Grand Tour of Laos: Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane & 4,000 Islands — 9 days

From the northern Mekong to the southern islands, between temples and nature. Day-by-day itinerary: Arrival in Luang Prabang; Tak Bat & temples; Kuang Si & Pak Ou; Train to Vang Vieng.

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival in Luang Prabang

13:00 — Arrival in Luang Prabang
14:30 — Hotel check-in — Vieille ville
Walk to the market — Vieille ville → Luang Prabang
17:00 — Night market — Luang Prabang
19:30 — Lao dinner — Luang Prabang

Day 2 — Tak Bat & temples

05:45 — Morning alms-giving to the monks (Tak Bat) — Rue principale
Walk to the temple — Rue principale → Luang Prabang
09:00 — Wat Xieng Thong — Luang Prabang
17:30 — Mount Phousi at sunset — Luang Prabang

Day 3 — Kuang Si & Pak Ou

08:30 — Drive to Kuang Si Falls — Luang Prabang → Kuang Si
09:30 — Kuang Si Falls — Kuang Si
Drive to the Mekong — Kuang Si → Mékong
16:00 — Pak Ou caves by boat — Mékong

Day 4 — Train to Vang Vieng

09:00 — Laos–China high-speed train — Luang Prabang → Vang Vieng
11:00 — Hotel check-in — Vang Vieng
15:00 — Tham Chang cave — Vang Vieng
19:30 — Riverside dinner — Vang Vieng

Day 5 — Vang Vieng outdoors

09:00 — Kayaking on the Nam Song River — Vang Vieng
13:30 — Blue Lagoon & swimming — Vang Vieng
19:30 — Dinner — Vang Vieng

Day 6 — On to Vientiane

09:00 — High-speed train to Vientiane — Vang Vieng → Vientiane
11:00 — Hotel check-in — Vientiane
15:00 — That Luang, the great golden stupa — Vientiane
17:00 — Patuxai victory gate — Vientiane
20:00 — Dinner on the Mekong riverside — Vientiane

Day 7 — Vientiane & flight to Pakse

09:00 — Wat Sisaket & COPE centre — Vientiane
14:00 — Domestic flight to Pakse
16:00 — Drive to Si Phan Don (4,000 Islands) — Pakse → Si Phan Don
19:00 — Bungalow check-in — Don Det ou Don Khon

Day 8 — Si Phan Don

09:00 — Khone Phapheng Falls — Si Phan Don
Over to Don Khon — Si Phan Don → Don Khon
14:00 — Irrawaddy dolphin watching — Don Khon
Boat back to Si Phan Don — Don Khon → Si Phan Don
17:30 — Sunset bike ride around the islands — Si Phan Don

Day 9 — Departure

08:00 — Drive back to Pakse — Si Phan Don → Pakse
13:00 — Flight Pakse → Vientiane then international connection
18:00 — International flight home