Laos highlights and tropical beaches - 20 days Laos and Thailand itinerary # 2

This combined Laos and Thailand itinerary is ideal for travellers who want to see as much of Laos as possible and want to end their trip on a relaxing sandy beach. Start off in booming Bangkok where you'll board the overnight train to the border. Via the capital city of Vientiane you’ll travel on to the green hills of northern Laos.

Here you’ll visit Luang Prabang which is considered to be one of the most enjoyable cities in Laos by many travellers. Wander through the cheerful streets, visit the evening market in search of souvenirs and visit one of the many colourful temples. You’ll also make a short trekking and stay overnight with the local hill tribes.

After Luang Prabang, you'll head south. Southern Laos is known for its green rainforests, plunging waterfalls and the mighty Mekong River. Finally you'll cross the border at Pakse into Thailand where you can spend the last days of your trip relaxing on the white beaches of Ko Chang.

Day 1: Arrival in Bangkok

On arrival in Bangkok you'll picked up and taken to your hotel. You'll stay at an enjoyable hotel with swimming pool at a central location, only 10 minutes on foot (or 5 minutes by tuk-tuk) from the lively Khao San Road. Rooms in the hotel are spacious and have air conditioning. You'll have time for a refreshing shower and you'll be able to acclimatise at your own pace. Have a glass of delicious Thai fruit juice and go on a short walk through town. Before you know you it you'll be feeling great and ready to go.

Day 2: Bangkok

Today you'll discover the temples, pagodas and street life of the 'City of Angels'. Spend the morning as you wish, but don't miss the Royal Palace. This is quite a large palace and the home of the worshipped Thai King Bhumipol. Visit the palace by (water) taxi or on foot.

While in Bangkok you'll probably want to visit the Buddhist temple Wat Arun by the river and the small streets of the dizzying, lively China town. Have a bowl of Chinese noodles and soak up the atmosphere or Bangkok is also an excellent place for shopping (silk, jewellery).

Day 3: Bangkok - Laos border, overnight train

You'll have all the time you need to explore Bangkok today or to find a nice pavement cafe and let the hectic street life pass you by. At the end of the day you'll collect your luggage at the hotel and make your own way to the train station. We'll arrange your reservation and tickets for the night train to Nong Khai. You'll sleep comfortably (the train rocks softly and doesn't go to fast), there is also a restaurant carriage for drinks and food.

Bangkok - Laos on an overnight sleeper train

Day 4: Vientiane - arrival

When you arrive at the border you’ll make your own way across the Friendship Bridge and into Laos. On the other side of the checkpoint you’ll be picked up and transferred to your hotel in Vientiane. Your cosy guesthouse is centrally located close to the Mekong river, the morning market and the restaurants and has a lovely inner garden. Breakfast is included.

Vientiane has a number of interesting attractions worth visiting. You could climb the Patuxai, similar the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, for an amazing view of the city and the Mekong River. Just outside of the city you'll find the impressive 'Wat Phra Keo' and 'Wat Sisaket' temples. The most important temple complex is 'Pha Tat Luang'. This gold leaf covered temple is the symbol of Buddhist Laos. The morning market is a great place for buying beautifully woven carpets and clothing and the antique stores in the city centre sell reasonably priced opium pipes as well as Laotian silver.

Day 5: Vientiane

Today you will have plenty of time to see the sights of Vientiane. We rented a bike, a fun and easy way to explore the city. Cycle along the tree-lined streets and the banks of the Mekong river where lots of fruit is grown. Don’t worry about finding a good place for lunch, on just about every street corner you’ll find a small bakery selling fresh French loaves. It takes some adjusting but before you know it you’ll surrender to that unique Laotian atmosphere. If you’re interested in Buddhism then visit one of the many temples where you can find out more about how Buddhism plays a role in the daily lives of the Laotians. Chat to one of the monks, they’re usually very friendly and open.

25 km outside the city you’ll find the Buddha park Wat Xieng Khuan with its colossal Hindu and Buddhist stone statues. The park is well worth a visit. In the afternoon relax at one of the outdoor cafes along the Mekong and enjoy a beautiful sunset.

Day 6: Vientiane - Luang Prabang

You’ll probably be woken early in the morning by the crowing cockerel; the Laotians usually begin their day around sunrise as well. If you’d like to wander around the town before breakfast, head to the local market and browse around the many souvenir stalls.

Today your trip will continue by plane to the green, hilly north of Laos. You’ll be heading to the town of Luang Prabang, considered by many travellers to be the nicest town in Laos due to the friendly, relaxed atmosphere. We’ve booked a small, friendly guesthouse for you, within walking distance of the centre.

Day 7: Luang Prabang

After breakfast, you're free to explore the town independently, or maybe arrange a trip to the Kuang Si waterfalls for a refreshing swim. The waterfalls are a 1½ hour drive from Luang Prabang. If you have enough time, you could also visit the Pak Ou caves. The caves are filled with thousands of Buddha statues, large and small and in different styles. We didn't think the caves were that special, but the trip there, a boat ride across the Mekong River was all the more spectacular.

The best place to buy your souvenirs is at the evening market which takes place daily in the centre of Luang Prabang. Many different mountain tribes come here to sell their hand-made goods such as brightly coloured scarves, wood carvings, paintings and jewellery. Haggling is very commonplace in Laos; you'll see it gets easier the more you do it.

Day 8: Luang Prabang - trekking and overnight stay with the Khmu

In the morning you will be picked up at your hotel in Luang Prabang by pick-up truck. On the way you'll see the green mountainous scenery pass you by. Today you'll go on a 6 - 7 hour trekking through green rice paddies with views across the limestone hills and passing through mountain villages, home to local tribes such as the Khmu and Hmong live. Your guide will be able to tell you all about the flora and fauna on the way. You'll be spending the night in a traditional hut in a Khmu village, and enjoy a wonderful home-made dinner with the local villagers. You'll probably head off to bed early, tired and satisfied by the day's trek and wake up refreshed the next day.

Day 9: Trekking, mountain villages and boat trip

You’ll be woken at dawn by the crowing cockerel and after breakfast you’ll continue the trail along the river to another Khmu settlement where you can have a rest and wander through the village. You’ll pass a small school for the local village children. The trek continues for another 4 hours through rice paddies and tropical vegetation to the Nam Khan river. A little boat is waiting to take you to a small restaurant where you can enjoy a cup of tea or a nice cool drink.

Late afternoon you’ll be transferred back to your hotel in the ‘inhabited world’.

You’ll pass a small school for the local village children

Day 10: Luang Prabang

If you’re an early bird and don’t mind getting up at the crack of dawn you’ll be able to observe one of Laos’ beautiful daily rituals; the procession of the monks at dawn. Devout Laotians kneel with their heads bowed to offer rice and fruit to the passing monks. As the morning mist slowly rises, the trail of monks in their orange robes quietly passes by to collect their alms.

Once the procession has passed by, head back to your guesthouse for some breakfast and enjoy the rest of the day exploring the surrounding area of Luang Prabang. It's worth climbing the Phu Si hill, especially late afternoon when you can catch the sunset. At the top of the 329 steps you'll be rewarded with a wonderful view across the city. If you're interested in local culture and theatre then try to get tickets for a traditional masked dance performance, held at the Royal Palace several times a week.

Day 11: Luang Prabang - Pakse - Boloven plateau

Today you’ll take a plane to Pakse in southern Laos, followed by a transfer to your accommodation through the Laotian countryside and past villages, temples and fields. The well-paved road eventually makes way for a sandy track up to the green Boloven plateau. Your resort is hidden away in the dense rainforest, opposite two waterfalls where you can get a fantastic view of the water crashing down into a 200m deep gorge. From your bungalow with veranda you can enjoy the beautiful green scenery or head into the wild tropical countryside.

Waterfalls and Rainforests of the Boloven Plateau

Day 12: Boloven plateau - independent

The Boloven plateau in southern Laos lies at 1200m above sea level which means the climate is comfortably cool, even in summer. You can expect the occasional shower in our summer months, but the area is at its greenest that time of year too. The villages on the plateau are accessible only by sandy tracks, which means the area is still largely untouched and authentic. This is the home of several ethnic minorities such as the Laven, Katu and Alak. The tribes are known for their Khmer influences hand-woven fabrics and facial tattoos.

The eco-lodge where you’ll be staying is located in the heart of the Dong Hua Sao Nature reserve. The resort organises several hikes through the area with its many waterfalls and wild vegetation.

Day 13: Tad Fane - Khong Island (Siphandon)

After breakfast with views of the cascading waterfalls of Tad Fane you will be transferred to Pakse, from where you will follow the Mekong river by bus south to the Cambodian border. Just before the border you’ll cross the river to Khong Island. This region of islands is also known as Sipandone (4000 islands); in the dry season the water level drops to reveal a large number of islands and sand banks.

Tonight you will be staying in one of the more luxurious hotels on Khong Island in a cheerful, cosy guesthouse. As this is your first evening in Laos, try some traditional Laotian dishes in the hotel restaurant.

Day 14: Khong Island - independent

Today you can head out on your own to explore the island. Khong Island consists mainly of hills, rice paddies, vegetable gardens and small villages. Cycling is a great way of seeing the island and if you like hotel reception can also arrange a boat for you to head out to the surrounding islands like Don Det and Don Khon.

The area of Siphandon with its many waterfalls and rapids is the largest flowing obstacle for the cargo traffic along the Mekong from Laos to Cambodia. In the last century French colonists built a railway on the Don Khone in an attempt to tackle the problem. The railway is no longer in use but a little old French steam engine and the railway bridge remain as remnants of a distant era.

Day 15: Pakse - Ubon Ratchanthani (Thailand)

The staff of your guesthouse on Khong Island will take you to the local bus station where you can catch the bus back to Pakse. At the end of this Laos leg of the trip you’ll take a taxi from Pakse to the Thai border. Back in Thailand it’s another 1 ½ hours to the town of Ubon Ratchatani. You can arrange the trip locally; you’ll find plenty of Thai tuk-tuk and taxi drivers who will be happy to take you there for a small fee. In Ubon Ratchatani you’ll board the overnight train back to Bangkok.

Ko Chang on the border of Cambodia and Thailand

Day 16: Bangkok arrival - departure Ko Chang

On arrival at Bangkok train station you’ll be picked up by your private driver for a 5-hour drive to Laem Ngob. Sit back, relax and watch the Thai countryside pass by. You’ll be dropped off at the pier Laem Ngob where you’ll take the ferry to the white sandy beaches of Ko Chang. There are crossings every 45 minutes throughout the day, the crossing takes just 30 minutes.

When you arrive on Ko Chang, ask one of the many tuktuk and taxi drivers to take you to your accommodation (20 minute drive, approx $2-$5). Once you’ve checked in to your charming bungalow take a refreshing dip in the warm blue sea. The resort is directly on the beach and has a small private beach. From the pool you can listen to the soothing sound of the lapping waves and tropical birds in the trees above you.

Day 17: Ko Chang

Ko Chang is the second largest island in Thailand so there’s plenty to see and do. If you fancy something a little out of the ordinary, you can go on an elephant ride across the island (approx $20 for 1 hour). Swaying on the back of your big grey friend you’ll see tropical orchards and a rubber plantation. On the longer trek you’ll head further into the jungle where the elephants can take a bath in the crystal clear water, a nice refreshing break for you and your elephant. You can easily arrange these excursions in the little travel agent across from the resort. They also offer snorkelling and boat trips or perhaps you’d prefer a jungle trek to one of the island’s many waterfalls, or even climb the highest hill on Ko Chang. If you’re travelling with children then we can recommend the Tree Top Adventure. High in the tree tops you can clamber across ropes and swing down like a monkey. All with the necessary safety precautions of course. If this all sounds too exhausting, lazing on the beach and doing absolutely nothing at all may be just the perfect way to spend the day.

Relax while you read a book on the beach

Day 18: Ko Chang

While you’re here you could also go on a day trip to the island of Ko Mak. Ko Mak is the third largest island of Thailand but it’s a lot quieter than the popular resorts of Phuket, Koh Samui and even Ko Chang. This is where you come to simply relax in your hammock and enjoy the sparkling blue sea. It’s a great place for snorkelling among the untouched coral or just lying on the pearly white beaches. You can rent a snorkel and at low tide walk to the nearby island Ko Kham, which has some beautiful coral reefs and coconut palms. You could also take a windsurfing lessons (opening times permitting) at the Silver Windsurfer, or rent a canoe to head out onto the water.

Tomorrow you will be flying home so this is you last chance to enjoy a traditional Thai massage. It’s a matter of personal preference because it’s usually a pretty tough massage, but it’ll leave you feeling reborn and refreshed. The resort has a private massage room, and it’s advisable to book in advance.

The cottages where you’ll be staying are tastefully decorated with a stylish outdoor bathroom. The restaurant is on the beach and if the weather’s good they’ll light up the barbecue. Sipping on a cocktail you can enjoy the freshly grilled fish and meats.

Day 19: Ko Chang - Trat - Bangkok

Your trip through Laos and Thailand is almost over and today you’ll be travelling back to Bangkok. The ferry will take you to Trat (ticket included), where you’ll arrange a song thaew (open truck) or a taxi yourself to take you to the bus station to catch the bus back to Bangkok. We quite enjoyed the 5 ½ hour drive through little villages and surrounded by locals. In Bangkok you’ll be staying a final night in the same hotel as the beginning of your trip.

We can imagine you’d quite like to spend a few more days on the tropical beaches of Ko Chang. No problem, just let us know in your request form and we’ll arrange one of more extra nights for you.

Beautiful island beaches on Ko Chang and Ko Muuk

Temples, markets, shopping... so much to do in Bangkok

Day 20: Bangkok - Departure

Depending on the airline, you’ll be flying back home either this morning or in the evening. If you don’t want to go home quite just yet and would like to stay in Bangkok a bit longer, just let us know and we’ll book an extra night for you. If you’re flying back in the evening you can do some last-minute souvenir shopping or do a final bit of sightseeing today.

Duration	20 days/19 nights	Accommodation	Comfortable, centrally located hotels, comfort level 3. (See accommodation)
Price	From $1945 per person - based on 2 people	Included	19 nights accommodation with breakfast (except on overnight train), domestic transportation and excursions as described
Transportation	Air conditioned car, bus, train, domestic flight, bicycle	Excluded	All other meals, drinks and optional excursions