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Vientiane, Luang Prabang Experience
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| Trip
Id: |
TLPQ0363
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| Destination: |
Luang Prabang, Laos |
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| Activity: |
Arts & Culture, Hill tribe visit, Historic sites / Temple visits |
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| Price: |
start from $423 per person
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| Duration: |
4 Days / 3 Nights |
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| When? |
TODAY - 30 Sep 2008 |
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Experience the mystique of Laotian culture at Vientiene. Get the feel of the architectural remnants of the French at Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang Guide, More Tours in Luang Prabang.
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| Tour Rates: |
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Period |
Single |
Double |
Triple |
| Standard Package - A
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24 May 2008 - 30 Sep 2008
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660 |
423 |
- NA - |
| Superior Package - B
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24 May 2008 - 30 Sep 2008
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706 |
445 |
- NA - |
| Deluxe Package - C
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24 May 2008 - 30 Sep 2008
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853 |
516 |
- NA - |
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| Rates
include 7%
VAT tax and 10% hotel service
charge. Major credit cards
accepted. No
extra charge, no minimum |
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Note:
Booking should be made at least
7
days in advance.
The Triple rates are based on a twin sharing room with an extra bed for the third person.
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| Itinerary |
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| Standard Package - A | Operate: Daily |
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Day 1: Arrive at Vientiane (Meals: no)
Arrive at Vientiane Airport, meet and transfer to hotel.
PM: Visit to PHA THAT LUANG - a symbol of both the Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty. Then proceed to PATUXAI - a large monument in the style of the Arc de Triumph in Paris, HO PHA KEO - the former royal temple of the Lao monarchy and now converted into a museum, WAT SI SAKET contains more than 2,000 silver and ceramic Buddha images. Followed by visit to WAT SI MUANG - a temple most popularly used as it acts as the home of Vientiane’s guardian spirits. The last stop is TALAAT SAO - a Morning Market but also open all day – selling a wide range of fabrics, jewelry and electronic goods.
Overnight at hotel in Vientiane
Day 2: Vientiane – Luang Prabang (Meals: B)
Breakfast in the hotel
Transfer from hotel to Vientiane Airport for flight Laos Airlines (QV) to Luang Prabang
Depart by domestic flight to Luang Prabang
Arrive at Luang Prabang Airport, meet with the guide and transfer from airport to hotel
Afternoon city tour, visit former royal temples, WAT VISOUN, where one can see the large ancient Buddha statue and many wooden and bronze Buddha images collected from the ruin of temples in the north of Laos. Proceed to visit the MUSEUM (former king's palace) then walk up to the top of PHOUSI HILL for an exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River.
Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang
Day 3: Luang Prabang (Meals: B, L)
Breakfast in the hotel
OPTION: Early depart to participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black alms bowls receiving, offerings from the local people.
Depart to enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city's oldest temple of WAT XIENG THONG with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represent the classical architecture of Luang Prabang temple.
Embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as in PAK OU CAVES, packed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. On the way, stop at the village of BAN XANG HAI, where local rice wine is produced and BAN CHAN, the pottery village where you will see the old way of making and drying the pot in the traditional kilns. On return if time permit, visit BAN XANGKHONG, BAN XIENG LEK, VILLAGES OF Sar paper hand making and textile weaving.
Lunch served at a local restaurant en route
Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang
Day 4: Luang Prabang (Meals: B)
Breakfast in the hotel
Visit the National museum, the former royal palace then proceed to WAT MAI with its five tiered roof and exquisite carved veranda.
Transfer to the airport and departure.
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Show Full Itinerary |
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| Superior Package - B | Operate: Daily |
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| Deluxe Package - C | Operate: Daily |
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| Notes |
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- Prices include:
* 3 night accommodation at hotel in Luang Prabang and Vientiane
* Domestic air ticket from Vientiane to Luang Prabang by Lao Airlines at USD 76 per ticket (subject to change without prior notice and to be reconfirmed).
* Tours and transfers as mentioned in the program by private air-conditioned car / minivan
* Meal plan as mentioned in the program
* English-speaking guide
* All entrance fees for sightseeing and visits
* Traditional boat fare from Luang Prabang to Pak Ou
* Domestic airport tax in Laos
Price excludes:
* International air ticket to/from Lao PDR.
* Departure airport tax in Luang Prabang at USD 10.00 per person (subject to change)
* VISA entry to Lao PDR
* Personal expenses
* Expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs and laundry etc.
* Other services not mentioned in the program
The standard package - A includes accommodation at Royal Dokmaideng, Beau Rivage Mekong or similar in Vientiane and Mouang Luang or Parasol Blance Hotel in Luang Prabang.
The superior package - B includes accommodation at Lao Plaza Hotel or similar in Vientiane and Phousi Hotel or similar in Luang Prabang.
The deluxe package - C includes accommodation at Settha Palace Hotel or similar in Vientiane and Villa Santi Hotel or Resort or similar in Luang Prabang.
25 Dec - 2 Jan & 12 - 17 April
Peak season surcharge due to New Year and Song Kran Festival - to be advised upon booking.
Please note that a Laos visa is required to enter Luang Prabang and other provinces in Laos. We suggest you apply for the Laos visa in your country (if available) or at the Laos consulate in Bangkok before arrival.
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| About the
Package |
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Laos is a strange place. It is a sleepy and curiously pleasant country with inhabitants among the friendliest people on earth. But it wasn't always so. Bordering Thailand across the Mekhong River in the west, Myanmar and China in the north, Vietnam to the east, and Cambodia to the south, it is a miracle this former French colony wasn't carved up as spoils to the ambitions of its powerful neighbours long ago. But it has survived somehow, in spite of having the dubious distinction of being the most bombed country per capita in history during U.S. carpet bombings of the Vietnam War.
City of Diversity
Today, Vientiane is a peaceful city of multi-cultural influences, most evident in its architecture: Lao temples, French colonial mansions, Sino-Vietnamese shophouses and Soviet-style administrative offices. Southeast Asia’s recent development has been slower here, so there are few tall buildings and little traffic, but hotels and foreign restaurants are multiplying as the communist government opens up to visitors.
Stupas and Sculptures
Vientiane’s majestic Pha That Luang is a 16th century gilded stupa surrounded first by a wall of 30 smaller stupas (also gilded), and then by a defensive cloister. This is actually the result of two restorations since the Siamese sacked Vientiane in 1828. The Bangkok-style Wat Si Saket (1818) is the city’s oldest temple, containing 2,000 small and 300 larger Buddha images, mostly from the 16th to 19th centuries. The Lao monarchy used to worship at Haw Pha Kaew, now a museum. Said to have once held the Emerald Buddha (now in Bangkok), it contains some of Laos’ finest and oldest Buddhist sculptures. The Patuxai monument, the Lao version of the Arc de Triomphe, commemorates pre-Revolutionary war heroes: climb the inner stairs for a view of the city and its avenues. 24 km south of Vientiane, Wat Xieng Khuan is really a park containing huge and unusual Buddhist and Hindu sculptures from the 1950s.
Second City
When Fa Ngum founded the Lan Xang kingdom in 1353, he named his capital Muang Sawa. Later, when he received a Sri Lankan Buddha image (Phra Bang) from the Khmers, he renamed the capital Luang Phrabang. Vientiane became the new capital in 1545. Now, as Laos’ second biggest city, Luang Phrabang remains a sleepy town still awaiting modernity. The ethnic mix is Laos, Mien, Hmong and various other Thai tribes. The architecture is assorted, with northern Laos temples and French colonial buildings standing among humbler private dwellings: mountains surround the area, giving an isolated feel.
Temple Finery
Interesting temples: The classic Wat Xieng Thong (1560) is the city’s finest temple. It features some unique Buddha effigies and a beautiful tree of life mosaic. Stunning gold relief adorns the doors of Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham (1797). Wat Wisunalat (1513) is Luang Phrabang’s oldest, continually used temple. Burned by Chinese Ho bandits in 1887, it was rebuilt in 1898.The main stupa of Wat That Luang (1818) holds the ashes of King Sisavang Vong. Local lore dates the site to the 3rd century BC.
River Attractions
Outside Luang Phrabang: Pak Ou Caves on the Mekong River are a 25-km boat ride away and contain hundreds of Buddha statues. 29 km south of the city are Kuang Si Falls, where water cascades from several tiers into the green pools below. This is a public recreation area.
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