Land Of Thousand Island - Land OF Million Elephants

Welcome to Hanoi!

You will be warmly greeted by your guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel for check-in. A Cyclo Tour in the Old Quarter to visit Ngoc Son temple, the lake of Restored Swords and a stop at Quan Thanh Taoist Temple located by the West Lake will start your trip. Join a unique show of Water Puppetry in the evening. Dinner and overnight in Hanoi.

Morning visit Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh Complex with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh House, One-Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature and the Fine Arts Museum. After lunch we will drive overland to Halong Bay, a World Heritage with thousands of limestone and dolomite island and islets. Stop on the way to visit the Ceramic town at Dong Trieu. Check-in a boat in Halong and enjoy the sunset on the sea. Dinner with fresh seafood and overnight on board.

We will cruise the splendid Bay today to enjoy its breathtaking seascape created by rocky islands and emerald calm water, with stopovers to visit the grottoes inside islands and swimming. Kayak will be available upon request if you prefer exercises. A Lunch of fresh seafood will be arranged again on board. Afternoon back to Hanoi and have leisure time in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

A hundred kilometers driving south of Hanoi will lead you to Ninh Binh, the site of the one capital city of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its leading role in 11th century. The area is featured by lots of well-known sceneries, which include Tam Coc Caves and Hoa Lu ancient capital with the old temples dedicated to King Dinh & King Le reigned in 10th century. Our visit in Ninh Binh starts by a boat trip in Tam Coc, where spectacular limestone karsts jut out from the green paddy fields reminding about Guilin (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the name “Halong-bay-on-land”. From Tam Coc, take our bicycles thru villages and paddyfields to the site that used to be the kings’ palace in 10th century and now famous for the wooden relieves of the shady Dinh and Le temples. Back to Hanoi late afternoon. Overnight in Hanoi.

Take the morning flight to Vientiane, the peaceful capital of Laos. Welcomed at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane and visit the city, inclusive of Wat Sisaket  with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues, Wat Prakeo, Wat Simuang, Pha That Luang stupa and Vientiane’s own “Arc de Triomphe” - the Patouxai Monument. Dinner and overnight in Vientiane.

Start early in Vientiane and drive northward to the former royal capital of Laos, Luang Prabang. The road is very winding and challenging, but it offers you a good chance to enjoy daily life of warm-hearted Laotian people. Lunch en route. Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, we will visit the most ancient Buddhist temples like Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Sen, Wat Visun and Mount Phousi with panoramic views over the city should not be missed. Dinner and overnight in Luang Prabang.

If you wish to see a tradition of the most religious Buddhists, let’s wake up early and see queues of monks in orange robes walking for morning alms, and hundreds of Buddhists waiting for them every conner of the city, with alms of rice and traditional foods. This respectful ceremony is a routine of Laos and should not be missed if you wish to understand unusual kindness of the Laotians, who are maintaining Luang Prabang as the “best preserved ancient city in Southeast Asia” as designated by UNESCO. After breakfast at the hotel, we will take a boat upstream on the mighty Mekong River to visit the mysterious cave of Pak-Ou, located at the side of the steep cliff on the bank of the Mekong River housing thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues are crammed into the two caves, carved out of a towering limestone cliff. They range in size from a few centimetres to the size of a human. Picnic lunch at a bamboo cottage by the river bank. Go on to visit local rice-wine distillery and Ban Phanom weaving village, where traditional Lao textiles are woven on ancient wooden looms. Return to hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

This is a full day trip combining a rafting tour out of town with some sightseeing and an exciting elephant ride to/from Tad Sae Waterfall (or alternative route in dry season). After pick-up you from your hotel (around 08.30, 09.00) we will proceed to the Adventure and Elephant camp located 15 km out of town in the middle of unspoiled, natural green surroundings. After crossing a small river, we will be introduced to our Asian Elephants and venture about one hour – one hour and a half in a very scenic journey through thick forests, plantations, and fields. This activity will provide us with a breathtaking and unique experience as we make our way through the forests and along the Nam Khan River up to the waterfalls of Tad Sae (in dry season, we will ride on a village trail instead). After visiting the waterfall, lunch will be served before a relaxing 30-minute rafting tour along the river, back to the resort. We will return to Luang Prabang by sunset. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

At leisure in the morning till our guide come to take you to the airport for for your departure flight.