Discover the timeless beauty of Laos on this unforgettable 10-day journey. From the warmth of its people and deep-rooted spiritual traditions to breathtaking landscapes and hidden natural wonders, this tour offers a window into a land where ancient rhythms still shape daily life. Venture beyond the usual tourist trails to uncover serene villages, sacred temples, and unspoiled countryside — experiencing a side of Laos that remains beautifully untouched by the modern world.
Laos
Welcome to Luang Prabang! Upon arrival, you’ll be met by our guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Begin your day with a very special dawn visit to witness the monks collecting alms. As the sun rises, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot through the streets, receiving offerings from the local residents of Luang Prabang. This serene and beautiful ceremony offers a glimpse into the spiritual heart of Laos. Afterwards, visit the Morning Market, where you’ll find a variety of fresh local ingredients used in traditional Lao cuisine. Return to your hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, we officially begin our Laos 10-Day Tour by visiting the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, home to a fine collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture, from the early royal dynasties to the last sovereign. Continue the city tour with stops at the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham, and the elegant Wat Mai.
In the afternoon, visit Wat Sene, the oldest temple in Luang Prabang, and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, renowned for its graceful, sweeping roofs — a classic example of traditional Lao temple architecture. Next, climb to the top of Mount Phousi for a rewarding exploration of its sacred gilded stupa and take in a stunning sunset view over the city and the Mekong River.
As evening falls, explore the vibrant Street Night Bazaar, where you’ll discover an array of handmade textiles and beautiful crafts created by local artisans and hill tribe communities from the surrounding areas.
After breakfast, board a boat for a cruise upstream along the Mekong River, offering beautiful views of the tranquil countryside. Along the way, enjoy a visit to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, home to thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues in various shapes and sizes. Return to town for lunch at your own expense.
In the afternoon, drive through the Luang Prabang countryside to visit the stunning Kuang Si Waterfalls. Along the way, you’ll pass scenic landscapes of rice fields, hills, and traditional villages. Stop to visit an ethnic minority village, where the local culture has remained largely unchanged for generations. Upon arrival at Kuang Si Waterfalls, relax and soak in the beauty of the cascading falls and serene natural surroundings. Afterwards, return to Luang Prabang.
Today, we continue our Laos 10-Day Tour with a scenic overland journey, driving 306 km through hilly mountain landscapes with splendid natural scenery to Xieng Khouang, a region heavily bombed during the American air campaign between 1964 and 1973.
Upon arrival, transfer to visit the remarkable Plain of Jars, an impressive archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are scattered across the plateau. If time permits, you’ll also visit the former royal capital of Muang Khoun and nearby villages inhabited by the Hmong hill tribe people, known for their rich culture and colorful traditions.
Overnight in Phonsavanh, the capital of Xieng Khouang Province.
After breakfast, visit the Central Market, then enjoy free time at your leisure to further explore the town before catching a flight back to Vientiane.
Upon arrival and hotel check-in, continue your sightseeing tour of Vientiane city. Start with a visit to the city’s major landmarks, including Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple in Vientiane, home to thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and Wat Prakeo, the former royal temple that once housed the famous Emerald Buddha.
On the way to the revered That Luang Stupa, stop for photos at the impressive Patuxay Monument, often referred to as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe. Overnight in Vientiane.
In the afternoon, drive to Buddha Park, located along the Mekong River near the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge. After exploring the park’s collection of unique religious sculptures, return to town, passing by the city’s major shopping areas before visiting Talad Sao (Vientiane Central Market). Here, you’ll find a lively display of goods including fresh produce, household items, textiles, gold, silver, and a variety of traditional souvenirs.
Return to your hotel around noon. The rest of the day is free at your leisure.
After breakfast, take an early flight to Pakse. Upon arrival, drive along National Road No. 13 South to Champassak to visit the impressive ruins of Wat Phu, one of the most important Hindu sanctuaries of the former Khmer Empire, dating from the 9th to 13th centuries. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit nearby ancient Khmer temples and Buddhist shrines.
After a short stop, continue by land to Khong Island. A ferry ride will take you across the river to the island. Overnight in Khong Island
Today, enjoy a boat cruise through the widest stretch of the Mekong River, where thousands of islets emerge during the dry season, earning this region the charming name “Si Phan Don” (meaning “4,000 Islands”). Along the way, stop to visit the beautiful Liphi Waterfalls and the traditional fishing village of Ban Khone.
On the return journey, take a short drive to the Lao-Cambodia border at Veun Kham, and visit Khone Phapheng Waterfall, the largest and most impressive waterfall in Southeast Asia.
After leaving Khong Island, we continue our journey toward Tad Lo, traveling through the Bolaven Plateau, a region famous for its tea and coffee plantations, lush vegetation, and rich red basaltic soil. Along the way, there will be opportunities to explore parts of the Bolaven Plateau and visit traditional hill tribe villages belonging to the Katu, Alak, and Nge ethnic minority groups.
We then return to Pakse by late evening. Overnight in Pakse
With us, we know very well where you stay is very much part of the experience. Wherever possible we select characterful accommodation to suit your budget, which we have personally tracked down and visited regularly. We selected best accommodation from eco-homestay to luxury hotels.
Meals are included as per the itinerary that we have mentioned. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups.
While traveling with us, you will have the opportunity to not just experience the wide variety of wonderful food available in Vietnam and Cambodia, Thailand, Laos but also get to try some of it too. Your guide will be able to suggest some great restaurants for you to try during your trip.
If you have any specific food requirements (vegetarian, vegan, or food allergies), please inform us in advance so that we can provide a notice to the restaurant or hotel where you will be served.
You will be led by an English-speaking guide who offers local insight, pursues great experiences, and makes every tour exceptional. Our guides are well informed about the local culture, history, and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you.
An air-conditioned vehicle is standing by, fully prepared to take you away on an unforgettable excursion. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the destination in style, with all the amenities you need for a comfortable and enjoyable journey.
The included cold water & tissue, local snacks, and fresh fruit will keep your energy levels up while you enjoy the tour and ensure that you stay hydrated and well-nourished.
We organized and ran our trips to ensure they had a minimum impact on the environment and a positive impact on the local communities and cultures we operate in. Siem Reaper was founded not only to provide memorable and meaningful travel experiences for our guests but also to build a sustainable adventure-travel business that supports the local communities. We aim to support all of our local communities, whether it be through our unique educational tours, visits to nature preserves and wildlife sanctuaries, or by purchasing locally grown produce from farms in the region.
Want to know more about this adventure and how to plan for your trip? Essential Trip Information is a one-stop resource that provides everything you need to know about this trip. Read about your destination country's requirements for passports, visas, vaccinations, baggage restrictions, packing lists, and tipping guidelines before you go.
Visitors to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos require a passport to enter the country, and all travelers must hold a passport with validity for 6 months after their planned exit from above countries
Citizens of the UK, EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and almost all other nationalities will require a visa. Non-UK residents should check with the Embassy in their country of residence for the most up-to-date information. Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at airports without prior registration. A visa is issued on arrival for most nationalities for US $25/pax to $30/pax, and the visa has a one-month validity. You need to pay in cash and in US dollars and provide two recent, identical passport photographs.
Read more about applying for an eVisa here:
You will be met by your guide in the arrivals hall, after immigration and baggage reclaim. He/She will be wearing the Footsteps Indochina Travel logo and will be holding a meeting board displaying your name.
You will be met by your tour guide and driver at your arrival point. They will be holding a Footsteps Indochina Travel name board with your name on it. It is possible you will be a little bleary-eyed after a long flight and there are also likely to be a large number of meeting boards displayed, so please take your time to locate them.
Firstly, do not panic - let the crowds clear a little and stay with your luggage. After 15 minutes, if you still have not been met then one of you should locate the airport information point and check that you are in the correct place (many airports have several terminals and your guide will be waiting for you at the timetable arrival terminal).
Travel insurance is not included in the tour price. You can arrange travel insurance with your preferred insurance company. As medical facilities in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand & Laos are rather limited, it is imperative for you to take out a good medical insurance policy when traveling.
Although not mandatory, for the safety of travelers, we strongly recommend immunization against malaria, infectious hepatitis, tetanus, typhoid, diphtheria and polio. Travelers should visit their general practitioners for advice on the best pills to take for malaria prevention. Although it is not required in all circumstances, travelers may want to consider immunization against Japanese Encephalitis as an added precaution.
Meals are included as per the itinerary that we have mentioned. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups.
While traveling with us, you will have the opportunity to not just experience the wide variety of wonderful food available in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand & Laos but also get to try some of it too. Your guide will be able to suggest some great restaurants for you to try during your trip.
If you have any specific food requirements (vegetarian, vegan, or food allergies), please inform us in advance so that we can provide a notice to the restaurant or hotel where you will be served.
Keeping you hydrated is one of the most important parts of our tours. We provide cold water, as well as local fruit and soft drinks to keep you energized and refreshed during your trip. Beers and alcoholic drinks are freely available everywhere but are not included in the price.
At Footsteps Indochina Travel, we’re ensuring that we’re fulfilling the core values of our business. We operate in a responsible manner to protect our local culture and environment, as well as youth development in our community. We’ve made a commitment to be a responsible business and live up to this promise every single day.