08:30am: Set off with your driver and guide to explore the cultural highlights of Chiang Rai. Visit to the iconic White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), a stunning masterpiece blending traditional Thai art with modern symbolism.

Then we travel to Chiang Khong in the afternoon and check in at your hotel in Chiang Khong.

Overnight in Chiang Khong.

• From October to March: Departure every: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• From April to September: Departure every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Join Slow boat tours down cruise:

07:30: After breakfast, pick up by driver (no guide) and drive to Chiang Khong border, a district in the northeastern part of Chiang Rai to Houayxay check point.

After you pass by Thailand Immigration, take shuttle bus from Thailand side to Laos side (the bus ticket costs 40 Bath per person and 45 Bath for each luggage, and this cost not included, so please pay directly there).

After passing through Laos immigration, you will cross the Mekong River to Houayxay in Laos where your Lao guide will be waiting for you at the immigration point. After completing border formalities, you board a ready traditional boat for the trip down the Mekong River. Serene, timeless Laos is one of Asia's most unvisited, unchanged countries. This once-powerful kingdom known as Lane Xang (Million Elephants) was founded in the 14th century with the help of the Khmers, and it went on to become one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia until its demise in the late 19th century. Bisected and bordered by the Mekong River, omnipresent symbol of Indochina, Laos today is an amalgam of cultural influences, Theravada Buddhism, animism, France, and the socialist ideal. It is a peaceful place, and the legendary hospitality, resilience and friendliness of the Lao people is much in evidence. Laos is Old Asia preserved. As your journey downriver you will stop at some tribal minority villages such as the Hmong, Yao and Khmu.

Overnight in Pakbeng.

Join Slow boat tours down cruise:

Breakfast, as you sail downriver as a second leg, you will pass areas of un-spoilt forest with little villages along the riverbanks and perhaps the odd elephant or two with his mahout. You visit a fishing village and a rice winemaking village and perhaps even taste some of the infamous beverage known as Lao Rice wine. You also visit the Pak-Ou caves, where thousands of Buddha statues are stored. You arrive in Luang Prabang around sunset and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Enjoy breakfast at hotel.

Hop on Tuk Tuk and we visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. The National Museum and the Central Market are not to be missed. We enjoy a short tour seeing the city’s oldest temple Wat Sene and Wat Xieng Thong, a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty, and traditional art. Later we’ll visit the impressive Wat Visoun, the oldest temple that houses many Buddha images. Next is Wat Aham, the ‘Monastery of the Blossomed Heart’ exudes serenity, and Wat Mai, the largest and most richly decorated of the temples in this city.

You can plan the rest of the afternoon yourself.

Evening, enjoy Luang Prabang night maket, offering a lovely variety of handmade textiles crafted by local and hill-tribe people, along with street food, knick-knacks and friendly banter.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Do you want to know what it takes to cultivate, harvest and prepare rice before it’s ready to eat?

This unique half-day ‘Rice is Life’ activity takes you on an in depth and hands-on learning experience where you will participate in 14 steps of the rice cycle on the Living Land community farm.

The Living Land Farm, a community enterprise just outside of Luang Prabang, maintains educational programs and professional organic farming right next to village rice paddies. Only small groups are able to join the interactive rice farming experience which actively benefits locals from the community, maintaining their crafts in their traditional form. You’ll also learn about bamboo weaving, tool and trap making, gardening and even blacksmithing.

After a special rice snack at the farm we’ll take a scenic drive along the Mekong River to have lunch at the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall. You’ll have plenty of time to swim, explore, and photograph the waterfalls as well as you stroll through the lush surrounding jungle.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, we catch an express train to Vang Vieng, a small and tranquil town nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River. After check into your hotel, free for your own time.

Rest of the day, you are recommended a short stroll down to the riverbank in time for sunset, where there are several areas to sit and take in dramatic scenery. Be sure to bring a camera to catch some amazing snaps.

Overnight in Vang Vieng.

Today's tour combines all the activities that Vang Vieng is famous for: kayaking on the Nam Song River surrounded by rugged karsts and beautiful rural scenery and exploring limestone caves.

Your tour guide will take to to the north of Vang Vieng, where you'll firstly visit Tham Xang (Elephant Cave). This cave owes its name to a remarkable limestone formation and lies on the banks of the Nam Song River.

The nearby Tham Hoi Cave (Snail Cave) winds its way deep into the mountain. You'll float through the cave on inflatable tubes, exploring its long corridors and wonderful limestone formations. A pool of cool spring water lies at the mouth of Tham Nam (Water Cave), giving you a great opportunity for a swim.

Following a picnic lunch, trek to a Hmong village, passing through rice paddies and vegetable gardens. Return to Vang Vieng by kayaking down the Nam Song, taking you through idyllic scenes of rural life, with limestone mountains in the background.

After sightseeing, we spend 2-hour driving to the capital city Vientiane, which is located on the banks of the Mekong River. Vientiane is a charming and fascinating capital, with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, Soviet and American influences. Along the way we make a stop to visit the archaeological sight of Vang Xang dating back to the 11th century.

Overnight in Vientiane.

After breakfast, departure to visit the colorful Thong Khan Kham market. There are many markets in Vientiane. There you will find all the foods that constitute the daily diet of Laotians but also all kinds of products (household appliances, jewelry, etc.). Dried red peppers are widely used in Laotian cuisine, particularly for macerating meat and fish. then visit the imposing Patuxay Monument. which is well known as a Triumphal Arch of Vientiane before continuing to the famous That Luang Stupa.

Continuation of the discovery of the city of Vientiane. We start with Wat Sisaket which is the oldest temple still standing in Vientiane. This amazing structure has remarkable frescoes and images of Buddha, then Haw Prakeo, the former royal temple of the Laos monarchy, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Statue.

In the afternoon: we will visit to Wat Si Muang, which is very famous for its supernatural power. Then go to Buddha Park which takes around 45 minutes. Along the way, stop to take photos of the Friendship Bridge which was built by the Australian government in 1994 and connects Laos and Thailand. Arrive at Buddha Park and enjoy a walk in the park. Also known as XiengKhuan, this park is filled with over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues. The concrete sculptures are bizarre, yet intriguing, sitting majestically in the peaceful grounds. The peaceful setting of the park on the banks of the Mekong contrasts radically with the somewhat eccentric works sculpted in 1958 by a Laotian shaman-priest-yogi. The concrete sculptures are bizarre, yet intriguing, sitting majestically in the peaceful grounds. Then you also visit the Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge.

Return to Vientiane city centre. The rest of the day is free to take a stroll in charming, relaxing colonial neighbourhoods or you can enjoy a cup of coffee in shaded terraces while contemplating scenes of river life as the sun sets on the Mekong.

Overnight in Vientiane.

Free till pick up by driver and transfer to Vientiane International airport for departure to next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.