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Inside Laos
15 days/14 nights - Gateway: Chiang Rai
Standard Tour from: £1585pp
Prices valid to 31 Dec 08
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| Travel deep into this intriguing landlocked country, from the charming town of Luang Prabang in the north, to the 4,000 islands of the wider Mekong in the south. Along the way explore the mysterious Plain of Jars, soak up the colonial atmosphere of the laid-back capital, Vientiane, and be captivated by the eerie Wat Phou. Exciting new additions for 2005 are an overnight stop in a riverside eco-resort run by Kamu minorities and a visit to the magnificent Preah Vihear temple on the Cambodian border. |
Day 1: Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai in the Golden Triangle, easily accessible by plane from Bangkok, is the starting point for our journey into Laos. Meet your tour leader at evening welcome drinks and receive your tour briefing for tomorrow’s departure for the ‘Land of a Million Elephants’.
1 night in Chiang at the Wiang Inn Hotel |
Day 2-4: Mekong Adventure
We travel by boat down the incredible Mekong to atmospheric Pakbeng. On the way we stop at remote hill tribe villages, allowing us to learn something of Laos’s fascinating minorities. At a Kamu eco-resort stay in unique lodgings, mingle with villagers and go panning for gold and fishing. On our approach to Luang Prabang we visit the Cave of a Thousand Buddhas, then glide into the former capital of the great ‘Lane Xang’ kingdom.
1 night in Pakbeng at the Pakbeng Lodge
1 night in Kamu Lodge at the Kamu Lodge |
Day 5-7: Luang Prabang
With its mountainous backdrop and riverside setting, Luang Prabang has a unique and special charm. Visit golden wats and monasteries and soak up the atmosphere of faded colonial French architecture. We visit the beautiful Kuang Si falls, take part in a fun cooking class, then get to know enchanting Luang Prabang in depth. You will have ample free time to explore the wealth of interesting architecture, shop at delightful handicraft outlets or feast at the famous patisseries.
3 nights in Luang Prabang at the Sala Prabang |
Day 8-9: The Plain Of Jars & Vientiane
We fly to the Plain of Jars over some of the most scenic mountain scenery in Asia. Here we explore the origins of mysterious stone jars, as well as remnants from the Indochina wars. In Vientiane – Asia’s most laid-back capital – visit golden That Luang, the remarkable Wat Sisaket and the Laotian equivalent of the Arc de Triomphe, the Patuxai monument.
1 night in Phonsavan at the Vansana Hotel Plain of Jars
2 nights in Vientiane at the Novotel Hotel |
Day 10-11: Bolaven Plateau & Wat Phou
We fly to Pakse, the main town in the south and populated largely by industrious Vietnamese. We move on to explore coffee plantations and hill tribe villages in the cooler climes of the Bolaven Plateau, home of the Laven minority. Our lodge overlooks the imposing Tad Fane falls and is surrounded by a wild coffee plantation. At Wat Phou near Champasak we soak up the atmosphere of the pre-Angkorian temple ruins, one of Asia’s most significant historic sites, before continuing on to Khong Island.
1 night in Bolaven Plateau at the Tad Fane Resort |
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Day 12-13: Khong Island and the 4,000 Islands
Explore Khong Island, one of the 4,000 islands in this wide stretch of the mighty Mekong. Take in idyllic island surrounds before a boat journey to an old French railway and Khone Phapheng falls, the largest on the Mekong. If luck is on our side, we might catch a glimpse of the remarkable freshwater Irrawaddy dolphin before returning to Khong Island and our lodge for the night.
2 nights in Khong Island at the Auberge Sala Done Khong |
Day 14-15: Preah Vihear Temple and return to Bangkok
We bid farewell to the ‘Land of a Million Elephants’ with a short elephant trek and a crossing into Thailand. Before returning to the Thai capital we make a side trip to an imposing Khmer temple, Preah Vihear, straddling the Cambodian border. Enjoy a farewell dinner in Bangkok and on day 15, transfer to the airport for your onward travels.
1 night in Pakse at the Pakse Hotel
1 night in Bangkok at the Silom Serene Hotel |
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15 day tour includes breakfast, 1 lunch and 3 dinners, tour leader, English speaking guide, domestic flights, slow boats and transfers if you arrive and depart on day of tour. Prices are per person based on twin share (excluding flights & entrance fees). An above average level of fitness is required.
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