North Laos Explorer

On arrival in Vientiane, meet your local-speaking guide and transfer to your hotel.

Vientiane - Namkat Yolapa. Vientiane may be a quieter capital, yet it offers a pleasant introduction to Laos with its French-colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and serene temples. This morning, you explore the city by tuk-tuk for a relaxed and local way to get around. Visit a lively market for a glimpse of daily life, Wat Sisaket with its collection of Buddha images, Carol Cassidy’s textile workshop to learn about traditional weaving, and the COPE Visitor Centre for insight into the country’s modern history.

After the tour, transfer to the station for the high-speed train to Oudomxay, scheduled from 13:00 to 15:51 by EMU C82. Please note that departure times may change without notice.

Important: Train regulations in Laos are strict. Keep your ticket for inspection on exit, and be aware of airport-style security checks. Knives, sharp objects, aerosols such as deodorants or hair sprays, and alcohol are not permitted.

On arrival in Oudomxay, take a 45-minute transfer to Namkat Yorla Pa for check-in. The rest of the day is at leisure.

This half-day programme can start any time before 14:00. You head towards Namkat Waterfall, around 5 km from the resort, before beginning a gentle 1.5 km trek through the jungle to see the impressive giant trees. After a short transfer, continue on foot across 13 sky bridges that stretch for roughly 1 km. You then return to the resort, where the rest of the day is at leisure.

Namkat Yolapa - Pakbeng. Check out and travel through the countryside to Pakbeng via Oudomxay. The journey offers scenic mountain views and passes areas home to several ethnic groups, including the Akkha, Iko and Hmong. Many of these communities maintain traditional dress and customs, and you may see villagers in colourful attire.

Lunch is served at the Mekong Elephant Park restaurant, featuring a full Lao set menu. Most ingredients are sourced from the on-site botanical garden. Special dietary menus can be arranged with advance notice.

After crossing the Mekong to the sanctuary, your guide introduces the team, the mission of the park and the stories of the elephants and their mahouts. Meeting the elephants: Enter the primary forest to observe the elephants in their natural environment. Physical contact is not permitted, as the park promotes passive and respectful observation.

Whilst at the sanctuary, follow forest trails shaped by the herd and learn about their behaviour and feeding habits. Enjoy watching the elephants play and cool down in water, although their participation is entirely up to them. After the visit, take a boat to your lodge for check-in and a leisurely afternoon

Pakbeng - Luang Prabang. Transfer to the boat pier. The boat departs Pakbeng for a full-day cruise along the Mekong. Enjoy the changing scenery of jungle-covered banks and riverside villages. During the morning, the guide and cook demonstrate how to prepare a local homemade drink using butterfly pea flowers and lemon. A Lao traditional lunch set is served on board.

After lunch, stop at Pak Ou Caves, known for their thousands of Buddha statues and long-standing significance as a pilgrimage site. The boat arrives in Luang Prabang before 16:30, where our driver meets you for the transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Meet your guide and tuk-tuk driver for a morning focused on the cultural heritage and everyday life of Luang Prabang. You begin at the Morning Market, where locals shop for fresh produce and regional specialities. Continue to Wat Xieng Thong, one of the oldest and most revered temples in the city, known for its elegant roofs and intricate mosaics.

You then visit a respected craft centre on the banks of the Mekong to learn about local artisanal work, meet the craftsmen and see their skills in action. A riverside lunch follows. After lunch, transfer to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure.

Depart with your guide for a short journey to a peaceful farm set among rice fields. On arrival, your host introduces you to the farm and the essentials of rice cultivation.

Join practical workshops that demonstrate each stage of rice production, from planting to processing. Lunch is served at the farm. Afterwards, take a gentle walk across the fields towards Kuang Si Falls. Passing the bear sanctuary, reach the lower pools where you can relax and swim.

Optional activity: You may try the zipline course above the falls and forest canopy (not included, approx. USD 25, payable on site).

A driver transfers you to the airport for your onward flight. Check-out is at 12:00, with late check-out available on request and subject to a surcharge.