Wonderful Laos Family Retreat 10 Days

Wake up as the sun rises, we will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, which dates to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temple to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets.

We then visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice, to vegetable, to fish, or chicken. 

After breakfast, we visit Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. 

Our next stop in the city is the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture.

We then transfer to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails.

You have the rest of the afternoon to refresh at the waterfalls. If you wish, we also see up close Asiatic bears at the Bear Rescue Centre along the jungle walk to the waterfall.

On the way back to city center, you can visit the Buffalo Dairy Farm on the way to Kuang Si waterfalls, which offer the fun and interesting experience for the kids.

Late afternoon, we ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River.

The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Tip: 

+ If you are fond of various ethnic cultures, you can visit Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (closed on Monday).

+ For the dinner, we recommend at White Lotus Restaurant with the colorful Ethnic Fashion Show. This is the good chance to learn about the various ethnic customs in Laos.

+ Guide & Driver

+ Meal: Breakfast

+ Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

+ Pick-up: 05:30-06:30AM depending on seasons

After departing at 8:30 am from your hotel, transfer to Nahm Dong park, which locates in Ban Xiengmouk, 10Km from city center.

Arriving at the park, we will have a short welcome by the park manager before joining the morning activities here.

First, we will join the cooking class, by which you can discover the Lao cuisine through several traditional dishes. Not only can you learn techniques and recipes, but you can visit the gardens of the park and pick your own ingredients.

The course is minimum 5 dishes depending on the season. A booklet with all recipes is provided.

The lunch will be served with what you have created.

In the afternoon, we will start exploring the beauties of the park with the Zipline flying over the jungle and the waterfalls admiring the amazing evergreen scenery. The zipline will take about 1 hour.

Then we will walk back via the jungle trail crossing some flying bridges, small streams, and clear natural pools, where you can take a refresh splash if you wish so.

You can either spend the rest of the afternoon stroll around the park, relax by one of the huts at the camp, or enjoy the fresh cool clear natural pools.

Late afternoon, we walk to the nearby Hillside Resort, where we will spend the night

Note: Zipline in 1 hour, trekking min 1 hour - max 3 hours depending on the route that you choose

+ Driver & Guide

+ Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

+ Accommodation: Hillside Nature Resort

+ Pick-up: 08:30AM

Note: Car & Guide from Nahm Dong Park

You are free to stroll around the resort for your own exploration.

There are various activities offered by the resort ranging from walking around the village of Ban Xiengmouk to visiting the local school (supported by the resort); from hiking to the nearby viewpoint via the bamboo forest to riding the pony to the nearby area (suitable for your kids only).

Check the Resort website for more detail.

Overnight at Hillside Resort

+ NO Guide & NO Driver

+ Meal: Breakfast

+ Accommodation: Hillside Natre Resort

+ Pick-up: 08:30AM

We take the early transfer back to Luang Prabang and board on a traditional Long River boat at Kamu Lodge pier at 08:30am and take a leisurely cruise upstream while enjoying the refreshments served on the boat.

Marvel at the thousands of gold Buddha statues placed in sacred Pak Ou caves by devotees. Most people failed to marvel at Pak Ou towering limestone cliff.

Continue upriver and you would reach Kamu Lodge around noon. A Refreshing welcome drink is served. You can check into your super-size tents with attached modern bathroom amenities and facilities. You will enjoy lunch in an airy SALA settled in the middle of rice paddy fields.

After lunch, you can choose to either relax or to enjoy the traditional Kamu lifestyles and activities such as rice planting and harvesting in surrounding rice fields, gold panning in the Mekong (anything you find is Yours!), traditional fishing techniques (you can sample your catch for dinner!), visit of the Kamu village, archery contest.

Dinner is a feast by Kamu tribe standards. We want you to see the world from the Kamu's eyes.

After dinner, retire to your tent.

+ Guide & Driver

+ Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

+ Accommodation: Kamu Lodge

+ Pick-up: 07:15AM

Note: Joined boat Kamu Lodge with private escorting guide

In the morning, you are free to stroll around the lodge or the nearby village. We will take the boat back to Luang Prabang after lunch.

We arrive in Ban Pak Ou around 3PM, where we will hop on the minivan to transfer directly to Nong Khiaw

Arriving in Nong Khiaw just in time to catch the sunset, check in your hotel in town.

Overnight in Nong Khiaw

+ Guide & Driver

+ Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

+ Accommodation: Hotel in Nong Khiaw

+ Pick-up: 12:30PM

We begin at 8am and start off by boarding a local Long boat and head off upstream through some fantastic landscape before making our first stop of the day at a small riverside village. Here we take some time to look around and if during a weekday pay the local school a visit to see the charming children as they take part in their classes.

After this we continue onwards to Tad Mork which locates close to the ethnic Khmu village of Ban Sop Kong, an hour trek from the river. At the waterfall we shall have time to swim and enjoy a picnic lunch.

After enjoying our time at the waterfall we head back to the river where we will cruise further upstream to visit Muang Ngoy, which sits nestled amongst some amazing scenery! This small town has long been famous amongst backpackers yet remains truly unspoilt! If there is time we can stop for a drink at one of the riverside restaurants before the return journey down the river back to Nong Khiaw.

We will head off down the river through a narrow gorge where we stop at another small but fascinating village.

The estimated arrival time in Nong Khiaw is around sunset.

Overnight in Nong Khiaw

Approximately: 2.5-hour boat trip, 2.5-hour walk

+ Driver & Guide

+ Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

+ Accommodation: Hotel in Nong Khiaw

+ Pick-up: 08:30AM

After breakfast, we will transfer by car to Ban Muang Soune, which locates about 70Km from Nong Khiaw on the way back to Luang Prabang.

Upon arrival in the village, you will be welcomed by the host family, before strolling around the village to see the life of local people. We then visit the house of the chief of the village, and talk with him about the living condition, the history, or anything about the village.

The lunch will then be served at the house of the host family.

In the afternoon, you can choose to either relax or to enjoy agricultural activities such as rice planting and harvesting in surrounding rice fields (depending on the season); Traditional fishing techniques (you can sample your catch for dinner!); or walk around the farm and rice field.

If you wish, the dip in the Nam Ou river is very inviting and worth a try.

You may wish to join and help the host with preparing the dinner. This is the chance to learn about Lao cuisine.

Before the dinner, we will join the Baci Ceremony, held by the elders of the village. The Baci ceremony as a traditional ritual of the Lao people expresses the spirituality of the country and is a highly memorable experience and a deep insight into Lao culture for the participants. During the dinner, the folk tales will be told by the host family, and translated by our guide.

You may wish to stroll around the riverbank, and sense the nature, admiring the starry sky before going to bed.

+ Driver & Guide

+ Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

+ Accommodation: Muang Soune Homestay

+ Pick-up: 08:30AM

Wake up early, you never want to miss the chance to admire the sunrise over the Nam Ou river, and the nearby mountains.

After breakfast, the morning will be dedicated to the fishing by the stunning Nam Ou river, experience traditional fishing techniques. You will also take the boat trip exploring the surrounding areas.

We come back to the village at 11:00AM to join the transfer back to Luang Prabang.

Upon arrival, check in your hotel to rest and refresh.

After that, we will head to Lao Red Cross to enjoy a traditional Lao massage, which will help you recover from the exploration in the last some days. 

Late afternoon, join the cinema at Amalea Restaurant to watch the 100-year-old Chang Movie, which is the oldest film about Laos. This is a silent film about a poor farmer in northern Nan Province (northern Thailand) and his daily struggle for survival in the jungle. 

The dinner is recommended at the restaurant before returning to your hotel (not included – payable on spot)

Overnight in Luang Prabang

+ Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

+ Pick-up: 08:30AM

You are free to stroll around the town for your own exploration before taking the departure flight

Tip: we recommend joining a morning Yoga class at Luang Prabang Yoga, which will take about 1 hour starting at 07:30AM at Utopia Bar & Restaurant before returning to your hotel for breakfast. Class fee is KIP40,000/person (payable on spot in KIP only – pre-reservation not accepted). Note: you need to come on time if you are interested. If you come late, you are not allowed to join. Here is the class schedule & pricing

+ Guide & Driver

+ Meal: Breakfast

+ Accommodation: None

+ Pick-up: 2.5 hours before departure flight