DAY 01 – Arrival – KUNMING

Without guide – With transport – Entrance fees at your own expense.
No breakfast.

Arrival in Kunming, welcomed by your driver and transfer to the city center (40 minutes/1hr).

If you arrive on the morning flight, you’ll have an afternoon to explore Kunming.

First you’ll take a stroll through Emerald Lake Park, where the locals love to stroll, sing, dance and play music.

Then visit the Yuantong Buddhist temple, a 15/20-minute walk from Emerald Lake.

Lunch at your own expense.

Overnight at hotel.

DAY 02 – KUNMING – TGV to DALI 

With English-speaking guide – With transport
Breakfast at hotel.

Meet your driver at the hotel, drive to Kunming station (20-30 mins), TGV to Dali (2hrs journey. 2nd class).

Information for travelers taking the train: Please keep your train ticket in a safe place until you leave the station, where a ticket check will take place. Aerosols are not allowed on board.

Arrival in Dali, welcomed by your new English-speaking driver and guide, transfer to hotel in Dali’s old town (1hr).

Visit of Dali Old Town. Dali Old Town has a rich history dating back over 1,200 years. It was once the capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom (738-937) and the Dali Kingdom (937-1253), two powerful dynasties that dominated the Yunnan region for centuries.

Stroll through the cobbled streets and you’ll be immersed in a picturesque setting blending traditional Ba architecture. We recommend a visit to a Catholic church built in the style of the Bai, the local Dali ethnic group.

Drive to Cangshan (30 minutes). Discover a tea garden in Cangshan Mountain, where you pick, roll and dry tea leaves.

Meals at your own expense.
Overnight at hotel.

DAY 03 – DALI – SHAXI

Without guide – With transport – Entrance fees at your own expense.
Breakfast at your hotel.

Meet your driver at the hotel. In the morning, visit the colorful market in Xizhou village through cobblestone streets and traditional houses.

Drive to Shibaoshan Mountain (2hrs), home to the Shizhongsi Caves and Baoxiang Temple. A superb collection of Buddhist sculptures carved into the rock.

Depending on whether or not you fancy a short hike, you have two options:

1. For hikers
After paying the entrance fee, you will take the shuttle bus to the foot of Baoxiang Temple (宝相寺). Climb the stairs to the temple in the middle of the mountain. In this temple, you have the opportunity to visit shrines dedicated to the veneration of lords, Buddhist and Taoist saints.

Take the shuttle back to the Stone Bell Temple (石钟寺). Watch out for monkeys during the walk and visit to Baoxiang Temple.

Arriving at the Stone Bell Temple parking lot, you will visit impressive Buddhist sculptures dating back to the 13th century. You will then proceed to a small temple behind which is a hiking trail. Please note that this is an easy hike, but there are steps to descend, and some parts are a little steep. It is possible to take the shuttle bus instead.

After an hour and a half of hiking, you’ll meet the driver at the Shadengqing Valley shuttle stop (沙登箐), then drive to Shaxi village (沙溪古镇. 3km, 5mins).

2. For people who don’t want to hike.
After paying for the entrance and shuttle (you have to pay for the round trip), you will take the shuttle directly to the Stone Bell Temple (石钟寺).

Once you’ve climbed up to the small temple after visiting the sculptures, there’s a road that will take you to the same parking lot, where you take the shuttle back.

Explore Baoxiang Temple (宝相寺), then return to the first parking lot to meet up with your driver, with whom you drive to Shaxi Village (沙溪古镇). 3km, 15mins).

In the late afternoon, you continue to the village of Shaxi (20 mins).

Arriving in Shaxi, you’ll take a stroll through this old village located on the famous tea and horse route.

Meals at your own expense.
Overnight at hotel.

DAY 04 – SHAXI – TIGER LEAP GORGE

Without guide – With transport – Entrance fees at your own expense.
Breakfast at your hotel.

Meet your guide at the hotel at 10:30 a.m., mountain road to Tiger Leap Gorge (2h30). Visit the Hutiaoshi viewpoint: you’ll descend along a pathway to the rapids of the Yangtze River (20-minute descent, then 30-minute return with many steps). Once at the river’s edge, the power and roar of the mighty river will leave you with unforgettable memories.

Optional: Escalator ride up and down the river (80 RMB per person).

Mountain road to Half-way Guesthouse (30 mins), you can hike for approx. 2h30 to the Tea & Horse Guesthouse on “aerial” trails between the Haba (5398m) and Yulong Shan (5596m) mountains. Alongside the trail are the irrigation canals that the Naxis dug to make their land fertile in the highlands.

If you don’t want to walk, the driver can take you straight to Yachajiao Manor.

Info: We suggest you prepare backpacks with water in advance for the hikes, and leave large suitcases in the car, so the driver can take them up to your guesthouse.

Please note: If it’s raining hard, the hike in the Tiger Leap Gorge is not feasible. In this case, we’ll modify the program on site for you.
Ascent: 700 m / Descent: 300 m

Meals at your own expense.
Night in hotel.

DAY 05 – TIGER LEAP GORGE – LIJIANG 

Without guide – With transport – Entrance fees at your own expense.
Breakfast at your hotel.

Meet your driver at Tea & Horse Guesthouse and transfer to Lijiang (2h30).

Stroll through Lijiang’s old town:

Zhongyi Market. This market is one of Lijiang’s must-sees. Merchants come early in the morning to sell, trade or buy fresh produce, animals and trinkets of all kinds.

Black Dragon Pond Park. The best vantage point from which to appreciate Jade Dragon Mountain, this park is a beautiful Chinese garden, where teams of dancers, singers, Taijis and others gather.

Transfer to Shuhe village (30 mins), where you check into your hotel and take a stroll through the village.

Meals at your own expense.
Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 06 – LIJIANG – KUNMING

Without guide – With transport – Entrance fees at your own expense.
Breakfast at hotel.

Meet your driver. In the morning, you can learn how to cook Yunnan’s specialty cuisine, from 9.15am to 12.45pm, lunch included. The Yunnan specialty cuisine on offer is : Dai-style milk tea (泡鲁达), Cold chicken (鬼鸡) and Rice noodles cooked in a small pot (小锅米线).

After lunch, transfer to Lijiang station (30 mins), second-class TGV to Kunming (4hrs/4h30).

Information for travelers taking the train: Please keep your train ticket in a safe place until you leave your arrival station, where a ticket check will take place. Aerosols are not allowed on board.

Arrival in Kunming, welcome by your new driver, transfer to your hotel.

Meals at your own expense.
Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 07 – KUNMING – LUANG PRABANG

Without guide – With transport – Entrance fees at your own expense.
Breakfast at your hotel.

Transfer to Kunming Nan station (40 mins), where you take the TGV to Vientiane.

The railroad, built as part of China’s New Silk Roads project and opened in December 2021, crosses Laos from the Chinese border in the north to Vientiane and the Thai border. Crossing one of the most mountainous regions of Laos, the line features numerous tunnels and bridges, significantly shorten travel times.

– TRAIN KUNMIING (China) – LUANG PRABANG (Laos)

Unaccompanied passage through administrative formalities at the China/Laos border. Continuation by train to Luang Prabang.

Information for travelers taking the train: Please keep your train ticket in a safe place until you leave your arrival station, where a ticket check will take place. Aerosols are not allowed on board.

Luang Prabang is a small town nestled among mountains covered in lush vegetation, at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, in an unspoilt natural environment. The town’s rich architectural heritage – a harmonious blend of traditional Lao wooden houses, colonial brick urban structures and some of the most sophisticated and richly decorated monasteries in South-East Asia – and its exceptional state of preservation, make it a real gem that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995. You’ll discover sumptuous traditional wooden houses, centuries-old pagodas, the former Royal Palace and beautiful colonial administrative buildings as you stroll along its lanes…. This former royal capital, still the country’s cultural and religious center, has a very special atmosphere.

Arrive at Luang Prabang station and transfer to your hotel.

Free time for lunch and dinner.

Suggestion: You can stroll through the night market that sets up daily from 5:00 pm on the main street. It’s worth noting that most of the items on sale here today are no longer made in Laos, but come from neighboring countries.

Overnight at your hotel.

DAY 08 – LUANG PRABANG: City tour

With guide – With transportation
Breakfast at the hotel.

Suggestion (without guide/driver): If you’re an early bird, you can head out at dawn to watch the Tak Bak: a daily ritual of offerings made by the faithful to the monks who emerge from their pagodas and make their way through the city streets in long, silent processions. This religious ceremony, which is particularly important for Buddhist believers, is unfortunately often disrupted by tourists, some of whom interfere with the procession to take photos of monks who have become stars in spite of themselves, and others who take part without any knowledge of the rules to be respected… We therefore ask you to attend in silence and from a distance, out of respect for the monks and the faithful who ensure that this ritual is still maintained in Luang Prabang.

This morning, departure with your guide to continue exploring the city by tuktuk.

– The morning market of Ban Pakham, which takes place every day in a small street near the Mekong River, for a little immersion in the daily life of the local population.

– Phousi Mountain, is a mound in the middle of the peninsula, rising some 150 m above the city. A staircase of 328 steps leads to the top, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city, the Mekong River and the surrounding mountains.

– The former Royal Palace, now National Museum, blending French and Lao architectural elements, was the first permanent palace built in Laos for the king and his family in the early 20th century. A recently built chapel in the gardens houses the Prabang, the most sacred Buddha statue in Laos (please note that the site is closed every last Thursday of the month).

– Vat Mai, built in the early 19th century. With its low-sloping 5-sided roof, it is built in the Luang Prabang style. Its façade, covered with gold-leaf bas-reliefs, tells the story of one of Buddha’s past lives, incorporating elements of local life.

Lunch at the Ock Pop Tok restaurant.

This afternoon, spend half a day at the Ock Pop Tok Handicraft Center. Situated on the banks of the Mekong, a little way from the city center, Ock Pop Tok is one of Luang Prabang’s most refined venues… Ock Pop Tok (literally, the rising meets the setting, or east meets west) is where you can learn all about one of Laos’ most important traditional activities, weaving.

You’ll stroll through the tropical garden to reach the various display areas, then the production areas with their many looms, before discovering a local batik-making technique. This tour immerses you in the world of Laotian weaving, with its techniques and diversity of motifs. After an introduction to silk production and weaving techniques, you’ll take part in a dyeing workshop. Collect plants, roots, flowers, seeds and bark in the garden to produce the various pigments according to the traditional dyeing recipes you’ll use for your activity.

Dinner at your own expense.
Overnight at your hotel.

DAY 09 – LUANG PRABANG: Meet the elephants – City tour

With English-speaking guide – With transport.
Breakfast at hotel.

Departure for Ban Xieng Lom, a village nestled in a loop of the Nam Khane River about 35 minutes’ drive from downtown Luang Prabang, to spend a morning at Elephant Village, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet and spend time with elephants, one of Laos’ most emblematic species, formerly known as the “Kingdom of the Million Elephants”.

It’s in the heart of this little haven of peace that the majestic giants of the Laotian forests have found refuge from logging and abuse. The elephants are pampered and cared for by a team of enthusiasts dedicated to the preservation of the species.

Upon arrival at the center, you’ll be given an introduction to the issues involved in conserving the species, and the projects the center is working on. You’ll also receive all the information you need to prepare for your encounter with the giants. At the end of the presentation, set off to meet the elephants! This is your chance to enjoy a special moment with these fascinating animals.

Afterwards, visit the park’s other facilities: the elephant hospital, the museum, the gallery and the cellulose-rich dung paper factory!

You’ll then board a pirogue and sail down the Nam Khan towards the Tad Se waterfall. This is also an opportunity to observe local fishing techniques and the bucolic landscapes that line the river. You’ll have the chance to take a dip and contemplate the beauty of the place before heading back to the center.

Buffet lunch served at the center’s restaurant.

Return to Luang Prabang, filled with unforgettable emotions.

In the afternoon, we continue our tour by tuktuk:

– Heuan Chan House. This former princely residence, built in the 19th century, was renovated by UNESCO when the town was listed. It is one of the few traditional Lao houses on stilts to be found in Luang Prabang.

– T.A.E.C. Museum (Centre for Traditional Arts and Ethnology) – closed Mondays
A small museum opened in 2007 in a listed building in the heart of Luang Prabang, its rich collections reveal the great ethnic and cultural diversity that characterizes Laos.

– Vat Visoun, whose construction began in the early 16th century, is one of Luang Prabang’s oldest monasteries. Destroyed by Chinese pirates in 1887, it was rebuilt in the early 20th century. Built in the Tai Lue style with baluster windows, inspired by Khmer architecture, it houses the largest Buddha in Luang Prabang…

– Vat Xieng Thong, located on the banks of the Mekong at the end of the peninsula. A royal monastery from its foundation in the 16th century until 1975, it is the most beautiful in the city and considered a masterpiece of Buddhist architecture in Laos, especially the main chapel, whose roof descends almost to the ground.

Dinner at your own expense.
Overnight at hotel.

DAY 10 – LUANG PRABANG: Morning at leisure – BAN LAE SIVILAY

With English-speaking guide – With transport.
Breakfast at hotel

Free morning to enjoy Luang Prabang at your own pace.

NOTE: Rooms are available until 12:00 pm.
(OPTION: Late Check-out, with supplement and subject to availability)

Lunch at your own expense.

In the afternoon, departure by road for a transfer to Ban Lae Sivilay.

A small, traditional Laotian village on the banks of the Nam Xuang River, a tributary of the Mekong. Located around 30 km from Luang Prabang, it is home to hundreds Lao and Hmong inhabitants.

After settling in with your host family, you’ll set off to explore the village and its surroundings… You’ll start with a stroll through the surrounding orchards, to discover the local fruit crops, depending on the season: banana, orange, lemon, grapefruit, lichi, rambutan, sapodilla, pineapple etc., which are sold at the Luang Prabang markets. This is also an opportunity to pick a few vegetables for the evening meal.

Afterwards, you’ll board a pirogue for a leisurely trip down the river to observe local life… Toilet, laundry, fishing, gold panning… Volunteers can try their hand at net fishing….

In the late afternoon, a Hmong neighbor will give you a short demonstration of khene, a local musical instrument. You can then take part in the evening’s preparations or relax.

Dinner at your own expense.
Overnight with a local (basic comfort).

DAY 11 – BAN LAE SIVILAY – LUANG PRABANG: Right bank

With English-speaking guide – With transport.
Local breakfast with local people.

This morning, you’ll set off on a pleasant walk through the village to discover its economic activities (weaving, fishing net making, embroidery…), its ethnically distinct housing… and the large-scale plantations (teak, rubber).

In the late morning, you’ll take the road back to Luang Prabang.

Lunch en route in a local restaurant.

This afternoon, you cross the Mekong to Ban Xieng Mene, where you take a stroll and visit the surrounding area on foot.

Located opposite Luang Prabang on the other side of the Mekong, Ban Xieng Mene is a tranquil village in the World Heritage area.

A small footpath has been built along the river to enable you to walk from Vat Xieng Mene, the village’s main temple, to Vat Long Khun, a beautiful temple where the future king of Laos once made a final retreat before ascending the throne. The main chapel houses some very old paintings. On the way, climb the stairs to Vat Chomphet, a small sanctuary set atop a mound and offering a beautiful view of Luang Prabang.

Return to Luang Prabang.

Dinner at your own expense.
Overnight at hotel.

DAY 12 – LUANG PRABANG: Rice initiation and Kouang Si waterfall

With local English-speaking guide at Living Land center – With transport.
Breakfast at the hotel.

This morning, discovery of the Living Land center. Located just outside Luang Prabang, the Living Land center offers an authentic opportunity to discover all the mysteries of the region’s most emblematic cereal: rice. Among other things, you’ll discover all the stages in its cultivation, from sowing to harvesting, right up to its arrival on your plate. Living Lang, a social enterprise and community project, also offers English classes to local students (www.livinglandlao.org).

You then take the road to Ban Thapene, the village near the Kouang Si waterfalls, through traditional countryside, rice paddies, market gardens alternating with teak plantations and open forest.

Lunch at the Carpe Diem restaurant. This restaurant offers tasty fusion cuisine in a dreamy setting on the banks of the Si River. Note that the Carpe Diem restaurant donates 5% of its profits to the ASAS association, whose aim is to build access to drinking water and help rehabilitate schools in isolated villages in northern Laos.

Afternoon visit to the Kouang Si waterfalls in the presence of your guide.

Nestled in the middle of the forest, the Kouang Si waterfalls are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful natural sites in Laos: a splendid cascade, extended by a succession of basins with magnificent turquoise blue water. Volunteers will have the opportunity to bathe in some of these enchanting pools. The well-appointed park also boasts large enclosures near the entrance, housing collared bears, a species endemic to Laos that has escaped poaching or illegal detention.

Return by road to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.

Dinner at your own expense.
Overnight at hotel.

DAY 13 – LUANG PRABANG – DEPARTURE

Without guide – With transport.
Breakfast at your hotel.

Day at leisure until transfer to Luang Prabang airport.

NOTE: Rooms are available until 12:00 pm.
(OPTION: Late Check-out, with supplement and subject to availability)

Meals oat your own expense.