Day 1: Luang Prabang – Ban Na Kham – Ban Houay Tan – Ban Mok Prai – Ban Phou Luang Tai
We depart with our bicycles from your hotel in downtown Luang Prabang and cross the Mekong River by boat to Ban Xieng Man village. We then cycle to Ban Na Kham, known for growing sugarcane and cooking sticky rice in bamboo stems. There is time to have a look around and maybe sample this delicious snack. We continue to Ban Houay Tan (a Khmu village). We take a short break to look around, then continue biking to Somsisomphou village for lunch.
After succeeding lunch we switch from biking to trekking. Surpassing some rice fields, we then cross a stream. Trekking 2 ½ hours uphill through Ban Mok Prai, we finally arrive at Ban Phou Luang Tai (both are Hmong villages) where we stay overnight in the home of a local family.
Approximately: 5 hours cycling / 2½ hours trekking / 15-20 minutes boat
Day 2: Ban Phou Luang Tai – Ban Houay Pong – Ban Muang Kham – Luang Prabang
Following breakfast, we start our second-day trek that passes the forest to Ban Houay Pong (a Khmu village) to relax and have lunch at the hall sustenance built by SNV. We then continue to Muang Kham village, where river weed (a Luang Prabang specialty; only in the dry season) is produced. From here, we take a 20 minutes boat ride back to Luang Prabang.
Approximately: 5 hours trekking/ 20 minutes boat
Note: In the wet season, the road can be very muddy.
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Departure date: Based on your inquiry
Group Size: From 2 to 25 pax
Tour cost: Contact Us
Laos is a treasure trove of natural and architectural wonders. With a little patience and some time you can see incredible man-made and natural wonders from north to south in the Lao PDR. Don’t miss these top 10 things to see and do.
Luang Prabang's best-known monastery is centered on a 1560 sǐm (ordination hall). Its roofs sweep low to the ground and there's a stunning 'tree of life' mosaic set on its western exterior wall. Close by are several stupas and three compact little chapel halls called hŏr. Hŏr Ɖąi, shaped like a tall tomb, houses a standing Buddha. The Hŏr Ɖąi Pha Sai-nyàat, dubbed La Chapelle Rouge – the Red Chapel – by the French, contains a rare reclining Buddha.
Fronted in lavish gilt work, the Hóhng Kép Mîen stores a ceremonial carriage, festooned with red-tongued naga (river serpents) designed to carry the golden funeral urns of Lao royalty.
Thirty kilometers southwest of Luang Prabang, Tat Kuang Si is a many-tiered waterfall tumbling over limestone formations into a series of cool, swimmable turquoise pools; the term 'Edenic' doesn't do it justice. When you're not swinging off ropes into the water, there's a public park with shelters and picnic tables where you can eat lunch. Don't miss the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre, where wild Asiatic moon bears, confiscated from poachers, are given a new lease of life.
Many cheap eateries line the entrance car park at the top end of the Khamu village of Ban Thapene, selling everything from local snacks to grilled chicken and fish.
Visiting Kuang Si by hired motorcycle is very pleasant now that the road here is decently paved and allows stops in villages along the way. By bicycle, be prepared for two long, steady hills to climb. A tuk-tuk from Luang Prabang costs 150,000K for one person, and 50,000K per person in a group of three, so it's best to get a group together. A private minivan will cost 350,000K.
Kuang Si Falls
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Climate
The annual monsoon cycles that affect all of mainland Southeast Asia produce a ‘dry and wet monsoon climate’ with three basic seasons for most of Laos. The southwest monsoon arrives in Laos between May and July and lasts into November.
The monsoon is followed by a dry period (from November to May), beginning with lower relative temperatures and cool breezes created by Asia’s northeast monsoon (which bypasses most of Laos), lasting until mid-February. Exceptions to this general pattern include Xieng Khuang, Hua Phan, and Phongsali Provinces, which may receive rainfall coming from Vietnam and China during April and May.
Rainfall varies substantially according to latitude and altitude, with the highlands of Vientiane, Bolikhamsai, Khammuan, and eastern Champasak Provinces receiving the most.
Temperatures also vary according to altitude. In the humid, low-lying Mekong River valley, temperatures range from 15°C to 38°C, while in the mountains of Xieng Khuang can drop to 0°C at night.
When to go
The best time for visiting most of Laos is between November and February when it rains the least and is not too hot. It’s also Laos’s main season for both national and regional bun (festivals).
If you plan to focus on the mountainous northern provinces, the hot season (from March to May) and the early rainy season (around June) are not bad either, as temperatures are moderate at higher elevations. Southern Laos, on the other hand, is best avoided from March to May, when daytime temperatures break into the 40s and nights aren’t much cooler.
The rainy season is not as bad as you might think. While it will rain – very heavily – the downpours are often fairly brief and can be bracketed by long periods of sunshine. The rains also clear dust from the skies and land, making everything clearer and brighter. Of course, there are downsides; unsealed roads can become quagmires, and extensive travel in remote areas like Salavan, Phongsali, and Sainyabuli might be impossible. River travel can be a good alternative during these months. If you intend to travel extensively by river, November is the best; flooding has usually subsided yet river levels are still high enough for maximum navigability. Between January and June, low water can make navigating some rivers difficult.
December to February and August are the peak tourist times. January, in particular, is very busy and booking ahead is advisable.
All transport is involved in the cost. We provide a backup vehicle at all times during cycling trips. The vehicle can be used to boat your baggage & yourself as required.
Food is a very essential part of these trips. We make sure that the meals we offer are method delicious unless you ask for dull meals. You are also permitted the choice of veggie or non-vegetarian meals. We suggest that you consume only the canned standard water. Please make sure that the container is enclosed.
