What this trip is really like
Two nights each: Luang Prabang's temples and river, a swim at Kuang Si, then the flight south to Vientiane for That Luang, the riverside at sunset and a proper Lao dinner.
Vientiane contributes the seat of government and religion, seen at sites such as Wat Sisaket and the Patuxay Monument, while Luang Prabang supplies the UNESCO temple town, the sunset climb up Mount Phousi and the pools of Kuang Si Falls. Together the two give a rounder sense of the country than a single-city stay, yet without the length of a full circuit through Laos.
Because a short domestic flight covers the distance between them, rather than hours on the road, the five days here stay focused on sightseeing rather than transit. This suits travellers who want more than one base in Laos but only have a tight window, and it slots neatly onto a longer trip through Vietnam, Thailand or Cambodia. For the clearest views at Kuang Si Falls, plus the best conditions for the Mount Phousi sunset, aim for November through February.
Trip highlights
- Sunset views over Luang Prabang from Mount Phousi
- Temple stops at Wat Mai, Wat Visoun and Wat Aham, with a visit to the Night Market
- Optional early-morning alms-giving ritual with saffron-robed monks
- Swimming and forest trails at Kuang Si Falls
- Domestic flight from Luang Prabang to Vientiane
- Full-day Vientiane city tour
The trip, day by day
Day 1 — Land in Luang Prabang, sunset from Phousi
After check-in, the rest of the afternoon is given over to three temples: Wat Mai, Wat Aham, and Wat Visoun with its unusual Watermelon Stupa. A climb up Mount Phousi follows, for sunset views across the rooftops and the Mekong, and the evening finishes at the Night Market, where hill-tribe and local weavers sell handwoven cloth.
Day 2 — Temples and the Mekong to Pak Ou
A ride by boat along the Mekong towards Pak Ou Caves rounds out a morning that also takes in the former Royal Palace and more of the town's temples. Generations of pilgrims have left thousands of Buddha figures tucked into the caves' limestone walls.
Day 3 — Kuang Si, then fly to Vientiane
Early risers can watch, or take part in, the tak bat — the dawn ritual where monks walk through the streets collecting sticky rice from residents, a custom that survives nowhere else among Buddhist nations. Breakfast is followed by time at Kuang Si Falls, with its swimming pools and trails through the forest, before a short flight takes you on to Vientiane.
Day 4 — Vientiane on foot and by tuk-tuk
Set beside a length of the Mekong, Vientiane feels unhurried and low-built next to other regional capitals. The day here is arranged around its principal temples and monuments, leaving room to stroll the riverfront and dip into local markets.
Day 5 — Departure
The trip ends with a transfer to Vientiane's Wattay International Airport for your connecting or return flight, having taken in the two places in Laos that draw the most visitors.
What's included
- Rooms with breakfast, twin-shared, in guesthouses and small hotels we know personally
- Meals listed in the programme, drinks excluded
- A Lao guide who speaks English, from the north where most of these trips run
- Private air-conditioned vehicles for the road sections
- Slow boats, river crossings and every entrance fee written into the plan
- Two bottles of drinking water per person on touring days
Not included
- International and domestic airfares and airport taxes (we can book them on request)
- Visa services — approval letter, stamp fee or fast-track if you want it
- Early check-in, late check-out and room upgrades
- Meals not in the programme, drinks, and personal spending such as laundry, calls and tips
- Optional outings and anything not written into the plan
Book this trip
- Days
- 5 days / 4 nights
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