Spirit of Laos
Overview
Highlights
- Discover delightful Laos, a hidden gem of Southeast Asia, travel south to Angkor's temples
- Soak up Luang Prabang's French colonial charm and watch monks line the street at sunrise
- Take a slow boat on the sleepy Mekong and encounter tribal villages in northern Laos
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Itinerary
Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Luang Prabang is a relaxed place that has a feel more similar to a provincial town than a city. Weathered French Colonial mansions give way to golden temples, and the languid pace of life here makes it an ideal place to explor...
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Luang Prabang is nestled in a valley of lush rolling hills and sits at the confluence of two rivers - the Khan and the mighty Mekong. Influence from its French occupiers is peppered all over the city, with grand white-washed Ind...
This morning we head out to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfalls, approximately 45 minutes from Luang Prabang. Passing forested hills and several ethnic minority villages we arrive at the limestone falls that cascade into several turquoise pools below. We have some time ...
We board our private long tail boat this morning for a leisurely cruise along the Mekong to the village of Pakbeng. As we navigate upriver the city of Luang Prabang soon fades away, passing river-side villages and then rice paddies and fields of vegetation, all under ...
After a leisurely breakfast we leave Pakbeng by bus and head north on a scenic drive to Oudomxay. This part of Laos is very rural, and the road weaves its way past lush countryside, agricultural land and past minority villages. Along the route we stop at the Hmong vil...
We set off on foot this morning to explore the surrounding countryside and meet some of the local people. Our walk follows a river course which meanders its way through lush vegetation and past farm lands. We stop to meet some of the farmers who share with us how the ...
This morning we make our way to Luang Prabang railway station to board the newly constructed Boten-Vientiane Railway for the short two hour journey to the capital, Vientiane. Opened in December 2021, this ambitious collaboration between Laos and China connects the Chi...
We fly south today to the small city of Pakse, from where we then drive on to Champasak and the incredible Wat Phu Temple. Wat Phu is an impressive Khmer temple dating back to the 6th century and considered to be one of the archaeological wonders of Laos. Originally b...
We set off this morning for an easy walk through the lush forests and coffee plantations that the area is known for. As we walk we hope to get a glimpse of the coffee farmers at work and learn about the cultivation process used here. We'll pass a number of limestone f...
We drive back towards the Mekong this morning, before boarding a boat to take us to Don Khong - the largest of the 4,000 Islands. It is here, almost on the Cambodian border that the Mekong splits to create a maze of channels and islets and also where the great river r...
We board our private boat today for a further exploration of this water-dominated landscape. We stop on Don Khone island where we have some time to explore the island by bicycle on a leisurely cycle, tracing the route on an old abandoned French railway; built at the t...
We start this morning by catching a boat back to the mainland and then driving on to Khone Phapheng Falls - the largest and most powerful falls in Southeast Asia. We then make the short 30km drive to the border to cross into the Kingdom of Cambodia where we meet our C...
Travelling into the jungle in 4WD vehicles this morning, we make our way to the temple of Preah Vihear. This Khmer temple, dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva is dramatically perched atop a cliff in the sacred Dangrek mountain range, and affords breathtaking views over t...
We start the day's exploration with a visit to the temples of King Jayavarman Vll, reputedly Angkor's greatest king. The fortified city of Angkor Thom, which he built at the end of the 12th century, is enclosed by a wall with five monumental gates decorated with stone...
This morning we will explore the 11th century temple of Banteay Srei, with its stunningly preserved bas reliefs. The so-called 'Citadel of Beauty' is considered by some as one of the finest examples of classical Khmer architecture as a result of its intricate decorati...
The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Siem Reap. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Siem Reap at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like...
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Dates & Availability
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Explore! Reviews & Ratings
Trusted Customer
Feb 2024
Spirit of Laos
This trip wasn't up to the normal Explore standards - quality of the tour leader could have been better, itinerary also has room for improvement (especially the ridi...
Trusted Customer
Feb 2024
Spirit of Laos
I have used Explore many times, but this trip was very disappointing in comparison with all previous ones. Laos itself was fantastic, but the organisation of the iti...
Trusted Customer
Feb 2024
Spirit of Laos
Visiting Vat Phou but no local guide provided, just a leaflet handed to us by our Tour Leader!
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- Lunch : 3
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