9 Days Classic Thailand and Laos Tour

Flight: International flight on your own arrangement or upon request

Welcome to Chiang Mai! Upon arrival, your guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel for check-in.

The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Meals: B

Today, you will tour the beautiful temples in Chiang Mai.

Start with the Buddhist temple of Wat Umong, nestled in the forested foothills of Suthep Mountain. Then visit Wat Suan Dok built in the 14th century, a white bell-shaped temple housing a 20-foot (6-meter) Buddha. See the large prayer hall and the unique open-sided chapel.

In the afternoon, visit Wat Phra Singh which houses the famous Phra Singh Buddha image. Continue on to Wat Chedi Luang which once contained the Emerald Buddha and later became partially in ruins due to an earthquake in the 1500s.

Then stop at Wat Chiang Man which is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai and houses one of Thailand's greatest treasures, the Crystal Buddha. Finally, visit Wat Jet Yot, a peaceful temple that is surrounded by greenery.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Meals: B

Today, tour the elephant rescue and rehabilitation center - Elephant Nature Park, involving in the rescues of the disabled elephants, dogs and cats.

You can volunteer and care for the animals. Take your time to wander freely on the grounds and get close to these gentle giants. You get the opportunity to feed them and learn how to bathe them.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Meals: B

Today, you will transfer to Chiang Rai, taking around 3 and a half hours.

En route, visit Meow Hill Tribe Village that locates on Doi Suthep. It was once famous for opium cultivation. Then head to visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, where you can get a panoramic view of Chiang Mai City. The site is also one of the best places to enjoy a sunset.

Upon arrival in Chiang Rai, visit the White Temple, officially known as Wat Rong Khun, which mixes traditional Buddhist temple architecture with pop culture references. After that, check in the hotel and enjoy your free time.

Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Meals: B

Today, head to the Golden Triangle region to have a full day excursion.

Start the morning by Long Neck Karen Village to see the long neck hill tribe people who relocated from the Thai and Myanmar border. If time permits, you can watch cockfighting near the hill tribe village. Then drive to Mt. Doi Mae Salong to visit the Chinese village on the top of the mountain.

After lunch, continue the trip to the highest peak on the Thai-Myanmar border, Doi Tung. Here you can overlook the entire northern rice field plain and visit Doi Tung Temple that was built in A.D.1493. The scenery here may remind you of Switzerland.

After that, drive back to your hotel and enjoy your free time.

Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Meals:B / L / D

Depart from your hotel in early morning and transfer to the Thai-Laos border. After go through the border, you will board the Luang Say boat for the 2 days Mekong River Cruise from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang.

The Luang Say boat leaves Huay Xai pier at 9.30am (please be at Luang Say Houei Sai office not later than at 8.30) for a cruise down the Mekong River to Pakbeng. En route, one stop is made to observe rural life along the Mekong and observe minorities. A buffet lunch is served on board. We arrive in Pakbeng before sunset and check in at the Luang Say Lodge. Dinner on the terrace, overlooking the Mekong River.

Overnight on the Cruise.

Meals: B

You will enjoy a full breakfast at the Lodge from 7.00am. (Optional: walk to Pakbeng market, where people from the surrounding village of minorities sell their goods, please ask at Luang Say lodge).

At 8.00am board the boat for the second leg of the cruise. A short stop is made to visit a hilltribe village where you can watch the traditional process of Lao whiskey production before having a buffet lunch on board.

Continue to Pak Ou village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River, where you visit the Tam Thing Caves of a Thousand Buddhas. Arrive at Luang Prabang around 16:00p.m or 17:00p.m.

Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, you will be welcomed by your private local guide from Indochinatour.com then escort you to your hotel in Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Brabang.

Meals: B

Your memorable trip will start from partaking in an alms ritual in the morning, you will accept the blessing by monks who you give the alms. Have breakfast in the hotel and then, visit the Royal Palace Museum to learn some history of Laos. Continue to you will embark on a private boat for a 2 hours boat trip along the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Cave. During the boat trip, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery along the Mekong River and see the daily fishing life of local people in the riverside.

Then, go to visit the Pak Ou Cave which locates by the Mekong River. Here, you will discover a number of gold lacquered Buddha statues in the cave.

After that, you can have an excursion to Kuang Si Waterfalls, where you will enjoy the beautiful natural scenery, have fun in waterfalls and relax.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Flight: International flight on your own arrangement or upon request

Meals: B

In the morning, you will visit the Royal Palace Museum (closed on Tuesday), which hosts a range of interesting artifacts; See the city's oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground and representing classical Laotian architecture; Visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham.

Finally, you will transfer to the airport. Hope you have a nice trip home and look forward to traveling with you again!

Service End.