Laos and Northern Thailand
12 DAYS
18 PEOPLE
3690 EURO
Laos and the north of Thailand are the part of Southeast Asia where travel still feels like discovery! It is a region where ancient traditions, living culture, and powerful nature intertwine naturally, without decoration. There is less mass tourism here, more space, silence, and authenticity.
We invite you on a rich, deep, and truly vivid journey - from the capital of Laos to the northern borders, through jungle, mountains, and rivers, transitioning into the cultural and aesthetic world of northern Thailand. In northern Laos, one of the most powerful adventures awaits you: the Gibbon Experience program in The Nam Kan National Park, where you will travel by zipline over the jungle. You will spend a night above the rainforest in treehouses, surrounded by the sounds of the living forest.
Our route north will follow the Mekong - the great river that has shaped the life of the region for centuries. We will follow its course, immersing ourselves in a world of calm, ancient beliefs, and simple yet powerful traditions.
Over these days you will experience Laos from the inside. You will spend time in Luang Prabang - one of the most beautiful and harmonious cities in Asia, where monks walk out at dawn and time seems to slow down. You will travel along the Mekong to the sacred Pak Ou Caves, filled with thousands of Buddha statuettes, and touch a living spiritual tradition.
In Vang Vieng, turquoise lagoons, karst mountains, and caves await you. Kayaking on the river and a rare sense of freedom of movement. We will stop in villages, get to know the daily life of local people, and see real life without staging - simple and sincere.
The journey then continues in Thailand - and here the rhythm gradually changes. Northern Thailand reveals itself through art, nature, and aesthetics: the White Temple, which cannot be compared to anything else, tea plantations with endless green lines, elephants amid water and greenery.
It is here that we will encounter something that cannot be replaced by any other experience - interacting with elephants at an ethical sanctuary. No shows and no rides, only respect, contact, and a living presence. And it is here that many people feel the most important thing - simple, deep gratitude.
This journey is not a checklist and not about a list of sights. This journey is about a feeling. And perhaps that is exactly why you will want to immerse yourself in it.
ROUTE
Vientiane ➙ Patuxai Victory Monument ➙ Wat Si Saket temple ➙ high-speed train ➙ Vang Vieng ➙ Blue Lagoon ➙ Tham Phu Kham and Tham Nam caves ➙ Luang Prabang (UNESCO) ➙ Mekong River cruise ➙ Pak Ou Caves ➙ Living Land farm ➙ Kuang Si Waterfall ➙ moon bear rescue center ➙ Huay Xai ➙ Gibbon Experience (2 days / 1 night) ➙ Chiang Rai ➙ White Temple - tea plantations ➙ Wat Huay Pla Kang ➙ Kayan (Long Neck) village ➙ Sticky Waterfalls ➙ Elephant Jungle Sanctuary ➙ Chiang Mai ➙ flight to Bangkok.
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Accommodation in hotels as per the program, double occupancy.
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Meals as per the program: breakfasts, lunches, and dinners on the specified days.
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All group transfers along the route in Laos and Thailand by comfortable transport: a large tourist bus or two minivans on sections where restrictions apply to large tourist vehicles.
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Train tickets for the route: Vang Vieng - Luang Prabang and Luang Prabang - Prabang Nateuy.
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All sightseeing tours, visits to attractions, activities, and tastings in Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Chiang Rai, and Chiang Mai as per the program, including entrance tickets and permits.
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The Gibbon Experience expedition - 2 days / 1 night in Nam Kan National Park: jungle trekking, ziplines, an overnight stay in a treehouse, and meals as per the program.
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A Ukrainian-speaking guide accompanying the entire route, as well as the services of local English-speaking guides at sites and areas where their presence is legally required.
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Flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok
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International flight to Laos (Vientiane) and return flight from Thailand (Bangkok).
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Medical insurance.
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Single room supplement - 520 euro.
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Transfers, meals, and excursions outside the program.
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Tips for local guides - $60 per person for the entire trip.
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Laos visa - arranged in advance online (eVisa), the cost is based on the current consular fee (approximately $50 per person).
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Thailand visa - for citizens of Ukraine, a visa is not required for tourist travel under current rules; before entry, you must complete a free electronic arrival card, the TDAC.
1. Our company operates as an international travel organizer, therefore groups are formed from travelers from Ukraine, the Baltic countries, the EU, Israel, North America, and other countries. The working languages of the trip are Ukrainian, Russian, and English, depending on the group composition and translation arrangements. Each guide speaks Ukrainian, and in personal communication we respond in the language of the inquiry. If a 100 percent Ukrainian-language trip is essential for you, please уточнюйте this before booking. The company does not cooperate with citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.
2. Due to the fact that our expeditions do not include international flights to the starting point of the program, we cannot be held responsible for changes in flight conditions by airlines or airport requirements. Since our travelers fly from many different countries and cities, we never participate in the purchase of air travel and limit ourselves exclusively to advisory services in the selection of flights. Air agents or airlines from which tickets were purchased are responsible for the purchase and technical support.
TRAVEL PROGRAMME
Day 1
17.02.27
From the first minutes after landing, you will feel that Laos is a completely different Asia. Softer. Slower, more genuine. After leaving the plane and clearing formalities, a representative with a sign will meet you, help you at the airport, and arrange the transfer to the hotel.
Along the way the city reveals itself gradually: wide streets, low-rise buildings, light traffic, greenery. If you arrive not too late, we will arrange a first outing into the city. We will walk through quiet neighborhoods, pop into small shops, and watch the city gradually fill with soft evening light. And we will have an evening of getting to know each other over a shared dinner.
Day 2
18.02.27
Vientiane - Vang Vieng
After breakfast and checking out of the hotel, we begin our true immersion into and exploration of the city.
The first stop will be Patuxai, the Victory Monument of Vientiane. At first glance it resembles the one in Paris, but this resemblance is deceptive.
Look closer and you will see that the classical forms here are literally "steeped" in Lao symbolism: the ceilings are decorated with images of mythological creatures, heavenly apsaras, and ornaments closer to temple architecture than to European style.
Then we will head to Pha That Luang, the country's main symbol.
This is not just an architectural landmark, but the heart of the Lao spiritual tradition.
The stupa is covered in gold and changes depending on the light: in the morning it is soft and almost matte, at midday it is bright and shining, and toward evening it becomes deep and rich. But the main thing here is not the visual effect, but the feeling of the surrounding space.
It is believed that a relic is kept inside - part of the Buddha's breastbone. And whether you take this as fact or as legend, the atmosphere of this place is indeed special. Notice how the locals circle the stupa - slowly, clockwise, almost without a word. This simple act becomes a meditation in motion.
Next we will head to Wat Si Saket - the oldest surviving temple in Vientiane and one of the most revered Buddhist monasteries in Laos. Built in the early 19th century, it became the only major temple in the city to survive the destruction of Vientiane during the Siamese invasion. Thanks to this, it has preserved the authentic atmosphere of old Laos that can no longer be found in most other temples of the capital.
The main feature of Wat Si Saket is its covered galleries, where more than two thousand ceramic and silver Buddha statues of various eras and sizes stand in numerous niches. The inner courtyard with centuries-old trees, ancient frescoes, carved wooden doors, and the unhurried rhythm of monastery life create a remarkable sense of peace.
After lunch at a city restaurant, we head to Vang Vieng. The landscape gradually changes: the city blocks dissolve, giving way to rice fields, villages, occasional temples, and soft hills on the horizon.
Along the way we will stop at one of the most unusual sites in Laos - Buddha Park, a park of mystical sculptures on the banks of the Mekong.
Enormous concrete figures of gods, demons, and mythical creatures seem to appear out of nowhere: a reclining Buddha, multi-armed Hindu deities, strange hybrid images that defy a single interpretation.
Walking among the sculptures, you gradually begin to see this place not as "strange" but as meditative. Each figure holds an idea, each detail attempts to tell of the cycle of life, rebirth, the search for meaning. You can climb inside one of the main sculptures - a symbolic "hell and heaven" - and see the world through its "eyes."
We will continue on until the road brings us to Vang Vieng - a place where nature truly takes center stage. The karst mountains draw closer, the river gently curves around the valley.
On arrival - check-in at a cozy resort that blends harmoniously into this landscape. Here everything follows a single rhythm: silence, greenery, open views of the mountains, and water reflecting the sky.
After the journey it is especially pleasant simply to stop, step out onto the terrace or by the pool, and feel your state shift - from movement to calm.
Meals: breakfast and lunch included.
Day 3
19.02.27
Vang Vieng - a day of adventure
After breakfast - departure toward the lagoons hidden among the jungle and limestone cliffs. The road itself is already part of the experience: narrow paths, villages, children waving, and greenery that grows ever denser.
And here before us is the famous Blue Lagoon. Clear turquoise water invites you to cool off, a rope swing adds a bit of adrenaline, and the surrounding nature simply invites you to stop and enjoy the moment.
Nearby is the entrance to a cave. From outside it seems dark and almost closed off, but inside a different world opens up: coolness, silence, stalactites, the soft light of lanterns.
After walking through the cave, lunch awaits us at a cozy restaurant with a view of the karst mountains - a good chance to catch your breath and get ready for the most unusual part of today: tubing along the underground river in Tham Nam Cave.
Wearing headlamps and settled into large inflatable tubes, we will slowly drift along the water, holding onto a rope strung along the route.
All around is total darkness, cool air, and only the quiet splash of water echoing off the stone vaults of the enormous cave.
Returning to daylight, we will trade the underground river for the open surface of the Nam Song. Next up is a ride on a local boat. The river gently carries us forward, the water reflects the sky, and all around are karst mountains that seem to rise straight out of the ground. Their silhouettes change with every bend, revealing new angles and perspectives.
By evening we will return to the hotel, leaving time to rest and stroll through evening Vang Vieng.
Meals: breakfast and lunch included.
Day 4
20.02.27
Luang Prabang - a city out of time
After breakfast - checkout from the hotel and transfer to the train station. A modern high-speed train, passing through mountains and tunnels, becomes part of the journey: outside the window the scenery changes - green valleys, karst ridges, small villages.
On arrival in Luang Prabang - a welcome at the station and transfer to the hotel. Check-in, a short pause, a chance to freshen up after the journey, and free time for lunch. And right after that, our exploration begins of one of the most beautiful cities in Southeast Asia.
Today we will touch its spiritual heart - the famous pagodas.
Before you stands Wat Xieng Thong. The city's main temple and, without exaggeration, one of the most beautiful in all of Laos.
Its multi-tiered roof seems to flow down toward the ground, creating a sense of completeness and harmony. Here not only the architecture matters, but also the details: golden ornaments, fine carving, and colored-glass mosaics that catch the light.
Another structure - Wat Visoun - is one of the city's oldest pagodas. Its unusually shaped stupa, resembling a watermelon, stands out at once among the other temples. But what matters most here is the sense of age. This is not just an old building, but a space in which time seems to accumulate in layers.
And then - another side of Laos. We will visit the National Museum, which reveals the country's royal history. You will see what life was like for the Lao monarchy, what symbols of power were used, and how tradition, religion, and politics are intertwined.
Sunset draws near, and we will climb Mount Phousi. From here a panorama opens up over the city, the river, and the mountains.
Meals: breakfast included.
Day 5
21.02.27
The Mekong, caves, and the taste of Laos
Today we will get to know two symbols of Laos without which this country is impossible to imagine - rice and the great Mekong.
After breakfast we will head into the picturesque countryside near Luang Prabang, where we will learn about the traditional culture of rice growing. A family farm shows every stage of this months-long process, so regardless of the season you will be able to see how the country's staple crop has been grown for centuries. Together with local residents, you will try working with a wooden plow, learn about processing rice, making rice noodles and other traditional products, and discover why rice became the foundation of Lao culture and everyday life.
Returning to Luang Prabang, we will stop for lunch at an atmospheric restaurant located right on the bank of the Mekong. Over an unhurried lunch with a river view, you can enjoy a modern take on Lao cuisine while long wooden boats sway at the pier, ready to set off.
And now our journey down the great Mekong River begins. The boat glides slowly across the water, barely disturbing its surface. The banks unhurriedly change one after another: sandbars, green hills, small villages, and the occasional house on stilts. Along the way, scenes of everyday life unfold, almost unchanged for decades: fishermen checking their nets, children playing by the water, women washing laundry right on the bank.
Ahead lie the famous Pak Ou Caves, located where the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers meet. Even from the water it becomes clear why this place is considered one of the most revered in Laos: limestone cliffs rise straight above the river, hiding ancient shrines within.
Inside the caves are thousands of Buddha statuettes, left behind by pilgrims over the course of several centuries. Large and tiny, wooden and gilded, new and darkened with age - each one became a symbol of gratitude, prayer, or hope. First we will explore the lower cave, filled with soft daylight, and then climb up to the upper one, hidden deeper within the limestone cliff.
Here reign semi-darkness, silence, and a special atmosphere that makes this one of the most memorable places in Laos.
The return trip will take us along the Mekong in the light of the setting sun. The evening light bathes the river and surrounding hills in golden tones, and the boat's unhurried movement becomes a beautiful close to a day filled with encounters with the nature, culture, and spiritual traditions of Laos.
Meals: breakfast, lunch included.
Day 6
22.02.27
Kuang Si and traditions of life
Early morning (optional) begins with one of the quietest and deepest experiences of this trip - taking part in the ancient Buddhist ritual of offerings to the monks. In the pre-dawn stillness, as the city is just waking up, monks in saffron robes walk through the streets. Everything happens almost without words: soft footsteps, hushed movements, concentration.
After this - return to the hotel and breakfast before we head to Kuang Si Waterfall. One of the most beautiful in Asia. Cascades of turquoise water, jungle, silence, and a sense of absolute harmony.
The waterfall reveals itself gradually: first gentle cascades, then more powerful flows, and all around dense jungle creating a sense of isolation from the outside world. The water here is a special color - a rich turquoise, almost surreal. You can walk along the tiers of the waterfall and swim in the permitted areas.
Next to the waterfall is the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre - a rescue center for moon bears. This is a touching and important part of the day - meeting animals that were rescued from cruel treatment. You will see how they are cared for and how they gradually return to a normal life.
Lunch will be at a cozy restaurant amid a tropical garden not far from Kuang Si.
On the way back we will stop at a Hmong village - one of the region's distinctive ethnic groups. A chance to see how people live who preserve their traditions, crafts, and way of life. Fabrics, embroidery, jewelry - everything is made by hand, and behind every item is a story. By evening - return to Luang Prabang, rest.
After returning to Luang Prabang you will have free time to spend the evening at your own pace. You can relax by the pool or visit a traditional Lao spa, stroll through the cozy streets of the historic center, pop into small art galleries and craft shops, have a cup of coffee at one of the atmospheric cafes, or pick out souvenirs at the famous night market.
Meals: breakfast included.
Day 7
23.02.27
Travel north
Here we are at the station. From here a modern train carries us north through the country, and as we travel the scenery outside the window gradually changes. The green hills grow taller, villages become sparser, and the landscape grows wilder and more untouched. This is already a different Laos - less developed, almost pristine.
However, the railway does not reach Huay Xai, which makes the journey even more interesting. After arriving at the northern station we transfer to a small bus, and the journey continues overland.
The road passes through hills, villages, and forests, gradually taking us further from the usual routes.
By evening we arrive in Huay Xai - a small border town on the bank of the Mekong. Here, literally across the river, is already Thailand. The town is simple, almost austere, without any tourist polish. But that is exactly its strength: it does not try to please, it simply is.
Meals: breakfast included.
Day 8
24.02.27
Gibbon Experience - the moment people come to Laos for
Today is one of the main emotional highlights of the entire trip. We head into the heart of the jungle for the Gibbon Experience program. From the morning we begin a transition into a completely different world. From Huay Xai we head deep into The Nam Kan National Park - a protected natural area where the jungle has survived almost untouched. This is an ecosystem home to gibbons, birds, and rare animal species, with an active nature conservation program in place.
And it is here that the Gibbon Experience begins. This is not just an activity. You do not walk through the jungle - you fly above it. Ziplines connect the treetops, and every crossing is a moment of complete freedom: below you, an endless green ocean; around you, only air, forest, and the sounds of nature.
It is a blend of adrenaline, delight, and a very pure feeling of living in the moment. The body engages fully, emotions sharpen, and that rare feeling appears when you are not merely watching, but truly living it.
The route gradually leads you deeper and deeper into the jungle - to where the treehouses stand. This is where the day's climax takes place. A night in a treehouse is not a metaphor. These are real houses, built high above the ground, among the treetops. Simple but thoughtfully designed, they become part of the forest rather than disturbing it.
As evening falls, the jungle changes. New sounds appear, the air grows cooler, the space feels deeper.
There is no city light, no familiar noise - only living nature all around. This is not just a night. It is an experience of return - to simplicity, to silence, to a sense of yourself outside your usual environment.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Day 9
25.02.27
Crossing into Thailand - Chiang Rai
Morning in the jungle begins differently. Not with an alarm clock, but with the sound of the forest. And if you're lucky, the gibbons will be the first thing you hear: their long, almost melodic calls carry for kilometers, creating the feeling that the jungle itself is waking up and beginning to speak. There is something ancient and very genuine in this sound - a moment that cannot be recreated anywhere else.
With the first rays of sunlight, the forest gradually fills with light. Mist rises between the treetops, the air turns clear and cool. Breakfast happens right here, at height, among the trees. It is simple, but in this place it feels entirely different - like part of the surrounding space rather than a separate item on the program.
After breakfast - the route comes to an end. A few more zipline crossings, one last look at the endless green canopy - and a gradual descent from the level of the forest back down to the ground.
Gradually a road appears, then transport - and the journey toward the border begins. A picnic will be arranged along the way, after which the route will gradually bring us back to the Gibbon Experience base. From here we head to Chiang Rai - a northern Thai city known for its cultural depth and calm atmosphere. The crossing between countries happens without hurry. The drive takes a few hours, and during this time the landscape changes again: the jungle gradually gives way to more developed land, and roads, farms, and small towns appear.
Checking in at the hotel in Chiang Rai marks a return to comfort. Spacious rooms, soft lighting, familiar amenities, and simply the chance to relax after eventful days.
Meals: breakfast, lunch included.
Day 10
26.02.27
Chiang Rai - art and symbols
After breakfast at the hotel, we begin exploring Chiang Rai - a city where northern Thailand reveals itself through art, mountains, tea plantations, and a very lively evening atmosphere.
The first stop will be the White Temple, Wat Rong Khun - one of the most unusual places in Thailand. This is not an ancient temple, but a modern art project created by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. The white color symbolizes the purity of the Buddha, the mirrored inlays represent wisdom and light, and the entire path to the temple is designed as a symbolic journey from chaos and suffering to enlightenment. This place is at once beautiful, strange, philosophical, and highly photogenic.
After this we head to the tea plantations. Northern Thailand here looks completely different: green hills, neat rows of tea bushes, fresh air, and wide views. You can walk between the plantations, take photographs, try local tea, and feel this calm mountain rhythm.
After the walk through the tea plantations, lunch awaits us at a restaurant with a panoramic view over the green hills.
In the afternoon we will return to the city. Before the evening program there will be a few hours of free time - a great chance to relax by the pool or visit a spa.
And toward sunset we will head to Wat Huay Pla Kang - a temple complex with a huge white statue of the goddess of mercy, Guanyin.
She rises above the surroundings, as if looking out over the entire world. In the soft evening light this place makes an especially strong impression: staircases, dragons, a pagoda, a panorama of Chiang Rai, and the sky gradually darkening. Here the day beautifully turns into evening. After that, the night market awaits us. This is a completely different Thailand - lively, noisy, warm, fragrant. Food stalls, lights, music, locals, tourists, street food, fruit, sweets, souvenirs. Dinner can be had right here.
Meals: breakfast, lunch included.
Day 11
27.02.27
The road to Chiang Mai - hill tribes, "sticky" waterfalls, and a meeting with elephants
After breakfast we leave Chiang Rai and head toward Chiang Mai. Along the way we will get to know another side of Northern Thailand - the life of the hill tribes.
The first stop is a small village of the Karen people, better known as the Long Neck tribe. Here women still wear traditional brass rings around their necks - an ancient custom that has become one of the most recognizable cultural traditions of the region. It is a chance to briefly touch the world of people whose way of life, crafts, and traditions have been preserved for many generations.
Next awaits one of the most unusual natural wonders of Thailand - the Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls, the famous "sticky" waterfalls. Unlike most waterfalls, they are fed by underground limestone springs, so the water flows here year-round, staying clear even at the height of the dry season. Minerals settling on the surface of the rocks have created a unique natural coating with high grip, thanks to which you can literally climb barefoot up the cascades right through the flowing water. It is a rare case where you don't just want to approach a waterfall, but to become part of it.
One of the warmest and most memorable experiences of the entire trip is a visit to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, one of the most famous ethical sanctuaries in Northern Thailand.
There are no shows, elephant rides, or circus elements here. The main idea of the sanctuary is respect for the animals and the chance to see them as they truly are. We will meet the sanctuary's residents, learn their stories, prepare vitamin treats for them, feed them, and go on an unhurried walk through the grounds together with their caretakers.
Then comes the most emotional part of the program. The elephants happily take their daily mud baths and head to the water, where you can observe their natural behavior. Under favorable conditions we will be able to join in the water activities and share with these amazing animals one of the happiest moments of their day. This kind of interaction leaves truly special impressions - sincere, calm, and very genuine.
After a traditional Thai lunch we will continue on to Chiang Mai, where in the evening there will be time to rest, enjoy a relaxing Thai massage, or stroll through the Old City and the famous night market. For our final evening we will hold a farewell dinner and share our emotions and impressions!
Meals: breakfast, lunch included.
Day 12
28.02.27
Chiang Mai - end of the expedition
The morning begins calmly - breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Chiang Mai Airport, and a flight to Bangkok marking the end of the program. From there you have a choice: continue on your own to relax on the ocean coast, stay in Bangkok for a couple more days, or fly home!
But whatever you choose - this is not simply the end of our route. It is the moment when everything you have experienced stays with you - not as a list of places, but as an inner experience. The journey ends, but in your heart it stays forever.
Meals: breakfast included.
Since most of the expenses for the organization of the trip are air tickets and travel documents for other types of transport, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. are not refundable in case of your cancellation of the trip. We simply have no way to return it.
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