Our Laos holidays begin with ...
Arrival in Vientiane... Small by the standards of Capital cities around the world, Vientiane has an air of quietude about it.Your arrival will find you checked into your hotel, and have time for a short walking tour of the Lao capital before some fine dining at your welcome dinner.

Good morning
You'll have a chance to see more of peaceable Vientiane later in your tour, but for now we will take you to the airport for the morning flight to Pakse and the drive to Champasak for your stay in the King Fisher Ecolodge. On the way, we will visit the the khmer ruins of Wat Phou, and other Hindu and Buddhist shrines. The following day will be yours to spend as you choose, watching elephants grazing on the plain below, birdwatching, hiking or just wandering around.

Don Khone
Next day, your guide will pick you up for your drive to South-east Asia's largest waterfall, Khone Phapeng, after which we shall take you to your next destination of Don Khone river island, where you will have the rest of the day to explore.

After an early breakfast we will explore some of the villages of Ban Khone, with its old french colonial buildings and Laos' first railway. We will then take to the water to explore this area of four thousand islets as far as the Cambodian border, where you will be able to view Liphi waterfall. If luck is on our side you may also see the rare freshwater irrrawaddy dolphins at Ban Hang Khone, before your return to Don Khone.

Back to Vientiane
On the following day you will take the boat trip back to the mainland, after which your car will take you to Pakse for your flight to Vientiane. After checking in to your hotel, you will have time at leisure to enjoy the Lao capital in your own style, before your guided city tour of the following morning, which will include visits to Wat Si Saket, Vientiane's oldest and most impressive temple, Wat Pha Keo museum, That Lang stupa, Patuxay monument and the local market, which trades in in handmade textiles, antiques and general souvenirs. We will also visit Wat Ong Tu, literally ' temple of the heavy Buddha,' and the bronze statue after which it is named

Luang Prabang
Another day, and another flight to the World Heritage city of Luang Prabang for check-in at your hotel. The afternoon city tour will include visits to Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Mai temples, both of which are superbly decorated. A viewpoint overlooking Luang Prabang from the hill top of Phousi is well worth the climb of its 328 steps, and good for a sunset, after which you could stroll the 'night market' full of Ethnic handicrafts.

If you want to witness the sight for which Luang Prabang is most famous, you will have to be up and on its streets by 5am to watch the snaking procession of monks passing though the dawn streets with their alms bowls. You will have time for a proper breakfast afterwards, before you car picks you up for today's visit to the Kuangsi waterfalls, where you can have a good splash around and enjoy strolling through its scenic woodlands. On your return to Luang Prabang, we will visit Ban Phanom weaving village, where you can watch the weavers at work.

You will have the next day entirely as you please to enjoy the city and its surroundings (and recover from you previous day's early start! )

The following day, you'll visit the National museum in the former Royal palace, with its extensive collection of artifacts from Lao history from its earliest times through to the present. We will also call in on the silver smith,and visit the fine arts school and central market, before taking you to your hotel to collect your baggage for the afternoon flight to Vientiane to spend your last night., before your onward or home flight.

Meals: 11 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 4 dinners
Guide: as specified in the tour

Our prices include:

* Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room.
* Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above (Please note: pick-ups will be by a guide and driver or, where a guide is not necessary, a driver only. All unaccompanied drivers will be briefed in advance, and will carry a mobile phone to ensure smooth transfer arrangements)
* Boat cruises as specified in the programme.
* Domestic flight tickets: Vientiane- Pakse, Pakse - Vientiane, Vientiane - Luang Prabang and Luang Prabang, including domestic airport taxes
* Travel in an appropriate private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced safe driver.
* The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary (please note: guides will be on hand from pick-up until guests' return to their hotel or reaching their destination). Free days or part days will not include the services of a guide unless requested and included in the final itinerary.
* Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.
* VAT and other taxes
* Lunches and dinners, as specified, in the best local restaurants, or picnics, where no suitable restaurant is available

Our prices do not include:

* International flight tickets and airport tax.
* Visas
* Dinners, except as specified above.
* Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
* Camera fees (if any)
* Insurance.