Luang Prabang

Arrive in Luang Prabang, Laos, and feel the city’s calm rhythm and warm hospitality from the outset. Check in to Luang Say Residence, a refined hotel with a philanthropic focus, supporting the Luang Prabang Orphanage School (LPOS). Through Pack for a Purpose, you may choose to bring and donate useful supplies that directly benefit the local community. Spend the morning exploring the old town’s temples and riverside lanes, or relaxing at the hotel. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, sampling traditional Laotian dishes. This evening, visit the Garavek Theatre for storytelling, music, and folklore, then dine locally.

Luang Prabang

Rise early to join the almsgiving ceremony, then enjoy a traditional breakfast of sticky rice and other rice dishes from local markets and street vendors. Spend the day cycling or walking through Luang Prabang, passing scenic rice fields and rice paddies that reflect the region’s agricultural heritage. Visit temples and connect with the city’s spiritual heritage before heading to Kuang Si Waterfalls. Explore the Free the Bears centre, Buffalo Dairy Farm and Butterfly Park for insight into local conservation efforts, and observe local life in nearby villages. End with sunset on Mount Phousi or a Mekong river cruise—two memorable perspectives on this UNESCO World Heritage city.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Luang Prabang

Discover Lao traditions at Ock Pop Tok and join a Silk Road seminar exploring the country’s textile heritage, with hands-on work using ancient techniques and natural dyes. Later, take a short boat trip to Phad Tad Ke Botanical Gardens, highlighting Laos’ flora and ethnobotany. Continue towards Muang Sing, located near the border with China and a cultural crossroads in Northern Laos, travelling through several provinces with changing landscapes. In the town centre, visit Big Brother Mouse for language exchange sessions that support youth literacy. If time allows, meet local villagers in nearby hill tribe villages, including Hmong communities, or opt for a homestay for deeper cultural immersion.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang

Begin with a visit to The Luang Prabang Orphanage School (LPOS) to see the impact of Pack for a Purpose contributions. Continue to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre for a meaningful introduction to Laos’ ethnic diversity, traditional crafts, and the historical kingdoms that shaped the region’s heritage. The exhibits offer insight into daily life, customs, and textile traditions across different communities. In the afternoon, visit the MandaLao Elephant Sanctuary, an ethical refuge for elephants rescued from labour. Learn how elephants remain integral to local life and understand the bond between local people and these gentle giants, with respectful encounters in a natural habitat setting.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Muang Hiam

Drive to Muang Hiam, a town in the far north region of Laos, serving as the gateway to the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park, which is located near the borders with neighboring countries. Once a land of wild tigers, Muang Hiem is now a hub for eco-tourism and conservation. Discover the town’s history, the local market and the stunning natural surroundings, with trekking routes that reveal the region’s waterfalls and landscapes. Overnight in a simple guesthouse, preparing for the adventures to come in the national park.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park

Rise early for a full day in Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park, where immersive experiences connect you to one of Laos’ most important protected areas. Meet your guide at the visitor centre, then tour a nearby village to interact with villagers and learn about traditional lifestyles. Hear how local residents—including former poachers—have become forest guardians supporting conservation efforts. Spend the day hiking scenic trails, rafting the river, and observing diverse bird life, then take a boat ride deeper into the national park. Settle into a simple bamboo-hut bungalow; tour fees support the ecotourism fund for communities and conservation. After dark, join a night safari: a silent river drift seeking deer, civets, wild cats, bears, and more.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Plain of Jars

Start the day with wildlife by the river, breakfast with the local sambar deer at Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park. The day continues with a wildlife monitoring activity, contributing to conservation efforts and the local ecotourism development fund. In the afternoon, visit Tham Phiew Cave, a wartime memorial site that played a significant role during the civil war and witnessed intense fighting. Then head to Phonsavanh in Xieng Khuang province. Overnight at Auberge de la Plain des Jarres and prepare for the Plain of Jars, set amidst rolling mountains that define the region's dramatic landscape.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Plain of Jars

Plain of Jars

Dive into the heart of Laos’ archaeological wonder, the Plain of Jars, a vast landscape of hundreds of ancient megalithic jars, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region is surrounded by nearby cities that showcase colonial heritage and cultural charm. We spent time exploring the Plain of Jars, immersing ourselves in its history and unique landscape. This journey through time is contrasted with a visit to the UXO Information Centre, where you’ll learn about the lasting impacts of unexploded ordnance from America’s Secret War on Laos, especially on local children and their communities. The day ends with an ascent up Phou Keng Mountain, stone jars in hidden tunnels and caves, remnants of wartime resilience.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Luang Prabang

Drive back to Luang Prabang, heading south and breaking the journey with a stop at Phou Phiengfa Mountain, which is located along the route for panoramic views of the Laotian countryside. This drive is a time for reflection, to soak in the beauty of the countryside, a contrast to the historical complexities of the previous days.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Luang Prabang

LUANG PRABANG - DEPARTURE

As the sun rises over Luang Prabang, your journey through Laos’ cultural, historical and natural heritage comes to an end. From the wildlife encounters in the national park to the insights into the country’s past, this expedition has woven together adventure and enlightenment. The independence you experienced—traveling at your own pace and exploring with flexibility—has allowed for a truly self-guided adventure. After breakfast, you’ll be escorted to the airport, with memories and stories of a land that has seen centuries of change.

Meals Included: Breakfast