#huayxay

[laotravellinkso71]

Explore Laos with Top Tour Packages 2024 – Book Today!

Laos, a land of serene landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and warm hospitality, beckons travelers seeking an authentic Southeast Asian experience. As 2024 unfolds, numerous tour operators have curated exceptional packages to showcase the best of this enchanting country. From the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang to the tranquil waters of the Mekong River, there's a journey tailored for every explorer.

Top Lao Tour Packages for 2024: Best Travel Deals & Must-Visit Spots

1. Classic Laos Exploration (5 Days)

For those with limited time, the 5-Day Classic Laos Tour offers a concise yet immersive experience. This itinerary includes visits to Luang Prabang's ancient temples, a cruise along the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Caves, and a trip to the stunning Kuang Si Waterfalls. Travelers will also have the opportunity to engage with local communities and experience traditional Lao culture.

sonasia-holiday.com

2. Northern Laos Adventure (10 Days)

Delve deeper into the country's northern regions with a 10-day tour that combines cultural exploration and natural beauty. Highlights include the vibrant city of Luang Prabang, the mysterious Plain of Jars in Xieng Khuang, and the picturesque town of Vang Vieng, known for its limestone karst landscapes and outdoor activities.

travelolaos.com

3. Jewels of Luang Prabang (4 Days)

Ideal for travelers focusing on Luang Prabang, this 4-day package encompasses the city's most iconic sites. Participants will explore ancient temples, cruise to the Pak Ou Caves, relax at the turquoise pools of Kuang Si Waterfalls, and immerse themselves in the local way of life.

legend.travel

4. Off the Beaten Path Laos Tour (7 Days)

For the adventurous at heart, this 7-day itinerary ventures into lesser-known regions of Northern Laos. Starting in Luang Prabang, travelers will journey through scenic express train routes, discover hidden gems in Muong La, and experience local culture in Muong Sing before concluding at the Huayxay border.

legend.travel

5. Southern Laos Exploration (7 Days)

Explore the less-visited southern regions with a 7-day tour that highlights the cultural and natural attractions of Southern Laos. This package offers a comprehensive look into the unique aspects of the south, providing a balanced mix of activities and relaxation.

laostravelpackages.com

6. Cycling Northern Laos (14 Days)

For cycling enthusiasts, this 14-day tour offers an active exploration of Northern Laos. Participants will cycle through lush landscapes, visit hill-tribe villages, and experience the region's natural beauty up close. The journey includes stops in Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, and other notable locations.

sonasia-holiday.com

7. Laos Package from India (7 Days)

Tailored for travelers from India, this 7-day package covers Vientiane, Vang Vieng, and Luang Prabang. The itinerary includes city tours, visits to significant temples, and natural attractions like the Blue Lagoon and Tham Phu Kham Cave. The package offers a blend of cultural insights and leisure activities.

antilogvacations.com

8. Discovering the Best of Laos (6 Days)

This 6-day tour provides a comprehensive overview of Laos's highlights. Starting in Vientiane and ending in Luang Prabang, travelers will explore Vientiane's vibrant culture, enjoy a scenic express train ride to Vang Vieng, and marvel at the stunning Tham Jang Caves. The journey culminates with a visit to the mystical Pak Ou Caves.

legend.travel

9. Cultural Odyssey: Discovering Northern Laos by Train (9 Days)

Experience the cultural richness of Northern Laos with a 9-day tour that combines train journeys and cultural exploration. Highlights include natural wonders like the Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Falls, ancient towns such as Muang La and Muong Sing, and the vibrant city of Vientiane.

legend.travel

10. The Laos Express: Chiang Rai to Vientiane (7 Days)

This 7-day itinerary offers a seamless journey from Chiang Rai in Thailand to Vientiane in Laos. Travelers will explore Northern Laos by train and road, witnessing stunning natural wonders and cultural sites along the way. The tour includes local food experiences and ends in the charming capital city of Vientiane.

legend.travel

Conclusion

Laos presents a myriad of experiences for travelers in 2024, from its historic cities and spiritual sites to its breathtaking natural landscapes. These top Lao tour packages for 2024 cater to diverse interests and offer well-curated itineraries to ensure an unforgettable journey. Whether you're seeking adventure, cultural immersion, or relaxation, there's a package that aligns with your travel aspirations. Embrace the opportunity to explore Laos's timeless beauty and rich traditions by booking your preferred tour today.

[accessdeniedz]

DayThree HuayXai to Muang Xai 285km Manage to enter Laos order with minor glitches. Today will be heading Muang Xai. #laosadv #friendshipbridge #chiangkong #huayxay #muangxai #r1200gsa (at สะพานมิตรภาพ/ຂັວມິດຕະພາບ/Friendship Bridge) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxqYXHZlUVJ2iKirNuAIzCMmdlhAFOdYzQuBMA0/?igshid=1fc23ryyym3nk

[tirsaroundtheworld]

A local artista.

[pfphotostream]

[yooooo1234]

terrassa restaurant huay xai,laos. . . . #terrassarestaurant #terrassa #restaurant #laap #パクチー . . #huayxai #luangprabang #laos #visitlaos #visitluangprabang #laostravel #asia #laosfood #thaifood . #instagramers #food #restaurant #yoohey #southeastasia #travel . . . #ルアンパバーン #東南アジア #ラオス旅行 #ラオス料理 #🇱🇦 #khaosoi . . . #ລາບ #ລາວ #ຫລວງພະບາງ (Huay Xai, Bokeo, Laos.) https://www.instagram.com/p/Btnwh7hgQ2-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1vr1cqlh5fm62

[wijwielennaarazie]

Maandag 18/11/2019

Paktha

Joanna voelt zich nog steeds niet 100%. We beslissen een dagje te rusten in de hoop dat morgen haar hoofdpijn weg zal zijn.

Tegen de namiddag voelt ze zich alvast stukken beter en besluiten we wat rond te fietsen in het dorpje. Het is er heel mooi, en de mensen kijken er toch raar op wanneer ze ons zien. Iedereen is echter heel vriendelijk en zegt spontaan 'hallo'. Via een zandbaantje kunnen we afdalen tot bij de Mekong. Daar zijn enkele vissers aan het werk. Bij de kade vragen we uit interesse eens naar de prijs voor de boot. Dit zou 150 000kip per persoon zijn, ongeveer 15 euro. Dit is veel want vanuit Huayxay was het maar 100 000kip. In het dorpje bezoeken we nog even het klooster, tot groot plezier van de jonge monnikken.

We gaan vroeg slapen, want morgen willen we heel vroeg beginnen fietsen.

[depoutineatrump]

Passage de la frontière laotienne, arrivés à Huayxai Neua pour une petite “croisière” (2 jours avec un arrêt dans un village pour la nuitée) le long du Mékong afin de rejoindre Luang Prabang. Des montagnes et de la jungle tout le long, quelques éléphants, des buffles et des vaches sur les rives. C'est beau et paisible, ça contraste avec l'ambiance du bateau qui ressemble plus à un spring break d'allemands, la buvette étant en rupture de bière dès le premier jour. 💃🍻🚢🐘

[hannsontheroad]

Diese Bilder zeigen die Erlebnisse der letzen zwei Tage auf dem slowboat. Die Nacht verbrachten wir in pakbeng Ehe wie am heutigen morgen mit dem boot erneute 9 Stunden den Mekong flussaufwärts gefahren sind. Nun sind wir in huayxai, also man kann Thailand schon auf der anderen Seite des Flusses sehen. Morgen werden wir dann Laos fürs erste lebe wohl sagen und uns wieder Richtung Thailand auf den Weg machen. Mit dem Ziel Chiang Mai. Auf dem einem Bild sieht man übrigends, wie ich für drei kleine Kinder jeweils eine Zeichnung anfertige. Und das ganze 10 Minuten vor Ende der Fahrt… Damit keines traurig sein musste, habe ich so schnell gezeichnet wie noch nie 😁 mit Erfolg. Auf jeden Fall eine tolle Erfahrung mit dem Boot, die ich nur weiter empfehlen kann.

[zapatillasporelmundo-blog]

Amanecimos en Tailandia y horas más tarde estábamos en #Laos, concretamente en #HuayXai, donde pasaremos algo más de 15 días descubriendo el norte. Nuestra primera jornada ha sido tranquila: creo que ayer tuvieron mucha fiesta por este lado del mundo y hoy estaban todos un poco adormilados. Y vosotros?? Qué tal habéis pasado la nochevieja?? contadme... #zapatillasporelmundo (en Huay Xai, Bokeo, Laos.) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsFoBFdBYb3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1edvnos521obj

[lawyerturnedgypsy-blog]

Down the Mekong - 2-days by slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang. Absolutely gorgeous part of the world ♥️🌍 #LuangPrabang #HuayXai #Laos #shetravels #travelwithkids #worldschooling #backpacking #backpacker #lonelyplanet #explore #adventure #bucketlist #travel #travelblog #travelblogger #travelphotography #southeastasia #digitalnomad #girlswhotravel #liveintrepid #guardiantravelsnaps #intrepidtravel #sun #bbctravel #worldnomads #natgeo #natgeotravel #expatlife #liveslow #lppathfinders (at Pak Ou, Louangphabang, Laos) https://www.instagram.com/p/BolbejSHjel/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1q2gcruw6bvx2

[accessdeniedz]

DayTwo Nakhon Sawan to Huay Xai, Laos 6xxkm Happy Wesak Day #laosadv #friendshipbridge #chiangkong #huayxai #r1200gsa #wesak (at จ.นครสววรค์) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxn1Bt6AvnH0DmWEOVtvSZ2RnbbUpQ48B2r2vo0/?igshid=nqsoi1vnmefe

[tirsaroundtheworld]

Sunset at the Mekong. 🌅

[mentortravel]

Peaceful sunset in 🇱🇦 Laos at Huay Xai temple. The calm before the water festival Songkran! . . #mentortravel #travelgram #travel #travelblogger #laos #huayxai #temple #sunset #buddha #buddhism #calm #relax

[lifeismeantforexploring-blog]

Laos 2017

[solosomji]

Slowboat to Luang Prabang

I am so, so glad I made the decision to take the slowboat to Luang Prabang. It’s been one of the highlights of my trip thus far, meeting a great bunch of people and dealing with a lot of randomness! A friend recommended this to me after she had a similarly positive experience. There were multiple routes I saw for the slowboat, but the easiest was to pay an agency a certain fee and they would take you to the border town of Chiang Khong with a quick stopover in Chiang Rai (for literally 20 mins to see the White Temple). I was lucky that the girl sleeping in the bed next to mine in the hostel was also going so we could travel together. The ride to Chiang Khong took about 10 hours and - first we went back to Chiang Mai, switched buses, then headed to Chiang Rai and finally to the border town. By the time we reached, everyone was quite tired and everyone was going their separate ways. The hotel gave us a coupon for dinner so after quickly refreshing I headed out. At the cute dinner place, I made friends with two older women and two other people my age so at breakfast the next morning, we were a lovely little group of people and a few more also joined us. We ended up being an eclectic group of five: one British guy who had spent the last several months cycling along the West coast and had some incredible stories - he was settling in Singapore for the next few months working with a travel company; one German girl who was a teacher and had taken a year off to do some travel; one Dutch guy who is originally Bosnian and was traveling for several months after graduating; another British guy traveling for about a year across SE Asia and then to Brazil; and myself. We braved the border crossing process together - a much simpler feat than it seemed - and we were in Laos from where we would catch the slowboat! I was eager to get on the slowboat first as I'd heard the farther from the front one sat, the louder the sound of the motor until it was altogether deafening. So I sped ahead and took the first shuttle to the slow boat from the border - all packed into a tiny little public transport van. We got there early and I was hungry after our rather meagre breakfast so ordered two sandwiches and some snacks and ate one of the best sandwiches of my life. Upon arriving at the slowboat, I found two others who I had shared the bus to Chiang Khong with already there and we got talking. I ended up sitting next to the German girl while the others had to find a seat closer to the back. The next few hours were a scenic, slow ride on the river with plenty of time for reflection and some beautiful scenery. There was also a lot of exchanging of seats with people moving around to talk to one another - I learned to play a bit of the ukulele from someone who had recently bought one and was learning and had long, great conversations about life and the state of the world with others. It was really lovely getting to know fellow passengers on board. That evening, we stopped at the town of Huay Xai right as the sun was setting where we were to spend the night before continuing our journey the next day. We had to find our own accommodation for the night and the German girl and I went in search. We found a small, cheap room that was quite comfortable and then headed to dinner where we ran into the rest of the group. After, we decided to try and find a place to watch the Manchester United game and walked up and down the tiny town and met some interesting characters on the way who were clearly drugged up. During our search we ran into other travelers at a bar and decided to stay and play some darts. The next day we agreed to get to the slowboat early so we could secure places at the front and to save seats for others. Everyone seemed to have the same idea so the slowboat was quite full by the time we boarded but we managed to get decent seats. What a lovely day on the river - at one point we all turned our seats around and started playing cards for a few hours (the seats are literally car / bus seats that have been taken off the cars and placed into the slowboat so you can move them around). When we got to Luang Prabang, everyone decided to stay together except me - I had decided to make Luang Prabang my 'break' city and upgrade to a nicer place for the next few days. Regardless, we did meet up over the next few days. But it was so wonderful to hang out with this random group of travelers for a few days while sailing along the Mekong!

[haggertyadventuretime]

Laos, continued.

This is a long one!

Still in Laos!

Internet connections in this country are basically nonexistent, it’s been hard to find a connection strong and long enough to post anything on here/Facebook/instagram!

We stayed in Muong Ngoi for two nights, and it rained basically the whole time. There are no paved roads which meant it got very muddy very fast and we decided not to do any trekking since the temperature was much lower than expected and we hadn’t packed anything warm enough to deal with it... We spent most of our time cuddled under blankets those two days!

We did end up running into the most unpleasant traveler, which is honestly surprising given how nice and relaxed most people are around here, Lao and tourist alike. I’m going to call him the Mad Scotsman, because this dude had a chip on his shoulder about pretty much everything. He became famous in our small village pretty quickly, as he generally just invites himself to your table and starts spewing insults about your heritage/country/accent whatever he can learn about you but tries to keep you in the conversation. A very nice German man whom we befriended, Christian, had taken the time to get to know him and apparently the Mad Scotsman had been fighting in east Ukraine? Unsure how or why, also he was super young and loud, which to me screams the opposite of a mercenary. We luckily only had to talk to him twice, but got to talk to Christian much more!

We decided to skip the long boat journey and instead take the one hour boat ride back to Nong Khiaw and a bus to Udoumxai, then the next morning a bus to Luang Namtha. Udoumxai is a Chinese trading town, and we were hoping for some good dim sum and markets but didn’t really find anything except a live music bar with a larger-than-life Spider Man hanging from the ceiling.

Luang Namtha was a very nice town! It’s right near a large jungle preserve with many hill tribes, and once again, ethnic minorities. We were touted once again by women with their handicrafts, although these ladies could learn a thing or two from the tribes in Sa Pa, because they weren’t organized or aggressive at all.

We stayed in Luang Namtha for two nights. On our first night, as we were eating at the night market, who walks in but Christian! Yay! He had come a different way from Moung Ngoi. We sampled the local Lao Lao whiskey at $0.25/shot and had some laughs about the Mad Scott.

The next day was beautiful, so we rented a couple of (very uncomfortable) mountain bikes and had a ride around the area. We ran into Christian, who impressed us with his biking ability given that the roads were very rocky (we were walking our mountain bikes), and here comes Christian, 61, on a road cruiser with a basket on the front, just slowly pedaling uphill with a giant smile on his face. We said hello and continued our separate ways, this time me and Brendan on the bikes. The sun came out after a while on the paved roads, and the views of mountains behind rice paddies full of water buffalo were quite amazing. We also found a beer garden in the middle of nowhere that was BLASTING music but had no one in it, just two 15 year old girls in the DJ booth. We had a beer (which was very confusing to them) and continued through rice paddies and dirt roads to see some small villages, then looped back after a few hours. That night we had one last drink with Christian, who was moving on to Thailand the next day, and we exchanged emails so that the next time I’m in Germany I could hit him up. He lives in the Rhinegau, an area famous for Rieslings!

The next day we started a two day, one night trekking tour through jungles to a remote hill tribe village. The trekking was the hardest hike I have ever done. On the first day, we had some bad luck with mud, Since it had rained a few days before and the jungle retains its wetness. We were sometimes going down areas so steep and so muddy that I would straight up just sit down and slide on the mud. Other areas were going along slippery cliffs about two feet across with nothing but thorny bushes to catch yourself on if you slipped! I was having issues with my depth perception and elephant-like grace, and our wonderful guide-in-training made me a very sturdy walking stick which helped a lot. It was very beautiful in the jungle, but our guide walked very fast and Brendan and I struggled to keep up with the group, so we generally watched our feet more than we did the surroundings. We had lunch on the floor of the jungle, eating with our hands off banana leaves.

We finally arrived in the village, which is a Kmhmu tribe, about 250 people. The guide had brought a bag of knit children’s wool clothing and hats that a couple from New Zealand had made and donated to the village, and he started sorting and handing it all out. It was pretty cool watching the whole village crowd around with the kids to get their size, and they immediately put the new clothes on and started strutting their stuff. I had the impression that these people don’t have more than one or two changes of clothing each, so getting warm clothes is a big deal for them with the cold winter approaching. Like many remote places in Laos, they only just got access to running water through a humanitarian aid project from Germany, and electricity is powered by generators for only a few hours a day. No water heaters, no insulation, nothing but a fire outside and blankets to keep you warm.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get a whole lot of interaction with the villagers, we ate in the homestay separately from everyone else, but with the guides and the couple whose house we were sleeping in. Turns out the husband is actually the chief of the village! He brought us a bag of Lao Lao whiskey, poured it into an empty bottle of beer, and started rounds of shots for everyone. Not surprisingly, Brendan and I held our liquor much better than the rest. They may be better hikers, but we know how to party!

The next morning before the hike back to Luang Namtha, we visited the village’s school. Brendan and I had planned ahead and had brought pens and pencils for the kids, just enough it turns out! It felt nice handing them out to the kids, I only wish we had brought more. We visited two other villages, another Kmhmu tribe as well as another whose name I forget, but the third village was even poorer and the villagers wore their traditional costumes. We watched as the women spun cotton and potato fibers into thread, then had one very, very steep climb to get home. It was not as technically difficult as the day before in terms of obstacles, just hours of climbing up mountains, and then down.

When we got back, and after thoroughly showering and finding a place that does “fast laundry” (first place I’ve seen a dryer in SE Asia!), Brendan took a nap for the rest of the day and night, and I went to a local herbal sauna and massage place. It was pretty cool to enjoy such a cultural experience and being the only foreigner. My masseuse was very good, Lao massage is Thai influenced and involves twisting your body into pretty active positions, fully clothed, and in the middle of the rickety shack where people are coming and going, in and out of the sauna and to and from the woman’s house. At one point, she was using two hands and a foot to massage me, while quoting a price to a local for the sauna, and also directing her seven year old to remove his four year old brother from the premises. Not atmospheric in the way I’m used to a massage, but she really made my muscles relax, and for $4.50 for a 45 minute massage and unlimited herbal sauna after, you really can’t beat it.

Next, we travelled to Huayxai, which is across the Mekong River from the Thailand border. We could see the sun set over the Thai mountains! This is also the city that The Gibbon Experience is based out of. We signed up for the three day, two night “Classic Experience,” a big splurge that we had been looking forward to for a while! I was definitely a little scared: I am afraid of heights, and I’ve never gone on a zip line before, and this place boasts the tallest tree houses in the world that you sleep in, and some of the longest and tallest zip lines as well.

I ended up really enjoying it! It involved more jungle trekking, but not nearly as difficult as the previous trekking experience in Luang Namtha. We also had the luxury of zip lining any downhill area, basically! You really feel line you’re flying, and seeing the jungle canopy from above was very cool.

We shared a tree house with a family of four from Montreal, two parents and their nine and seven year olds. They are on a six month trip, which Brendan and I wished them luck on. Currently, they are a month in, having been to Myanmar, and some of Thailand, KL and Shanghai. The kids had a great time, and our guide was excellent with them. Sometimes, the zip lines were too long for the kids to go alone, so the guides would zip with them, which they loved. Sometimes the zip lines were too long even for us adults to get through, so you would have to grab the line once you’ve slowed down and, while upside down, use your hands and feet to climb the rest of the way! That was quite the workout!

We never saw any wildlife save for birds and squirrels, probably partially due to the fact that we were staying with a seven year old boy. That was a bit of a shame, but apparently it’s pretty rare to see the gibbons. One group saw them from far away in their tree house, and the little girl in our tree house may have seen one in the early morning as she was using the bathroom. There are no walls or windows in the tree houses, just railings and the occasional privacy curtain, so it’s quite the panorama of jungle, even if you’re taking a shower!

We got back, quite gratified and happy as well as pretty done with jungle trekking. Been there, done that. We took a two day slow boat from Huayxai to Luang Prabang with an overnight stopover in Pakbeng. This is the point in our journey when we started being two of many tourists, which I had not missed. Unfortunately, tourism has started lots of touts in Pakbeng, as it lies in the “golden triangle” for both tourists and drugs. Within seconds of getting off the boat, we were both propositioned for marijuana and opium, sometimes by children! Not the first time we have been propositioned for either in our trip thus far, but definitely the youngest so far. Obviously the answer was no.

The trips on the boats both days were much more comfortable than we had expected. The seats were basically ripped out of minivans and just bolted to pieces of wood that kept them somewhat upright on the floor of the boat, but not stable at all. We brought snacks and beer, and there was a snack and beer bar on the boat (at very inflated prices) as well as a toilet. The views from the Mekong were absolutely stunning, with dense jungle and the occasional tiny village. Like any public transportation in Laos, there were many unscheduled pickups and drop offs along the way, including picking up and dropping off people in Thailand! On the second day, there were some well organized school children ready for our boat to pull over with bracelets and purses to sell. They waded into the water, waist deep for them, and touted their goods for the three minutes it took to unload our cargo at that stop. Kind of funny that the girls are working he whole time, while on the other side of the pier, the boys of the same age are playing games on a canoe and swimming.

Yesterday, the sixth, we arrived back in Luang Prabang. This morning, we hopped on a bus for a six to seven hour scenic ride to Vang Vieng, a scenic river town known for its raucous partying and tubing among backpackers. Luckily the government stepped in a few years ago to ease the craziness... if you google Vang Vieng you can very easily find out what I’m talking about. We are going for tubing (sans death swings and booze buckets) and fabulous views. The bus we are on right now is full of very annoying middle aged tourists who spent a lot of time complaining about their seats, when this is the most comfortable bus we have been on yet. It even has seat belts! Nothing to clip them into, but it’s the thought that counts, hahaha.

Actually, the views from the bus were spectacular, despite the constant twisting and turning of the precarious roads. The mountains changed from rolling hills to craggy limestone, almost like Ha Long Bay without all the water! Now we have made it to Vang Vieng and are enjoying some creature comforts for the evening, tomorrow we will be enjoying the out of doors in the hot weather!