Laos in 2 weeks

Itinerary

Itinerary:
Luang Prabang - Vang Vieng - Vientiane - Boloven Plateau - 4000 Islands
Duration:
14 days / 13 nights (flexible)
Price:
From £ 1,989.- per person (excluding flights)
When to go:
November - May

Explore Laos in just under two weeks, kayak between limestone cliffs and get lost in the rainforest. This trip is jam-packed with adventure, from the temples of Luang Prabang to sampling Laotian cuisine in atmospheric Vientiane and watching the sun set over the Mekong. Between the action, you can swing in hammocks amidst the Four Thousand Islands, relax in rainforest bungalows with waterfall views and soak up the slow pace of life.

Days 1-4 – Experience Luang Prabang

Step into a heady, spiritual world of golden spires, saffron-robed monks, frangipani flowers and crumbling French mansions. Prepare to be instantly caught in the spell of Luang Prabang, a heartwarming place slung along the banks of the Mekong River. You’ll spend four days getting lost in the magic of Luang Prabang, watching monks file into the temples at sunrise and floating down the Mekong at sunset.

Next you’ll make your way to the bus station to catch the bus for the roughly 7 hour journey to Vang Vieng. Glide along a rippling rural river between jungle-topped karst mountains, explore hidden caves and meet the friendly locals in tiny, traditional villages. When it comes to scenery, Vang Vieng is a real showstopper, clinging to the banks of the beautiful Nam Song river and flanked by emerald peaks. You’ll spend two nights in Vang Vieng, staying in a modern bungalow and go trekking and kayaking around the local area to learn about the traditions and culture with the stunning backdrop of the limestone cliffs.

Next you’ll make your own way to the bus station to catch the bus to Vientiane. The journey takes roughly 4 hours and on arrival you’ll make your own way to your hotel for the night. The following day you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Pakse. Flying time is usually about 90 minutes. Escape into a lush, tropical rainforest peppered with plunging waterfalls, gaze down into emerald gorges and trek through the wilderness of the Bolaven Plateau. Sleep in a secluded bungalow near a gushing waterfall, meet minority tribes and feel lost in the rainforest. During this trip, you can explore the rainforest at your own pace. You’ll stay in a lodge with crashing waterfall views.

After your time at the Boloven Plateau you’ll be transferred to 4000 islands and the mighty Mekong. Your driving time today is about 4 hours. Float between the 4000 Islands, where time almost stands still. Impossibly laid-back and seriously daydreamy, it’s somewhere that has to be seen to be believed. Some islands are tiny specks, while others contain forests and mountains. In rainy season, many are totally submerged, appearing only when water levels recede. You’ll spend two nights on Don Khon, one of the larger islands in the cluster, where you can explore the rice paddies by bicycle, swinging in a hammock and soaking up the slow pace of life.

You will travel back roughly 3 hours to Pakse where you’ll spend the night before flying back to Vientiane the following day. Explore Vientiane, a sleepy, scenic capital curled around a bend in the Mekong River, packed with tuk-tuks, French bakeries and friendly monks. Marvel at temples crammed with thousands of Buddha statues, watch daily life unfold over a croissant in a pavement cafe and stroll along the riverfront. Vientiane feels more like a village than a capital city, with laid-back locals and a languid pace of life. During this trip, you’ll explore the city’s cuisine on a food tour through the colourful markets. As your Laos adventure draws to a close you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight back to the UK.