Sunset over Mekong

Laos along the Mekong

Trip code
LAM001

This road trip takes you through a slice of authentic, rural life undisturbed by tourism. You’ll travel southern Laos, following the Mekong River, though stunning karst mountain scenery.

We’ve built this itinerary to help you escape the tourist trail in an already off-the-radar country. Travelling overland will bring you multi-tiered waterfalls, wild orchid forests, phenomenal caves and communities steeped in tradition. Speak to somebody who’s been there - our Laos specialists are full of ideas to create the perfect trip for you.

Pricing

Price based on 3* accommodation
From
$3,376
pp
Let us help plan your holiday and make it perfect for you

Key facts

12 nights/13 days
Discover history and religion on a bike ride around Luang Prabang, the morning alms giving ritual, a tour of Vientiane’s temples and the French-Indochina architecture of Savannakhet, plus a climb up the steps of Wat Phou ruins
Explore scenic countryside on a picnic at Kuang Si Falls, a sunset cruise on the Mekong, a boat trip into the Kong Lor Cave, a jeep tour across Bolaven Plateau, and mountain biking across Don Khong Island
Meet the elephants of MandaLao Sanctuary and visit a buffalo dairy
Image
DAY 10-13 CHAMPASAK DAY 7 KONG LOR DAY 5-6 VIENTIANE DAY 1-4 LUANG PRABANG DAY 9 PAKSE DAY 8 THAKHEK
Image
DAY 10-13 CHAMPASAK DAY 7 KONG LOR DAY 5-6 VIENTIANE DAY 1-4 LUANG PRABANG DAY 9 PAKSE DAY 8 THAKHEK

Transport in detail

You’ll take a 45-minute flight from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, and the rest of the journey is overland following the Mekong River. There are three long car transfers of four to six hours, but the karst mountain landscape is spectacular, and you’ll stop at fascinating villages and temples en route.

What's great

While all visitors to Laos explore Luang Prabang, we’ve created this trip to show you the peaceful villages, waterfalls, caves and islands of southern Laos where few tourists venture

There’s more to Laos than monks (although you’ll meet them too). We’ll introduce you to farmers, fishermen, elephant handlers, coffee growers, stone carvers and more besides

If you’d like to spend more time on the river, we can tailor your trip to start with a cruise down the Mekong River from the Thai border into Luang Prabang

Things to consider

In several rural destinations the accommodation is basic, but this is all part of the simple charm of Laos countryside

Some roads are bendy and bumpy - not for the faint of heart. It’s part and parcel of getting off the beaten track, and you’ll be rewarded with unspoiled Mekong views and dramatic karst mountains

You’ll need a good level of fitness to handle the more active experiences. Sound too energetic? We can swap these out for something more leisurely

The experience

We’re not in the business of dictating holidays. Instead, all our itineraries are completely customisable, so tell us your ideas and our Laos experts will work with you to create a personal itinerary.

Day 1-4

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is simply stunning. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, packed with temples, villas and monasteries, encircled by the river and jungle-clad mountains. Three days will fly by in a riot of colour and culture. First, hop on a bicycle for a religious architecture tour and stop at the excellent Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre to learn about Lao textiles, crafts and music. Explore botanical gardens, Kuang Si Waterfall, a buffalo dairy farm, and meet retired elephants at an ethical sanctuary. In the early morning, take part in the ritual of alms giving to long lines of orange-robed monks, while at day end, cruise down the Mekong River to watch the sun set.

Kuang Si Waterfalls near Luang Prabang

Highlights

Hear tales of Luang Prabang’s illustrious past on a guided cycle tour

Play a part in the spiritual ritual of morning alms giving

Beat the crowds with an early morning visit to the emerald cascades of Kuang Si Waterfall

Daily alms ceremony in Luang Prabang

Day 5-6

Vientiane

If Luang Prabang is an open-air museum, the capital Vientiane is a real working city replete with mopeds, markets and offices. There are pockets of history, and an insightful local guide will show you Patuxai Monument, a homage to the Arc de Triomphe, and royal temples housing thousands of Buddha statues. The place that really sticks in our memory is the moving COPE exhibition centre which supports the victims of unexploded ordnance, a result of the heavy bombing Laos suffered during the Vietnam War. On your second day, it’s time to venture into the countryside. You’ll swim in multi-tiered pools at Tad-Xay Waterfall and hike through a forest to see wild orchids and visit a local village.

Buddha statues in temple in Vientiane

Highlights

Explore Vientiane’s historic temples and Buddhist monuments

Discover the shocking impact of UXOs at the COPE centre

Look out for wild orchids as you hike between Tad-Xay Waterfalls and scenic villages

Pha That Luang stupa in Vientiane

The finer detail

  • Breakfast every day
  • Five lunches: one in Luang Prabang's botanical gardens; one at MandaLao Elephant Sanctuary; a picnic lunch at the waterfalls outside Vientiane; a picnic lunch in Kong Lor; one home-cooked lunch in the 4,000 Islands
  • Three full day experiences: trek through the countryside of Vientiane to find wild orchids; tour of the coffee plantations and waterfalls of the Bolavean Plateau; explore the 4,000 Islands by boat and mountain bike
  • Nine half day experiences: highlights tour of Luang Prabang; Luang Prabang's rural villages by bicycle; early morning visit to Kuang Si Waterfall combined with a stop at a buffalo dairy; boat trip to Luang Prabang's botanical gardens; visit the elephants of MandaLao Elephant Sanctuary; a private cruise on the Mekong River; city tour of Vientiane; visit Kong Lor Cave; a tour of the Wat Phou Temple Complex
  • All entrance fees to sites included in guided experiences
  • All internal transport & accommodation

Day 5:
Flight from Luang Prabang to Vientiane (45 minutes)

Day 7:
Car transfer from Vientiane to Kong Lor (4.5 hours)

Day 8:
Car transfer from Kong Lor to Thakhek via Kong Lor Cave (6 hours)

Day 9:
Car transfer from Thakhek to Pakse (6 hours)

Day 10:
Car transfer from Pakse to Champasak (1 hour)

Day 13:
Car transfer from Champasak to Pakse Airport (1 hour)

  • Visas
  • International flights
  • Meals not mentioned
  • Entrance fees to any sites not included in guided experiences
  • Tips for guides & porters