5 Days Luang Prabang City Food Tour
Tour Overview
This comprehensive 5-day tour is a perfect chance to explore the authentic Laotian flavors in Luang Prabang through traditional dishes and delectable street food style while still having enough...
Code of Tour: TAD0000028784
Length of Travel: 5 Day
Destinations of Tour: Luang Prabang
Departure City: Luang Prabang
Price of Tour: Request
Type of Tour: Private
Features of Tour: Food tours
This comprehensive 5-day tour is a perfect chance to explore the authentic Laotian flavors in Luang Prabang through traditional dishes and delectable street food style while still having enough time to experience the best of this ancient town and the surrounding region. Besides uncovering the secrets of Laotian cuisine with a food tour, this is also a great opportunity to observe the local life and see the cultural highlights of Luang Prabang. Take the chance and enjoy a wonderful time in your Laos holiday.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR
Enjoy a welcome dinner with typical Laos food and tradionnal dance show
Cruise upstream on the mighty Mekong River to visit Pak Ou Caves, a sacred site with hundreds of centuries-old Buddha images
Take a hands-on experience in Ban Xangkhong weaving village
Visit the bear rescued centre and azure blue pools of Kuang Si waterfalls
Learn how Lao people use bamboo in daily life as well as join a mini cooking class to cook dishes from bamboo shoots
Explore Luang Prabang’s iconic landmarks: Royal Palace Museum & Wat Xieng Thong
Have fun with adorable elephants in Elephant Village and relax in Tad Sae Waterfalls nearby
Savor delicious street food in Luang Prabang such as Lao coconut cakes, Khao Soi, Sai Oua,…
DAY 1: LUANG PRABANG
Transfer:
Activities: Arrive in Luang Prabang. Enjoy welcome dinner & traditional dance
Upon arrival at Luang Prabang Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our local driver and Laotian guide who will take you to the hotel for check-in.
Luang Prabang is a must – see destination on your trip to Laos. It is a site surrounded by magnificent mountains with a healthy atmosphere and which has been classified by UNESCO on the list of world cultural heritages for thirty temples and buildings with a maximum of 2 floors. The first impression of tourists of Luang Prabang is the beauty of the landscapes and architecture, combined with the rigors of daily life.
Enjoy welcome dinner with typical Laos food and tradionnal dance show.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 3 Choices
DAY 2: LUANG PRABANG
Transfer:
Activities: Visit Pak Ou caves by boat & relax at Kuang Si Waterfall
This morning transfer to the pier where you board a traditional long trail boat, for a relaxing cruise upstream on the mighty Mekong River. Enjoy stunning mountain scenery and witness the simple rural lifestyles.You will reach Pak Ou caves at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. In these 2 caves are displayed hundreds of sacred centuries-old Buddha images which are the object of pilgrimages during the Lao New Year festivities around mid-April. Cruise back Luang Prabang. Stop and visit Ban Xangkhong, a weaving village, where you can jump into wooden looms with local expert for practical and experience.
This afternoon, driving through green rice paddies and farms. On your arrival at the Kuang Si waterfall, enjoy your short walking on trails of falls to visit the bear rescued centre. Enjoy spectacular views and surrounding of orchids inside the park and falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. Return to Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Experiences:
Enjoyable Mekong River boat excursion to Pak Ou Cave
When in Luang Prabang, it is recommended to take a boat tour through Mekong river and visit Pak Ou caves. The excursion will bring you pleasant time to see the local life along the way where the mountain, blue sky and spectacular scenery are in harmony to take the picture. The climb to the caves will guide you to superb exploration to see hundreds of Buddha sculptures in a dark cave, which is not only an insight into top attraction in Luang Prabang, but the historical stories of the sacred relics protection from bombings during the Secret War as well.
Spectacular and stunning Kuang Si WaterFalls
No words can describe the stunning of Kuang Si Waterfalls and the emerald water: you must witness in person, the experience will surely exceeds your expectations!Located outside the city of Luang Prabang, Kuang Si Waterfalls are absolutely breathtaking and definitely worth the visit. You can climb up to the falls and take a dip, or walk through the beautiful area and got in the water a bit more downstream, swim or simply put my feet in for a relaxation.Truly, a joyous feast for eyes and ears, for mind and soul !
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: 3 Choices
DAY 3: LUANG PRABANG
Transfer:
Activities: Learn the importance of bamboo in the daily life of Laotian. Enjoy experiences with bamboo such as cooking, weaving, cutting…Visit Royal Palace & Wat Xieng Thong
Breakfast at hotel.
Begin your half day at The Bamboo Experience (Please arrive there by 8h30am) where you will meet with the rest of your group for an explanation of the traditional and modern uses of bamboo and its significance within Lao culture. Your guide will show and explain to you the uses and importance of many bamboo products that Lao people have been using for hundreds of years as such fishing traps, musical instruments, carry bags, weapons, sticky rice containers, furniture, floor mats and roof thatching etc.
Next you will start your simple bamboo weaving class with a craftsman (but patient!) bamboo weaver, try your hand at the knife sharpening, bamboo cutting (into pieces) and then try the traditional bamboo weaving for about one hour to complete your own drink coaster to take home with, as a souvenir. Then, proceed to the cooking class demonstration (you are free to assist) as such deep fried stuffed bamboo shoot with pork, steam fish & bamboo shoot wrapped in banana leaf, fermented bamboo shoot dipping and sticky rice and more. Sample your creations at the end of the session in traditional Lao house (Pavilion style) overlooking the wonderful scenery and rice fields.
In the afternoon, begin your city tour with the Royal Palace Museum, an ideal place to study or learn some history and Royal lifestyle of Laos. The architecture of the building is a mixture of French Beaux–Art style and traditional Laos style, making it not only old, but also contemporary.
Afterwards, explore the Wat Xieng Thong (Monastery of the Golden City), one of the higher symbols of Buddhism in Laos. This place is built in a particular architectural style of Laos, with a curved roof that nearly touches the ground.
Dinner on your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Experiences:
Bamboo experience in Luang Prabang
The Bamboo Experience in Luang Prabang is an interactive local family-run workshop where you learn all about the use of bamboo in Lao culture as well as their daily life. The experience takes place in a rustic pavilion on traditional Lao style next to vast rice paddy fields. There you will be explained how bamboo is used to make various household items and given a fun experience to play Lao childhood games with metal balls, crossbow arrow, and bamboo stilts. You will also engage in a relaxing bamboo weaving course with the guides of an expert teacher; you’ll weave a souvenir mat made from strips of the bamboo plant that you can take as a keepsake. Then, enjoy a hands-on cooking class using the bamboo shoot as the main ingredients. Make dishes such as bamboo shoot soup, bamboo shoot steamed in banana leaf, Lao sticky rice and more. Afterward, savor your creations in the relaxing pavilion terrace and immerse in the peaceful semi-rural landscapes.
Royal Palace in Luang Prabang
Located on the banks of the Mekong River and facing the sacred Mount Phousi, the Royal Palace was built in 1904 to serve as the residence of King Sisavang Vong and his family during the French colonial era. After the revolution in 1975, the palace turned into a national museum and opened to the public in 1995. On the palace grounds, there are some buildings such as an exhibition hall, Haw Pra Bang that houses the standing Buddha statue called Prabang – the palladium of Laos, Royal Barge Shelter, Staff Headquarters and the Royal Ballet Theater. Besides enjoying the royal religious objects, the last king’s collection of cars, ancient statues, and paintings dating for centuries, you can also marvel at the stunning architecture of the palace that is a blend of traditional Lao style and French Beaux-Arts. The Royal Palace Museum is really well worth a visit to learn about Lao history and culture as well as the royal lifestyle.
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Pay a visit to Wat Xieng Thong – the highest symbol of Buddhism in Laos
Wat Xieng Thong, literally translated the ‘monastery of the golden city’, is one of the oldest and most important temples of Luang Prabang as well as one of the highest symbols of Buddhism in Laos. This Buddhist temple was built in 1559-1560 by King Setthathirath in the northern tip of the peninsula where the Mekong River and the Nam Khan River join. After a number of restorations, Wat Xieng Thong now consists of more than twenty structures on the grounds including a sim, a royal funerary carriage house, pavilions, shrines, residences, and gardens. As the temple still keeps its original form, a visit around will show tourists the characteristics of 16th-century Lao art and craft with the 2-tiered roof, colorful mosaics and carvings depicting Lao legends and the tree of life on the rear temple walls. Wat Xieng Thong is also an important venue where significant annual festivities in Luang Prabang are held.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: 3 Choices
DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG
Transfer:
Activities: Visit Elephant Village Sanctuary. Explore Ban En village. Enjoy food tour in Luang Prabang Town.
After your breakfast at the hotel, you will be greeted by the local driver and your Laotian guide who will take you to the Elephant Village Sanctuary. Situated in the village of Ban Xieng Lom, very close to the banks of the Nam Khan River and about 16km south – east of the city center, the Elephant Village Sanctuary (also known as the Elephant Park) rescue the elephants from abuse and then cure and protect them.
Upon arrival, join in activities with Elephants such as bathing & feeding them, see elephant hospital & know the daily life of elephant. Visit Ban En village. From there you start your boat trip to the Tad Sae Waterfalls, one of the magnificent natural in Luang Prabang (In dry season, water is not availalbe). As this pretty Tad Sae finds itself in an area full of natural resources, you will see infinitely soft and turquoise waters where you could relax and bathe in the heart of nature. End of the tour, return to Ban En by boat and then transfer to the town center.
This afternoon, get ready to enjoy food tour in this charming town. Here are the items you will get to try on this tour:
1. Lao coconut cakes: It’s called Khaonom Krok and it’s a beloved street food tour in Luang prabang. It’s served as a dessert for Lao meal. It’s made of sticky rice powder and coconut milk. They are light and yummy and taste very good.
2. Khao Soi: This is a kind of noodle soup made with flat rice noodles. Sometimes it’s made with round noodles. They are made of chopped pork, tomatoes, fermented soy beans, chilies, shallots and garlic.
3. Seasonal fruit: There are a number of different seasonal fruit in Laos such as papaya, pineapple, watermelon or jackfruit.
4. Sai Oua: Sai Oua or Lao sausage is made from chopped fatty pork with galangal, lime leaves, shallots, lemongrass, garlic, salt and fish sauce. It’s great to eat with sticky rice. It’s a traditional Lao food. In the past we don’t fridge, so this is how we kept meat to eat the whole year.
5. Fried egg with pork: A commonly eats in local home especially in the countryside where bamboo shoot is easy to find.
Note: This is not cooking course. You will only eat the chosen food but not cook them.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Experiences:
Food tour in Luang Prabang
Don’t leave Luang Prabang without uncovering the secrets of Laos’ flavors on a fascinating food tour. This trip is a great chance for travelers to experience both local restaurant and street food stalls that only Laotians visit to taste many local signature dishes, from the sweet coconut cake Khaonom Krok to the traditional Khao Soi noodle soup or the delicious Laos sausage Sai Oua. You can also enjoy walking through lively streets, traverse around local markets, and soak in the charming relaxed vibe of this ancient town. If you’re a foodie, this tour is a must in Luang Prabang.
Elephant village in Luang Prabang
Established in 2001, Elephant Village is a wonderful place where tourists get to know more about the elephants of Laos who are rescued from the abusive environment or the logging industry and cared by professional veterinarians. In a safe, secure home, on the bank of the Nam Khan river and next to Ban Xieng Lom, these special animals live happily with their herd as well as roam freely in the lush and green jungle every day. When visiting the Elephant Village, tourists can enjoy a lot of daily activities with the lovely elephants such as bathing and feeding your elephants, exploring the elephant hospital to learn how they cared each day or trekking on foot along them through diverse jungle landscapes. The village also offers tourists a lodge area to stay and a restaurant for lunch and dinner. This Elephant Village is one of the best educational and interesting places in Luang Prabang for families with kids.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: 3 Choices
DAY 5: LUANG PRABANG
Transfer:
Activities: Be transferred to Luang Prabang airport
After breakfast, depending on flight schedules, you will be transferred to the airport by your driver before boarding the aircraft.
Ends of services.
Service Included:
- Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
- Meals as listed in the itinerary;
- Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
- Private English-speaking tour guide and vehicle for transfers & sightseeing;
- Service charge & government taxes;
- Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
- Two bottles of mineral water each day;
Service Excluded:
- Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
- Chinese visa fees;
- Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
- Single room supplement;
- Tips to guides and drivers;
- Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff.
- Personal travel accident insurance;
- All optional programs;
- Domestic air tickets fares with airport tax and fuel extra fee based on economy class mentioned in the program.
