Ethnic Getaway in Luang Prabang

We begin this day with the Museum of Ethnology and Traditional Arts. This place provides insights into the ethnic traditions of Laos and the great diversity of its minorities. (Closed all Mondays)

We move on to the Ock Pop Tok to see an exhibition focused on the beauty and richness of local textiles. It is a center dedicated to the preservation of Lao techniques and know-how in artisanal weaving and natural dyeing.

When noon arrives, lunch at the Silk Road Café restaurant (included). The atmosphere there is particularly welcoming. We share a table with the weavers from the center (conditions may change depending on working days and rest days determined by the lunar cycle).

In the afternoon, a ferry takes us to the pottery village of Ban Chan. We linger there for a moment before taking a short one-hour boat ride along the Mekong river.

We climb a hill to reach the temple Vat Chompet. At the summit, we will enjoy the view over the entire city.

We continue our path toward Vat Longkun. It is a peaceful spot where it is pleasant to rest in the shade of mango trees and chat with the monks. They share with us their wisdom and knowledge of Buddhism and its teachings. This temple was one of those renovated by France after the war conflicts. It is today part of UNESCO World Heritage.

As the afternoon declines, we could visit the Vat Pha Bat Tai to enjoy a magnificent sunset over the Mekong.

As a bonus, we could even play pétanque with the seasoned local players. This alternative offers a unique opportunity to share a moment of conviviality and laughter with Laotians.

Alternatively, it is possible to visit the Wat Xieng Thaong, the most illustrious monastery in the city. We can add to this the climb up Phou Si mountain to enjoy a superb panorama of the region in the evening, at dusk.

Dinner at the restaurant Luang Prabang Kitchen (included) and return to the hotel

Departure for a 3-day and 2-night hiking trip around the Luang Prabang region. Throughout this adventure, we will see what local life looks like as well as the surrounding nature. Mountain route with difficult and moderate sections.

Transfer of about forty kilometers north of the region to Ban Houay Lo. As we gain altitude, we will pass through two villages Khmu and Hmong.

Picnic lunch on the way.

The first village we visit is Ban Pha Peung.

The second is a Hmong locality named Ban Mok Chung. We will stay there for the night. On site, we will not miss the opportunity to stroll through its streets, get our hands dirty by participating in local activities and help the villagers. Dinner (included) and overnight stay on site, basic accommodation with a local family.

Breakfast in the village of Ban Mok Chung.

Resume hiking on the side of the watershed of the Nam Ou River. We will explore steep mountain areas. We travel through an imposing bamboo forest and karst formations.

Picnic lunch in the jungle.

In the evening, dinner (included) and overnight stay in the village of Ban Nasavang.

We share breakfast (included) with villagers from Ban Navasang.

We continue to gain altitude. After an hour and a half, we enter a jungle. A 2-hour hike before reaching the village of Ban Mok Mueng.

Lunch on site.

Continuation of the adventure with a 3-hour descent offering views of magnificent scenery overlooking the Nam Ou.

Thus, we arrive at the village of Ban Houay Lueng.

A vehicle awaits us to take us back to the ancient Lao capital: Luang Prabang.

Check-in at the hotel.

Dinner the local way. Here, we can try the sindat, the Lao barbecue. This consists of grilling meat on a metal dome and at the same time simmering a vegetable soup, vermicelli, spices, e

After breakfast, we leave the city center at 8:30 AM by local transport. Our destination: the village of Ban Xeng Mouk inhabited by Lao Loum and Hmong people.

After traveling along a bumpy road for approximately 40 minutes, we arrive in this small town and take a tour around it.

We then set off on our hiking (moderate level). We travel for half an hour through vast pineapple plantations and rice fields. We pass through thick jungle where various types of trees cluster together. We alternate between climbs and descents.

After about two hours, we arrive at our first viewpoint where we enjoy the breathtaking panorama of the surrounding area. This will also be our spot for a Lao-style lunch.

In the afternoon, we resume our trek. We climb up and down hills, making a detour through sparse forest. We will have the opportunity to track animal traces and learn more about wildlife. Along the way, we will visit the small village Hmong Ban Nong Touk. We will maintain our pace until we reach the town of Ban Long Lao. It is a small Lao locality mixing Hmong and Khmu peoples.

Breakfast in the village Ban Long Lao.

We resume our hike from the previous day (easy level) by starting with a forest crossing. Then, we tackle a few steep climbs leading to a cave that on one hand served as a shelter during the Second Indochina War, and on the other hand serves as a pilgrimage site for Lao Buddhists.

After exploring these caverns, we continue our hike with renewed enthusiasm. It will take us about an hour to reach the summit of the [Kuang Si Falls](modal: kuangsifalls). We descend along the waterfall following a marked trail to reach its base.

Lunch on site.

Next, relaxation time and swimming in the natural pools of Kuang Si. We then take it easy for a visit to the Asian black bear preservation center.

Return to Luang Prabang by local transport.

We first return to our hotel before dining at Tamarind restaurant (included). We will have the privilege of enjoying one of the best Lao tables. There, you will taste only fresh dishes deliciously prepared according to traditional and ancestral Lao gastronomy.