Travel by Moonlight, with Your Tribe and in Laos!

Flight itinerary suggestions : (Flights booked at your own discretion, subject to change without notice by the airline or local authorities).

For a flight itinerary with Thai Airways TG 931, scheduled departure at 12:30 p.m. and arrival at 06:00 a.m. the next day.

You check in your baggage to Luang Prabang, then depart Paris for Bangkok, in Thailand.

Meals and overnight stay on board.

After your breakfast at the hotel, you set off by bicycle to discover the main monuments of Luang Prabang, a city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.

Your route begins with the Royal Palace Museum, which became the National Museum, before heading to the Vat Mai, then the Vat Xieng Mouane and its training centre for monks. You then discover the Heritage House (Heuan Chan Heritage House). Along the way, you pass by the French Institute of Luang Prabang, which was once the home of comedian Pierre Desproges.

For lunch, head to Pha Khao Lao restaurant, where you enjoy cuisine with local flavours, notably inspired by the culinary specialities of Luang Prabang.

In the afternoon, you visit the ethnology museum (TAEC), which provides a better understanding of the ethnic diversity of Laos and its cultural richness through an educational approach. (Museum closed on Mondays).

You then continue to the Ock Pop Tok textile workshop, committed to preserving textile traditions and craftsmanship. You discover in particular the work of hand-woven silks and the use of natural dyes. What ingredients are needed to obtain vermillion or turquoise? A visit to the centre provides you with the answers and allows you to learn more about these techniques.

With supplement (please enquire), you can also participate in a practical dye or weaving workshop and get your hands dirty yourself.

Late in the afternoon, you enjoy the last rays of daylight during a visit to Vat Prabat Tai, where you admire the sunset reflecting on the Mekong.

As an option, you can play a game of pétanque with local residents, an opportunity to immerse yourself in the relaxed atmosphere of the region.

Dinner on your own.

After an early breakfast at the hotel, you head to Vat Xieng Thong, the most renowned temple in Luang Prabang, known for its remarkable architecture. You then board a private boat heading to the Pak Ou Caves. Along the way, you stop at the village of Ban Xang Hai, famous for its rice alcohol production, with alcohol content ranging between 25 and 45 degrees.

You continue to the Pak Ou Caves, which house hundreds of Buddha statues. The site is an important pilgrimage destination for Laotians, particularly during the Lao New Year in mid-April.

Lunch on board the boat.

Back in Luang Prabang, you head towards the Kuang Si Waterfall, located 32 km from the city. The journey offers beautiful views of rice paddies. On site, a small permanent exhibition dedicated to the conservation of Southeast Asian black bears helps you better understand the threats facing this species. You then discover the cascades and their natural pools with turquoise and crystal-clear waters, where you can swim. On the way back to Luang Prabang, you stop at the Laos Buffalo Dairy, a farm dedicated to buffalo. An emblematic animal of Asian countryside, the buffalo remains very present in Laos, but faces several threats. At birth, the mortality rate can reach nearly 50% when young buffalo do not have access to certain nutritious foods. With the aim of expanding its herd, Laos has implemented prevention and breeding programs. The government thus called upon the Laos Buffalo Dairy to conduct research programs in partnership with local breeders. The farm was born from the initiative of a group of friends from Singapore who wished to leave the urban world to settle in the countryside. Facing a still underdeveloped dairy and cheese industry, they chose to create this farm, working in particular with buffalo milk traditionally used to produce mozzarella.

During a visit of approximately 30 minutes, you discover the situation of buffalo in Laos, the care they need and the programs in place. You can also approach the animals and bottle-feed the young ones.

The visit concludes with a tasting of homemade ice cream made from buffalo milk. Depending on the season, they are flavored with fruits, lemongrass or sesame.

Return to your hotel to rest or free time to discover Luang Prabang at your own pace.

Dinner is free.

This morning, you wake up early to attend the Tak Bat (alms-giving ceremony to monks), a Buddhist ritual during which offerings are presented to Buddhist monks who walk silently and barefoot through the streets of Luang Prabang. Laotian and Thai devotees, as well as anyone who is respectful, may participate in the ceremony or simply observe it, according to their beliefs. A respectful attitude and compliance with rules of conduct are required.

You then return to your hotel for breakfast by passing through the morning market, located in the alleyways around the old Royal Palace. You will discover various products as well as the main ingredients used in the cuisine appreciated by the Laotian people.

At 08:30 AM, you will be picked up at your hotel reception to head to the boat landing. You cross the Mekong River by pirogue to reach the village of Ban Chan, located a few kilometers downstream from Luang Prabang.

Within the village, the Pottery House welcomes you for a half-day dedicated to local craftsmanship with a family. Earthenware pots and other containers hold an important place in Lao culture, particularly for storing rice, water, or padeck, a sauce made from fermented fish.

After a visit to the pottery village and some explanations, you join the center to watch a demonstration. In turn, you learn the local techniques and discover the particularities of Laotian pottery, its design and adaptation to the tropical climate.

Once the activity is finished, you all share a Lao lunch on site. (Group activity). Then return to Luang Prabang.

In the afternoon, you set out to discover bamboo, which is omnipresent in Laotian culture. On the outskirts of Luang Prabang, The Bamboo Experience welcomes you in a natural environment surrounded by rice fields.

Your discovery begins with a bamboo weaving class led by an experienced weaver. Several activities then allow you to better understand the daily use of products made from bamboo, particularly for fishing and hunting equipment, musical instruments, or dance.

You then participate in a cooking class dedicated to bamboo-based dishes. You take part in their preparation before tasting them in the sala overlooking the surrounding landscape.

Note: Depending on the number of participants at the time of confirmation, the group may be divided into two teams for each activity.

Return to the hotel and night in Luang Prabang.

Breakfast at your hotel, then you head to Nahm Dong Park for a day of adventure to the sound of waterfalls with stunning views overlooking the Luang Prabang valley! Your day will begin with a hiking excursion that will take up your morning between jungle and hanging bridges, and will end with lunch followed by some well-deserved rest.

You will then be ready for a few hours of treetop adventure activities in the heart of the park. Supervision in English.

Return to Luang Prabang and rest of the day at your leisure.

Dinner on your own.

After breakfast at your hotel, you join the Phou Dindaeng organic farm, located 3 km north of Vang Vieng. This farm is committed to promoting responsible and organic agriculture, while preserving various traditional market gardening and goat farming techniques.

You continue this discovery through an immersion in Laotian gastronomy with a group cooking class, prepared using products from the farm: a true "farm to table" experience.

Once the dishes are prepared, you sit down to enjoy your own creations. (Beverages not included).

In the afternoon, return to your hotel and free time. Your guide can help you organize various activities according to your preferences, with corresponding costs to be paid directly on site.

Note: Subject to availability, weather conditions and time constraints, we recommend discussing the day before with your guide to organize your day according to your preferences. Several activities are possible:

• A hot air balloon ride to fly over the karst formations of Vang Vieng.

• A motorized canoe trip on the Nam Song river before sunset, with the jagged mountains of Vang Vieng in the background.

• A cycling or scooter outing in the countryside to explore the Vang Vieng surroundings at your own pace.

• A buggy or quad outing.

• A kayaking descent down the Nam Song river.

You confirm that you are informed of any potential risks related to these activities and assume the possible consequences. Any costs and additional fees are to be paid directly on site with the service providers.

Optional: Ponies of Vang Vieng

You can also visit the "Ponies of Vang Vieng" equestrian center, which offers activities suited to all ages, from pony rides for children to various carriage rides.

You choose your activity according to your preference, with pony rides ranging from 20 minutes to an hour or more, along the Nam Song river or through forests and rice paddies. (To be paid on site).