Upon arrival, meet your guide at the airport and head onward to your hotel. After check in, spend the rest of your day to explore this scenic UNESCO World Heritage site. Home to three dozen Buddhist temples, some dating back hundreds of years, Luang Prabang has a mystical allure that embodies Laos’ spiritual aura. Rustic wooden guest houses, sleepy cafes and warm local smiles are all part of this quiet town’s charm. After exploring the town on your own, head back to your hotel for an early night, and prepare for the unforgettable journey ahead.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Today, explore many of the former royal capital’s cultural highlights. You’ll visit Wat Xieng Thong, one of the largest and most decorative temples, and Wat Mai, with its beautiful gilded façade. Then continue on to the former Royal Palace, a commanding structure in the centre of town that until 1946 was the heart of the Lang Xang Kingdom. Today it is the National Museum, and its halls contain rare religious and cultural artefacts. Next, climb 328 steps to the top of Mount Phousi and enjoy panoramic views of the city. And lastly, visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, a repository of information on the country’s many ethnic-minority groups.

As the sun sets, take a one-hour walking tour of Luang Prabang’s night market, which is open from dusk until about 10pm. Browse for colourful textiles, quilts, carvings, basketry, ceramics, clothing and handmade paper.

Overnight in LuangPrabang.

Rise early to the sound of the temple gong and witness Luang Prabang’s mystical ritual. In the early cool of the morning, walk downtown through quiet streets to watch the daily procession of about three hundred young monks walk silently by, collecting sticky rice and other foods in their bronze bowls. The ritual is linked to a Buddhist tradition in which monks beg for their daily food as a way to demonstrate humility. Almsgiving is an important religious act in Buddhism and it must be carried out respectfully by locals and tourists alike. If you would like to be involved in the offering of food, your guide will be more than happy to show you the best way to interact with monks.

Watch as the monks disappear down the road in a long, saffron-coloured ribbon. Feel free to take photos, however please use discretion and refrain from using your flash. Now is the perfect time to stroll through Luang Prabang’s morning market where you will see the locals haggling for fresh meat, fruit and vegetables.

This morning grab your swim suit and travel a short distance from Luang Prabang to the Kuang Si Waterfall. The turquoise colour of the water with a backdrop of white limestone cliffs gives the waterfall a magical appearance. Depending on the season the water level varies and swimming may not always be possible. Next to the falls is the Sun Bear Reserve, a conservation centre that rescues animals from the wildlife trade. Meet the cute furry residents and learn about the efforts to protect Sun Bears in the wild.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, set off from your hotel toward Udomxay, a rustic region about 300 kilometers north of Luang Prabang. Along the way, pass through lush rice paddy fields and through tiny street-side villages before making a stop at Ban Pakmong for lunch.

Head onward up the mountains and weave through winding roads – promising stunning panoramic views of the wilderness below – before arriving at Ban Songcha, a traditional H’mong village. Originally from the south of China, learn about the lifestyles of local villagers here on a guided walk through the wooden homes and farms. Continue onward to Moung La – your final destination today – for an overnight stay at a local guesthouse.

After breakfast, set off on a heart-racing 4X4 drive, stopping off at a small Khamu market before continuing down a picturesque wilderness route to Ban Poung Hieng Village. From here, travel another 10 minutes to arrive at Ban Houai Chang – the gateway to Phouhipi National Park.

Set off into the pristine jungle wilderness here to visit a collection of Khamu and H’mong villages within the depths of the park, many of which rarely see “outsiders” while they carry on working their fields. After a scenic journey with plenty of photo opportunities, arrive at the Khamu-H’mong village of Ban Houa Nam Bak, a large village of around 1,600 inhabitants. Nestled close to the Nam Pung Waterfall, this is the starting point of your journey on foot toward the falls – only accessible by trekking. Along the trek, pass by incredible rock formations to which villagers have secured ropes to aid climbers in reaching the top for arresting views stretching kilometres in either direction. After your trek, return to your guesthouse for a well-earned rest.

After a leisurely riverside breakfast, set off from your hotel for a drive toward Ban Paknamnoy and its collection of minority villages and plantations. Then, continue onward to Ban Nonsavanh – where some locals make their living producing homemade Lao whiskey – before sitting down for a tasty lunch. Afterwards, climb aboard a long tail boat and cruise downstream on the Nam Ou River toward Ban Somjam Village, passing through arresting limestone mountains along the way.

For a taste of traditional Lao lifestyles, choose to sleep in a village headman’s house, or opt for a nearby bungalow with a bit more privacy. Both sets of accommodation provide comfortable mats, pillows and mosquito nets with basic bathroom facilities. Settle in for your night within this rustic mountain village alongside the locals.

Today enjoy a local breakfast and explore the village. You will likely be the object of curiosity for the village children, since they rarely get the chance to interact and play with Westeners. A game of football is a great icebreaker for those physically up for it, or simply kick back to watch the village women weaving their ancient patterns on aged looms.

Finally, say goodbye to the villagers before boarding your boat for a cruise downstream with spectacular views of limestone mountain scenery. Disembark for a gentle, two-hour trek back adn forth to Ban Na for insight into the lives of lowland villagers. Along the way, stop and visit Tam Kang Cave which once served as a home for locals during the Indochina War. Opt for a dip to cool off in the blue lagoon pool within the cave – you can ask your guide to borrow towels from the local hotels – before heading back your hotel for a leisurely afternoon exploring surrounding Ban Moung Ngoi or on the banks of the Ou River.

Settle in for breakfast on a terrace overlooking the Ou River before a short, one-hour cruise downstream to Nongkhiaw. Head out for a guided walk to Pha Thor Cave, former government offices and a local hospital used during the Indochina War, before driving back to Ban Pak Ou for lunch at the confluence of the Mekong and Ou rivers. Finally, take a local long tail boat back to Pak Ou Cave and a short drive back to Luang Prabang. After arrival,check into your hotel and spend the rest of your evening at leisure.

Overnight in LuangPrabang.

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight.