Discover Northern Thailand and unknown Laos Exploration Tour
Are you ready to adventure in Northern Thailand and unknown Laos?
This active and adventurous Monsoon Adventure Exploration Tour will let you discover the North of Thailand and the still unknown Northern parts of Laos. We visit historically interesting places like Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang and Phonsavan. We will leave the beaten tracks and explore the less visited areas.
In the North of Thailand the Lanna culture is still visible in the architecture of the old houses and temples and in the customs of the local people. We start to explore the countryside during our two-day bicycle tour. This is the way to discover this region with its people in a relaxed way at our own pace.
The North of Laos still has some untouched nature. Trekking or by boat are interesting ways to discover the nature and the hill tribes living in these mountains like the Akha, Hmong and Yao. Luang Prabang with her many splendid temples and old royal villas is one of the most romantic towns in Southeast Asia. This lovely little town at the Mekong River truly deserves to be on the world heritage list of UNESCO. The Plain of Jars was always on the cross roads of wars and its here where we find one of the last remaining mysteries on earth. We are sure that this mystery will intrigue you too.
Besides the nature and culture of Northern Thailand and unknown Laos we also will discover the culinary aspects of these countries. As a part of our exploration we will taste some local delicacies. The friendly people of Thailand and Laos will make an unforgettable impression on you.
This Discover Northern Thailand and unknown Laos Exploration Tour will give you a very good impression of the North of Thailand and the less visited and unknown parts of Northern Laos, not only the classic highlights but also the more mysterious areas of these countries. Your memories of this adventure will last a lifetime!
Programme
Day 1 Bangkok
Individual arrival in Bangkok . We meet in the afternoon at the
Hua Lamphong train station for the night train to Chiang Mai in the North
of Thailand. We sleep in the train in comfortable beds.
Overnight on the train.
Day 2 Chiang Mai (B-L)
Arrival at Chiang Mai train station
in the morning. Transfer to the hotel in Chiang Mai.
Info meeting with a welcome drink. Than we visit the beautiful Wat Phra
Singh temple, build in Lanna style. Thai welcome lunch. In the afternoon
we visit the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple located on a hill outside
Chiang Mai. In the evening you have free time to visit the famous Night
Market on your own.
Overnight in Chiang Mai
Day 3 Chiang Mai–Rural
area (B-L-D)
After breakfast we start with our 2-day bicycle tour. Today we bicycle about
30 km through a very beautiful
region. We enjoy local lunch on the way. Exploring by bicycle is the
perfect way to enjoy the rural atmosphere of the North
of Thailand. Dinner and overnight in a rural resort.
Overnight in Chiang Mai
province
Day 4 Rural area of Chiang Mai (B-L-D)
Today we continue our bicycle tour. We bicycle about 60 km through
a beautiful area. Lunch on the way. We spend the night in a quiet located
resort. Dinner in the resort.
Overnight in Chiang Mai province
Day 5 Rural area-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong–Huay
Xai (B-D)
After breakfast we continue with our private bus through the mountainous north
of Thailand to Chiang Khong. In
Chiang Rai we visit the "white" temple and the Hill
tribe Museum. In the afternoon we drive to Chiang Khong. Here
we cross the Mekong river to Laos and after finishing the border formalities
we go by local tuk-tuk to our hotel. Overnight stay in a simple and clean Huay
Xai hotel. In the evening we will enjoy sunset from the temple and have a typical
Lao welcome dinner.
Overnight in Huay Xai
Day 6 Huay Xai-Xieng Kok (B)
After breakfast we travel
by speedboat up the Mekong River to Xieng Kok. This is a fascinating trip
where we can witness life by the Mekong river. This is also part of the
infamous Golden Triangle where the three countries of Burma,
Laos and Thailand meet.
In the late afternoon we arrive at Xieng Kok, this small village
used to have only a few dirt roads and even less houses. We stay overnight
in basic bungalows. Myanmar, formerly Burma, is at the other side of the
Mekong River.
Overnight in Xieng Kok
Day 7 Xieng Kok-Muang Singh (B)
In this area we will encounter
several different hill tribes. After breakfast we depart for Muang Singh
and en route we will have stops and short walks to get a glimpse
of the life of the hill tribes. You will notice that in this area almost
no tourists are to be seen and most of the time we will be the attraction
of the day.
Overnight in Muang Singh
Day 8 Muang Singh (B)
Today we have the possibility to discover Muang Singh and surroundings by
walking. The morning market is very lively with all the hill tribes
coming down from the mountains to buy and sell their products. Than we
make a walk and we can visit Akha and Yao villages. In the evening you are
free and you can relax with
a typical Lao sauna or a traditional massage.
Overnight in Muang Singh
Day 9 Muang Singh–Udom Xai (B)
Early morning departure
for a day on the road through typical Lao landscapes with many small villages
along the way inviting us for short walks. It will be amazing what we will
experience from the different ethnic people living here. Nature can be as
divers as the tribes living here. In Udom Xai we will visit
one of the remarkable temples on a hilltop. Udom Xai is becoming an important
town for trade with China. Overnight stay in basic hotel.
Overnight in Udom
Xai
Day 10 Udom Xai–Muang Khua (B)
In the morning we depart for Muang
Khua. It will be an adventure because of the road conditions. On the way
we visit Pak Nam Noi and the local market. These markets can be very exciting
but not for the faint hearted. We stay
overnight in a basic guesthouse. This town is a little bit off
the beaten track and has therefore maintained it’s unique charm.
Overnight
in Muang Khua
Day 11 Muang Khua (B)
Today time to enjoy the rural Lao atmosphere
by walking trip. Muang Khua is a place
where not many people stay very long. So be sure that we will discover some
remote and nice untouched areas. These rarely visited mountains were
once part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail and are now the living space for a
number of hill tribe villages. We are going to explore this area by foot
during a half day. In the afternoon you have free time to continue exploring
by bicycle or by walking.
Overnight in Muang Khua
Day 12 Muang Khua–Muang Ngoi (B)
We are going down the Nam Ou River
to Muang Ngoi by boat. Here we can enjoy the amazing countryside with
rugged mountains, jungle covered hills and small villages along the way.
We will discover one of the most remote river areas of northern Laos. Arrival
in the afternoon in the laid back village of Muang Ngoi situated at the
Ou river and surrounded by lime stone mountains. Overnight in simple bungalows
with the green mountains always in sight.
Overnight in Muang Ngoi
Day 13 Muang Ngoi (B)
Muang Ngoi is a lovely, quiet town. There is no road access, and the lack
of motorbikes and other vehicles is inspirational. Limited electricity means
that the locals' lifestyle is aligned with daylight hours, and the town shuts
down at 9 or 10, and starts up again at daybreak. We
will take our time to explore this wonderful area by foot and boat. Along the
riverbanks we visit a village and a newly discovered cave. There
are magnificent views into the steep and jungle covered mountains around
us. Return around noon and free time to relax. Or you can visit the local
temple or enjoy the local atmosphere.
Overnight in Muang Ngoi
Day 14 Muang Ngoi–Luang
Prabang (B)
After breakfast we take a small boat down the Nam Ou river to Nong
Khiaw. Our
last opportunity to see the stunning landscape of the northern part of Laos
from the boat. From Nong Khiaw we continue our journey by bus to Luang Prabang.
Overnight
in Luang Prabang
Day 15 Luang Prabang (B)
Before breakfast we will witness one of the most
important things in the life of the Buddhist Laotian people. Offering of
alms to the monks. After an early breakfast you have time to discover
this beautiful and interesting town by yourselves and visit the beautiful
temples. Do not forget to enjoy the sunset
from Wat Phousi hill.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Day 16 Luang Prabang (B)
Free day in Luang Prabang. You can discover Luang Prabang and surroundings
on your own by bicycle for example. Or you can make an optional excursion
to the elephant camp (price about 20$ per person).
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Day 17 Luang Prabang–Phonsavan (B)
A traveling day with short walks
and stops to enjoy the view and see a glimpse of the local life of the Hill
tribes and the Lao Thung. In the afternoon arrival in Phonsovan.
Overnight
in Phonsavan
Day 18 Phonsavan-Plain
of Jars (B)
Xieng Khouang is one of the most beautiful
places where one of the last mysteries is to be found on earth. Heavily
damaged during the Vietnam War, we are going to visit the Plain of Jars
by bus and we’ll walk about 2 to 3 hours. Covering a huge area
in the center of Xieng Khuang province, the Plain of Jars refers to the entire
area the jars are found, within which there are 160 sites. Each site holds
clusters of large stone containers, carved in one piece from limestone. In
total there are around 4,000 jars. The jars come in a number of different
shapes and sizes, all in different positions. Three of the largest jar clusters
have been designated as tourist sites, and an effort has been made to ensure
than these are free of UXO. It is important to note that while the main areas
are bomb-free, the removal process is ongoing.
We will also visit
Muang Khun, the old capital with
some remarkable sights. Muang Khun is the old Xieng
Khuang, and was once the provincial capital. The ruins of the Vat are all
that remains of what was once a royal kingdom. The Vat Pia Vat in Xieng Khuang
temple is worth a visit though. The enormous seated Buddha has a bullet shot
through its forehead, and sits at the end of a row of towering brick pillars.
Overnight in Phonsavan
Day 19 Phonsavan–Vientiane (B)
Today we travel by airplane to Vientiane, the small
Lao capital, located on the northern bank of the Mekong River. Actually
pronounced Wiang Jan and translated as City of Sandalwood, the modern name
of Vientiane comes courtesy of a bastardised French translation. The original
city was over-run on a number of occasions by the Burmese and Chinese and
was absolutely flattened by the Siamese (Thai) in 1828.
Overnight in Vientiane
Day 20 Vientiane (Laos)-Nong
Khai (Thailand)–night train to Bangkok (B)
In the morning you have time to visit the highlights of Vientiane on your
own. Almost everything worthwhile is within walking distance, The Museum
of Revolution, Wat Phra Keo, the Wat Si Saket. You can take a tuk-tuk to
visit the most important temple, the Wat That Luang. Last chance to buy
some Lao silk or other souvenirs. In the afternoon we depart for the border
with Thailand and we continue to the train station in Nong Khai where we
take the night train bound for Bangkok. We sleep in comfortable beds in
the train.
Overnight on the train
Day 21 Arrival in Bangkok (B)
An early morning arrival at the Hua Lamphong
train station in Bangkok. We walk to the restaurant and have breakfast
together. After breakfast it is unfortunately time for goodbyes. End of
this wonderful adventurous exploration tour through the North of Thailand
and Laos!
Group Tours
| Start date | Finish date | Places available |
| 1 February 2009 | 21 February 2009 | Yes |
| 5 July 2009 | 25 July 2009 | Yes |
Individual Tours
You can make this Thailand-Laos exploration tour also as an individual tour on other dates during the year. You will be escorted by an English speaking, expert Tour Leader. For 6 persons or more, the prices are the same as the prices for the group tours.
Price Group Tours
€ 1490 per person
An advance payment of 25% of the price has to be made at the time of booking.
The balance is payable the latest 6 weeks before the departure date of the tour.
Included in the price
- all visits as described in the programme of the tour
- all accommodation with breakfast, in 2-person rooms with bath and/or shower and toilet
- meals mentioned in the programme (3 x lunch and 3 x dinner)
- all transportation in Thailand and Laos according to the programme
- English speaking Tour Leader
- entrance fees
- local guides with most of the visits
- bookings costs
- local taxes like room tax and service charge
Not included in the price
- international air tickets to/from Bangkok, Thailand
- other meals
- visa costs
- optional excursions
- local tips for drivers, guides and hotel staff
- airport taxes
- travel insurance
- personal expenses like drinks, souvenirs, massage, etc.
Single Room Supplement
In principle the room will be shared with another participant. Single travelers
share the room with another single traveler of the same sex.
Single travelers
who do not want to share the room can book a single room. The supplement
for a single room is € 220.
Visa
The visa for Thailand can be obtained (free) on arrival at the airport
of Bangkok.
The visa for Laos can be obtained on arrival at the Lao border. The cost
is 35 US$. Payment has be done cash in US$
and 1 passport photo is necessary.
Info
Travel code : TLA
Meals: B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner
Duration : 21 days
Start of the tour : Bangkok, Thailand
Finish of the tour : Bangkok, Thailand
Group : 6 - 14 persons
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