GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Morning arrival via Bangkok, in the capital Vientiane and an afternoon at leisure to recover from jet-lag, explore the local markets or perhaps to stretch our legs with a stroll along the Mekong waterfront for sundowners in a riverbank cafe.GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Day tour of some of the city’s fascinating sites; Si Saket Temple with its thousand Buddha images, the bustling morning market and Vientiane’s most famous monument – the That Luang Stupa as well as the unusual ‘Buddha Park’. Less cheerful, but we feel important and highly informative stops, will also be made at the excellent COPE exhibition centre, highlighting a major problem many of the local people face daily in the form of unexploded ordnance as a result of the heavy bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War era.GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Leave Vientiane for a leisurely drive south east to Khammoune, one of Laos’s most picturesque, yet least visited Provinces. Visits along the way will include a 15th century stupa, a hill-tribe market and plenty of photo opportunities! Afternoon arrival at our night’s accommodation in Hin Boun, a remote and charming riverside lodge set amongst dramatic limestone scenery. Time to relax or explore the area.GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Departure by boat for an exploration of the incredible Konglor Cave – a 7 km long cavern, up to 100 m high, with spectacular stalactite formations and an underground river running from end to end. On traversing the cave we’ll have an opportunity for a hike through the hidden valley on the far side before completing our day with a transfer to the nearby town of Thakaek – an old Mekong river port from the French era – in time for sundowners on the waterfront.GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
A fascinating day trip through the area’s awesome limestone landscapes including a forest hike where local guides will show you traditional forest food and medicines collected by the local inhabitants; a walk around the serene Nong Thao Lake to discover local fishing techniques, stop-offs in rarely visited villages and a visit to a secret 300 year old cave temple, only discovered in 2004. Late afternoon drive to Savannakhet - another important colonial period town – for our night’s accommodation.GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Continue south along the Mekong to another old river port, Pakse. Lunchtime arrival and the afternoon at leisure to explore the local markets, try out a Lao style spa, or just relax in the hotel’s roof garden and take in the sunset.GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Day tour of some of the sites of the Boloven Plateau, home to numerous ethnic minorities and the centre of Lao’s coffee growing industry including visits to one of the area’s coffee plantations and a chance to bathe in the Tad Yeuang Falls.GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Boat trip down the Mekong River south to the small town of Champassak. Afternoon trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wat Phu – a pre-Angkor, Khmer temple dramatically situated on a mountain side overlooking the valley of the Mekong.GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Morning transfer to Kietngong village for an elephant trek to some hilltop ruins and on to the delightful Kingfisher Eco Lodge on the edge of the Sepian national Biodiversity Area for our night’s accommodation. Afternoon hike to discover the area, bird watching in the nearby wetlands or simply resting up on the balcony admiring the superb view.GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Continuing south to the - a stretch of the Mekong River of truly outstanding natural beauty straddling the Lao/Cambodian border.GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Explore some of the islands by boat, kayak and on foot. Visit SE Asia’s largest waterfalls – the stunning Khone Phapaeng Falls – and with luck catch a glimpse of some of the rare freshwater dolphins which still inhabit this stretch of the river.GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Continuing down the Mekong we’ll follow the picturesque jungle-lined river into Cambodia and the remote town of Stung Treng. From here we’ll continue overland, south to the old French port of Kratie for our night’s accommodation. Afternoon to wander the bustling river front area.GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
The final leg of our journey will take us overland via Kompong Cham and a visit to the Angkor era temple of Wat Nokor to Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh.GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Transfer to the airport for leaving flight. End of service.GGGwww.Chinakindnesstour.com