13 DAYS LAOS WILD

After breakfast you will be taken on a scenic drive through the countryside to visit the stunning Kuang Si Waterfall, stopping along the way to visit the Kuang Si Butterfly Park, where you will be shown around by one of the founders, and then on to the Free the Bears Projects to learn about the conservation efforts led by this local organisation. This afternoon, you will be introduced to Laos' most cherished and cultivated crop - rice! Arriving at a rice farm, you will be taken through the different steps of rice farming by your expert guide, and get the opportunity to meet with local farmers and learn more about this vital industry.

Wake up at sunrise to give monks morning alms and learn more about this daily Buddhist ceremony. After breakfast you will explore the villages and livelihoods of the locals living off the Mekong River, as you explore by boat and on foot, passing between fishing and weaving villages and learning more about the different communities and traditions of this area. End the day by joining one of your village hosts in their home for a Lao baci ceremony, a traditional blessing ceremony where you receive well wishes from elders in the village.

Today you will be transferred out of town into the beautiful Laos LUANG PRABANG – SAYABOURYcountryside towards Sayaboury Province, where you will spend the next two days learning about the conservation work being done at this unique elephant sanctuary. Spend time with the elephants and see them in their natural environment, learn about their daily routines and enjoy fascinating discussions with the experienced conservationists that are based here.

Enjoy spending some time with the elephants in the forest this morning, observing their daily routine and socializing habits. After lunch you will then be transferred back to Luang Prabang.

Depart Luang Prabang after breakfast for a long but stunning drive along the winding mountain roads to Phonesavanh, home of the Plain of Jars. On the way, you'll stop to visit a Hmong hill tribe village and have lunch at a local restaurant. If there is time once you reach Phonesavanh, visit a local mulberry farm and weaving centre before checking into your hotel for the evening.

Today you will explore the beautiful and truly unique sites of the Plain of Jars. Wander around the three different sites and visit Wat Phia, a temple that was almost completely destroyed during the war, leaving only a giant Buddha head which to this day remains intact.

After breakfast, stop by the MAG Centre to learn more about their efforts to clear thousands of life-threatening UXOs that still litter the country's landscape. From here you will drive through breathtaking mountainous landscape to Sam Neua, stopping along the way to visit the different hill tribe villages, known for their beautiful textiles, but also an area which suffered greatly during the war.

After an early breakfast drive to the renowned Vieng Xai Caves. Here you will be given a thorough background and history on the secret war and the significance of these caves, as you explore the network of elaborate bomb-shelter caves which provided a base for some 23,000 Lao people during the war. Enjoy tea in the home of a local guide who grew up in the area and offers a unique insight into this fascinating area. After lunch, return to Sam Neua, where you can enjoy a very special tour of a textile village with a local expert and meet with some of the top weavers in the country.

You will drive to Ban San Khoua today to begin your exciting two-day jungle adventure with a night safari. After meeting your local expert guides and learning more about their village, you will set off together by longtail boat along the Nam Nern River, stopping along the way for a traditional lunch and learning more about the conservation efforts in this remote area. Late afternoon you will reach your campsite near the river, where you can enjoy a picnic around the campfire and hear more stories about the different species that live in this area. As night falls, you will set out on your night safari, floating down river as quietly as possible as you use your lights to spot some of these nocturnal animals who like to come down to the river banks at night. Return to the base for the evening.

Before breakfast, your guides will take you on a walk around the jungle to further explain the use of some medicinal plants and explain the important history of this area, which was once a major settlement during the Secret War. After breakfast, the boats float back through the core zone of the park at a relaxing pace with engines off, while the guides point out some of the wildlife along the way. Upon arrival in the village, you will be asked to fill out a wildlife monitoring form that helps the project monitor progress in the area, before setting off on the long drive back to Luang Prabang.

This morning you will catch your flight to Vientiane. On arrival, head out to the Lao Disabled Women's Development Centre just outside Vientiane, a non-profit organization run by women with disabilities, for women with disabilities and their families in Laos. Spend time with some of the women as you participate in a handicraft workshop and privately guided tour of the centre, followed by a traditional baci ceremony and Lao style lunch. In the early afternoon return to Vientiane, stopping along the way to visit the COPE Centre to learn about how they are helping the disadvantaged in Laos effected by UXO.

You will be transferred to Vientiane Airport in time for your onward flight.