Romantisc Luang Prabang

Welcome to the colorful capital of Laos. Luang Prabang is a vibrant city that will captivate you after just a few hours. At the airport you will be greeted by your tour guide, who will then take you to your first hotel.

On the 15-minute drive there, enjoy the first beautiful views of the passing landscapes and gain exciting impressions that will surely leave you wanting more.

In the late afternoon, your first curiosity will also be satisfied during a short orientation tour. One of the first sights is Mount Phousi, the 328 steps of which you will climb. The somewhat arduous path will be worth it, however, because at the top you have an incomparably beautiful view of the city and the surrounding landscape. Especially when the setting sun bathes the surrounding mountains and the rivers Mekong and Nam Khan in golden light, the view is a unique experience.

Afterwards you will drive back to your hotel, but on the way you can stop at the night market of the hill tribes and buy your first souvenirs.

Overnight at Kiridara Hotel, deluxe room.

After breakfast, start the day well fortified, because today many exciting sights and excursions await you. You will be picked up by the tour guide and brought to the e-bike station by a traditional tuk tuk.

After a short introduction to the new vehicle, your sustainable discovery tour through Luang Prabang will start. These e-bikes are an emission-free transportation option and leave it up to you to decide whether you want to pedal yourself or use the batteries of the rechargeable motor.

The city tour begins at the former magnificent Royal Palace, which now serves as the National Museum. Here you can learn about the history of Laos and how the country has developed.

From here you can walk to Wat Mai, a temple known for its unique golden bas-relief. Wat Sensoukarahm, with its beautiful glittering facade that stands out from afar, is also an interesting stop on the tour. You will find countless temples in Luang Prabang, but you want to get to know the most revered temple of the city? Then on to your last stop: Wat Xieng Thong. At the end of the peninsula, near the Mekong River, this temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat and decorated with fine carvings and mosaics.

Thanks to the e-bikes, you will then reach the Traditional Art & Ethnology Center, dedicated to the many ethnic minorities in Laos. What you will find here? Traditional costumes, tools and artifacts with detailed descriptions and stories that will give you exciting insights into the development of these minorities (closed on Mondays). Take this opportunity to gain an interesting insight into the lives of the Lao people. Afterwards, return to the e-bike station.

In the afternoon, after an exciting morning and noon, some relaxation is on the agenda. Enjoy a romantic and relaxing time at L'Hibiscus Spa, where you will receive a hot spa welcome drink upon arrival. Sit back and relax with a 30-minute foot massage for two on a private balcony. The foot massage was just a taste of things to come, as you'll then receive a 90-minute aromatherapy massage in a private room. During this massage you can escape from everyday life with hot wraps, hot stones and hot oil and just enjoy. After the massage, the path will lead you to the balcony where you can watch the sunset while tasting the exquisite L'Hibiscus sorbet.

The romantic mood will also carry through your evening as you are served a romantic dinner for two at Luang Prabang's finest French restaurant, L'Elephant.

Overnight at Kiridara Hotel, deluxe room with breakfast and dinner.

Did you sleep well after the relaxing day yesterday? Then strengthen yourself at breakfast before your tour guide picks you up from the hotel and takes you to the jetty for your boat trip on the Mekong River. Have you charged your camera for the many incredible attractions awaiting you today? Then board the boat and cruise through one of Laos' many waterways, traditionally considered local transportation routes.

Observe life on the riverbanks as you gently glide over the water and relax to enjoy the new insights. Have you spotted the numerous fishermen on the banks of the river? How they cast their nets with elegant arm movements and how their life is determined by the water? For the villages along the river, the Mekong plays an important role in the everyday life of the inhabitants and is usually the only transport and trade route.

After two hours of travel upstream, you will reach Pak Ou Caves, located at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers. The locals like to call them Tam Ting. As you look up, you will see the caves perched high in the exciting limestone cliffs and home to thousands of gold-painted Buddhas. The Buddhas vary in size, ranging from a few inches to the lifelike size of a human. As a destination for pilgrimages, the caves are especially busy during the Lao New Year festival in April.

After visiting the caves, you will reboard the ship and head back to Luang Prabang. On the way, you will again have the opportunity to look over the different villages, which could not be more different. For example, the village of Ban Yang Hay specializes in the production of traditional rice wine.

Would you like to immerse yourself even more in Laotian life? Then discover the secret of tasty Lao cuisine in the late afternoon during a cooking lesson in one of the most renowned restaurants in Luang Prabang: Tamarind. The chef will show you how to prepare an authentic Lao dish so that you can make it yourself afterwards. You liked it so much that you would love to cook everything again at home, but you couldn't remember everything? Don't worry, because at the end of this course you will receive a cookbook so you can impress everyone at home with your new cooking skills. Of course, you can also taste your home cooked dishes.

Overnight at Kiridara Hotel, deluxe room with breakfast and dinner.

What will not be difficult for early risers, we can only warmly recommend to late risers: Set your alarm clock early enough this morning to leave at 5:30 a.m. for a very special event. The orange-clad monks collect their donations at this early hour every day and you should not miss this tradition either. At sunrise, the monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot through the streets to accept food donations from Luang Prabang residents. This beautiful, quiet ceremony highlights the spirituality of the people of Laos and provides a unique atmosphere. Afterwards, you will take a tuk tuk back to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, it's also straight on, as you will be picked up by the tour guide and taken by a short transfer, about 32 kilometers outside the city, to the Kuang Si waterfalls. On the way there, you will again get to know the different facets of the landscape, which is characterized by rice fields, hills and small villages. You will make stops at viewing platforms that will give you a beautiful view over the Mekong River.

You will also stop at a village that is home to one of the many ethnic minorities in the region. On this occasion, you will learn more about the traditions and culture, the majority of which have remained unchanged over the centuries.

When you reach the Kuang Si waterfalls, be sure to take in the beautiful natural surroundings. Take in the view of the jungle and dense forests that surround the waterfalls. If the jungle makes you curious to see more, explore the nearby area on foot. For those who are a bit more adventurous, the steep path that takes you to the top of the falls is recommended. Amazing views await you from up here, showing this region from a different perspective.

Rushing, the water masses of the waterfalls fall over several levels of a limestone formation into the depths. In the pool, they turn the water turquoise, which will also entice you to take a cooling dip on this hot day (If you do bathe, please be respectful. Wear a sarong and be careful not to show too much skin).

Before you go any further, we can recommend the nearby bear care center. Founded by the Free The Bears Fund Inc, 23 Asiatic black bears currently live at the site, protecting them from poachers. Unfortunately, the main threat to the bears here is poaching, as the use of their bladder remains popular in Chinese medicine. During a visit, you can learn a lot about the bears' habits and observe their playful nature while learning about the difficulties they face.

At noon, you will enjoy an exceptional lunch in the form of a picnic near the waterfalls where you can enjoy the view. Afterwards, you will return to Luang Prabang where you can spend the rest of the day as you wish.

In the evening, however, you should be back on time to participate in a Baci ceremony, which is performed before important events, such as weddings, births, travel or a visit from friends. The Lao belief is that the body is inhabited by 32 spirits and during the Baci ceremony the spirits that have fled return to the body. For this ceremony, bowls of special flowers and food are prepared for participants to touch. Meanwhile, a Buddhist mantra is spoken and then cotton threads are tied around the wrists for personal blessings and wishes to be spoken - a truly spiritual experience.

Overnight at Kiridara Hotel, deluxe room with breakfast and lunch.

Before you know it, it's time to say goodbye again. The morning is free for shopping or a last sightseeing tour after breakfast.

The tour guide will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the airport in your private car.

(Breakfast)

The Kiridara Hotel is set amidst the beautiful nature of Laos and reflects the image of the landscape inside. With 24 rooms, a Lao spa, outdoor dining options and an infinity pool, this boutique hotel in Luang Prabang is just what you need to relax. A blend of elegance and charm is what makes this hotel so unique. In the 36 m² Deluxe Room, you can enjoy the afternoons relaxing on the balcony or terrace. With warm wooden floors and rustic stone walls, these rooms are an especially comfortable retreat after the exciting days. In the rooms, you'll find free WiFi, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, and an iPod docking station. You'll also find a safe, minibar, and bathrobes and slippers.

Duration of the trip: 5 days / 4 nights

Not included

• International and domestic flights
• Meals and beverages that are not included in the scope of services
• Entrance fees and excursions, which are not mentioned in the scope of service
• Camera/video fees
• Personal expenses like minibar or tips
• Insurance
• Visa