You will be picked up at your accommodation between 09.30-10.00 hrs and a minivan will drive you to Chiang Khong. You will have a brief 20 minutes stop at the magical White Temple in Chiang Rai on the way. Expect to arrive in Chiang Khong around 15.00 hrs, where you can check into your accommodation and spend the rest of your evening exploring the sleepy border town of Chiang Khong.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in guesthouse at Chiang Khong
Breakfast will be served today from 07.00 AM and is included. At 07:45 AM you will head towards the border crossing where you will exit Thailand and enter Laos (*please read our mini-guide below on crossing the border). Once on the other side, head to the pier where the slow boat departs at 10:30. Stock up on snacks and sweets beforehand and bring some games and get prepared for a joyable slowride - welcome to Laos. Expected arrival in Pak Beng is 17.00 hrs where you will be met by your guide (look for a sign with your names on) who has arranged accommodation for you in Pak Beng.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight at Phetsokxay Hotel, or similar
Note: *Before crossing the Lao border, please remember to check up on the visa requirement for your nationality. We will not be held responsible if you cannot enter Laos. For most travellers, it is possible to obtain 30-days visa-on-arrival for a fee of USD 30 and 1-2 passport photos.
We recommend you to NOT exchange money at the border due to excessively high exchange rates (there will be ATMs in Luang Prabang), and to bring a bit of patience.
Today begins early as you leave Pak Beng on the slow boat and head downstream to Luang Prabang, a journey which takes around 8 Hours.
The boat departs at around 08.30 hrs and cruise along the Mekong River passing through some beautiful countryside on your way to the beautiful UNESCO World heritage city of Luang Prabang, a journey which takes around 8 Hours leaving you plenty of time to relax and take in the sights at a serene pace.
You will arrive at the ferry port which is located just outside of Luang Prabang at around 16:30 hrs, here transport awaits you for the transfer into town to your accommodation, the remainder of the day is left free for you to enjoy as you please.
Accommodation: Overnight at My Lao Home Hotel, or similar
Why not begin the day early watching the monks' procession through the city to collect offerings of food from the locals. It is colorful and peaceful and plays a big part of the local life.
Just after lunchtime you will be picked up from your hotel. Awaiting you are an afternoon where you will learn more on traditional weaving or dyeing techniques, which have been used for centuries. Passed down from generation to generation.
Normally, you will try hands on the various dyeing techniques. You will use a selection of different plants to create various colors to dye the clothes - The natural way. A great experience, which is sure to fascinate you!
Alternatively, you can be introduced to the art of different weaving techniques used to make a variety of clothing. If you would like to substitute the dyeing experience with weaving, we need to be informed in advance, upon booking.
After your afternoon class you will be taken back to your accommodation where the evening is free for you to enjoy as you please. Why not sample some of the delicious food on offer in Luang Prabang. The city houses many fantastic restaurants serving food from all over the world.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at My Lao Home Hotel, or similar
Experience local daily life during a homestay and learn about the unique culture while interacting with friendly people of different ethnic minorities.
You will be met by your guide and head to the Green Discovery office in town. From here you will depart by bicycle and cross the Mekong River by boat to Ban Xieng Man village, where you continue by bicycle to Ban Na Kham. The village is known for its sugarcane production and Kaolam, which is sticky rice and coconut milk cooked in bamboo stems. Be sure to try some!
There is time to look around the village before continuing to Ban Houay Tan, an ethnic Khmu village. Here you have a short break before heading on to Somsisomphou village where you will enjoy lunch.
After lunch and a bit of time to relax and rest the legs, you will switch from biking to trekking. The route begins by passing through rice paddy fields before crossing a stream. You carry on trekking for around 2.5 hours uphill through Ban Mok Prai before arriving in Ban Phou Luang Tai, a Hmong village, which is where you will stay overnight with a local family in their home, a truly amazing experience!
The roughness of the day will depend on the season and conditions of the road/tracks. Expect in general that the bike trip is medium to hard with a bumpy road in the dry season. Expect the trekking to approx. 3 hours up the mountain on a dirt road.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in homestay
Here you stop to relax and enjoy lunch. From the village it is time to head onwards to Muang Kham village, where Kaipan (a Luang Prabang speciality of fried dried riverweed) is produced, the weed is harvested from the river during dry season before being sun dried, seasoned and fried to make a delicious snack. From the village a short 20-minute boat ride bring you back to Luang Prabang where you can then return back to your accommodation.
The roughness of the day depends on season, but will generally be a moderate with downhill walking and partly dirt road, partly small dirt trails.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight at My Lao Home Hotel, or similar
Today marks the end of your trip; enjoy breakfast at your accommodation before checking out and continuing onwards as you please.
Meals: Breakfast
