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Day 1: LUANG PRABANG – ARRIVAL – CITY TOUR (Nil)
On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel.
After a soft rest, your city tour begins with a visit to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. After that, you will visit Royal Palace museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. From there, we ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for the panoramic view of the city and 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 hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
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Day 2: LUANG PRABANG – PAK OU CAVES (Breakfast)
Today, we will first visit the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene. After that, we embark on the leisurely cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine.
On arrival back in the city, we visit Wat Visoun, dating back to 1513 during the reign of King Wisunarat (Visoun), this is Luang Prabang’s oldest temple and was once home to the Prabang Buddhas. From there we stroll around to visit Wat Aham, which was once the residence of Sangkharat, the supreme head of Lao Buddhism. Our last stop today is the Traditional Art and Ethnology Center to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
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Day 3: LUANG PRABANG – SHANGRI LAOS (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
8:00 - 8:30 am: Your tour begins when your English speaking guide picks you up at your hotel in Luang Prabang city
- Transfer by VIP van to the Shangri-Lao Explorer Camp, 15 km outside of Luang Prabang.
- Upon arrival, stow your luggage at the reception and receive an introductory tour of the elephant camp. Your guide will teach you about elephants. You may talk with our veterinarian, feed the elephants or relax by the riverside.
- Start the adventure with a 5 km elephant ride through forests and over hills to the hidden Huay Sae Valley in the same way Dr. Neis did over a century ago.
- After reaching the protected Huay Sae Valley, you will leave the elephants and enjoy a luxury lunch of traditional Lao food with wine by a secluded waterfall. Depending on the water level you may swim in the cool, natural pools.
- Continue with a 5 km trek on foot. The adventurous trail crosses bamboo bridges and passes waterfalls with blue pools and dense jungle.
- Down at the Nam Khan River, a luxury bamboo raft is waiting your arrival to take you back to the elephant camp. Slowly float downstream during a relaxing 5 km river journey and enjoy a coffee as you relax and watch the traditional village life of farmers and fishermen along the river. Take the option of a 30 minute visit to the beautiful Tad Sae waterfall.
- In the late afternoon you will arrive at the camp where your luxury tent is ready for check-in. Spend the rest of the day at the Jacuzzi swimming pool or go for a walk with your guide to visit a local village.
- In the evening a delicious barbeque dinner will be served under the starry sky.
- Retire for the night in your luxury tent which will touch all of your senses with its unique decor and surroundings.
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Day 4: SHANGRI LAOS – LUANG PRABANG – LAO SPIRIT RESORT (Breakfast, Lunch)
- Day 2 begins with breakfast on the riverside while the sun slowly rises over the mountains. The remote villages are springing to life as you watch the villagers put small boats into the river, tend to their fields, take their children to school or wash their clothes in the river.
- After breakfast your guide will introduce you to your elephant and it’s time for your Mahout training. Bond with her as you receive your basic training to be a mahout. With real hands-on experience you may climb onto your elephant and control her riding bareback on her neck.
- After your mahout training you will ride your elephant bareback to the river where you bathe her and guide her through the river back to camp - an unforgettable and once in a lifetime experience!
- Back at the camp, help your mahout to put on the howdah seat on your elephant, before saying good-bye and thank you by offering her some delicious bananas. Your guide will also teach you more about the relationship between mahouts and elephants.
- At 11:30am it is time to check out of your luxury tent.
- Then enjoy your lunch by the riverside or on the deck of the Jacuzzi swimming pool.
- In the afternoon, you may stroll through the nearby village and visit the small temple with your guide. Experience the local lifestyle in the remote village and learn about the ethnic groups of Laos.
4:30 - 5:00 pm leave the camp transfer to the amazing Lao Spirit Resort, where we will spend your night.
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Day 5: LAO SPIRIT RESORT – LUANG PRABANG – DEPARTURE (Breakfast)
After breakfast, you are free to stroll around the resort and its nearby area before taking the departure flight. End of services.
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