Your adventure begins in Luang Prabang with a baptism of Lao culture, people and animals. First up, get your bearings on a cycle tour of the old town temples, then head into the hills to swim in the pools of Kuang Si Waterfall and meet buffalo at a local dairy. On day two, you’ll get knee deep in mud at Living Land Organic Farm to find out how rice is grown with the help of water buffalo instead of modern machinery. You’ll meet creatures of a different kind at MandaLao Sanctuary, where you’ll feed elephants. Finally, round of part one of your Laos trip by joining the locals for a game of petanque and a Lao barbecue.

The journey to Vang Vieng is one of jaw-dropping beauty. Twisting and turning through the mountains by train, you’ll pass lush, fertile valleys and dramatic limestone karsts soaring from the rice paddies. Slap bang in the middle of this magnificent landscape is Vang Vieng, your base for two days of outdoor activities. Discover impressive stalagmites in the vast cavern of Tham Phoukham Cave and learn about local culture and customs on the Khmu Culture tour.

Food is the main order of your time in Vientiane. We’ll introduce you to an outstanding local chef and together you’ll jump in a tuk tuk to head to the market. The chef knows all the stallholders and you’ll get to taste lots of weird and wonderful ingredients before selecting what you need for the cooking class. The lesson’s in a private house overlooking the Mekong where you’ll learn to make a veritable feast of Lao cuisine including pork larb, papaya salad, soup and a noodle dish. Afterwards, hang out by the pool, or your guide and driver can show you more of the city. Climb the steps of Patuxai Victory Gate, explore the royal palace temples or delve into Vientiane’s café scene.

Your trip slips into a different gear as a short flight takes you to rural southern Laos, where everything is that little bit slower and undisturbed. Here, you’ll cut a trail in a vintage jeep across the fertile Bolaven Plateau to explore waterfalls and ethnic minority villages. On your second day, visit a family-run coffee plantation. Thanks to the cool microclimate, they cultivate world-beating coffee and you’ll see the whole process from bean to cup.

Get ready for adventure. Tonight, you’ll be staying 10 metres above the ground in a magnificent treehouse. How do you get there? By ziplining above the jungle canopy. But that’s not all. Treetops is an outdoor adventure playground, full of waterfalls, gorges and forest. There’s a breath-taking walkway that crosses a steep river valley and multiple ziplines that you’ll whizz along to your heart’s content. After sleeping amid the trees listening to the sounds of birds, insects and monkeys, you’ll tackle a Via Ferrata in the morning. It’s a steep rock face and you’ll scale it by iron u-bolts drilled into the wall - a fantastic, high-adrenaline thrill.

In the far south of Laos, the 4,000 Islands is a languid place of hammocks, palm trees and fishermen where you’ll spend a day hopping between islands by ferry and mountain bike. Your eager guide knows the region like the back of his hand and will show you ancient temples and weaving villages, telling tales of local customs and traditions. Sit down with a local family for a home-cooked lunch before cycling down dirt tracks across islands where cars can’t reach. Your accommodation is a wonderful eco-resort on Don Daeng Island. You’ve got a final day of leisure here to reflect on your Lao journey and watch the sun set over the Mekong one last time.