Your custom tailored tour uncovers the splendor of Laos’s contemporary and imperial capitals through their distinguished elegance and beauty. Venture into the countryside to discover staggering waterfalls feeding into turquoise pools. Discover the former Royal Palace as it displays the glittering frame of a solid gold Buddha icon. Follow the path set by 3rd-century monks who brought a Buddha relic from India and stand beneath the grandeur of the Victory Monument as it pronounces the independent...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Vientiane – Glories of the Capital
The wide boulevards of Vientiane lead to historical temples and Buddhist monks trail robes of burnt sage. Temples glitter amongst the emerald hues of the canopy. Dragon statues shimmering with gilded exteriors lunge out of temple doorways. The scent of frangipani and tamarind blend with the aroma of fresh pastries drifting out of the French cafes. Your flight lands at Wattay International Airport, where your private transfer greets you upon your arrival. Entering into the heart of the historic center, you pass antique French villas dating back to the colonial days and waters of the Mekong River rushing against the edges of the city.
You take a moment to settle into the comforts of your hotel, situated inside a renovated French villa that offers the charms of the city’s past, accentuated with contemporary luxuries. Your guide greets you in the lobby, eager to introduce you to the Laotian capital on a walking tour around Pha That Luang, the most important monument in the country. The golden stupa represents Laos’s sovereignty, along with the embodying of a grand symbol of the Buddhist religion. The aroma of blossoming frangipani blends with the scent of incense.
The golden exterior of the shrine flickers in the passing sunlight. Your guide explains the legend surrounding the complex, which states that missionaries from India erected the stupa in the 3rd century to enclose a piece of Buddha’s breastbone. The shrine reaches a height of nearly 150 feet with a cloister measuring more than 275 feet. Images of Buddha adorn the walls. Your guide points to the statue of Jayavarman VII, the king who converted the Khmer empire to Buddhism during the era of Angkor.
What's Included:
Day 2
Vientiane – At the Heart of Vientiane’s Temples
Day 3
Luang Prabang – Discovering the Imperial Capital and Culture
Day 4
Luang Prabang – Waters of the Mekong
Day 5
Luang Prabang – Around Turquoise Pools
Day 6
Luang Prabang – Laos with Locals
Day 7
Luang Prabang – Morning in Luang Prabang
Trip Highlights
- Enjoy a boat ride down the mighty Mekong River to view life on the riverbanks and explore unique Buddhist shrines carved into limestone cliffs
- Witness the stunning turquoise glow of Kuang Si Waterfall and the natural pools forming below
- Visit a local village to view the continued tradition of textile work on antique looms crafting colorful, intricate, and unique garments
- Participate in the morning procession where locals silently offer alms to passing monks in the form of food
- Relish the unique handcrafts and charming ambiance of the Night Market in Luang Prabang
- View the remarkable solid gold Buddha statue on display in the Royal Palace Museum
- Wander through a contemporary Buddhist temple of Pha That Luang, erected over a 3rd-century shrine built to house a relic of Buddha
Detailed Description
Indulge in a culturally immersive tour of Laos during your 7-day exploration of the palaces and pagodas around Vientiane and Luang Prabang. The journey begins with your arrival in Vientiane, the contemporary capital of Laos. Your private transfer meets you at Wattay International Airport and leads you to a marvelous hotel situated inside a renovated French villa. Your guide meets you in the lobby after you have had a chance to settle into the comforts of your accommodation. Set out on a half-day tour of the city’s marvels to visit the imposing stupa at Pha That Luang, which was erected in the 3rd century.
You meet your guide after breakfast the following morning to continue your exploration of Vientiane, taking to the remarkable temples of Wat Si Saket and Wat Ong Teu Mahawihan. Continue into the Buddha Park to find sculptures connecting the mythological figures of Hindu and Buddhist mythology before ending the day along the bustling promenade of the Riverside Night Market. Your private transfer meets you at the hotel the next day and escorts you to the airport for your brief flight to Luang Prabang.
You quickly settle into the luxuries of your hotel after landing at Luang Prabang International Airport. Your guide greets you in the lobby and leads you on a remarkable tour of the former imperial capital city of Luang Prabang, taking you to visit the 33 temples, Royal Palace Museum, and gilded stupa adorning the summit of Mount Phu Si. You venture to the roadside before the dawn of the next morning to participate in the morning procession of monks by giving alms to the passing clerics in the form of food. You continue to the banks of the Mekong to board a boat bound for the Pak Ou Caves.
View the staggering collection of Buddha icons and meet locals in a nearby village who continue to weave marvelous textiles in accordance with traditional patterns before returning to Luang Prabang. Next, you immerse yourself in village life at Phone Say, located off the main road. You learn the traditions of the village and the importance of heritage before spending time in the vibrant Night Market. On the final day, your private transfer meets you at the hotel and escorts you to Luang Prabang International Airport for your flight home.
Starting Price
$2,100 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
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 138 reviews.
Everything worked out great. Zicasso's travel company was super-supportive.
Reviewed By Rich D.
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.