Embark on this 10-day school tour to Laos, teachers and students will be satisfied with fascinating ancient history and thriving Buddhist culture. In Luang Prabang, we can learn about the rich Buddhist culture, visit both natural and historical sites and enjoy the laid back atmosphere as the Mekong River drifts by. Enjoy the long boat trip up the Mekong River and visit the village of Ban Houayon. This farming subsistence community is made up of a mixture of Lao Loum and Hmong minorities – all of whom live in poor conditions; your contribution will create a lasting change for the citizens around that area. Let’s see in detail what we will experience during the trip.
General Information of Laos School Trip
Duration: 10 days
Start/ End: Luang Prabang/ Luang Prabang
Tour Route: Luang Prabang – Ban Houayon Village – Kuang Si Waterfall – Vientiane – Luang Prabang
Tour Type: Explore and Experience
Tour Category: Laos School Tour
Tour Customizable: Absolutely! (Inform us in advance)
Guides: Local experts (English Speaking Guides, other Languages upon Request)
Transportation: Private first-class air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Listed below or equivalent. Hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service charges.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Luang Prabang
Day 2: Luang Prabang exploring the cultural and historic highlights (B, L, D)
Day 3-4-5: Community service program at Ban Houayon village (B, L, D)
Day 6: Kuang Si Waterfall – Free the Bears rehabilitation center (B, L, D)
Day 7: Cooking Class (B, L, D)
Day 8: Activity Day (B, L, D)
Day 9: Almsgiving, Morning Markets, flight to Vientiane (B, L, D)
Day 10: Luang Prabang Departure (B)
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Luang Prabang (D)
Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your guide then we head straight to the hotel for check-in. During your journey, you will be allocated an English speaking guide and a private vehicle that will provide all your transportation. This will make it easier and more convenient to manage the various activities, programs and site visits you will be experiencing across the six days, along with giving you flexibility within the itinerary. Take a rest then we have a trip briefing with the whole group. Enjoy your dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Luang Prabang Exploring the Cultural and Historic Highlights (B, L, D)
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we get ready to discover Luang Prabang. We design a city tour for teachers and students and we will begin with the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre. At this location, we can have a glance at valuable artifacts, traditional costumes and unique features from the 20 ethnic minority groups residing in Luang Prabang. Take some photos at the city’s oldest temple Wat Sene, impressive Wat Xieng Thong with the “tree of life” mosaic set in colored glass.
Have lunch at a local restaurant. Later, we continue this trip with The National Museum at the former Royal Palace. Admire at the amazing collection of artifacts that reflect the richness of Lao culture throughout the ages. After that, we climb up to Phousi Hill for the magnificent sunset and also panoramic of Luang Prabang.
From there, you will be transferred to the city. Take time to savor local taste at a restaurant.
Day 3-5: Community service program at Ban Houayon village (B, L, D)
These days are for community service program if you desire to change the plan, inform us to make changes.
After breakfast at our hotel, we approach the pier to access the Mekong River. We board a traditional Laotian longboat called a Song Thaew and cruise upstream to reach Ban Houayon Village. We will spend the next three days here to support English teaching, assist in the build of a based construction that will be the dormitory for students from surrounding villages, … When we arrive in the village on the first day we will take a tour of the village and the project site where we will get an introduction to the building process and our work objectives. We’ll be divided into working groups that rotate at the various working stations as the day progresses.
Lunch with some families from the village. You will be split into groups of three students and assigned a family for the time you are working in the village. The homes where the meals will be taken are within proximity of each other. This is a unique and wonderful immersion opportunity and we encourage students to embrace the experience, show gratitude for the meals prepared and try to communicate with their hosts, learning some Lao phrases and teaching some English.
On the last date, late in the afternoon, the community will conduct a ceremony to show thanks for your help and to give a blessing for a healthy life. We return to the meeting point then transfer to the hotel in Luang Prabang.
Day 6: Kuang Si Waterfall – Free the Bears Rehabilitation Center (B, L, D)
Following breakfast, we travel south of the town to the famous and picturesque Kuang Si Waterfall. Once we arrive, we enjoy a short walk through the beautiful forest to Kuang Si Waterfall and pass the Free the Bears Rescue Centre, a conservation center that rescues animals from the wildlife trade.
We will meet the main keepers and have a behind the scenes tour of the complex, learning about the bears’ enrichment program and how the animals are rescued and nurtured. It is the emerald color of the water associated with a backdrop of white limestone cliffs that contributes to the magical appearance of this waterfall. Teachers and students should enjoy a refreshing swim in the beautiful natural pools, walk around the falls, climb up to the top of the falls.
You will be excited about the idea of taking a picnic lunch in front of the falls. On return, we will stop to visit local villages of Lao ethnic groups. Visit Ban Thapane (Kamu), Ban Ou (Lao locum) and Ban Na Ouane (Hmong) villages. You will learn more about the lifestyle of these people. En route to Luang Prabang we stop to visit the Living Crafts Centre “Ock Pop Tok” a place where you can meet weavers and learn about textiles while helping keep these local traditions alive.
Teachers and students will be driven to the hotel. Have dinner there.
Day 7: Cooking Class (B, L, D)
We start the day by walking through the morning market area. It’s an experience that will stimulate all your senses. We will buy some local snacks, try the grilled meats and smell all the amazing fresh herbs from the nearby villages. After a quick rest at a coffee shop in Luang Prabang, we will be picked up by a travel car to take us to our cooking class. We will be divided into smaller groups and learn how to make a few of the local delicacies.
We will enjoy the food we learned to cook at lunchtime. Later, we get back to our hotel. Take a rest, then have dinner there.
Day 8: Activity Day (B, L, D)
Breakfast served at the hotel. Today our journey is combined with mountain biking and kayaking adventure (every activity is easygoing and we focus on entertaining criteria). Surely you will get the refreshment, especially in your tropical day in Luang Prabang. The trip will move on by visiting some of the best sites, for example, golden temples contemplating the city and Henri Mouhot’s grave. Once completing a biking tour through the Nam Khan Valley, we stop to break on the banks of the Nam Khan River.
Your lunch will be prepared with a refreshing plunge at Tad Sae Waterfall. Later, we get our kayaks to paddle downriver on the Nam Khan back to Luang Prabang.
Before the evening approaches, we return to the hotel and enjoy dinner.
Day 9: Almsgiving, Morning Markets, flight to Vientiane (B, L, D)
This morning activity does not seem too familiar with the group: take part in the local Almsgiving. Almsgiving is the respected event by a Buddhist to a Buddhist monk, nun, or other sentient beings. It is a symbolic connection to the spiritual realm and to show humbleness and respect in the presence of the monk.
Lunch at a local restaurant. The rest of the day will be free for your activities. You can take a rest or discover the city yourself.
Be at the hotel at a meeting time. We will celebrate a small party for you, we enjoy dinner, share experience and have a good time with other members.
Day 10: Luang Prabang Departure (B)
The last breakfast at the hotel. We depart to the international airport. We hope you have enjoyed your time with Educational School Trip, learned a lot and made many happy memories.
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