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Day 1: Chiang Rai / Houessay
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Arriving in Chiang Rai.
Transfer by minibus to the border of Chiangkhong. Formalities to leave Thailand.
Crossing the Mekong by motorboat. Formalities for entry into Laos.
Welcome at the border by your local guide.
Short visit of the town and its temple.
Night at Houessay.
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Day 2: Houessay / Muang Sing
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After breakfast take a city tour.
Transfer by road to reach Luang Namtha, quick tour of the city then head to Muangsing.
During the way stops in many ethnic villages: H'mong, Akkha, Lamed, Kmu, Tai Deng and Lao Huay.
Overnight in guesthouse.
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Day 3: Muang Sing
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Northern Laos is very mountainous and Muang Sing is one of the few habitable valleys.
Many tribes live together, one beside the other.
Today we discover Muang Sing. Stroll through the village, visit the Ethnic Museum, market, and temples.
Overnight in guesthouse.
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Day 4: Muang Sing / Xieng Kok
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Road by minibus to Xieng Kok and Muang Long by unpaved road. Stop near several minority villages (Hmong, Yao-Mien Koh Pouly, Kui Sung). Meetings with Koh Tchitcho (still unknown ethnicity). Visit the village of Xieng Kok, a large village enjoying a splendid view over the river. With the border of Myanmar nearby, you will see Burmese people come to trade their goods. This small town is also an important port for Chinese vessels. Lunch at a local restaurant.
Overnight at Muang Sing.
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Day 5: Muang Sing / Oudomxay
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After breakfast drive to Oudomxay.
Various stops along the way to visit one governmental school, small villages, rice field.
Visit the village of Oudomxay and around: market, Tay Dam village, temples.
Overnight in guesthouse.
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Day 6: Oudomxay / Muang Khua / Muang Ngoy
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Transfer early morning towards Muangkhoa.
Visit the beautiful village of Muang Khoa, where the Vietnamese come to trade with Laos and China.
Going down the Nam Ou in a motorized long tail boat to Muang Ngoy, a small village beside the river.
Short walk to meet the locals.
Overnight in guesthouse.
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Day 7: Nong Khiaw
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A hike (2 to 3 hours walking time) is the best way to explore the authentic life of the habitants of three differents ethnics groups.
A splendid view of the mountains and rice fields is offered to you.
After the trekk, we will travel by boat to Nong Khiaw.
Night at Nong Khiaw.
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Day 8: Nong Khiaw / Luang Prabang
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Lao people uses the Mekong as a transportation network in its own right. It is through this that we will reach Luang Prabang, a city world heritage site of UNESCO.
During this 7 hour cruise, enjoy the charms of one of the most fascinating river in the world: life of fishermen's, villages bordering the Mekong, discovery of fauna and flora, well deserved rest on the deck, etc.
Arrived in Luang Prabang, transfer to your hotel and evening free to join a magnificent night in Luang Prabang.
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Day 9: Luang Prabang
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Breakfast then we will have a full day visit of the old city: start with Vat Vixoune influenced by Tai- Lu architecture and That Makmo, the watermelon shape stupa and Vat Aham just next, continue to Vat Sipphoutthabat with its fine carved doors and its view over the Nam Khan River. Walk through the small lanes up to Vat Xieng Thong, the most beautiful temple of Luang Prabang dating back from 16th century.
In the afternoon, we visit the national museum, former king’s palace and Vat Mai with its five tiered roof and exquisite carved veranda. In late afternoon, we will climb up Phousy Hill for a bird’s eye view of the city and its mountainous backdrop.
You have your free time to discover Luang Prabang night market.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
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Day 10 : Luang Prabang
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You have an early morning for the Morning Alm, the most impressive activity of Luang Prabang where the monks walk along the street and the locals offer them food. Back to the hotel for breakfast. After that, we go to the local pier of Luang Prabang to embark on traditional boat. Go upstream on the Mekong River and visit the sacred Buddha caves, Tham Ting and Tham Phoum. Stop off at local villages close to the river and experience the daily life of local people.
Then we drive ahead out of town to the beautiful Kuangsi Waterfalls in the jungle. En route we visit the local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Na Ouane and Khmou village at Ban Tha pen.
One in the falls, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery, swimming or relaxing nearby the clear pools of the tiered limestone formations of Kuangsi.
Drive back and overnight in Luang Prabang.
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Day 11: Luang Prabang / Phonsavanh
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After breakfast, we leave Luang Prabang for Phonsavanh by a mountainous and windy road with breathtaking views.We will cross traditional and picturesque H'mongs and Kamu villages where we will stop to descover them in depth. Arrive in Phonsavanh in late afternoon and transfer to your hotel.
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Day 12: Phonsavanh
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Seeing the sights of the famous Plain of Jars, the hot springs of Muangkham, see life in villages and local markets.
Back in the late afternoon.
Night as before.
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Day 13: Phonsavanh / Vang Vieng
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Visit of the city and the market.
Departure for Vang Vieng on a spectacular mountain road.
Visit the region of Vang Vieng, its caves, its markets and its wonderfull view of the karstics montains
Night at Vang Vieng.
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Day 14: Vang Vieng / Vientiane
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Departure to Vientiane, capital of the country. It always gives the impression of a colonial town with wide streets and houses in the French colonial style.
Visit That Luang, the great golden stupa, shrine and national emblem of the city, Patuxay (arch), recently built to commemorate the dead during the war.
Walk in the market loaded with magnificent embroidered fabrics.
Downtown hotel near the Mekong.
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Day 15: Vientiane
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After breakfast to the hotel, start your tour by visiting the highlights of Vientiane:
Vat Sisaket, the oldest temple in Vientiane with its mural paintings.
Ho Prakeo, the royal temple turned religious museum.
Garden of Buddhas and the fresh market Talat Hua Khoa.
Hotel as before.
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Day 16: Vientiane / Pakse
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Flight to Pakse.
Welcome by your guide at Pakse airport, then transfer to the Tadlo, Bolovens Plateau.
On the way, visit of differents minorities (Alak and Khatu)and walk in a coffee & tea plantation.
Afternoon in Tadlo at a site in the beautiful riverside Sexet.
Night in a guesthouse near the waterfalls.
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Day 17: Tadlo / Champasack / Khong Island
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Breakfast at the guesthouse.
Direction Champasack with stops at Phasoum Tad, Tad Yeaung two wonderfull waterfalls.
Travel further to the former royal capital Champasack with pre-Angkorian Wat Phou.
The ruins date mainly back to the tenth and eleventh centuries, but the initial part dates back to the fifth century and occupies an imposing site.
Superb carved lintels representing the gods Vishnu, Siva and Bramna are still intact.
Overnight at Donekhong.
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Day 18: Done Khong
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Boat trip to the Cambodian border to see the presence of rare and mysterious river dolphins.
Walk on the widest part of the Mekong, in the middle of the islands Si Pan Don (4000 islands).
Discovery of the Khone Phapeng Falls. They are the only impassable rapids forming an obstacle to navigation on the Mekong between the Chinese border and its delta in Vietnam.
Sharing the calm and timeless life with the communities on the island, the lives of fishermen and farmers.
Hotel as before.
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Day 19: Done Khone / Pakse
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Return by minibus to Pakse.
Stops in Phou Asa where you can ride on an elephant (around 1 hour ridding).
Visit of Pakse, its old colonial houses, its local market, its temple.
Overnight in Pakse.
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Day 20: Pakse
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Free time until transfer to airport for your return flight.
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