Experience unbridled luxury and unfathomable discovery while exploring Laos. Golden temple spires soar above the forest canopy. French villas embellished with Laotian accents offer a unique understanding of the contemporary colonial era. Ancient jars reaching eight feet tall speckle secluded plains and the former Royal Palace guards a majestic Buddha statue made of solid gold. From the banks of the Mekong to the cliffs towering over the Nam Song River, your customizable tour offers the unrivaled...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Luang Prabang – Imperial Luxury
The Mekong and Khan Rivers converge near the rolling mountains of Laos’s northern landscape. Lush greenery spreads across the riverbanks and sporadically shading the cobbled historical streets of Luang Prabang, the former imperial capital of the country until the 16th century. Frangipanis blossom through the cityscape, providing a comforting, sweet aroma throughout the day. The gilded temple crowning the neighboring summit of Mount Phu Si glints against the jade leaves of the forest canopy. Your flight lands at Luang Prabang International Airport, where your private transfer greets you upon arrival.
The relaxed ambiance emanates from the rustling leaves, colorful flowers, historical streets, and 33 temples creating the elegant skyline. French colonial villas line the walkways, offering a glimpse of the 19th and 20th centuries while the country was under foreign influence. Your marvelous hotel offers an enchanting view of the mountains rolling across the horizon within the traditional Laotian architectural style. Teak wood offers endless freshness, accented with silk and cotton for a smooth, gentle appearance. Your introduction to Laos and Laotian culture begins with a traditional Baci ceremony.
The Shaman greets you with a friendly smile amongst the aroma of lingering bamboo emanating from the surrounding forest. The Shaman ties a white cotton string around your wrist and begins with good wishes for your journey through the country. You stand near a handmade pyramid crafted out of marigolds. The petals flutter in the gentle hillside breeze. The Shaman places a glass of Laotian whiskey and banana leaf near a pair of candles and flowers. You receive the blessing with your hands out and palms down. The Shaman brushes a string against your skin, sweeping away the bad spirits and replacing them with positive vibes for the perfect welcome to Laos.
What's Included:
Day 2
Luang Prabang – Beyond the Gilded Spires
Day 3
Luang Prabang – On the Mekong Waters
Day 4
Phonsavan – The Road onto the Plain
Day 5
Phonsavan – Reach of the Enchanting Plains
Day 6
Vang Vieng – On Tranquil Waters
Day 7
Vientiane – Along the Mekong Bend
Day 8
Vientiane – In Temple Glory
Day 9
Vientiane – An Endless Luxury
Trip Highlights
- Discover the secluded Plain of Jars to view the ancient artifacts scattered across an open field crafted by a civilization unknown to archaeologists
- Revel in a traditional Baci ceremony to bless your journey and welcome you to Laos
- Delight in the charm and elegance of Luang Prabang on a full day guided tour to view the graceful temples of the imperial capital city, along with a staggering Buddha carved out of pure gold
- Venture to the top of Mount Phu Si for an unparalleled view of the surrounding mountains and valleys, along with the 33 separate spires of Luang Prabang
- Enter into the Pak Ou Caves to find thousands of Buddha statues decorating the caverns, creating local shrines spanning thousands of years
- Visit the village of Ban Muang Keo to learn the secrets of crafting Laotian whiskey, before partaking in a sample with local villagers
- Relish the limestone cliffs and caves surrounding Vang Vieng, where you can find a reclining Buddha bathed in the sunlight at Tham Phu Kham
- Meet members of the Hmong and Tai Dam ethnic communities while exploring the countryside around Phonsavan
Detailed Description
Luxury and devotion blend together in the gilded spires of Laotian temples while regal ambiance emanates from the preserved French villas. Your 9-day tour of Laos embodies contemporary opulence and comfort while enjoying endless discoveries across the emerald landscape, beginning with your arrival in Luang Prabang. Your private transfer meets you at Luang Prabang International Airport and escorts you to a stunning hotel crafted with traditional Laotian architecture as inspiration. After settling into the comforts of your hotel, you will partake in a Baci ceremony, during which a shaman will bless your journey and welcome you to Laos.
The next morning, your guide meets you in the hotel lobby and escorts you on a full day guided tour of the former imperial capital. Enjoy the relaxed ambiance and stunning temple complexes, including the elegance of Wat Xieng Thong and the gilded stupa atop Phousi Hill. You will also take your time exploring the Royal Palace Museum. Step onto a boat to cruise the Mekong River. You embark on a tour of the Pak Ou Caves before visiting Ban Muang Keo village, which is known for its master weavers and skilled whiskey distillers.
You have a scenic drive south to the town of Phonsavan. Relish the passing mountain scenery, farms, and forest before arriving in Phonsavan with the remainder of the day at leisure. You can visit the Fresh Food Market to view the goods enjoyed by the local ethnic tribes whose villages speckle the countryside. Next, you set out with your guide to tour the Plain of Jars, a spectacle of ancient stone jars decorating the landscape. Visit local hill tribes, such as Tai Dam and Hmong ethnic communities, before returning to Phonsavan.
Afterward, your scenic drive takes you along farmlands and valleys to reach the streets of Vang Vieng. Take to the waters of the Nam Song River to float in an inter-tube or trek the limestone hills to discover the temples and pagodas hidden in the trees and mountains. Your guide meets you at the hotel and escorts you to Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to visit the Patuxai Memorial or the Laos National Museum. Then, your guide takes you on an encompassing tour of Vientiane’s grand and historical temples. Your private transfer meets you at the hotel on the final day and escorts you to Wattay International Airport for your flight home.
Starting Price
$9,600 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 140 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.