Trails and Rivers of Laos

Day 1: Arrive Bangkok, fly to Chiang Rai

Rendezvous at Bangkok Airport in the early morning. KE group package services begin with the flight northwards to Chiang Rai. We should arrive in time to take a late lunch in Chiang Rai, before driving to the Laos border at Chiang Khong, a small town set on the banks of the mighty Mekong River. Time permitting; we can take a quick tour of the town and nearby relics. Chiang Khong is an important market town for local hill tribes and for trade with Northern Laos. The guide will advise on the best places to sample Laotian cuisine. Overnight in a basic but comfortable guesthouse. Note that meals are not included in the trip price for this day.

Day 2: Chiang Khong to Luang Nam Tha

After breakfast, we complete border-crossing formalities and take one of the local ferries across the Mekong to Huay Sai in Laos. From Huay Sai we take a private vehicle to drive along Route No 3, passing through mountains and stopping en route to visit ethnic villages. Route No 3 is an important highway to transport Chinese-manufactured goods through northern Laos to Thailand and Chinese engineers are currently working on the road surface to make it smooth asphalt. We stay tonight in a comfortable guest house in Luang Nam Tha. Included meals: Breakfast (B)

Day 3: Begin trekking

We start with a short transfer by local truck ‘songthaew’ to the village of Ban Kok Mee. Here we begin a 3-day trek which will take us through jungle and across forested ridges, through rubber plantations and multi-ethnic villages to the vilge of Ban Sop Sim. Today after passing through rubber plantations we will climb to the summit of Sam Yord Mountain before descending to Ban Sam Yord, a Hmong village. We stay overnight as guests in a village house. Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B,L,D)

Day 4: Trek to Ban Nam Talan

Following mountain village trails shaded by the forest canopy, our trek continues as today we descend into the beautiful valley of Ban Nam Talan. We pass a collection of Kamu and Lanten villages surrounded by rice fields, and we spend the night in a Kamu village house enjoying a traditional local meal. Approximately 6 hours walking. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Trek Ban Sop Sim, transfer Nong Khaew

After saying goodbye to our Kamu hosts we continue on trails which wind around the forested mountain slopes to complete our trek to Ban Sop Sim. Here we meet a local songthaew which will take us to the main road at Luang Nam Tha. We now board a private bus for the drive (3 hours) to Nong Khaew, a charming little town on the banks of the Nam Ou river, set amid spectacular karst scenery. We stay overnight in a local guesthouse. (B,L)

Day 6: Day hike through the limestone hills

We start the day with a short (10km) transfer to the village of Ban Huai Lek where we begin a full day of trekking. Our route takes us over mountain tops and through several villages and their associated fields. Reaching Ban Huai Lek we stop for lunch prepared for us locally. We may have to ford some streams as we continue along the trail to reach the Nam Ou river at Ban Sop Vanh. Here we board a small boat and cruise back to Nong Kheaw for a well-earned beer. We have a second night at the guesthouse. (B,L)

Day 7: River cruise on the Nam Ou & Mekong

Today we take a long-tail boat downstream to the confluence of the Nam Ou river with the Mekong at Pak Ou. This is a great opportunity to observe the life of the riverine people with the spectacular backdrop of the forested limestone mountains which make this region one of the most beautiful in South East Asia On arrival at Pak we will leave the boats to visit the famous Pak Ou Caves, which local people have filled with alters, offerings and thousands of gold Buddha statues. After a picnic lunch at a riverside restaurant, we take a larger boat and head up-river on the Mekong (1½ hours) to Kamu Lodge, a fixed camp eco-lodge surrounded by rice paddies and tropical forest. Accommodation here is in safari tents beneath traditional thatched roofs. The tents are twin-bedded and simply furnished with bamboo and rattan furniture and flooring. The tents have adjoining stone built bathrooms with hot water and flushing toilets and lighting is provided by solar power. We arrive at the lodge in the afternoon and after a ‘welcome’ refreshment we can settle in and relax in this extremely tranquil environment. We will take our dinner this evening in a ‘sala’ which are open-air dining rooms built on stilts over the rice paddies. Dinner will be a home cooked Laotian's meal eaten communal style. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Circuit day hike

An exploration walk to Ban Phanor Gnai, a small mountain village of Kamu people. After spending some time here we climb above the village to the top of the hill known as Phanor-Gnai-Noi for views over the forest. After enjoying the mountain views and observing Kamu daily life, we continue along the ridge, stopping for a picnic lunch along the way. We then descend to another hilltribe village and visit a waterfall before returning to Kamu Lodge. Approximately 6 hours walking. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Boat ride to Luang Prabang

After breakfast, we take another boat trip, today heading downstream on the Mekong to the beautiful UNESCO-protected city of Luang Prabang. It will take approximately 2 hours to reach ‘LP’ as it is locally known. The city has won the accolade of ‘Jewel of Indochina’ for its colourful mix of Buddhist temples and colonial French architecture in a riverside setting. In the afternoon we have a guided tour of the city which will include visits to the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, Wat Mai with it's tiered roof, and Wat Visun, the oldest temple in Luang Prabang. The rest of the day is free to relax or for further sightseeing and exploration. We stay overnight in a hotel. (B)

Day 10: Morning sightseeing, afternoon free, late afternoon fly to Vientiane

An early start to watch the local monks collect alms - one of the most iconic sights in South East Asia. After a visit to the local market, the afternoon is free to further explore this beautiful city, or take an optional excursion to nearby Kuang Si waterfalls. Later in the afternoon, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Vientiane, the Laotian capital, where we check into a hotel. (B)

Day 11: Sightseeing in Vientiane

We have a guided sightseeing tour of the Laotian capital which will include a visit to Wat Sisaket, with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and Wat Prakeo now a museum but formerly home to the famous ‘Emerald Buddha’ for over 200 years until it was taken to Thailand towards the end of the 18th century and placed in the Wat Prakeo of Bangkok. We will also visit the That Luang Monument which is a symbol of Laotian identity, the Victory Gate, and the famous Buddha Park (Wat Xieng Kuane) housing a collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures along the Mekong River. After the tour we return to the hotel and the rest of the day is free for relaxing or further independent sightseeing. (B)

Day 12: Fly to Bangkok

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport then fly from Vientiane to Bangkok to connect with onward flights. KE Land Only package services end at Bangkok Airport. (B)