mt Phousi, which offers a spectacular sunset and a panoramic view over Luang Prabang and the Mekong River.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals: (B/_/_)

Day3) 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/_/_)

Day4) Luang Prabang - Oudomxay by road
This morning we leave Luang Prabang and head north to Oudomxay.  The morning drive brings us out into rolling countryside where you can admire the beauty of the Nam Ou River and the surrounding rice paddy fields.  After a lunch stop (not included) at Pakmong, about 3 hours drive north of Luang Prabang, the road twists and the scenery becomes increasingly mountainous.  This section of the journey is a good opportunity to stop and explore some Hmong villages including Ban Xong Ja.  We reach the market town of Oudomxay by early evening where you have the rest of the day at leisure. Duration: 7 hours
Driving time: 5 hours
Overnight in Oudomxay
Meals: (B/_/_)

Day5) Oudomxay – Bounthai
In the morning we take the road to Phongsaly province where you can see colorful minority villages including a stop at Ban Nakrasip, a Khmu village.  Arrive at Bounthai in the late afternoon.
Note: Accommodation is very basic (simple room with hot water in the evening only)
Duration: 7 hours
Driving time: 5 hours
Overnight in Bounthai
Meals: (B/_/_)

Day6) Bounthai– Trekking – Mouchi home stay
Following breakfast this morning we drive for 2 hours to the trekking starting point. Following lunch, we trek for 3 hours to the beautiful village of the Mouchi tribe, one of only 6 Mouchi villages in Phongsaly Province.  Upon arrival in the village you will get a traditional welcoming massage.  Dinner is cooked by the villagers, and you overnight with a family
Note: Accommodation is very basic home stay.  No running water, no toilets, and a public shower used by the whole village.
Overnight in a Home stay
Meals: (B/L/D)
Duration: 5 hours
Drive time: 2 hours
Trekking time: 3 hours

Day7) Homestay – trekking – Bounthai - Phongsaly
Following breakfast at the village, we trek for a further 3 hours to an Akha Eupa minority village for a simple lunch.  We then transfer directly to Phongsaly, where we can climb a hill to witness a beautiful sunset over the town.
Note: Accommodation is very basic (simple room with hot water in the evening only)
Overnight in Phongsaly
Meals: (B/L/_)

Day8) Phongsaly – Hatsa – Muang Khua
After breakfast, we transfer to Hatsa boat pier to start a cruise on a small local private boat (5 hours). On the way visit a few remote local villages before reaching Muang Khua.
Duration: 7 hours
Drive time: 1 hour
Boat: 5 hours
Note: Accommodation is very basic (simple room and electricity in the town turns off after 10pm)
Overnight in Muang Khua
Meals: (B/L/_)

Day9) Muang Khua – Nong Khiaw
Today, take the boat down the Nam Ou river to reach Nong Khiaw. This particular stretch offers stunning limestone karst scenery and remote villages, including Ban Sob Jaem a Khmu and Hmong village that can only be accessed by boat.  Upon arrival in Nong Khiaw, you have the opportunity to hire bicycles from your resort and cycle out to some local limestone caves, used as a hospital during the ‘Secret’ War and today is a very picturesque spot.
Duration: 6 hours
Boat: 5 hours
Overnight in Nong Khiaw
Meals: (B/L/_)

Day10) 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/_)

Day11) Luang Prabang – at leisure
A free day at leisure in Luang Prabang to recover and recuperate from your adventure – why not enjoy a spa treatment today to relax?

Day12) Luang Prabang – departure
You will be transferred to the airport today for your departing flight.

Note: This tour is based on relatively easy trekking excursions, but we can tailor it to your exact needs, introducing a longer 3 day trek in Phongsaly, and also an exciting ‘100 Waterfalls’ trek in Nong Khiaw. 
Please contact us for further details. 

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

Supplement for Spanish speaking guide: 559 USD for group

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