Welcome to the “Land of a Million Elephants”! The historic capital of Luang Prabang in northern Laos is the starting point for your journey.

Located at the confluence of the Mekong and the Nam Khan rivers, Luang Prabang is one of Asia's quietest, calmest, most laid-back cities, with a tropical atmosphere that never fails to enchant. With a history stretching back over a thousand years, the city was known as Muang Sua, then Xieng Thong, before being renamed Luang Prabang in the 18th century. It was the royal capital of various successive kingdoms until 1975, and its rich heritage of beautifully preserved traditional Lao and French colonial architecture is the lasting legacy of the city's historical significance.

On arrival at the airport, you will meet your local guide and be driven by private car to your hotel in the centre of this captivating city. The rest of the day will be free for you to begin getting your bearings.

On day two, your guide will meet you at your hotel for a half-day guided tour of the town, introducing you to the palaces and pagodas that have earned Luang Prabang its World Heritage status. Amongst the highlights are sure to be Wat Mai, one of the city's most richly decorated temples; Wat Sensoukarahm, with its red walls and bright gold façade; and Wat Xieng Thong, the city's best-known monastery. The remainder of day two will be free for you to relax and explore the city.

On day three, we suggest that you rise before dawn and head out with your guide to see one of Luang Prabang's most famous sights: the morning alms collection. During this sombre religious ceremony, the city's monks file through the streets in complete silence, collecting offerings of food and money from the local people. Please remember to respect the dignity of this daily event by keeping your distance from the procession, and refrain from giving an offering unless you are a Buddhist yourself.

After seeing the morning ceremony you will head out with your guide to visit the Kuang Si Waterfalls, located in the jungle not far from Luang Prabang. This beautiful natural formation is a great place for a picnic breakfast, take a swim and explore the surrounding forest. The journey to and from the waterfall will give you your first glimpse of the rice fields, hills and villages of rural Laos.

You will return to the city with your guide and stop in at the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre for a brief introduction to the diverse cultures of Laos' ethnic minorities. The rest of the day will be at leisure in Luang Prabang.

On day four of your trip, board a traditional riverboat along the Mekong to the Pak Ou Caves. These sacred limestone caverns are filled with thousands of Buddha statues. Return downstream, stopping to visit Wat Done Khoun temple before continuing to the Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden. You'll have time at leisure here; wander through the ethno-botanic garden, learn about Laos biological conservation practice and take an orchid talk. You will arrive back in to Lunag Prabang as the sun sets around you.

Overnight: My Dream Boutique Resort

Continue southwards to Vang Vieng, once a backpacker's party paradise – now a peaceful town set amid a dramatic limestone landscape.

After breakfast on day five, you will leave town for the very scenic drive down Route 13 towards Vang Vieng, a journey of roughly five hours. Though the scenery is sure to prevent you getting bored, you will break the journey in Kasi – a fruit-growing region that lies along the route.

On arrival in Vang Vieng, you'll have the rest of the day at leisure to settle in to your accommodation and explore the town. The scenery in this rural area of Laos is spectacular, with flat river valley rising vertiginously into sheer limestone mountains whose green slopes loom over the town and river below.

On day six your venture out to explore the beautiful scenery and caves surrounding Vang Vieng by bicycle and boat. Spend the morning cycling along quite roads to small villages, blue lagoons and caves. After a morning of discovery, you'll travel by private vehicle to a local organic farm to enjoy lunch overlooking the Nam Song River. After a leisurely lunch, board a small private boat and cruise down the Nam Song River back to Vang Vieng, taking in the beautiful lime stone karst scenery along the way. You will arrive back at your hotel by late afternoon where the rest of the day is yours at leisure.

Overnight: Riverside Boutique Resort

After a leisurely morning on day eight, continue south to Vientiane, Laos' modern capital.

After roughly an hour's drive from Vang Vieng you will reach Nam Ngum Lake, the largest in Laos and a very beautiful spot. After a break here for lunch, the drive to Vientiane should take around two and a half hours. On arrival in the capital, the rest of the day will be at leisure. You might like to stroll along the banks of the Mekong and head to the evening market for a spot of bargain hunting.

On day eight you will meet your private local guide in the lobby of your hotel and head out on a half-day tour of the city, beginning at the lovely Wat Sisaket. This Buddhist temple was built in 1818 in the Siamese style, and for this reason was the only temple left intact after the Siamese invasion in 1828. Inside you'll find a museum and a cloister with more than 2,000 ceramic and silver Buddha statues.

Moving on from Wat Sisaket, you will head to nearby Wat Phra Keo, which houses a collection of Lao and Khmer works of art. You'll also stop in at COPE, an organisation that works to support the victims of landmines – of whom there have sadly been many in Laos. At the centre, you'll get some background on the American-Vietnamese War and its devastating impact on Laos, which was subjected to the most intensive bombing campaign in history by the USA. You will also learn about the lasting impact of unexploded ordinances (UXO) in Laos, and the efforts currently underway to clear them.

Next, your tour will take you to the Patuxay monument, Laos' version of the Arc de Triomphe, where you can climb the stairs to the roof for sweeping panoramic views of the city. Finally, you will conclude the day's route at That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. Constructed by King Setthethirat in the 16th century, the temple is resplendent as the sun reflects off its towering golden spire.

The rest of day eight will be free for you to enjoy the shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and spas of Vientiane.

Overnight: Beau Rivage

Leave Vientiane early this morning to begin the journey south along route 13 to Kong Lor Cave.

The first leg of the journey will take around three hours before you leave the highway and enter the Phou Hin Poun NPA (National Protected Area). The scenery becomes more spectacular here, featuring limestone karsts, forests and rice paddies.

To break up the journey several stops can be made including the interesting Ban Ton Na Mae Hmong Marke and Ban Thabuk. Known as the the ‘bomb boat village' the villages resourcefully use old bomb casings from the Vietnam War as boats and to make furniture. You'll arrive into Hin Boun in the late afternoon, where you have the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight: Spring River Resort

After breakfast overlooking the Hinboun River, you will be met by your guide and driver for a morning of exploration.

Transfer the short distance to Kong lor village, the access point for the famous Kong Lor Cave. You will be given life jackets and head torches before a short walk around to the main entrance of the cave.

Upon entering the cave, you will board a long tail boat which will take you through the length of this spectacular cave along an underground section of the Hin Boun River – it'll be 7.5 kilometres before you see daylight again! The river flows all year and reveals vast formations of stalactites and stalagmites, which you will be able to explore on foot whilst inside the cave. In places the cave is up to 90 metres wide and over 50 metres high, and promises to be one of the most amazing sights you'll see in all of Laos.

Overnight: Le Bouton d'Or

On the morning of day 11 you'll leave Thakhet to continue your journey south along the Mekong.

Along the way there are stops that can be made to break up the drive, the first of these will be to visit the cliff top Tham Pa Fa or Buddha cave, which contains 229 bronze Buddha's that are said to be over 300 years old. Later in the day you can visit Soundra Salt Factory, and the sacred That Inhang stupa before arriving at your hotel in Pakse. The reminder of day will be yours at leisure in this riverside city.

Overnight: Residence Sisouk

Today you will head into the mountains of the Dong Hua Sao National Park for a jungle adventure!

The two day Tree Top Explorer programme will take you deep into this beautiful and unspoilt area, trekking through the jungle and zip lining over the canopy!

On the morning of day 12 you'll be met at your hotel in Pakse and transferred by private vehicle to Ban Nongluang village where you will meet your local guides whom will accompany you. After an introduction to the day's activities and safety briefing you will begin your trek, making your way through coffee plantations, past small villages into the wild semi-evergreen jungle. Reaching the impressive multi tired ‘Kamet' waterfall a picnic lunch will be enjoyed. This afternoon your guides will lead you on a zip line course to the Tree Tops Jungle base. There are short cables for you to get a feel for the activity before flying through the canopy on the 400m cable, a true adrenaline rush! Tonight you will be staying in a traditional style hut built up in the trees, a night to remember.

After breakfast on day 13 there are several activities to choose from, you could walk along the rock face using the Italian inspired via ferrata route to the high plateau or take one of the many hiking trails from the Tree Tops Jungle base. Enjoy your last picnic lunch in the jungle before making your way by foot back to Ban Nongluang village. Here a vehicle will be waiting to return you to Pakse where you will meet by your guide and driver for the 30 minute journey to your hotel in Champasak.

Overnight: Jungle Hotel Paksong

Spend two days exploring the province of Champasak home to the beautiful Four Thousand Islands.

On day 14 you will depart after an early breakfast for a full day exploring the area known locally as Si Phan Don – “Four Thousand Islands”. In this beautiful area the Mekong River reaches 14 kilometres across (its widest point for the entirety of its 4,350-kilometre length), creating the thousands of small islands that give the region its name.

You will travel first by car for around two hours to the village of Ban Nakasan. From here you will take a local boat to the peaceful islands of Don Det and Don Khon, where plantations and simple villages are almost all you will find. We recommend bicycles as the best way to explore, or a tuk-tuk if you prefer.

From these islands you'll have the chance to take a boat trip to spot the rare Irrawadday Dolphin, which likes to spend its time in the cool waters of this area. Sightings are far from guaranteed, but you will be in with as good a chance as any as you set of this morning!

Also located on Don Khon Island is the Lippi Waterfall, located to the west of the island not far from the Cambodian border. These islands were strategically important during the French colonial period thanks to their location close to the border, and a railway bridge was built over the waterfall to link the two countries. Today, this bridge provides the perfect spot from which to appreciate beautiful views of the surrounding landscape.

Visit the impressive Lippi falls, which are on the west of Don Khone, very close to the Cambodian border. The islands played an important role during the French Colonial rule as they linked Laos to Cambodia and Southern Vietnam. To overpass the waterfalls, a railway and bridge were built, the perfect place to take your time and soak up the view.

Lunch will be included at a local restaurant before your return to Champasak this afternoon, arriving back at your hotel in time for sunset.

After breakfast on day 15 your guide will meet you and drive you to Wat Phou, just fifteen minutes from your hotel. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Wat Phou is a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits among the rice fields and waterways of southern Laos.

The temple was constructed on three levels: the bottom level is focused on the baray (water reservoir) and promenade, the second level features quadrangular pavilions and galleries of carvings, and the top level is the sanctuary itself. Predating the famous Angkor Wat in neighbouring Cambodia, this site served as the most important economic and political centre of the region and still is one of the Lao people's most revered temples.

The rest of the day will be free for you to enjoy your hotel and beautiful surroundings before taking an afternoon flight back to Vientiane. The local area is also great for exploring on bikes, which are available at your hotel.

After breakfast on day 16 you have time at leisure until it is time to leave. Your drive and guide will transfer you to either Pakse or Ubon Rathathani airport in time for your onward flight.

Overnight: The River Resort