12 Days / 11 Nights — Northern Laos Trekking & Mekong Slow Boat

Wander the ancient town visiting Wat Wisunarat, Wat That Luang, and Wat Xieng Thong, one of only two temples spared by the Black Flag army in 1887. Pay visits to Wat Mai and the former Royal Palace before climbing Mount Phousi for a sunset view over the city.

Witness the Tak Bat alms-giving ceremony before sunrise. Following the ceremony, spend the morning at Kuang Si, visiting the Bear Rescue Centre and the multi-tiered turquoise pools of Kuang Si Waterfall. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the tranquil park.

Visit the Living Land Farm for a hands-on half-day rice farming experience, with lunch at the farm's Rice House. Drive 3 hours to Nong Khiaw on the Nam Ou River. Check in, then walk over a bridge and begin the trek up Pha Daeng Peak (approx. 2 hours to the summit).

Enjoy breakfast overlooking the river, then trek and kayak to the isolated fishing village of Muang Ngoy along the Nam Ou River. Ride a traditional boat upstream for 45 minutes, stop at the Khmu village of Ban Sopko Nh, then trek to the limestone Tad Mok Waterfall for a picnic lunch and swim. Continue by kayak through easy rapids back to Nong Khiaw.

Drive through the countryside to Luang Namtha on a six-to-seven hour journey with spectacular landscape views. The mountains of Oudomxay Province are home to ethnic groups including the Akha, Khmu, Lao Huay and Hmong, many still following traditional lifestyles. Arrive in Luang Namtha in the late afternoon for a short orientation tour.

Transfer to the morning market to gather fresh supplies before driving to the trailhead in Nam Ha National Protected Area. Trek across hills and dense primary rainforest, stopping for an authentic Lao-style jungle picnic lunch cooked in bamboo. Continue through lush forest to reach the Nalan Village of the Khmu people, where you stay overnight, free to explore the village, swim in the Nam Ha River, and enjoy dinner by candlelight.

After basic kayaking/rafting instruction, paddle down the river through the first rapids, passing villagers fishing. Visit the Khmu tribe at Nalan Tai Village for a picnic lunch, then continue to the picturesque Nam Koy Village of the Lantan people to learn about natural dying and bamboo paper making. Row the mighty Nam Tha River for more rapids before a drive back to Luang Namtha.

Drive from Luang Namtha to Huay Xai through beautiful mountain vistas, stopping at local villages of interest. Explore Kao Rao Cave, an extensive limestone cave system with old stalactites encrusted in crystal deposits. Huay Xai, capital of Bokeo Province, is a popular entry point to Laos from northern Thailand.

Begin the two-day private slow boat cruise "downriver" to Luang Prabang, settling for the night in Pak Beng. Observe local life along the Mekong River, with lunch served on the boat. Arrive at Luang Say Lodge, set high on the riverbank, before sunset.

Explore Pak Beng's morning market before departing on the next part of the cruise. Halt at Ban Baw Village to observe traditional rice-alcohol ("lao lao") processing, with lunch served aboard. In the afternoon, stop at the famous Pak Ou Caves, housing over 2,500 Buddha statues. Arrive in Luang Prabang by sunset.

Free at leisure to relax at your hotel or explore the local area independently, before transferring to the airport for your onward flight.