Laos Food Trails

After breakfast, you will 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, 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, visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai, 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, 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.

Today, you will visit the hand-weaving training center of Ock Pop Tok and 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 Kuang Si Waterfall. A short walk and visit to the Bear Sanctuary before having time for a relaxing swim or leisurely stay at the water’s edge. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

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 you will go to Tamarind Cafe where our chef Joy Ngeuamboupha joins for an introduction to real Lao cuisine. Take a tuk-tuk to Phou Sy market where you will buy some ingredients for the cooking class. Joy shares his knowledge with you on this market tour and then takes you to his lakeside classroom outside of town where you 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, you will have lunch with Joy and evaluate your creations.

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

This morning, you will 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 - 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.

You will 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 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. You will get transferred to the airport for your evening flight to Vientiane. Overnight in Vientiane.

You may skip your breakfast at the hotel this morning to visit the local markets, 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. You will have breakfast here, only problem is what to choose from this abundant displays. You will also visit the Flower Market with sellers of jasmine, orchids, and marigolds – the latter being woven into garlands for temple offerings and Vientiane Orchid Centre, a truly unique place where passionate French orchid expert Bertrand Laville hosts one of the largest orchid collections in the world.

Afterward, 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.

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.

This morning, you will 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, stop at the Patuxay Monument, known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. Afternoon is free at leisure. Overnight in Vientiane.

ented with difference ingredients for every dish, the engage in a hand on delicious meal preparation. Overnight in Vientiane

After breakfast, free at leisure till transferring to the airport for your onward flight. End of services.