Key Features
• Experience the best of Laos - Luang Prabang to the Plain of Jars
• Pioneer newly emerging destinations & unspoilt villages
• Cruise the waters of Halong Bay & discover Hanoi's Old Quarter
Included
12nts hotel, 2nts stilt house, 1nt chalets, 1nt sleeper train - the stilt house is basic and offers communal sleeping in one room with shared facilities; 15 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners included.
Transport
Bus/Train/Flight/Boat.
Group Size
Approx. 12 to 16.
Tour Staff
Explore Tour Leader, some local guides driver(s) and boatmen.
Serene Laos
Our adventure starts in Bangkok, from where we take the newly opened train to to the surprisingly peaceful streets of the Laotian capital, Vientiane. Flying north we reach Luang Prabang; A UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site nestled on the banks of the Mekong, its gilded wats and laid-back atmosphere make it a real favourite among travellers. We take a slow boat to the sacred Pak Ou caves, where hundreds of Buddhas perch serenely in the rocks. In Phonsavan we explore the mysterious Plain of Jars where massive 2000 years old jars lie scattered.
Off-beat Borderlands
At the heart of our adventure are the newly emerging destinations either side of the Laos/Vietnam border. Along our way we snake through dramatic scenery of limestone karst ranges, gravity defying forests and emerald paddy fields and stop off at friendly hillside villages. We explore the Vieng Xai cave complex; used as a base by the Pathet Lao during the Vietnam War it offers a fascinating glimpse in Laos' turbulent history. In Vietnam's Pu Luong Nature Reserve, we stay with local families in a stilt house and explore the natural beauty of the reserve on foot.
Ha Long to Hanoi
Journeying westwards we overnight at the Cuc Phuong National Park where we visit the Primate Rescue Centre. Reaching the South China Sea at Ha Long, we take a boat trip around the scenic islands of the bay, enjoying a lunch of freshly caught seafood. In the beautiful city of Hanoi, we've time to visit Hi Chi Minh's stilt house, some of the ancient temples of city and wander the fascinating streets of the Old Quarter with its tube houses and lively street markets.
Comment
Although you can opt out of the trekking in Pu Luong Nature Reserve, to fully enjoy this tour you should be in reasonable health and prepared for areas where the infrastructure is limited.