Laos Express

 

Luang Prabang	Maison Souvannaphoum	3 nights
Vientiane	Settha Palace	2 nights

Click on the name of the hotel for details.

 

8 days from £790

excluding international flights

 

The perfect introduction to one of the forgotten gems of South East Asia

 

DAY 1 - Depart from UK.

DAY 2 - Arrive Luang Prabang.

On arrival in Luang Prabang you will be met outside customs by a representative of World Discovery and taken by private car direct to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Recommended flight from London: Thai International Airways from London Heathrow, connecting with the Bangkok Airways flight to Luang Prabang (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

DAY 3 - Luang Prabang.

Surrounded by thickly forested mountains and situated at the confluence of the Khan and Mekong rivers, Luang Prabang has a tranquil, old-world charm rarely found in Asia today, and has been awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO.  After breakfast your guide will collect you and take you on a tour of this beautiful town. Highlights will include Wat Phu Sii, reached via 350 steps for a panoramic view over Luang Prabang, Wat Mai built in 1796, and the beautiful Wat Xieng Thong or 'Golden City Monastery'. Continue to the National Museum, once a king's palace, which has a lovely collection of personal effects of the royal family. The afternoon is free to explore on your own.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 4 - Luang Prabang. Pak Ou Caves.

After breakfast take a riverboat trip with your guide on the mighty Mekong River to visit the sacred Pak Ou Buddha Caves. These caves have been home to thousands of Buddha images that were placed here by local people since the 16th century, when King Setthathirat discovered the caves and declared them a holy spot. Today many still pay respect to this ancient tradition. Walk through the caves before returning to your boat and to Luang Prabang, enjoying lunch en route. Then visit the village of Ban Phanom, where weaving of Lao textiles takes place on traditional wooden looms. The rest of the day is free in Luang Prabang.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 5 - Kuang Sii Waterfall. Fly to Vientiane.

There is the option of an early rise (at about 6am) to watch or even participate in the traditional Lao rite of almsgiving to the monks. More than 300 monks file through the town silently collecting alms. This is an amazing sight and your guide will be on hand to demonstrate and explain this important ritual. Return to your hotel for breakfast. This morning you will travel by car to the Kuang Sii Waterfall, where the waters cascade over many calcified tiers and down hundreds of feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. The water here has a clear blue-green tint due to the high mineral content. You can climb the stairs and look down from various viewpoints on the way to the top. Enjoy a local lunch before returning to your hotel in the afternoon to check out and drive to the airport for the short flight to Vientiane, capital city of Laos. You will be met and taken to your hotel in Vientiane.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 6 - Vientiane.

Vientiane is a low-rise city located on a bend of the Mekong River and is markedly more quaint and easygoing than South East Asia's other busy capitals. First stop this morning is the Wat Sisaket with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Other sites you will see include the huge golden That Luang monument (pictured) and the adjacent Victory Monument modelled on Paris's Arc de Triomphe. Also visit Wat Simuang and Wat Prakeo, wjhich was the original home of the Emerald Buddha that today resides in the Royal Palace of Bangkok. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before returning to your hotel. The afternoon is at leisure.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 7 - Vientiane.  Depart for UK.

At leisure in Vientiane.  In the evening transfer to the airport for the flight with Thai Airways International to Bangkok to connect with your homeward flight just after midnight.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 8 - Arrive UK.

Arrive London Heathrow in the morning.

International and connecting flights.

There are no direct flights to Laos from the UK. We recommend the services of Thai Airways International to Bangkok, connecting with the Bangkok Airways service to Luang Prabang. On return fly from Vientiane to Bangkok and onwards to London by Thai Airways International. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Bangkok. Depart at 11.50; arrive Bangkok at 06.10 (next morning)
Bangkok/Luang Prabang. Depart at 09.15; arrive Luang Prabang at 11.15
Vientiane/Bangkok. Depart at 21.50; arrive Bangkok at 22.55
Bangkok/Heathrow. Depart at 01.15; arrive Heathrow at 06.20 (same day)

Laos Holidays: Laos Express (Tour Reference: WDLA001)
2012 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Daily departures	Price
Jan to Mar	£950
Apr to Sep	£790
Oct to Dec	£995

Single Room Supplement on request.

The price includes:

• Scheduled domestic flight within Laos from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, including airport taxes.
• Hotel and lodge accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded or double rooms with private facilities.
• 5 full breakfasts and 3 lunches as shown in the itinerary.
• Private transportation and sightseeing as shown, including entrance fees.
• The services of private guides for all included sightseeing.

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping.
• Cost of the Lao visa.  This can be obtained on arrival at Luang Prabang International Airport.  Current cost is US$30, subject to change.

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your Laos holiday must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.