Southern Laos & Luang Prabang Explorer 

Waterfalls, Unspoiled Wilderness, Monks, and Monasteries on This Spiritual Journey Through Southern Laos and Luang Prabang 

Landlocked and rippled with spellbinding karst mountains, Laos can’t be described as a hidden gem, and yet, it receives far fewer visitors than neighbors Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. If you’re ready to step into a crowd-free world of off-the-beaten-path travel that flows at the languid pace of the Mekong River, Laos waits to embrace you. We curated this journey to bring you into its wildest and most enchanting pockets. You’ll experience the superlatives (waterfalls and wat temples), but we’ve also imbued the trip with spirituality that reflects Laos’ benevolent Buddhist heart.  

Start your one-week itinerary in the southern reaches, in the unspoiled forested highlands of the Bolavan Plateau. You might feel miles away from anywhere, but there are harbingers of those who have come before you; Indochine influences are tasted in the region’s coffee plantations, and crumbling ruins nod to an entire Khmer Empire. You’ll walk Laos’ wild side, chasing waterfalls and cruising a river archipelago by day, then imbibe horizon-swallowing Mekong sunrises.  

Moving to the river-carved mountainous north, arrive in Luang Prabang, “Jewel of the Mekong.” Once you’ve been charmed by the city’s Indochine architecture, lean into the mystic. The spiritual heart of Laos, we will bring you to a remote, Buddha-filled cave, invite you into a blessing ritual, and introduce you to monks in a way that feels authentic and fulfilling. You’ll depart with a sense of plenitude that Laos’ slow travel and gentle nature embodies.  

Southern Laos & Luang Prabang Explorer: 7 days/6 nights

Southern Laos & Luang Prabang Explorer Trip Highlights

Begin your seven-day Luxury Laos travel adventure in the southern Champasak Province. Your guide awaits you upon arrival at Pakse Airport. The fun starts immediately. Hop in a Jeep to crisscross the backroads of the Bolaven Plateau. You’ll stop off to meet Mr. Khamsone at his highland coffee plantation. After a demonstration and a piping-hot brew, retreat to a secluded waterfall. Bring your swimsuit for a refreshing dip in the gin-clear waters and a picnic lunch. Check in for the night at Sabaidee Valley Resort.  
Spend another splendid day exploring the wild and scenic Bolaven Plateau. Traverse the Lao countryside to reach Paksong, visiting the local market if open. Next, navigate to the spectacular Tad Fane waterfalls. Cradled within a jungle-carpeted gorge, a set of twin cascades tumble a jaw-dropping 650 feet in a scene that feels lifted from Jurassic Park. After lunch, journey back in time at the Wat Phou temple complex—a crumbling but majestic Khmer ruin that actually predates Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. End the day near, arrive at The River Resort Champasak which will be your home base for two nights. 
Dedicate a full day adventuring in 4,000 Islands, a tranquil collection of islands, sand bars, and channels that braid this section of the Mekong River. On the way to the boat pier, stop at Khonephapheng Waterfall. Known as the "Niagara of the Mekong," the falls are one of the most impressive in Southeast Asia. Following a scenic 25-minute cruise, arrive at Don Khone Island for a half-day guided bike ride through rice paddies and villages, visiting historic vestiges of French colonization and scenic waterfalls. Enjoy lunch in a village. Close out the day with a sunset Mekong Cruise. With a perspiring local beer in hand, watch fishermen cast in silhouette as the heavy sun drops behind the highland horizon.  
After a relaxed morning, drive to Pakse for an afternoon flight to Luang Prabang. Along the way, stop at a hilltop sacred site called Vat Phou Salao where a larger-than-life golden Buddha overlooks the city. In Luang Prabang, a guide welcomes your arrival and drives you to the centrally located Sofitel Luang Prabang. You’re just a short ride from restaurant-lined streets and the Mekong riverbank. Take an early dinner at leisure, keeping in mind you’ll be up early the next morning for a special ritual.  
Rise at daybreak to watch queues of barefoot, saffron-robed monks as they weave single-file through the city streets, collecting rice (alms). It’s a sacred, time-honored ritual in Laos and we’ll situate you in a spot far from the tourist crowds where you can offer alms in a way that feels genuine. Nip into the morning market to see shoppers perusing the day’s produce and then ascend the 328 steps that lead to Phousi Mountain to view Luang Prabang in wide screen. After breakfast, you’ll wander the river town’s charming streets with a guide, stopping for anything that piques your curiosity. Visit 500-year-old Wat Xieng Thong, an exquisite temple that exemplifies Luang Prabang architecture. Later, board a private boat for a lunchtime cruise up the Mekong to a mystic cave filled with some 3,000 Buddha figures. You won’t rush the return ride to town. Instead, visit river villages to sample Lao specialties including whisky and riverweed snacks, and learn about artisan handicrafts like silk weaving and Sa paper production.  
Your next day is dedicated to hidden Luang Prabang. Alongside a local guide, you’ll experience the town like a local, starting with a steaming cup of Laotian coffee in a hidden side street. Visit lesser-frequented temples (Wat Pak Khan, for example, with its elaborate red and gold columns—to name just one), and the scenic confluence of the Nam Khan and Nam Kong Rivers. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before a special invitation to a private baci ceremony. (An ethnic Lao ritual — “a calling to the soul” — honoring visitors with tidings of good fortune.) Afterward, at a temple rarely visited by foreigners, meet monks who will teach you the fundamentals of meditation. Chanting closes out this unique cultural exchange (join in, if you feel called to) that ends Luxury Laos on a spiritual high note. 
Depart Luang Prabang for your international flight home, or the next leg of your Southeast Asia travel adventure. 

Price

Starting at $3,700 per person sharing in 2025

Southern Laos & Luang Prabang Explorer On a Map