DAY 1 - LUANG PRABANG ARRIVAL (D)

Royal Ballet Theatre

Welcome to Luang Prabang, the spiritual capital of Laos.
On arrival at the airport, guests will receive a VIP welcome inside the immigration area by an EXO representative and guided through the immigration process. Clients will need to handover their passport photos, cash and completed forms to the immigration officer (this cannot be done by EXO staff because the clients must have their photos taken). Once the formalities have been completed, guests will then proceed directly to the waiting vehicle and transferred to the hotel, accompanied by the guide. Other member of staff will follow them to the hotel with the luggage and passports (now containing visas).

Note: The availability of this service could change at any time depending on the airport authorities, surcharge: 40 US$ per person.
This evening guests will be welcomed to Luang Prabang with traditional Baci ceremony. The Baci ceremony is performed in celebration of an important event, such as a wedding, birth, or for welcoming guests, and is a means of expressing goodwill and good luck to others. The Lao believe that each person has 32 spirits which constitute their spiritual essence and the Baci is the ritual used to call back any escaped spirits in to the body. Guests will receive blessings of good luck as the locals wrap bracelets around their wrists and recite traditional chants.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Attend an evening performance at the Royal Ballet Theatre.
Founded in 2002 in cooperation with the Institute of Cultural Research, the Royal Ballet Theatre aims to preserve this important aspect of Lao cultural heritage. Watching the spectacular performances, including scenes from the Lao-Ramayana, Lao folk dances and tribal dances, will provide a unique and unforgettable experience. The show starts at 6:00pm (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). Attention: subject to change without prior notice from the company. Please note that the Royal Ballet Theatre is normally closed from June to September.
Proceed to L’Elephant, one of the finest restaurants in Luang Prabang, for dinner before being driven back to the hotel.
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Distance and journey time:
Luang Prabang Airport – Luang Prabang (4 km): 15 min

DAY 2 - LUANG PRABANG - HD CITY TOUR - DINNER CRUISE ON THE MEKONG (B,L,D)

National Museum

After breakfast guests will transfer to the historical center of Luang Prabang for a visit to the National Museum - the first stop of this half-day city tour.
Once the Royal Palace of Laos, the National Museum is filled with artworks, artifacts and jewels and provides an excellent insight into the history and rich culture of the country. Continue on foot to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-reliefs, and Wat Sensoukarahm, which features a dazzling golden façade. The morning tour finishes at Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang. Located at the end of the peninsula, close to the Mekong River, this temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat and is decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics.
Enjoy lunch in town at the Tamarind restaurant, where guests will have a chance to sample some unusual local specialties not available back home (Note: closed on Sundays).
After lunch, guests will be driven to their hotel for some time to relax and freshen up before heading out again later.
In the late afternoon, guests will be driven to the riverbank to board the Nava Mekong, an elegant and traditional riverboat. Cruising gently down  the Mekong River, guests will be able to take in views of rural villages as the sun sets behind the surrounding mountains. The riverboat will moor on the opposite bank in time for dinner, which will include a selection of classic Lao dishes and traditional local entertainment including music and dance performances depicting traditional Lao folk tales and legends. After dinner, guests will cruise back to Luang Prabang. Please note that this is not a private cruise.
A short ride will take guests back to the historical center of the town where they can either transfer directly back to their hotel or stop to visit the evening hill tribe market, which features dozens of stalls selling local souvenirs, handicrafts and textiles.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Distance and journey time:
Boat trip to Pak Ou Caves (25 km): 2 hours

DAY 3 - LUANG PRABANG - HD CYCLING TOUR - EVENING COOKING CLASS (B,L,D)

Phosy Market

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel in Luang Prabang at 09:00 with your adapted bikes.
The tour starts with a visit to Phosy Market where guests can join the locals and support vendors by buying fresh products or fruit. The guide will be on hand to encourage guests to taste some of the exotic fruits on offer, and to help identify new items not found in the grocery store back home!
Continue the ride to Ock Pop Tock. This non-profit organization seeks to preserve traditional weaving techniques, a trade which was once an important source of income for many Lao families but is slowly fading out as modern technology has evolved. A short tour introduces the processes of silk weaving, from the initial stages of creating the dyes to the final process of loom weaving.
Ride along the Mekong back into town for the final stop of the day, the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre, which is dedicated to exploring the rich diversity of Laos’ ethnic minorities. Traditional costumes, tools and artifacts are on display alongside in-depth descriptions and written histories. It is a great opportunity to gain insight in to the Lao people (Note: closed on Mondays)
Cycle to a local restaurant or your hotel by bike.
Alternatively, after dropping of the bikes guests can enjoy lunch at Le Tangor. One of the best restaurants in Luang Prabang, Le Tangor is known for its pleasant atmosphere and its unique fusion food blending the best of seasonal Lao produce with French flair.
After lunch, transfer back to the hotel and enjoy some free time to experience the charming atmosphere of Luang Prabang.
Guests will then be picked at 15.30 for a private evening cooking class at a stunning lakeside location - the perfect way to learn the secrets of Lao cuisine.
The expert chefs will first demonstrate how to prepare authentic Lao dishes. Then the guests will be able to try their hand at creating the local cuisine, slicing and pounding their way through the ingredients before cooking each dish in the traditional way. At the end, each guest will be given a cook book to take home, allowing them to practice their new-found cooking skills and relive their time in Laos.
And of course, after the hard work preparing the meal, guests will be able to tuck in to their creations for dinner.
After dinner, the guide and driver will meet guests for a private transfer back to the hotel (around 2100). Alternatively, guests can ask to be dropped off at a bar in town before making their own way back to the hotel.
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Distance and journey time:
Hotel – E-bike station (2 km): 5 min
Hotel – Cooking class private garden (8 km): 15 min

DAY 4 - LUANG PRABANG - DEPARTURE (B)

Luang Prabang

For early risers, there is a very special dawn visit to watch the monks collecting alms.  As the sun begins to rise, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents. It is a beautiful, serene ceremony that highlights the spiritualism of the Lao people. Return to the hotel for breakfast.
Depending on the client’s flight schedule, there may be time to enjoy a unique tour that supports two excellent local charities and allows clients to donate books to local communities. The idea behind the ‘Bucket of Books’ excursion is to help the local community without being invasive. The books are sourced from two excellent local charities; Big Brother Mouse and Pha Tak Ke.
Big Brother Mouse is a not-for-profit, Lao-owned project employing local staff who work with the goal of helping young Lao citizens develop new and beneficial skills. It is not an NGO. Started by a retired American publisher working with several bright Lao college students, Big Brother Mouse started publishing “books that make literacy fun!” The books are written and illustrated by Lao writers and allow children to educate themselves through reading. The cost of five books is included in every Bucket of Books, with that money going directly to Big Brother Mouse.
A picnic lunch, catered by L’Eléphant, is included for guests to enjoy in the countryside.
After lunch, guests will be transferred to the airport in time for their onward flight.

Distance and journey time:
Luang Prabang– Luang Prabang Airport (4 km): 15 min

**END OF SERVICE**