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9 Days Land of a Million Elephants Tour Package Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights Priced From: $2,117 (All pricing reflects per-person Land Only expenses) Dates: Nov, Dec, Jan, Mar, Nov, Dec 
We peruse stalls brimming with trinkets and souvenirs as we wander the colourful markets of Luang Prabang, also known as the Land of a Million Elephants, and witness the local weaver's craftsmanship with their internationally renowned embroidered cloth. Climbing atop the hill in the centre of the city,we are able to enjoy a better view of the layout of the colonial-era architecture. While in Laos, we can experience the ancient wonders of the Pak Ou Caves with their many Buddha images or count the number of artifacts along the Plain of Jars. The awe-inspiring scenery of this country is beyond the scope of traditional beauty; every scenic photograph taken might be worthy enough to decorate a postcard. Memories made here will last a lifetime. Tour Itinerary Day 1 Arrival Arrive in Bangkok, Thailand. PLEASE NOTE: The hotels indicated in this itinerary reflect our preferred properties in each location. We list these hotels primarily to provide a general sense of overall standard; the final hotel list (which supersedes this itinerary) is not 100% confirmed until approximately 30-45 days prior to departure. We reserve the right to make substitutions of a similar standard if necessary. Overnight in Bangkok. Bangkok A-One Hotel (for one-night stays); TBA for 2-night stays. Dinner if required. Day 2 Bangkok, Thailand - Luang Prabang, Laos Today we fly to Luang Prabang, a World Heritage Site. In the 14th century, this city was established as the royal capital by Fa Ngoum, the first monarch of Lan Xang, the Land of a Million Elephants. By this time, the city had already been the seat of local kingdoms for 600 years. According to legend, the site of the town was chosen by two resident hermits and was originally known as Xieng Thong--Copper Tree City. We have an orientation of this charming town, with its one main street lined with colonial era buildings housing shops and cafes. We have a chance to explore the town on foot and to climb to the top of Phu Si Hill. Looking directly downwards you can see that the former royal palace has a cruciform ground plan. We finish at Ban Phanom, a 300 year old weaving village is where shawls and sarongs are made from silk and cotton. The people in this area were originally from South China and were traditionally the King's weavers, soldiers and palace servants. The inhabitants make sarongs (pha sin) with dragon motifs (lai naak), and shawls (pha biang) which are often dyed an indigo colour using a natural dye extract from the plant Indigofera tinctoria. Some of the cloth woven in the village is embroidered with delicate silver and gold thread. Girls are taught from a very young age the skills which have been handed down from their forebears in Xishuangbanna District in China's Yunnan Province. NOTE: The order of our sightseeing in Luang Prabang may vary depending on flight schedules that are subject to change. Overnight in Luang Prabang. La Parasol Blanc or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 3 Luang Prabang Area An early departure today takes to the Mekong River for a boat journey to visit the Pak Ou Caves. The boat is long and quite large, covered, with comfortable seat cushions, life jackets and a WC. The Pak Ou Caves are two clefts in the side of a mountain stuffed with thousands of old Buddha images. The site has long been sacred for the Lao, even prior to Buddhism, when they worshipped spirits. The lower cave has over 4,000 images, ranging from 3 inches to 9 feet tall, stuck into nooks and crannies. The upper cave's Buddha images are placed far back into the cliff, so it's handy to have a flashlight. A real highlight of a trip to the caves is the breathtaking view of the mountains, villages, and fishermen during the 2-hour boat ride. We return to Luang Prabang and visit the Royal Palace, a museum containing a collection of 15th-17th century Buddha statues including the significant Golden Buddha. The last member of the Lao royalty to live here was Sisavang Vong's son, Crown Prince Sisavang Vatthana. The private chapel is one of the most interesting wings of the palace. Here you will see the priceless gold Phra Bang Buddha in Abhayamudra (dispelling fear). It is made from 90% pure gold and is said to weigh 50 kg (110 lb). We finish with a tour of the 16th-century Wat Xieng Thong with its richly decorated wooden interior. Wat Mai is another old temple of classic Luang Prabang design with gracefully curved roofs. We see many 400 year old wooden Buddha statues at Wat Wisunalat. Overnight in Luang Prabang. La Parasol Blanc or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 4 Luang Prabang - Xieng Khouang (Plain of Jars) Today we travel by road to Xieng Khouang and the Plain of Jars.* *NOTE: We may be able to cover this distance by air; HOWEVER, the local air carrier, Lao Aviation, is notoriously unreliable regarding changing air schedules and cancellations. The journey to Xieng Khouang is a highly scenic but rather long one, as is the journey onward to Vientiene (we stop in Vang Vieng to break up the trip). Nonetheless, we are confident that despite the possible discomfort, you will find the Plain of Jars and Vang Vieng worthwhile. Overnight in Xieng Khouang. Phou Chanh Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 5 The Plain of Jars In the 18th and at the beginning of the 19th century, Xieng Khouang was the center of a kingdom of the Hmong (Meo). In 1832, it was conquered by the Vietnamese, annexing the entire region. The town of Xieng Khouang was totally destroyed during the Vietnam War. Even though it has been rebuilt in 1975, the name Xieng Khouang is now primarily used in reference to the province of the same name. The highlight of our visit here is the Plain of Jars. Scattered over the plain are hundreds of enormous clay jars, each about 1 to 2.5 metres high, with a diameter of about 1 meter. There is still no explanation as to how the clay jars found their way onto the plain, nor what purpose they served. Archaeologists have come up with the wildest theories, among them a claim declaring them brewery cauldrons. More likely, the jars are enormous urns. Many jars were destroyed or damaged during the Vietnam War, when American planes bombed positions of the communist Pathet Lao. Overnight in Xieng Khouang. Phou Chanh Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 6 Xieng Khouang - Vang Vieng Today we travel by road to Vang Vieng, a small village nestled in a scenic bend in the Nam Song River and surrounded by breathtaking limestone scenery. This is rapidly becoming Laos's premier destination for eco-tourism. The outcrops have inspired many Lao legends and stories in Lao literature and are known as Phou Suan Mon Nang Eua, meaning Silk Tree Garden Mountains of the Princess. The area also contains an extensive network of caves some of which are outlets for underground streams. Overnight in Vang Vieng. Vansana Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 7 Vang Vieng - Viangchan Today we travel by road to Viangchan (Vientiene), the capital of Laos. Overnight in Viangchan. Lao Hotel Plaza or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 8 Viangchan, Laos - Bangkok, Thailand Today we fly from Viangchan to Bangkok. NOTE: Our flight to Bangkok usually takes place in the afternoon, though air schedules can change without notice. Time permitting in Viangchan we will visit the morning market and allow 30-45 minutes here for shopping and absorbing the local colour. We will then drive to Pha That Luang, the most important Stupa in the city/country, followed by a stop at Haw Pha Kaew, a temple now serving as a museum of religious artifacts. Overnight in Bangkok. Breakfast and dinner. Day 9 Departure Departure from Bangkok. Breakfast. BON VOYAGE!! Save time, money and stress! For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our Laos vacation specialist. Contact : Travelwizard.com Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252 12/09 |
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