IN4-LS8D: MAGIC OF LAO TEXTILES
8 days/7nights

Day 1. Arrival - Luang Prabang
Meet upon arrival, you are welcome to Luang Prabang, the ancient first capital of Lane Xang kingdom, the center of religious life in Laos and today the World Heritage City. Transfer to our hotel for check-in. In the afternoon, we take a sightseeing tour of the sacred city of temples, of which nearly fifty temples still remain in the town and surrounding areas. Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple which, more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture; we stroll to visit various craft shops, where different types of Lao textiles displayed from various parts of Laos. We visit Keo Montree's textile shop, OckPopTok textile shop and the well-known silver smith's. We also climb Phousi Hill, the 328 steps leads to the summit of Phousi hill that dominates the sky-line of Luang Prabang overlooking the finest panoramic view in the whole Luang Prabang. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2. Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Cave (B,L)
Following breakfast, we depart hotel to the boat landing, and take an excursion (a few hours) by boat, upstream on the Mekong to visit Pak Ou cave in the side of a lime stone cliff and opposite of the mouth of the Mekong and Ou rivers. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist of two large caves, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimeter to two meters in height. En route, Laos typical villages are barely visible behind a screen of foliage. Slender canoes bobbing by the shore, bamboo poles and floats mark the location of nets and fish traps. Our first stop will be at Ban Muangkeo, a well-known village for Laos traditional rice whisky, namely Laoh-Khao to be distilled as well as silk and cotton weaving underneath their houses. Lunch is at a riverside restaurant. We arrive back at Luang Prabang in late afternoon, and continue by car to outskirt of town to visit Ban Xangkhong, a well-known village for its wood paper making and also Laos silk weavings with natural dyes.Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3. Luang Prabang - Kuangsi WaterFall (B,L)
An morning breakfast, before we take a drive (30 km South) to visit Kuangsi Waterfall, which, though not very high, is spectacular and really beautiful with its green surroundings as the preserved National park. We stop en-route, stop to visit a fresh produced market namely Talad Phosy, and also visit Ban Na Oune, a small village of a hill-tribe group "Hmong", probably the best-known minority group in Laos. Just before arriving at Kuangsi waterfall, there is another village of Khmu minority group, namely Ban Tha Pane, where basketry are woven as well. Our picnic lunch is served at the shady park nearby Kuangsi waterfall. There is plenty of time for relaxing and a swim in cool water, before we head back to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. The rest of the day is spent by visiting more various craft shops, including Hmong market in town, where some skilled embroidery-Works of Hmong ladies can be seen. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4. Luang Prabang - Vientiane (B)
After breakfast, we depart hotel to visit the National Museum, the former Royal Palace which houses the collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue, gifts received from foreign dignitaries…etc, if time permits, the rest of the day is spent free for own experience in this charming town, till transfer to Luang Prabang airport for departure to Vientiane. Upon arrival, we depart to our hotel. In the afternoon, we take a sightseeing tour of Vientiane, to visit religious museums of Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple to have been survived from the Siamese war of 1828 and its cloister contains more than 8000 Buddha statues; Wat Ho Prakeo, the former home-temple of the Emerald Buddha statue or Pra Keo, but today it contains a collection of Buddha statues, antiques and all artifacts found in around Vientiane; That Luang Stupa, the single most important monument in Laos, which was built to cover the original small stupa, built in 3rd AD century that contained a piece of the chest bone of Buddha; Patouxay (Arch de Triumph), built quite recently in commemoration of those who died during the wars in the past and it is today as the landmark of Vientiane. Dinner is free on own. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5. Vientiane
Following breakfast, we visit the Morning Market, the biggest shopping center in Vientiane, where we will especially see all kinds of Lao textiles from all over Laos, to be compared later in others textile places. We drive (15mn) outskirt of town to visit Nikone Handicraft's, a private textile business where there are lots of skilled weavers, dyers doing silk demonstration with natural dyes, and you can make some buy at her workshop there. From Niknone Handicraft's, we continue to take a 10mn drive to visit Pheang Mai Gallery, which is quite similar to Niknone's, but moreover, almost women in this village are skilled weavers still weaving on looms underneath their Lao style houses. Lunch is free at local restaurant or hotel. P.M we continue to drive (15mn) outskirt of town to visit more textile places such as Taykeo Textile, another private textile business, here there will be more beautiful antique textile collections as well as some good copied ones for sale. We also go to visit Mai Ngeun Mai Kham, which is quite near to Taykeo, over there we will see most of textile dyed with chemical dyes as well as with golden thread woven by more than 50 weavers. Getting back to our hotel and dinner is also free. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6. Vientiane - Pakse - Tadlo - Pakse (B,L)
Early breakfast at hotel, we depart to Wattay airport for departure by QV flight for Pakse, the provincial capital of Champasack at the confluence of the Mekong and Sedon rivers and it is the center for trading between Thailand and Vietnam. Arrive Pakse and transfer to our hotel to leave your bags and to freshen up before continuing the trip. We continue our trip by road for a few hours to Boloven Plateau to visit villages ethnic sub groups such as Katou, Alak, Ngae. Lunch is served at Tadlo restaurant, located in the forest by the beautiful stream. Return to Pakse in late afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7. Pakse - Wat Phou - Pakse (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel, 08:00h transfer for a boat ride downstream (1 and a half hour) through beautiful scenery with mountains range and also local villages along the Mekong valleys to Champasack, the nearest town to the fantastic archaeological sight of Wat Phou. After the boat, continue by car about 15mn drive to visit Wat Phou, a site of ancient religious significance in one of the most spectacular regions of Laos. Lunch is at local restaurant by the Mekong. Return to Pakse and drive to Ban Saphai, silk weaving village and across the Mekong to Ban Saman, the well-known village for silk weaving with Mat Mee or Ikat pattern, on the island of the Mekong.

Day 8. Pakse - Ubon (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel, we begin to drive to Ban Kham Yat, another village of silk weaving where you will see local sericulture and more silk weaving techniques. Return to hotel for lunch and we dapart to Ubon airport (Thailand) through Chongmek Lao-Thai border. Take your flight from Ubon to Bangkok.

PACKAGE PRICE: Tour cost per person (in USD)

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