9D8N LAOS with Mekong River Cruise Mekong River Cruise to Luang Prabang + Plain of Jars + Vang Vieng + Vientiane

Transcription

1 EL SOL TRAVEL & TOURS SDN BHD T KKKP: 0194 Tel: Fax: D8N LAOS with Mekong River Cruise Mekong River Cruise to Luang Prabang + Plain of Jars + Vang Vieng + Vientiane Departures based on Air Asia KL-Chiang Mai: FRI / MON / WED BEST TIME TO GO Mekong River cruise can be done year round except from Feb to Apr when water level of the river is low. Temperature-wise, it is colder during months of Nov to Jan. See Luang Prabang climate chart below. 1) MEKONG RIVER CRUISE cruise from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang; the experience of a lifetime 2) LUANG PRABANG UNESCO World Heritage town with blend of temples & colonial buildings; the no. 1 destination of Laos 3) PLAIN OF JARS giant stone jars of mysterious origin littered all over. 4) VANG VIENG scenic combo of river & karst hills; nicknamed Guilin of Laos 5) VIENTIANE capital of Laos abounds with heritage attractions Day 1 KL - Chiang Mai Chiang Rai - Chiang Khong (Lunch/Dinner) Air Asia flight arriving 8.45am Chiang Mai airport. Met by your Thai tour guide and transfer to Chiang Khong, with en-route stopover at Mae Krajan Hot Spring, and in Chiang Rai to visit Wat Rongkhun (the White Temple, an artistic temple masterpiece). Lunch in Chiang Rai. Afternoon, arrival in Chiang Khong, the border town located beside the Mekong River and opposite Laos. Overnight in Chiang Khong.

2 Day 2 Chiang Khong - Huay Xai - Mekong boat cruise Pak Beng Morning, after breakfast, transfer to nearby Friendship Bridge connecting Thailand with Laos. Cross the Mekong River using the compulsory shuttle bus service (see Excluded section below for bus ticket fare) and enter into the Laos. Greeted by your Laotian tour guide and transfer to the pier in Huay Xai town where you board your private boat for Mekong River cruise to Luang Prabang. Halfway on the cruise, have a short stopover at a riverside ethnic Hmong village. Arrival late afternoon at Pak Beng, the overnight stopover point of the cruise. Check in your hotel. At leisure in Pak Beng. Overnight in Pak Beng. Day 3 Pak Beng Mekong boat cruise - Luang Prabang Morning, board boat for onward cruise to Luang Prabang. Stopover at Pak Ou caves, where you find 2 holy caves housing over a thousand Buddha images. Visit Ban Sang Hai rice wine village where you find rice wine fortified with scorpions and snakes! Late afternoon, arrive in Luang Prabang, the UNESCO World Heritage city. It is well known as an open museum city with loads of charm, friendly folks and more than 60 temples plus many French colonial buildings well preserved. Evening at leisure for you to visit the night market where the main attractions are colourful products from ethnic minorities. Overnight in Luang Prabang. Day 4 Luang Prabang & Kuang Si Waterfall (Breakfast/Lunch) Early morning, option of participating in alms giving to Buddhist monks along the main street of Luang Prabang. Hundreds of monks in long lines captured on camera is among the best photo souvenir of your stay in Luang Prabang.

3 Morning, visit National Museum housed in the former Royal Palace (containing the precious belongings of the former royal family), Wat Mai temple, Wat Xieng Thong temple (the signature temple of Luang Prabang), Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre and Wat Visoun with its That Makmo 'watermelon' stupa. Afternoon, visit Kuang Si waterfall, considered among the most beautiful waterfalls of South East Asia, with many spots for you to take a dip or soak your legs. En-route to Kuang Si, visit Ban Thapene (an ethnic Khmu village). Return to Luang Prabang for sunset viewing atop Phu Si Hill. Overnight in Luang Prabang. Dinner on your own, opportunity to sample the many restaurants & cafes in Luang Prabang. Day 5 Luang Prabang Phonsavan After breakfast in hotel, depart for Phonsavan town, capital of Xieng Khuang province. On arrival in Phonsavan, visit Mine Advisory Group MAG (the NGO that search and destroy unexploded mines and bombs left over from the Indochina war) office to view their exhibits. Overnight in Phonsavan. Day 6 Phonsavan & Plain of Jars tour Vang Vieng (Breakfast/Lunch) Morning, visit Plain of Jars (Site 1, 2 & 3) mysterious ancient stone jars left over by an unknown people. Some say they were for storing wine while others say they were stone coffins their purpose remains a mystery. After lunch, transfer to Vang Vieng, the small town located beside the pristine Nam Song river. Vang Vieng is famous for scenic views of the river framed by karst mountains; nicknamed Guilin of Laos. Overnight in Vang Vieng. Dinner on your own, opportunity to sample the many restaurants & cafes in Vang Vieng.

4 Day 7 Vang Vieng - Vientiane Morning, visit Tham Jang cave and from a high viewpoint, enjoy the view of the Nam Song river and Vang Vieng town. Free at leisure until lunch. Then transfer to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, with en-route stopover at KM52 Hmong Market. In Vientiane, dinner with Cultural Show. Overnight in Vientiane. Day 8 Vientiane (Breakfast/Lunch) Visit Buddha Park (a park with a bizarre collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures), Talat Sao Market, Patuxai Monument facing Lanexang Avenue (similar to Arc De Triomphe in Paris on Avenue Champ Elise), That Luang stupa (the National and Buddhist monument of Laos), Ho Pra Keo Museum (which in the past used to hold the Emerald Buddha, now in Bangkok) and Wat Sisaket (the oldest temple in Vientiane). Overnight in Vientiane. Dinner on your own, opportunity to sample the many restaurants & cafes in Vientiane. Day 9 Vientiane departure (Breakfast) After breakfast, transfer to airport for Air Asia 9.45am flight home. RATES: per person, twin sharing, Malaysian passport holders, valid for period May to Aug 2015, for group sizes as below: 4 persons: RM persons: RM persons: RM persons: RM 3620 Single Supplement: RM 870 Child (age 3 to 11yr) sharing room with 2 adults: Child With Bed: 90% of adult rate Child No Bed: 80% of adult rate Rates and itinerary subject to changes to FOREX rates, unforeseen surcharges, weather, local conditions, etc.

5 INCLUSIVE: a) Return airport transfers, tour van/coach transfer to Chiang Khong, 2D1N boat cruise from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, tour van/coach from Luang Prabang to Vientiane; all on Private Basis. b) 3 star accommodation: CHIANG KHONG: Namkhong Riverside Hotel or similar PAKBENG: Phetsokxai Hotel or similar LUANG PRABANG: Chitdara Hotel or similar PHONSAVAN: Phoupadeng Hotel or similar VANG VIENG: Villa Vang Vieng Riverside or similar VIENTIANE: Lao Orchid Hotel or similar c) Meals as per itinerary above d) English speaking licensed guide (Thai guide and Laotian guide) e) Entrance fees for sights & activities as per itinerary f) 1 bottle of drinking water /person on Day 1 (Thailand) and 2 bottles of drinking water /person from Day 2 to Day 8 (Laos). Not provided on Day 9. g) Tipping for Thailand guide & driver (tipping for Laos side not included see section below) h) Guaranteed no compulsory shopping stop tour EXCLUDING: a) Airtickets, Airport taxes and Airline fuel surcharges. b) Travel insurance can be arranged separately RM 52 /person (9 days coverage plan) c) 3 dinners (Day 4, 6 & 8) d) Chiang Khong Huay Xai Border: currently no border crossing fee charged; however this is subject to change. If charged, kindly pay direct to relevant immigration authorities. e) Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge border shuttle bus ticket 20 baht /person + 20 baht for 1 large luggage. Pay direct at ticket counter. f) Laos Guide & Driver Tipping: recommended minimums 4 to 5 persons group: USD24 /pax for driver and USD12/pax for driver 6 persons or more group: USD16 /pax for driver and USD8/pax for driver g) Mekong Cruise boat crew tipping amount to your discretion h) Malaysians don t require visa to visit Thailand and Laos. i) Expenses of personal nature like other optional tours not in itinerary, laundry & mini bar charges, beverages during meals, miscellaneous tipping (such as hotel & restaurant staff), etc.