Manifa Elephant Camp , Sang Ha

Enjoy a private or shared group boat tour to the Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Waterfalls departing from Luang Prabang. You will be picked up at your accommodation and travel straight to the pier. Hop onboard a long tail boat for a relaxing journey aong the Mekong River. Enjoy the views from the water as you pass by local villages and fishing communities. After the first hour and a bit, the boat makes its first short stop at the popular Ban Xang Hai, also known as ‘the whiskey village’. Explore the village, see the process of making Lao Lao, the country’s beloved rice whiskey, and taste the finished product. Continue by boat traveling slowly along the Mekong in the direction of the glorious Pak Ou Caves. Arrive at a small boat landing dock where stairs lead you straight up to the cave. These limestone Buddhist caves have been a place of worship for thousands of years, over this time a collection of Buddha statues and idols have filled these spiritual natural caves Enter the Ou River to visit the limestone cliffs. Then, after a 30-minute boat ride down the Mekong River, arrive at Manifa Elephant Camp for lunch. Enjoy a full buffet-style lunch at the restaurant overlooking the Mekong river and free-roaming elephants. After lunch break, travel by car to the Kuang Si Waterfalls. Enjoy 2 hours of free time to explore the three-layered Kuang Si Waterfalls. Walk the trails of the nature reserve and swim in the refreshing turquoise water pools and visit the bear rescue center. Depart for Luang Prabang, with a short stop at Ban Na Uan Hmong village on the way. Return to the city with drop-off at your hotel.

Explore Luang Prabang with a knowledgable local guide. Visit various highlights to discover why Luang Prabang is considered one of the most facinating place in Asia. There are 3 tour options available: Half-Day City Tour, Half-Day City Tour + Kuang Si Falls, and Full-Day City Tour, all of which allow you to add on the extra activities of joining the early morning alms-giving ceremony and exploring the morning market by choosing the 6am starting option. Customization of private tour destinations is available upon request and consultation in advance (1) Half Day city tour (2) Full day city tour, Morning city tour + Afternoon tour: Paper village, UXO Center, Wat Visoun, Wat Mai (3) Morning city tour, afternoon Kuang Si Waterfalls, Hmong village The 6 AM tour option begins with hotel pickup and an opportunity to join locals in participating a centuries-old traditional daily almsgiving ritual, followed by a visit to the morning market. Return to your hotel for breakfast and a rest before resuming your tour with a second pickup. After breakfast in your hotel, make your way to a small park on the peninsula tip. Get a brief introduction to Luang Prabang, standing where the Nam Khan River meets the Mekong River. From there, walk to Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Laos. Learn about the typical architecture of Luang Prabang temples with their characteristic low sweeping roofs. Join local pilgrims for a glimpse into the daily Buddhist beliefs of the people. Then, go temple hopping in the neighborhood. Continue to the Royal Palace to see a collection of historical items. Every item tells a story, so listen as your guide tells you about Lao history and royals. Admire a mix of traditional Lao motifs and French Beaux-Arts architecture. The morning tour ends with everyone climbing Mount Phousi and enjoying panoramic views of Luang Prabang from the top. If you would like the tour to continue for one day with us, we offer 3 options; (2) After free time for lunch in the city, visit the paper village of Ban Xang Khong on the Mekong River. Learn about the history of war at the UXO Lao Visitor Center, visit Wat Wisunarat, the oldest temple, as well as Wat Mai, the largest temple in Luang Prabang (3) After free time for lunch in the city, visit Kuang Si Waterfalls. 2.5 hours of free time. Visit a Hmong village on the way back to Luang Prabang.

Start with a convenient pickup from your accommodation in Luang Prabang, relax in a comfortable van as you travel through scenic countryside to Ban Xang Hai, where you begin your 14-kilometer bike journey along the Nam Ou and Mekong Rivers to the Nam Ou Bridge. Ride through lush, scenic countryside on a well-maintained Trek Merlin 7 mountain bike. A truck will accompany you along the way, so you can cycle with peace of mind. Two-thirds of the route is unpaved and flat except for a 100-meter climb up and down. Admire rice fields, charming villages, and colorful temples along the way. Stop at villages, rice paddies, a primary school (weekdays only), and a market for a glimpse into local life. After your bike ride, you can shower, change, and refuel with a delicious buffet lunch at Manifa Elephant Camp before heading back to Luang Prabang. After lunch, you can choose to extend your tour and add on an afternoon activity. This includes kayaking on the Nam Ou and Mekong rivers (visiting the Buddha caves of Pak Ou) and a 1.5-hour sunset cruise back to Luang Prabang.