Indulge in the gourmet lifestyle during your customizable Laos itinerary tailored to discover the enriching cultural flavors of Laos, shaped by its landscapes and history. Coffee plantations flourish in the highlands, with cherries bursting with a delightful sweetness. Markets brim with the aromas of noodle soup and radiant crimson colors of chilies. French cafes line the cobbled lanes of Vientiane, and gilded shrines create an opulent skyline over the trees in Luang Prabang. Sample the lifestyle...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Luang Prabang – Simple and Delicious
Luang Prabang nourishes the spirit with an abundance of culture and comfort. The scent of tamarind blends with the aroma of blossoming frangipanis across the cobbled lanes of the old imperial city. The gilded spires of 33 wats, Buddhist monasteries or temples, glint in the passing sunlight. Monks draped in saffron-colored robes stroll beneath the shading trees. Exquisite French colonial villas shimmer with grace amongst the verdant exotic trees and blooming flowers. Your flight lands at Luang Prabang International Airport.
Your private transfer greets you upon your arrival and escorts you to a luxurious hotel located inside a renovated colonial-era villa, combining the elegance of French aristocracy, natural beauty of the countryside, and modern amenities.
After settling into the comforts of your hotel, your guide meets you in the lobby and leads you to the base of Mount Phousi, which towers over the center of the city at nearly 330 feet above the surrounding streets. The bordering trees shade the steep ascent, leading to the summit crowned by a golden stupa standing more than 75 feet tall. You have a spectacular panorama of Luang Prabang below, providing a perfect introduction to Laos.
What's Included:
Day 2
Luang Prabang – Endlessly Bright
Day 3
Luang Prabang – A Day with Elephants
Day 4
Vientiane – A Capital View
Day 5
Vientiane – The Soul of Laos
Day 6
Champasak – On the Bolaven Plateau
Day 7
Champasak – Ancient Temples and Rare Dolphins
Day 8
Don Daeng – In the Image of the Waterfall
Day 9
Don Daeng – River-Island Leisure
Day 10
Don Daeng – Fresh and Ready
Trip Highlights
- Indulge in the flavors of Laos with two distinct cooking classes meant to teach you the basics of Laotian cuisine, regional tastes, and your preferred flavors
- Visit a private coffee plantation, tasting coffee cherries before learning the methods used to cultivate, dry, and roast the beans to produce quality coffee
- Meet local Asian elephants at a renowned village started to protect and rehabilitate Laotian elephants before enjoying a ride to the river
- Witness the powerful, thundering whitewater rolling over the Khone Phapheng Waterfall in southern Laos
- View the morning procession of monks collecting alms from devout locals in the Luang Prabang in the form of cookies, sweets, and rice
- Search for Irrawaddy dolphins while cruising on the Mekong River
- Traverse the exotic, dense rainforest of the Bolaven Plateau on a guided tour before visiting with community leaders of local Ethnic villages
- Discover the unique blend of French colonial architecture and iconic Laotian style in the capital city of Vientiane
Starting Price
$2,800 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.81 stars based on 139 reviews.
I have used Zicasso to pair me with professional, qualified travel companies in the past and naturally turned to the platform for our recent trip to Laos and Thailand. We were matched with this travel company and I was delighted with their performance. My wife and I wanted an in-depth experience to really see Laos in depth, and the company created an itinerary that incorporated the things we wanted to do.
The detailed planning began with an hour-plus phone conversation where we communicated what was important to us and what we hoped to see and experience. It was easy to make our wishes understood as the person we spoke with was a native English speaker, so there was no miscommunication. Once we had the framework of our itinerary planned out, we worked with another travel specialist to refine it. Both of our primary contacts were always available via WhatsApp and responded quickly via text and/or email to move our travel plans along. This was also the case while we were traveling, as they checked in to make sure we were enjoying ourselves and were on standby in the event of any disruptions.
The suggested activities, local guides, vehicles, and hotels were all perfect based on our expectations and preferences. We were met at every airport by knowledgeable, welcoming guides and drivers who made sure we were comfortable and all our needs were met. They were flexible and customized itineraries based on our wishes. This travel company was highly capable and did an excellent job coordinating all of our movements, so we maximized our time and enjoyed every minute of our adventure.
Reviewed By Ron T.
The Zicasso travel specialist was great.
Reviewed By Christopher M.
Zicasso's travel agent was amazing in organizing a nine-and-a-half-week custom trip through Southeast Asia for us. She was intelligent, organized, efficient, and very clear in her communications. And patient too, going through several revisions. It was a concierge service! From the moment we arrived, everything the travel agent organized went like clockwork – the pick-ups, accommodations, flights, guides, and drivers were all perfect.
The accommodations all matched closely with the guidance we gave the travel specialist on quality, facilities, etc. Most of the guides spoke excellent English (for a couple, it was passable). All had a passion for their country’s culture and history, and spending a few days with each of them in the car allowed us to have some wonderful conversations on more personal and nuanced topics.
Then, when one of us needed to be hospitalized, the travel specialist jumped in to facilitate communications, arrange extra nights in hotels, and then recover what refunds were possible for the final two weeks we had to eliminate from the trip. You will not find a better tour operator!!
Reviewed By Kristen C.
Zicasso's travel specialist did a great job! The drivers and guides were on time and very helpful. I was the one who suggested hiking in the Nam Ha NPA and they made arrangements. Unfortunately, there were no animals and very few birds to be found.
We were hoping for a remote and lush rainforest. Borneo provided just that! We had a wonderful tour of wildlife, including elephants and six kinds of monkeys.
All the lodgings and food were excellent at all of our locations.
Reviewed By Terry G.
This trip exceeded all of our expectations! With the help of Zicasso’s travel agents, we were able to plan an itinerary that was perfectly suited to our interests. The local knowledge and options offered by our travel company greatly enhanced our experience.
The guides and drivers provided were all extremely knowledgeable, arrived early every day, were willing to go above and beyond the day's original agenda, and were very friendly. Our agents stayed in close contact with us during the entire trip, with special attention paid to the days we changed guides. Any questions we had were answered promptly. A WhatsApp group chat was created before our arrival and worked seamlessly to keep everyone in touch.
The hotels selected perfectly matched the criteria we gave our agents and were very, very nice. We will definitely use this travel company for our next trip to Asia!
Reviewed By John O.
This was our second trip through Zicasso and it was as wonderful as our first. It was well organized, with great communication and top-shelf service from our travel partner.
Reviewed By Sandra B.