National Museum

Welcome meeting by our staff on your arrival at Luang Prabang airport (or at your hotel). 

In the morning we visit the National Museum: formerly the Royal Palace, it now houses an important collection of valuables including statues of Buddha and many other items donated by visiting dignitaries to the court of Luang Prabang.

We continue with a visit to the Wat Xieng Thong Monastery, ‘Monastery of the Golden City‘, founded in 1560, one of the most important in Luang Prabang, known for the grace and elegance of its architecture.

Afterwards, we move on to the pier and embark on a river cruise to Pak Ou Caves, best known as the Thousand Buddha Caves. Located at the confluence of the Mekong and Ou rivers, they are one of the must-see sights on a trip to Laos.

The sanctuary consists of two large limestone caves: Tham Ting, the lower cavity, which can be reached by climbing the 30-step staircase, and Tham Theung, the upper cavity, which can be reached by climbing the 70-step staircase.

The Pak Ou caves have been an important place of worship for many centuries for the faithful, who offer a Buddha image as a gift when they make a pilgrimage there. As a result of this tradition, today both cavities house thousands of statues of Buddha of different sizes, from a few centimeters to about 2 meters, in different styles and spiritual positions (mudras), from meditation to ascent to nirvana.

After the visit, we return to Luang Prabang. On the way back we stop at the village of Ban Xang Kong, which is known for its ancient textile tradition and the production of paper from mulberry bark.

We end the day with a beautiful sunset from the top of the Wat Phabath temple.

Included : Tour guide, tickets, boat and private transportation