DAY 1

Starting from Bangkok after breakfast, we drive North-Eastwards, to the Isan plateau. A journey through that area provides us with a good transition between Thailand and Lao, as its language, cooking and culture are akin to the Lao traditions.

After over one hour's drive, we reach the grand Khao Yai natural park. We take advantage of a short stop to admire the Lam Takhlong large reservoir, then we drive on to Dan Kwian, a potter's village where potteryware and many clay items have been made for several centuries.

We'll also visit Pak Thong Chai, one of the best known silk weaving centres in the country. On arriving at Korat, now called Nakhon Ratchasima, we settle at the Sima Thani hotel. A rickshaw ride around the town makes us dizzy, as this still developping city, with its 300.000 inhabitants is thriving with life. We have to cross over the moat to reach a quieter district where traditional life is peacefully flowing. We have dinner in town and take a stroll around the THANON MANAT night bazaar.

DAY 2

After breakfast, we start on the trail of the Khmer temples. Twenty kilometres North of Korat, we have a first stop at PRASAT HIN PHAMON WAN, a temple of Hindu origin dating from the ninth century.

Nowadays, it is a sandstone structure probably dating back to the 13th- 14th century. After driving about 25 kilometres towards the North-East, we arrive at Ban Prasat, the oldest archaeological site in the area. It gives witness to a three-thousand-year old agricultural civilization, with its earthenware and ceramic vestiges. After the lunch break, we enter the historical National park of PRASAT HIN PIMAI. Besides its beauty, the particular situation of that temple strikes us.

Actually, it is the only Khmer temple of the Angkor period that still stands within its city surroundings. PHIMAI is still alive amidst the town whose pattern has not changed over the centuries.

We drive on as far as KHON KAEN, a young lively town in that area. We put up at the KOSA hotel (or a similar one) then go and have dinner at a typical restaurant in the town to enjoy the traditional tasty Isan cuisine.

DAY 3

A few kilometres off Khon Kaen, we reach Ban Khok Sagna, or The Royal Cobra village. Here, the villagers breed snakes by the hundred. A house without a snake cage can hardly be found. For many years, there has been a lasting tradition of snake taming shows. After that stage, we drive Northwards. We'll go past Udon, then Nong Khai, near the Lao border.

Before crossing over, we stop at the odd Sala Kaew Ku sculpture park. Visitors are shown numerous cement carvings representing countless Hindu and Buddhist gods and goddesses. The tallest one is 25 metres high and represents a sitting Buddha. After that visit, we go through the Thai and Lao passport and custom control, which takes more or less time, according to the crowd. Having completed the formalities, we still have about 20 kilometres to cover before reaching the capital of Lao. We settle in a superb charming hotel, The Green Park Boutique hotel (or a similar one).

We'll have dinner at a typical restaurant of the capital, followed by a walk touring "Vientiane by night".

DAY 4

The day is devoted to the visit of the town. You can choose either to walk or ride a bicycle around the town to discover it more easily. We start from Patuxai (the Vientiane gate) from which we can enjoy a beautiful view over the city. Then we go down the large Lan Xang Avenue, as far as the big Vientiane market. Now, we head towards the That Dam Stupa (one of the oldest in Vientiane), before reaching the Lao bank of the river Mekong, then the Presidential Palace, a large mansion originally built to accommodate the French colonial governor.

Opposite the palace stands "Vat Si Saket", with its very ancient Buddha. A little further on, we enter the 16th century royal temple called "Haw Pha Kaew", nowadays turned into the National Museum. We end up our day by gazing at the sun setting over the Mekong.

After dinner, taken at the traditional restaurant Khua Lao, we spend the night at the Green Park Boutique hotel ( or a similar one)..

DAY 5

The road that leads first to the "Nam Ngum" reservoir is interesting in many ways. A short halt in Ban Lai enables us to admire wickerwork, pottery ware and other local every day life items. Then, at kilometre 52, we pace up and down the important market that attracts the ethnic minorities of the area, imparting that gathering with deep local colour. Last, we stop a few minutes at the salt mine.

We eat an unforgettable lunch, cruising on the large "Nam Ngum" lake scattered with picturesque islets. Indeed, we are sailing on a huge man-made lake, where the highest mountain tops of the former valley have been turned into forest-covered little islands.

After that riparian episode, we drive on as far as Vangvien. This is a large borough built along the banks of the river "Nam Song", skirted by limestone cliffs endowing that landscape with stunning beauty. We have dinner and spend the night at the "Namsong hotel", a small 3* hotel, erected in a magic site on the river side.

DAY 6

Vanvieng-Phounsavan stage.
On our way, we stop at Phoukhoun to stroll a few minutes around the Hmong market. With a bit of luck, we may have the opportunity of attending an animist ceremony of dispossession in one of the houses in the Hmong village. We drive on to Phounsavan, onto a large tableland one thousand metres high.

The landscape is completely different, the vegetation has become sparse and many pine-tree woods have appeared. The villages, made up of more elaborated wooden houses show a standard of life superior to the one in the other parts of the country. We have dinner by the fire-place and spend the night at the Phoupadeng Hotel. (3*).

DAY 7

We take our walk about at the local Phounsavan market, then we carry on to admire the craftwork of the area: the carving of scented wood. Our appetites might be whetted by coming across bakers (often Vietnamese) still making bread like in the old days, and also delicious Asian noodles. In the afternoon, we visit some villages producing the "Little Chick rice", (a special grain grown on that high plateau ), an orchid farm and finally the famous mysterious "Plain of the Jars". Those huge vessels, carved out of stone of unknown origin are made up of about a dozen groups. They are probably two thousand years old, at least, but it has been impossible to date them accurately. Many local legends are told about them.

We end up the day by visiting the Mouagkhoun district, the former chief town of the province. Dinner is taken in the city, and the night spent at the Phoupadeng Hotel.

DAY 8

During the whole day, we drive along winding mountain roads to reach Luang Prabang. We discover exceptional landscapes. In those remote lands, we drive through many ethnic minority villages. We stop several times to sneak between the houses and meet those friendly welcoming people, still very surprised to see strange visitors coming from elsewhere.

Whereas the Lao migrants from the lowlands had had rather settle along the river plains in the Central and Southern parts of the country, those mountaineers from Tibet or South-Western China have more naturally found here land better suited to their traditional agricultural and animal breeding ways. We have lunch at the Phoukhoun crossroads, and we arrive at Luang Prabang in the afternoon. We put up at the superb Villa Maly hotel (4 *) or one alike. We have dinner in town.

DAY 9

Luang Prabang is surrounded by mountains and stands 700 metres high. The town has been built where the river Nam Khan flows into the majestic Mekong. It makes up a peninsula with Mount Phu Si on its centre. Most temples stand between that mount and the River Mekong. The first Lao kingdom was born here in 1353, but this capital bore its present day name only two centuries later. The town has been registered on the World Heritage record by UNESCO in 1995. That promotion has made it possible to upkeep the site and emphasizes its traditional architecture.

We start the visit of that splendid town with the Royal Palace. Its Museum provides an excellent introduction to the history of the country. That dwelling was built in 1904, at the beginning of the French colonization and was the king's residence.

Inside, several rooms follow one another, first the reception hall, then the throne hall, the music instrument showroom etc.At the Northern spot of the peninsula, we discover the most gorgeous temple in the town: Vat Xienthong, erected from 1560 onwards. The roof of the ordination hall (the Sim), built in the strictest Luang Prabang style, comes down to the ground. The wooden pillars inside are delicately decorated. If you are very fond of temples, we'll take you to the oldest one in Luang Prabang, Vat Visunarat, built in 1513, renovated in 1896. To give the look of wood, the renovators have used a technique from India, seldom used in Lao architecture.

Then we'll go and have a rest near the Tak Kouang Si waterfall, where we'll enjoy a delicious outdoor lunch. On our way back to Luang Prabang, we stop at Ban Phanom, a weaver's village.

We have dinner in town and sleep at the Villa Maly hotel.

DAY 10

Free morning while waiting for the transfer to the airport for the flight back to Bangkok.

DAY 10

Cruise on the Mekong.

In the morning, we board the boat to sail up the river Mekong as far as Pak Ou, and its striking site. We gaze at some wonderful landscapes and lush vegetation. The cruise goes on, sailing past some villages. We have a glance at Thaxuang, a pretty creek where elephants are sometimes busy loading teak. Lunch is served aboard. We arrive at Pakbeng in the late afternoon, put up at the Pakbeng Lodge, stroll around the village and dine at the hotel.

DAY 11

Cruise on the Mekong (continued and completed).

After breakfast, the cruise continues on the Mekong, along its wildest part, where we can watch scenes of traditional fishing, with dugouts, nets, bamboo lobster pots and, when the water is low, gold-seekers on the sand beds. Lunch is served on board the boat.

In the middle of the afternoon, we arrive at Houay Xay. We have a short walk around the town before going through the police and customs control, and crossing the river in a pirogue to enter Thailand at Chiangkhong. A minibus drives us to Chiangrai. We settle at the hotel and have dinner in town.

DAY 12

Transfer to Chiangrai airport for the domestic flight Chiangrai-Bangkok.

DAY 10: LUANGPRABANG- KAMU VILLAGE
In the early morning we leave to go towards the Kamu Lodge. We board the boat to sail up the river Mekong till the Kamu Village and its striking site. We gaze at some wonderful landscapes and lush vegetation.
Before having lunch we will stop and visit the Pak Ou caves. We then continue our boat journey by discovering some villages that belong to the HMONG ethnic group. We will arrive in Kamu Lodge by the end of the afternoon.
After having settled at the hotel we will take a walk in the Kamu village and dine at the hotel.

DAY 11: Relaxing day in Kamou Lodge.
If you wish you will be able to join the village inhabitants and participate to their activities (fishing, agricultural activities …).
We can also propose to you a jungle trek in the mountains.
You live your day among the village inhabitants who will welcome you in the warmest possible way.
This symbiosis between the Kamu Lodge and the Kamu village is a great example of success of a long lasting help to a village thanks to its tourism activity, an activity that respect the culture of its inhabitants and the overall environment.
Diner and night at the hotel.

DAY 12 : Return to Luang Prabang
Departure in the early morning by boat to Luang Prabang.
The end of morning will be free while we will wait to be transferred to the airport for our flight back to Bangkok.