An exciting combination of ancient cultures, river journeys, stunning scenery, starting with the awe inspiring Ancient Royal City of Luang Prabang, this unforgettable journey takes you in many of Indochina’s most enthralling destinations.
Experience the highlights of two fascinating and culturally rich countries. In Laos, we arrive in enchanting Luang Prabang, we cruise upstream the Mekong River to discover Myanmar and Inle Lake area. Inle Lake is nested among high hills in a site of great beauty. It is home to the Intha people, who have developed a unique way of living.
Their villages are built in the middle of the lake, complete with floating gardens of extraordinary fertility. All commutes and several markets are held on water. They are known for their technique of rowing wrapping one of the legs around the oar to relieve and free arms for fishing.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Vientiane - Laos
After our arrival to Vientiane International Airport, we are met by our guide and transferred to our hotel. Rest of the day is free for us to rest and relax. Overnight: Hotel Beau Rivage Mekong, Vientiane (2 nights)
Day 2: Vientiane
The capital city and seat of government sits in a bend of the Mekong River amidst fertile alluvial plains. Vientiane (pronounced 'Wieng Chan' by the locals) is a laid-back city with interesting wats and lively markets.
After breakfast, we go for a city tour and visit Ho Pha Keo - the former royal temple of the Lao monarchy built in 1565 by King Setthathirat and now converted into a museum containing some of the best examples of Buddhist sculptures found in Laos; Wat Si Saket - constructed in 1818 by King Anouvong in the early Bangkok style, small niches are carved into its interior walls, containing more than 2,000 silver and ceramic Buddha images.
Afternoon we’ll see Patuxai - a large monument in the style of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the huge arch at the end of Thanon Lan Xang has a stairway that leads to the top levels of the monument, providing a panoramic view of the city; Pha That Luang (Great Sacred Reliquary or Great Stupa) - built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD, it is the most important national monument in Laos, a symbol of both the Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty. (Breakfast)
Day 3: Vientiane / Vang Vieng (drive)
We leave today Vientiane and drive to Vang Vieng. This small town north of Vientiane is nestled in a scenic bend in the Nam Song River. The west bank of the river is lined with tunnels and caverns and the limestone cliffs are beautiful.
We’ll enjoy a short trek through rice paddies, stopping at H'mong village, one of the most representative villages showing the rural life in this part of the country. Overnight: The Elephant Crossing Hotel, Vang Vieng. (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 4: Vang Vieng / Luang Prabang (drive)
After breakfast we leave for Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang is the jewel of Indochina, and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. The ancient Royal City it is surrounded by mountains at the junction of the Mekong and its tributary, the Khan River. In the centre of the city is Mount Phousi with stunning views of the surrounding temples and hills.
Luang Prabang is a city where time seems to stand still. A former capital of the realm, known in the 13th century as "the Kingdom of millions of elephants." It is the site of over 20 Buddhist pagodas including the Phousi, which is said to enshrine the footprint of Buddha. Overnight: Sala Luang Prabang. (3 nights) (Breakfast)
Day 5: Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang is the ancient capital city of the Lan Xang Kingdom and is famous for its historic temples and beautiful setting surrounded by mountains. Today we’ll have a full day sightseeing and we’ll visit Wat Xieng Thong - built in 1560 and situated on the banks of the Mekong River, it is the most beautiful monastery in Luang Prabang and shows the typical Lao art style with old religious artifacts and some ancient masterpieces of Lao art; Wat Wisunalat (Vat Visoun) - built in 1513 during the reign of Chao Wisunalat, it is the oldest operating temple in Luang Prabang with a collection of gilded wooden Buddhas from the 15th and 16th Centuries.
Also see Wat Mai - constructed in 1821 during the reign of King Manthatourath, it was once the residence of Phra Sangkharaj (the Patriarch of the Buddhist clergy); Wat That Luang - the ashes of King Sisavang Vong are interred inside the large central stupa, which was erected in 1910.
The inside of the huge sim dating back to 1820 contains a few Luang Prabang Buddhas and other artifacts. The Wat Saen - Thai style wat built in 1718 and restored in 1957. The abbot Ajannn Khamjan who was ordained here in 1940 is one of the most revered monks in Luang Prabang and perhaps in all of Laos. (Breakfast)
Day 6: Luang Prabang
After breakfast we take an excursion to the Kuang Si Falls; located in a perfect natural setting near Luang Prabang this multi-tiered waterfall tumbles over limestone formations into a series of turquoise pools. It is a nice place for bathing and having a picnic. Later we go to Bhan Tha Pene, a quaint, Khmu village with a traditional hydro-rice mill. (Breakfast)
Day 7: Luang Prabang / Pakbeng (cruise)
We leave in the morning for the pier, where we board the Luangsay Cruise ship for our exciting River journey from Luang Prabang to Pakbeng. We embark the Luangsay boat, a traditional style wooden boat with open decks offering beautiful views, then cruise upstream towards Pakbeng.
En route we stop at Ban Xang Hai to observe the making of traditional Lao rice wine and whiskey. Continue to the famous Pak Ou Caves; these are essentially two caves (Tham Thing – lower cave and Tham Phum – the upper one) located in the steep rock cliff at the confluence of the Mekong River and Ou River.
They are full of Buddha images of varying styles, ages and sizes. Lunch is served on board, followed by a visit to a fishing village before arriving in Pakbeng late in the afternoon. Overnight: Lodge Cruise, Pakbeng. (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 8: Pakbeng / Huay Xai (cruise)
This morning we board the Luangsay boat again and we cruise from Pakbeng up the Mekong towards Huay Xai (Laos - Thai border town). Several stops along the way offer the opportunity to sample rural life first-hand and marvel at just how little has changed over the centuries. Arrival in Huay Xai is in the late afternoon. Here we’re transferred to our hotel. Overnight: Mekong Lao Hotel, Huay Xai. (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 9: Huay Xai / Chiang Khong (Thailand) / Tachileik (Myanmar)
We are starting the morning with sightseeing in Huay Xai by tuk-tuk. This bustling riverside town it used to be the disembarkation point for Yunnanese caravans led by the Hui (Chinese Muslims) on their way to ancient Siam. Today there is still a fair amount of trade in Chinese goods.
We will stop by the Wat Jawn Khao Manilat temple, constructed in 1880 and overlooking the town and the river, with many brightly colored jataka paintings decorating the exterior of the sim, then we go to the main morning market of the town and even visit the village of the Lao Huay, one of the many hill tribe villages in the area. After this tour we cross the border into Thailand by vehicle at Chiang Khong and proceed to Mae Sai (border Thailand / Myanmar).
After crossing again the border, from Thailand we enter Myanmar at Tachileik. Once we’ve cleared immigration, we visit here the Myanmar-Thai border bridge, followed by the Two Dragon Monastery, the Baying Naung Statue and have some free time to take in the atmosphere of this typical Golden Triangle town. Overnight: Golden Triangle Hotel, Tachileik. (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 10: Tachileik / Kengtung (drive)
We leave in the morning Tachileik and drive thru scenic countryside to Kengtung. Overnight: Kyaing Tong Hotel, Kengtung. (3 nights) (Breakfast)
Day 11: Kengtung
Tucked away in the far eastern corner of Shan State, Kengtung is a sleepy but important historic centre for the state's Khun culture, surrounded by Wa, Shan, Akha and Lahu villages, where we will also venture during our stay. It is a very scenic town as it is built around a small lake and is dotted with aging Buddhist temples and crumbling British colonial architecture.
First temple we visit is Wat Jong Kham, featuring a tall gilded zedi topped by a gold hti inlaid with silver, rubies, diamonds, sapphires and jade, and hung with tiny gold bells. Legend says Jong Kham dates to a visit by Gautama Buddha and that the zedi contains six strands of his hair. Next is Wat Pha Jao Lung, the 19th Century temple, which gets its Burmese name Maha Myat Muni from a 1920 replica of the Mandalay Maha Myat Muni image.
The Water Buffalo Market it’s open daily on the western outskirts of town and it is an interesting place to wander and watch the negotiations. Later we’ll observe the traditional Shan methods of pottery manufacturing at Yan Gone Pottery village. (Breakfast)
Day 12: Kengtung
We take a full day excursion to Ho Kyin to visit Akha, Wa, and Lahu villages, just outside Kentung. Our easy trek, for about an hour and a half, to the Akha village of Ho Kyin will be extremely rewarding. After exploring this village, we continue for another half an hour to Na Phi Phank village, home to both Lahu and Akha peoples.
Continue past two more Akha villages and then by vehicle to the Khun village of Mong Zine, where we observe how local blacksmiths make traditional Lahu knives. Return to Kengtung by vehicle. The Akha have no written language so their history was carried to this century on the backs of many colorful legends, proverbs and rituals handed over from one generation to the other.
Akha people are able to at least recite the male line of their family back to the "beginnings". Lahu women are skilled in weaving cloth, both on back-strap and foot-treadle looms, producing delicate patchwork trims, and unusual embroidery work. The Black Lahu women wear the most distinctive costumes within this tribe. They wear a black cloak with diagonal cream stripes. The top of the sleeve is decorated in bold colors of red and yellow.
Lahu men produce excellent crossbows, musical instruments, and other items made of wood, bamboo and rattan. Wa are darker-complexioned and stocky, one of the better known of the smaller ethnic groups. They used to practice headhunting as a part of their fertility rites until fairly recently. We return to Kengtung for overnight.
Day 13: Kengtung / Heho / Inle Lake (flight & drive)
We fly this morning from Kengtung to Heho, then after meeting our guide and driver, we drive from Heho to Inle Lake. Overnight: Paradise Inle Resort, Inle Lake. (3 nights) (Breakfast)
Day 14: Inle Lake
A full day ahead to explore by boat Inle Lake and area. Inle Lake is located in Shan State, with very calm and beautiful waters dotted with patches of floating vegetation and fishing canoes. High hills rim the lake on all sides. The lake's shore and islands bear 17 villages on stilts, mostly inhabited by the Intha people.
We will enjoy the spectacular scenery and observe the skilled fisherman using their "leg-rowing" technique to propel themselves around the lake. Visit the floating gardens, a floating market (no markets take place on full moon or new moon days) and an Intha village around the lake. Today's sightseeing also includes a visit to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and the ‘Monastery Of Jumping Cats’. (Breakfast)
Day 15: Inle Lake
This morning we’ll cross by boat Inle Lake to a small village on the eastern shores. From here we continue by vehicle into the mountains through beautiful landscapes, stopping to visit Pa O villages on the way.
Our main destination is Kakku, which houses a magnificent collection of over 2000 Buddhist stupas dating from the 12th and 13th Centuries and concentrated in the space of one square kilometer. Many Buddha statues lie scattered in and around the ruins. We then return to Inle Lake. (Breakfast)
Day 16: Inle Lake / Heho / Yangon (drive & flight)
We leave in the morning for Heho, where we reach our flight to Yangon, the capital city of Myanmar. Yangon is evergreen and cool, with lush tropical trees, shady parks and beautiful lakes, as it has earned the name of "The Garden City of the East".
Though with the atmosphere of a typical Asian city, it stands out in contrast as it is not yet overwhelmed with the global trends of modernity and is making its own progress at its own pace, in its own calm and civic culture. The city represents a mixture of diverse communities and cultures, with respect to people, religion, business, and settlement.
Our afternoon is kept free, at leisure, and for the last souvenir shopping at the nearby bazaars. Overnight: Thamada Hotel, Yangon. (1 night) (Breakfast)
Day 17: Yangon / Homebound
After breakfast, and according to our flight times, we are transferred to the Airport. On our way to the airport, we’ll feel a strong impulse to recall the outstanding memories we carry from this outstanding journey. (Breakfast)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices for 2008
USD: 2,635.00 / CAD: 2,685.00 – per person in double occupancy.
Single room supplement is USD: 400.00 / CAD: 405.00
Price includes:
- Accommodation at the mentioned hotels (or similar category)
- Meal Plan as per itinerary (Breakfast)
- All transfers and tours by private vehicles/minivans
- Domestic flights in Myanmar as per itinerary (price is subject of change!)
- All boat cruise and/or ferry tickets, where mentioned
- Services of a local English-speaking guide for the sightseeing (except at Huay Xai)
- Entrances fees to the monuments, parks or sites visited
- All currently applicable taxes, including service tax
Price does not include:
- International airfare and all airport taxes
- Visa fees, or insurance
- Items of personal nature like drinks, laundry, telephone calls, tips
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Any other items not mentioned as ‘included’
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Laos
Myanmar
Cultural Journey
Boating and Sailing
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