Laos culinary 9 day tour

Destination: Luang Prabang/Vientiane

Highlights: Laos is relatively comfortable and easy. The people are quiet and gentle, making it an interesting, fun and educational country to visit. This special trip is designed for one who wants to explore Laos in a very different way. Discover the hidden treasures around Luang Prabang through Lao nature, hidden waterfalls and remote Khamu & Hmong villages. Experience the cooking class in both Luang Prabang and Vientiane to know more about local Lao food.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, G=Guide

Day 1: Luang Prabang Arrival (G)

On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 2: Luang Prabang Ancient City Discovery (B, G)

After breakfast, we visit The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. During our time here, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai, we then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textile made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 3: Luang Prabang/Weaving Center/Living Farm Land Anticipation/Local Villages/Kwangsi Waterfalls with Free the Bears (B, G)

Breakfast, we visit the hand-weaving training center of Ock Pop Tok; and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Na Ouan, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall A short walk and visit to the Bear Sanctuary are on the menu first before we have time for a relaxing swim or some relaxing by the water’s edge. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 4: Early Morning Alms Offerings/Fresh Market/Cooking Class (B, L, G)

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. From there you will visit the morning Phosi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts

After breakfast at the hotel we go to Tamarind Cafe where our chef Joy Ngeuamboupha joins us for an introduction to real Lao cuisine. We take a tuk-tuk to Phou Sy market where we’ll buy our ingredients for the cooking class. Joy shares his knowledge with us on this market tour and then takes us to his lakeside classroom outside of town where we will learn to prepare some local favourites such as khao niauw (sticky rice), oh paedek (soup with ground pork) and laarb kai (spicy Laotian chicken salad).

Afterwards, we have lunch with Joy and evaluate our creations.

Afternoon will be free to stroll around this ancient charming town. Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 5: Luang Prabang/Pottery Kiln Village/Vientiane (B, G)

Breakfast, we visit the silversmith workshop of Thidpheng Maniphone, a family who had served the Royal family with high quality of handmade silverware and then The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre is home to a rotating display of informative and engaging exhibitions, offering a rare and fascinating insight into the diversity and richness of Laos’ ethnic cultures.

We cross the Mekong to the traditional pottery kiln village of Ban Chan, strolling around and observing the villager’s work under their houses and kiln oven sites.

Return back to Luang Prabang, this will also give you another unimaginable view of this Ancient town of Luang Prabang, allow yourselves at local and simple terrace restaurant on the bank of Mekong watching the life moving before the dusk is perfect way to finish the day. We make our way to the airport for our flight to Vientiane. Overnight in Vientiane

Day 6: Vientiane/Fresh Market/Orchid Center/Buddha Park (B, G)

For those that are interested, we skip breakfast at the hotel this morning and visit the local markets. We explore Thong Khonkham Fresh Food Market full of bright colours and exotic aromas. Amid baskets piled with rice, eggs, and tea, ducks, pigs and fish both alive and dead, food stalls are selling noodles, soup, and ‘food to go’ wrapped in banana leaves. We have breakfast here, only problem is what to choose from this abundant display. We the visit the Flower Market with sellers of jasmine, orchids, and marigolds – the latter being woven into garlands for temple offerings.

After our market visits we make our way to the Vientiane Orchid Centre, a truly unique place where passionate French orchid expert Bertrand Laville hosts one of the largest orchid collections in the world.

Afterwards we continue on to the surreal and unique Buddha Park or Xiang Khouan as it’s known by the locals. A park filled with hundreds of Buddhist and Hindu statues that are definitely a world apart from your average temple visit. Overnight in Vientiane

Day 7: Vientiane/Cooking Class at Thongbay Restaurant (B, L, G)

Breakfast, Lao Peoples are keen on cooking and creating various dishes of food and always consider “Cooking” is an art.

Thongbay restaurant in Vientiane provides different and exceptional culinary class and cooking demonstration; you will find yourselves enjoying with preparing vegetables and herbs which usually use as the secret for Lao authentic food, you will be guided through the process step by step, presented with difference ingredients for every dish, the engage in a hand on delicious meal preparation. Overnight in Vientiane

Day 8: Vientiane city tour 1/2 day (B, G)

Breakfast, we visit Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. En route to Lao’s national icon, That Luang Stupa, we will stop at the Patuxay Monument, known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

Afternoon free at leisure. Overnight in Vientiane

Day 9: Vientiane departure (B, G)

Breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Price in US$ per person: US$

Our price includes:

• Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room.
• Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned car as specified in the itinerary above
• Domestic flight tickets in Vietnam: Luang Prabang-Vientiane with airport taxes.
• Travel by private, air-conditioned car with an experienced, safe driver.
• Boats cruise as programme.
• The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary except leisure time
• Lunches and dinners, as specified, in the good local restaurants, picnics where suitable restaurants are not available
• Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.
• 2 bottles of drinking water and tissue per day during the tour

Our price does not include:

• International flight tickets and airport tax.
• Compulsory Gala Dinner on 24 December and 31 December
• Visas
• Dinners, except as specified above.
• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
• Insurance.