Northern Laos by Train, River and Heritage

This 8-day journey links Vientiane, Luang Prabang, the Pak Ou caves, Kuangxi Water Fall, Oudomxay, Pakbeng and Huay Xai. It combines city visits, river travel and time in northern Laos villages and landscapes. Begin in Vientiane with the main temples and monuments, then travel by express train to Luang Prabang, a UNESCO-listed former royal capital. Continue by boat on the Mekong to Pak Ou, where thousands of Buddha images are kept in cave sanctuaries, and visit Kuangxi Water Fall for time around the pools and falls. The route then moves north through Oudomxay and Muang Xai, with stops that reflect daily life in rural communities and the surrounding countryside. The tour ends with a Mekong cruise from Pakbeng to Huay Xai, a practical way to see this part of Laos from the river.