Day 1: Vientiane – Arrival

Welcome to Vientiane. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you at the airport and then escort you to your hotel for check-in. Free at leisure at the rest of day on your own.

Overnight in Vientiane

Day 2: Vientiane – City tour & Buddha Park (B, L)

After breakfast, we start to visit Wat Sisaket, the city's oldest temple. Dates back to 1818, Wat Sisaket is the most important heritage temple now standing in Laos. It houses thousands of Buddha images from many countries, long lost architectural styles, sculptures and paintings; Wat Prakeo, former royal temple of the Lao monarchy and originally built in 1565, is home to the Emerald Buddha image, Buddhist sculptures are displayed  along the perimeter wall, including a 6th to 9th century Dvaravati-style stone Buddha and several standing and sitting Buddhas. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph.

In the afternoon, we take a short drive out of the city to visit the Buddha Park where hundreds of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures brought from India are displayed.

Return to the city and enjoy the sunset on the Mekong River.

Overnight in Vientiane

Day 3: Vientiane – Fly to Pakse – Vat Phou Cruise, Downstream program (B, L, D)

• From 01 October to 31 October 2015, the cruise departs every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
• From 01 May – 31 May 2015 to 01 July – 30 September 2015, the cruise departs every Saturday for program downstream

Early breakfast, then transfer to Wattay airport for your flight to Pakse (suggested flight: QV305 @ 0600 – 0715), the provincial capital of Champasack where the Mekong and Sedon rivers meet. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you at the airport.

After meeting at Sinouk Coffee House in the centre of Pakse at 09.30am, you will be transferred to a long-tail boat for a 2.5 hour journey to Champasak. You are welcomed on board with a drink and a set lunch menu is served. The highlight on the trip in the afternoon is to take some local transportation and visit Vat Phou ruins and museum: the majestic pre-Angkorian 10^th century temple complex. You are transferred back to the boat to enjoy the tropical sunset on the deck. A set menu dinner is served on boat and the boat docks for the night at Ban Mouang.

Overnight on Vat Phou Cruise

Day 4: Huei Thamo – Oum Muong Temple – Khong Island (B, L, D)

The boat leaves at 06.00am and a continental breakfast is served on board from 07.00am. The first stop is at Huei Thamo village in order to visit some rural life and a mysterious hidden forest temple called “Oum Muong”. After you are back on board, the boat starts to cruise southwards passing by the wilderness paradise of “4,000 Islands”. A set menu lunch is served on board. By late afternoon the second stop is at Ban Deua Tia where you can walk through this small Laotian village to observe a traditional way of life. A set menu dinner is served on board and the boat docks for a night at Ban Deua Tia.

Overnight on Vat Phou Cruise

Day 5: Don Khone – Pha Pheng Waterfall – Pakse (B, L)

The boat leaves at 06.00am and a continental breakfast is served on board from 07.00 am. The boat stops at Ban Veuthong where you are transferred by a small boat to Khone Island. You will visit the old French railway and walk across a bridge which links Khone Island and Det Island. After that, you are transferred to the mainland by a small boat to Xieng Di fishing village for a buffet lunch at a local restaurant. A bus transfers you to Pha Pheng waterfall also known as “The Niagara of The East” and you will arrive in Pakse around 04.00pm. Transfer to hotel in Pakse for check-in. Free at leisure at the rest of day on your own.

Overnight in Pakse

Day 6: Pakse – Departure (B)

You will have free time till our guide meets you and escorts you to the airport for your international flight ongoing to the next destination.

End of services./.