Northern Vietnam - Laos

After breakfast you will take a scenic drive towards Son La. Along the way you stop off at Mai Chau Village, where you enjoy your lunch. Then wander the village for an overview of the history, culture and local life of Thai ethnic group before continuing your scenic drive on a winding mountain road with lots of photo opportunities. Upon arrival in Son La city, check in the hotel for refreshments. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Up early - breakfast - take a scenic drive along the winding road among the lush mountains and hills - make short stops at local markets, hill tribe villages & stunning sites for photographic opportunities - arrive in Dien Bien Phu in the late afternoon. Check in the hotel for refreshments before wandering the historical city for an overview of local life. The rest of the day is at your own pace.

Travel down river to Nong Kiau. Travel by slow boat down river to Nong Khiaw in North Eastern Laos. The journey by boat takes about 5 to 6 hours. There will be a chance to stop at Hadsa village where local wine is produced as well as Sobjam ethnic village a traditional weaving village. Overnight in Nong Kiau.

Continue your boat journey along the Nam-Ou & Mekong Rivers, through the beautiful Laotian countryside all the way to Luang Prabang, passing by the local villages and see the authentic everyday life of the villagers going about their daily chores. Stop on the way to see the fascinating Pak Ou caves, which in fact are a cave system of two interlinked caves, crammed full of Buddha statues left behind by pilgrims over generations. Observe the traditional process of rice wine distillation in Ban Sanghai. Arrive in Luang Prabang in the early evening and check into your hotel, where you can relax and enjoy the peacefulness of this French colonial city. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city's oldest temple of Visoun, Wat Aham and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represent the classical architecture of Luang Prabang temple. And Visit the Laotian Royal Palace officially known as Haw Kham which was built during the French colonial era for the King and his family. The site was chosen so that official visitors to Luang Prabang could disembark from their river voyages directly by palace and be received there. In 1975, the monarchy was overthrown and the Palace was then converted into a National museum. Today it houses many artifacts which showcase the richness of Laotian culture. In the evening visit Wat Mai and take in the views of sunset at the top of Phou Si Hill. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

This morning you may want to wake up early and participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black Alms-giving bowls being given offerings from the local people, including the ubiquitous sticky rice. From there you will visit the morning Phou Si Market where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpetre among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local village of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Quay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Khoang Si Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or walk along the forest paths, return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon and the evening will be at your leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast we will depart Luang Prabang heading through the beautiful countryside, along windy roads to Xieng Khouang, located in mountainous lush surroundings, this is the area well known for the archeological finds of the mystical Plain of Jars, stone structures, dating back to between 500 BC – 500 AD. Then you are free. Overnight in Xieng Khoang.

Spend the day exploring the Plain of Jars sites, these stone structures are shrouded in mystery, some relics found date back to 2000 BC, and definitely from the times of the bronze and iron ages. It is believed that these jars were used through the centuries and by differing civilizations as part of funeral rituals. Take a short trek to Tai Dam and Lao Leum villages. Relax at the Thermal springs at Baw Yai and Thiam-Piu-Cave where Lao lost over 200 people during Indochina war.

We will have breakfast at home stay and spend some time walking around the villages before return journey to Hanoi 5 hours drive. Arriving in Hanoi we have some free time to relax. Overnight in Hanoi.