12 DAYS | 11 NIGHTS
Northern Laos is an invitation to let go. Between the karst mountains, bamboo forests, crystal-clear rivers, and preserved ethnic minority villages, this region exudes a rare serenity. This 12-day tour takes travelers to the heart of authentic northern Laos: Luang Prabang as a cultural anchor, then heading up to Nong Khiaw, Muang Ngoi, Oudomxay, and Phonsali.
The Tour’s Guiding Thread
Luang Prabang — 3 days to grasp its soul
The historic capital of the Lane Xang kingdom, Luang Prabang blends Buddhism, French colonial architecture, and an incomparably gentle Lao daily life. Alms giving ceremony at dawn, visit to the Royal Palace, Mekong cruise at sunset.
Nong Khiaw and the Nam Ou Valley
Three hours from Luang Prabang, Nong Khiaw is surrounded by spectacular limestone cliffs. It is one of the most photogenic landscapes in Laos. Asia Safari selects charming riverside accommodations here.
Muang Ngoi — the timeless village
Accessible only by boat (30 minutes from Nong Khiaw), Muang Ngoi is a village without cars or major roads, where time seems to stand still. Villagers live from agriculture, fishing, and discreet ecotourism.
Phonsali and the Ethnic Groups of the Far North
On the Chinese border, Phonsali is one of the most authentic destinations in Laos. The Akha, Lahu, and Phu Noi ethnic groups live here in villages perched on ridges. A traveler’s privilege.
Your questions about this tour
Is Phonsali difficult to access?
Phonsali is accessible by domestic flight or by road from Oudomxay (3-4 hours). The road is beautiful but sometimes winding. Asia Safari organizes the best mode of transport depending on the season.
Is this tour suitable for non-athletic travelers?
Yes. Travel is mainly by vehicle and boat. Some village visits involve 30 to 60 minutes of walking on slightly uneven terrain.
What is the best season for this tour?
November to February: mild temperatures, clear skies, passable roads. Avoid July-August (monsoon, difficult access in the Far North).
Is it possible to extend the trip to China?
Phonsali is on the Sino-Lao border. Asia Safari can arrange passage to Yunnan (China) for travelers with a Chinese visa.
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TRIP
Luang Prabang, its temples, markets, local crafts
Sunset on Mount Phousi
Themed day on rice production
The Pak Ou Caves
Mekong and Nam Ou River cruises
Treks and discovery of ethnic villages in Northern Laos
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The adventure starts here!
Stopover: Luang Prabang
Welcome by your local guide.
Check-in at your hotel on the Luang Prabang peninsula, at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers.
At the end of the day, a short orientation tour of this former royal capital of Laos aboard your “vintage” 4×4. Welcome surprise before leaving you to your free evening. Dinner at leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stage: Luang Prabang
Breakfast
This beautiful day begins at dawn: the monks leave their temple and walk through the city to collect offerings from villagers. A colorful and silent spectacle not to be missed!
With a private guide, a customizable visit to the main religious buildings: Wat Aham and Wat Visoun, the oldest in the city, the watermelon-shaped Tat Mak Mo, the charismatic Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Phraphoutthabat, the monastery of the Buddha’s Footprint, and many more – the city has over thirty! Lunch at leisure in a local restaurant.
Sunset from Mount Phousi. On your way down, stop at the night market located at the foot of the stairs, an opportunity to bring back artisan treasures. Dinner at leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stopover: Luang Prabang, Kuang Si Falls
Breakfast, Lunch
A day dedicated to rice, the staple food in Laos. Its production will hold no more secrets for you: grain selection, sowing, transplanting seedlings… right up to harvest. At each stage, you will learn to use the strength of a dear friend to every farmer: the water buffalo, an indispensable partner in the absence of modern tools.
After this fun moment, you will be invited to enjoy a picnic served at the foot of the magnificent Kuang Si waterfalls. A short hike is possible to discover the terraced cascades.
Return in the late afternoon. Dinner at leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stopover: Pakbeng, Pak Ou Caves
Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, early morning transfer and embarkation to discover the Pak Ou caves carved into the cliff. A sacred site, for centuries Laotians have deposited thousands of Buddha relics there. Lunch served on the boat deck; you will be invited to discover a village whose specialty is the preparation of lao-lao, a rice alcohol prepared by an ethnic minority. Shortly before sunset, disembark in Pakbeng, a major trading hub where cargo boats to or from Vientiane, Thailand, Burma, or China cross paths. Check-in at your hotel on the Mekong riverbank with breathtaking views of the coming and going of boats and the elephants’ morning bath. Dinner at leisure and overnight at the hotel.
Stage: Nam Kat Yorla Pa
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From Pakbeng, you will reach Oudomxay province, making numerous stops along the way. This region, in the heart of northern Laos, is rich in mountain landscapes populated by many ethnic minorities.
In Oudomxay, Chinese and Vietnamese vendors mingle with numerous villagers who come to stock up. About thirty kilometers later, you will reach Nam Kat Yorla Pa, an eco-lodge on the banks of the Nam Kat River on the edge of a protected forest, where you are expected for lunch. Settle into your villa facing the river.
A digestive walk in nature (2 to 3 hours of hiking) will allow you a first contact with this region of rice fields and forests. Dinner and overnight at the resort.
Stage: Nam Kat Yorla Pa
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, set off on foot from the resort towards the Nam Kat waterfall: the trail crosses the protected forest of Phou Hipho and a series of suspension bridges above the canopy. Picnic and refreshing swim at the foot of the falls before heading back. Late afternoon at leisure to enjoy the spa or the pool. Candlelit dinner on the banks of the Nam Kat River, under the stars of a beautiful Asian sky. Overnight at the resort.
Stage: Nam Kat Yorla Pa
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A long day dedicated to meeting minorities. From village to village, you will reach the entrance to Phouhipi National Park. Over 17km, Khamu and Hmong villages follow one another amidst the mountains with numerous panoramic viewpoints.
These isolated villages are worth the effort: in the last village of Ban Houa Nam Bak, the most valiant hikers will appreciate climbing to the Nam Pung waterfall.
A picnic lunch prepared by the resort will be served in a landscape of large rocks that emerge like fortresses in the middle of the forest. The effort is rewarded with a breathtaking view.
Return at the end of the day. Don’t miss relaxing at the resort’s spa. Dinner and overnight at the resort.
Stage: Nong Khiaw
Breakfast, Lunch
Muang Khua: embark on your private boat. This descent of the Nam Ou to Nong Khiaw is the most beautiful river descent in the region! Along your watery route, many villages and magnificent landscapes, including beautiful karst formations seemingly emerging from the water. Picnic lunch along the river.
In the late afternoon, disembark in Nong Khiaw, renowned for its natural caves carved into the rock formations, a refuge for local populations during the bombings of the Vietnam War. Dinner at leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stage: Nong Khiaw
Breakfast, Lunch
Aboard your boat, you will resume the course of the Nam Ou before reaching, on foot, the Hundred Waterfalls, beautiful cascades discovered in 2008. During the next few hours, you will see only water and jungle and be lulled by the sound of clear waterfalls, invited to plunge into the natural pools. Your guide will tell you about the villagers’ lives and will be your host for a locally prepared lunch.
In a traditional dugout canoe, you will return to Nong Khiaw, observing the lives of the inhabitants unfolding before your eyes. Dinner at leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stage: Luang Prabang
Breakfast
After a 3-hour drive, you will reach Luang Prabang.
Check-in at your hotel and lunch at leisure.
An ancient capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site for 10 years, this city is a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures. Surprise awaits at every street corner: pastel houses, sumptuous temples where many monks live, small shops on the banks of the two rivers that bathe the city. Dinner at leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stage: Luang Prabang
Breakfast
Free day in Luang Prabang. You will have time to stroll through the streets lined with beautifully restored colonial villas, ride a tuk-tuk or rent a bicycle, or enter the realm of zen: meditation, massage, monks’ prayers, and rest! Meals at leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Stage: Luang Prabang
Breakfast
Free day. Drop-off at Luang Prabang airport.
Our selection of Hotels
Included
Included- Accommodation in a room for 2 people
- For each participant not sharing a room, add the individual supplement
- All meals mentioned (breakfast and/or lunch and/or dinner)
- All transfers mentioned, in private cars or air-conditioned minibuses
- All excursions mentioned in the program
- All entrance fees to sites
- The service of local guides for the different stages, English-speaking guides available on request
- The guide: our quotation includes the salaries and travel expenses of a guide residing in Luang Prabang. If Luang Prabang guides are not available, we bring guides from Vientiane. This incurs an additional cost which will be communicated to you if applicable.
Excluded
- Domestic and international flights
- Drinks during meals and personal expenses
- Services not mentioned above
- Meals not mentioned above
- Bank or exchange fees related to payment for the trip
- Laotian visa fees (30 to 50 USD/person plus one passport photo). As a precaution, plan for 50 USD/person plus two passport photos)
- Your passport must be valid for 6 months after the exit date from the country
- Cancellation / assistance / repatriation and luggage insurance
- Tips
Personalized follow-up
- A local tour manager accompanies you throughout your trip. They are able to answer all your questions and meet your expectations.
- Each file is subject to personalized follow-up. We are in frequent contact with the client, from their arrival until their departure.
- We are constantly at their disposal. A detailed questionnaire is given to each participant.
- We carefully study this feedback.
- We are regularly in the field to check the reliability of our partners.
- We are constantly seeking new tourism-related developments.
- We only employ experienced guides.
Important
- The hotels, services, and flights offered are subject to availability at the time of booking.
- Domestic or international flight schedules may be delayed or changed without prior notice
- Prices guaranteed upon confirmation of the trip and payment of a 30% deposit.
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Why choose Asia Safari for your trip to Laos?
With Asia Safari, you plan your tailor-made trip directly with a local English-speaking team. Our agency has been based in Vientiane since 2002. Its founder, Jean-Paul Duvergé, has worked in Laos since 2000. Our guides are Lao, our accommodations are hand-picked, and each itinerary is tailor-made. The result: a vibrant, fair trip, without unnecessary frills.
- Local English-speaking agency: we speak your language and know the country from the inside
- Zero intermediaries: you deal directly with the local team
- Truly tailor-made: no fixed catalog — each trip is unique
- Since 2002, Asia Safari has been creating tailor-made journeys in Laos, drawing on the experience its founder has gained in the country since 2000.
How does our tailor-made service work?
1. You send us your request (dates, budget, desires, profile)
2. We send you an initial response within 24 working hours, followed by a detailed proposal within 48 working hours of receiving the necessary information: your itinerary, accommodation and a quote specifying the services included.
3. We refine the proposal together, adjusting the itinerary, accommodation and activities to suit your expectations and budget.
4. We coordinate the services included in your itinerary on the ground: guides, transport, accommodation and activities.
When to visit Laos?
From November to February, the weather is generally drier and temperatures are milder. March and April are often hotter. The rainy season, from May to October, brings lush green landscapes; we adapt the itinerary and transport to local conditions.
Laos, the heart of your Indochina tour
Laos is often the surprise of a trip: uncrowded, authentic, with a quiet beauty. Asia Safari makes Laos much more than a stopover — we make it the central experience of your stay, before or after Vietnam, Cambodia, or Thailand.
Our travel ideas for Laos and neighbouring countries
Laos + Cambodia: from the temples of Luang Prabang to Angkor, shape a journey combining cultural heritage and Mekong scenery. A visit to Tonlé Sap can complement the itinerary, depending on your interests and the time available.
Laos + Vietnam: Two contrasting countries — the calm of Laos and the energy of Vietnam. From Hanoi to Vientiane or vice versa.
Northern Laos + Yunnan: from the landscapes of Yunnan to the mountains of northern Laos, the Laos–China railway can connect some of the stops on your journey. We plan the route with you, in either direction.
Grand Indochina Tour (40 days): Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand — a memorable trip for life.
Tips for preparing your multi-country tour
Visas: each country has its own rules — Asia Safari guides you through all procedures.
Duration: we adapt the number of stops to the time you have available. For a trip combining two countries, we consider the regions you want to explore, travel between destinations and your preferred pace.
Seasons: seasons vary by country — we help you choose the best window.
Budget: the cost of a multi-country trip depends on its length, the season, the number of travellers, accommodation and transport between destinations. We prepare a personalised quote specifying the services included and any expenses to budget for separately.
Our Story
Jean-Paul Duvergé has worked in Laos since 2000. In 2002, he founded Asia Safari in Vientiane to design tailor-made trips in Laos and Indochina. Today, the agency’s French-Lao team plans each itinerary with its travellers and coordinates arrangements on the ground with its local guides and partners.
What sets us apart
A team on the ground: based in Vientiane, we plan your trip using our knowledge of Laos and information from our local partners. We take the seasons, travel conditions and accommodation into account when designing your itinerary.
We speak your language: our team supports you in English, from planning your trip to assistance during your stay. English-speaking guided visits are arranged according to your itinerary.
Direct contact with our team: you speak with the people who plan your trip and coordinate its organisation on the ground. Your quote specifies the price of your trip and the services included.
Tailor-made journeys: our suggested itineraries are starting points. We adapt the destinations, pace, accommodation and activities to your dates, wishes and budget.
Our commitment
We give preference to local accommodation providers and partners. When visiting villages, we take care to respect residents and their customs. Our approach also aims to help preserve the cultural and natural sites that make Laos special.
Laos in figures
Laos covers 236,800 km² and had a population of around 7.9 million in 2025. Its capital is Vientiane, its official language is Lao and its currency is the Lao kip (LAK). Theravada Buddhism is the main religion. The country is in the UTC+7 time zone.
Laos must-sees
Luang Prabang: Former royal capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site, its golden temples, French colonial houses, and gentle way of life make it an undeniable favorite.
Vientiane: The human-sized capital — That Luang, Patuxai, and the banks of the Mekong are worth a visit.
Vang Vieng: Surrounded by limestone karsts, ideal for kayaking, caving, and hiking.
Southern Laos and 4000 Islands: Champassak, the Vat Phou temples (UNESCO), the Bolaven Plateau, and the Mekong islands.
Lao culture
Theravada Buddhism has an important place in Laos, alongside a variety of cultural traditions. In Luang Prabang, the monks’ morning alms round is a religious ritual to observe with discretion and respect. Boun Pi Mai, Lao New Year in April, and Boun Ok Phansa, which marks the end of the Buddhist rains retreat, are among the events that shape the year.
Nature and biodiversity
The forests and protected areas of Laos are home to a variety of wildlife, including Asian elephants, gibbons and sun bears. Rivers, mountains and plateaus offer many opportunities to explore nature.
