Elephants and treks in Northern Laos

On day three of this holiday to Laos, you'll be picked up in the morning at your hotel in Chiang Rai and transferred to the border where your driver will drop you off and you make your own way into Laos. The Mekong river forms the border between Thailand and Laos, so step onto the ferry and within a couple of minutes you'll arrive at the Laotian border post. This is where you can arrange your 30 day visa ($30 and don’t forget your two passport photos!) and simply walk into Laos where your new driver will be waiting for you.

Together with some other travellers you’ll board the minibus for the drive to Luang Namtha. The 5-hour trip will just fly by as you admire the breathtaking scenery giving you a taste of what’s in store in Laos. On arrival in Luang Namtha your guide will brief you on tomorrow’s trekking. You’ll be staying in basic, but charming accommodation in Luang Namtha.

After breakfast on day four of your holiday to Laos, it’s time to get ready for the trekking through the Nam Ha P.A. (Protected Area), a nature reserve near Luang Namtha. After a 30-minute transfer you’ll arrive at the nature reserve to begin your moderate 4-hour trek through green rainforest and across wide green fields.

Halfway on the trek you’ll stop off at an Akha village, home to the traditional hill tribe with its own characteristic culture. The Akha are known for their colourful dress and great hospitality. Just outside the village you’ll reach the highest point of the trek, where you can catch your breath gazing out across the beautiful green valley as your guide prepares lunch. The trek continues to the Black Tai village, a tribe known for their hand-woven silks and the real ‘Lao Whiskey’. Your day will end back in Luang Namtha. 

You can spend day five of your holiday to Laos as you please. There are several ways in which to explore the surrounding area of Luang Namtha; go on another walk in the Nam Ha PA or rent a mountain bike to cycle through the rice paddies. If you prefer heading out onto the water you can go on a boat trip or if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, go kayaking.

Ask your guide or the staff at reception for some tips or interesting trails. The latter may require a bit of hand-and-footwork but that just adds to the charm of this relatively undiscovered country. Because they know the area so well, they’ll be able to tell you all the best spots.

It’s an early start on day six of your holiday to Laos and after breakfast you’ll be picked up for the transfer by minibus to the friendly town of Luang Prabang. The road is pretty bumpy but the beautiful scenery and views across the hilly countryside more than make up for it.

You'll arrive in Luang Prabang in the late afternoon, and you'll spend a couple of days getting to know this friendly town with colourful temples, orange-robed monks and relaxed atmosphere.
 

It's day seven of your holiday to Laos and, after breakfast, you're free to explore the city 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 on your holiday to Laos 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.
 

During your stay in Luang Prabang you'll be picked up by tuk-tuk at around 4pm for a special trip along the Mekong river. Along with your English speaking guide you'll sail upstream to the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong River, a mystical and holy place for the local Laotians. On the other side of the river, you'll get out and walk to the less famous temple of Wat Long Khoune and Wat Chomphet.

Then it's time to get back on board. With a glass of wine or beer in your hand, you'll relax and watch the sun set over the Mekong. A truly romantic place for a sunset in Luang Prabang!

After breakfast on the nineth day of your holiday to Laos, your driver will take you to the nearby Nam Khan river where you'll find a small boat waiting to take you to the the Elephant Lodge. This sanctuary for elephants is set on the banks of the river surrounded by wild jungle and mountains. The sanctuary provides a home for elephants that have endured a hard life working in the logging industry and allows them to enjoy a well-earned retirement.

After you’ve dropped your bags in your bungalow you’ll meet the ‘mahout’ (elephant carer) who will be helping you look after the elephants. Climbing onto these huge animals takes a bit of practice, but you’ll soon get the hang of it. You’ll also learn some useful mahout lingo such as ‘hau’ (stop), ‘sai’ (left) and ‘kwa’ (right). Armed with buckets and huge brushes you’ll wade into the river to scrub the thick skins clean. Bath time is always a highly amusing spectacle so be prepared to get wet.

Why not start day twelve of your holiday to Laos with a typical Laotian breakfast? French bread and café au lait. Vang Vieng, located on the banks of the Nam Song River and nestled between immense green hill tops, has the look and feel of an idyllic country town.  

It offers plenty of exciting outdoor activities for the active traveller such as kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, swimming in caves and hiking. However there's also plenty to do for those who just want to take it easy. We went tubing down the river and stopped at quite a few outdoor cafes along the banks of the river along the way. In the evening you'll find friendly people and a cosy atmosphere in the many restaurants and bars in the main street.