Itineraries

Starting / Finishing: Your journey starts and ends in Luang Prabang

Highlights: Cycling off roads, riding elephants, trekking the forests and kayaking rivers

This eco-adventure is orientated towards low impact on the natural environment and sustainable livelihood. The leisurely 3 day tour features authentic home stays in remote villages, the ancient mode of travel on an elephant, on foot and on the waterways. The circuit takes us through the beautifully lush environs of Luang Prabang, steeped in history and culture into the territory of colorful Indigenous tribal clans. It is an easy mountain bike ride to the Elephant camp to ride the great Pachyderms within the Elephant Park Project area. From there we hike to small villages for a night of homely Laotian hospitality, part of the "Fair Trek" project that helps support the community. Kayaking on Nam Khan River brings you back to Luang Prabang.

Itinerary in brief

Day 1  Cycling to Elephant Camp & villages
Day 2  Trekking through forests to indigenous villages
Day 3  Riding Elephant and kayaking on Nam Khan River

Day 1 Cycling to Elephant Camp & villages (L / D)
Cycle about Luang Prabang with a short visit to Wat Pa Phon Phao, a quiet monastery with a wonderful golden stupa. Next stop is Ban Phanom, a well-known cotton and silk hand-weaving village (Lao Lum). Onwards to the final resting place of Henri Mouhot, the renowned French Explorer who discovered the Khmer ruins of Angkor and died here in 1861.  Leaving the running waters of the Nam Khan, we follow a dusty track to the Elephant Village, wonderfully located with a view of the jungle and a towering rock face. Here we will enjoy lunch and prepare for the trekking stage of our journey. The trek meanders easily over terraced rice fields slopes into peaceful villages of the indigenous Lao Tung (Khamu) people and by the late afternoon we expect to arrive and settle for the night in a home stay.

Day 2  Trekking through forests to indigenous villages (B/L/D)
Dawn and breakfast in the serenity of this isolated village, where foreign visitors are still a novelty, we continue our trek observing the age old rhythm of village life. The trek takes us through Khamu, Lao and Hmong villages, walking a total of about 5 to 6 hours, arriving at camp in the late afternoon. There is an opportunity to stay overnight in the Khamu village.

Day 3  Riding Elephant and kayaking on Nam Khan River... (B/L)
Begin the day with a sumptuous breakfast and an encounter with the Asian Elephant. Learn about these amazing animals and how they are protected and cared. An ambling 1 hour elephant ride takes us to the Tad Sae Waterfalls for a picnic lunch and to relax in this wonderful setting. The afternoon brings the climatic highlight as we navigate the Nam Khan River on kayaks or rafts. The river is easy to negotiate although with some exciting rapids. Enroute are banana and teak plantations; rice fields and terraced pineapple plantations. At isolated Lao Loum and Theung thatched roofed villages, try greeting smiling children in Lao … “Sabaaidii.” It takes about 3 to 4 hours of easy paddling, depending on our point of entry and the current. We expect to arrive at Luang Prabang in the afternoon.
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*** Creating Unique Touring Experiences
All the touring itineraries on this website have been carefully crafted by our in-country management teams and represent a series of experiences we can certainly recommend.
However, we understand one suit does not fit all, and that that every travel experience should be as unique and individual as each traveler. Our consultants at Grandeur Journeys are waiting to hear from you so that we can tailor or custom design a tour to your individual specifications.

Tour Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights

Tour Operates: Year Round / On Demand

Tour Price: Available upon Request

Rates vary frequently. Please contact us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period and specific touring needs.

What’s included?
    * Accommodation based on Double/Twin Room with breakfast;
    * Mountain bike, Elephant ride, kayaking equiptment;
    * Meals as indicated in itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner);
    * English Speaking Guide(s);
    * All entrance fees as indicated in itinerary.

What’s excluded?
    * Pre and post trip accommodation;
    * Alcoholic drinks & drinks at mealtime + Personal expenses;
    * Personal travel insurance;
    * Tips for guide, driver & hotels' porters;
    * Other services not indicated in the "Inclusion" above.

Note: Information in this dossier was correct at the time of its preparation. Grandeur Journeys reserves the right to make itinerary changes as operational or other circumstances require.