The capital city of Laos still feels like a sleepy city with relaxed charm, tree-lined boulevards, interesting temples and colourful markets. Enjoy the best of Vientiane on this Half Day private tour of Vientiane.

‘That Luang’ is one of Vientiane’s landmarks, a gleaming golden stupa, perhaps the most important national monument in Laos.

Ho Pha Keo is the formal royal temple, now a museum with beautiful examples of Buddhist sculpture. Visit Wat Si Saket, one of Vientiane’s most famous Buddhist Wats.

Patuxai is a monumental arch inspired by the Arch de Triumph, but executed with Lao motifs. Visit Wat Si Muang before transferring back to your hotel.

The capital city of Laos still feels like a sleepy city with relaxed charm, tree-lined boulevards, interesting temples and colourful markets. Enjoy the best of Vientiane on this Full Day private tour of Vientiane.

Visit Buddha Park, a collection of whimsical but compelling statues of Buddhist and Hindu gods. ‘That Luang’ is one of Vientiane’s landmarks, a gleaming golden stupa, perhaps the most important national monument in Laos.

Ho Pha Keo is the formal royal temple, now a museum with beautiful examples of Buddhist sculpture. Visit Wat Si Saket, one of Vientiane’s most famous Buddhist Wats.

Patuxai is a monumental arch inspired by the Arch de Triumph, but executed with Lao motifs. Visit Wat Si Muang and end the day at the ‘morning market’ (actually open all day), the best place to buy traditional Lao fabrics.

Join in with a Lao cooking class on the banks of the mighty Mekong River. Known for its light, fragrant and simply delicious flavor, each dish will be prepared from scratch under the guidance of an expert chef.

Using traditional methods and implements, prepare classic foods such as sticky rice and pad Thai.

Transfer to the riverside location in Vientiane for the cooking class and start to prepare lunch in the garden.

Lao Cooking is light, fragrant and intriguing and each dish can be customised according to taste. The Laos expert chefs will also pass on a little bit of insight about Lao culture and eating etiquette.

The class utilizes traditional Lao cooking implements to create a variety of dishes, including learnig the secrets of making perfect sticky rice.

A Little Lao Recipe Booklet will be provided so you can take your experience home.

Return to Vientiane at around 2 pm.

Gain an insight into both the ancient and modern sides of Vientiane. Spend the morning discovering the main temples and sights. Visit Pha That Luang, a gleaming golden stupa, perhaps the most important national monument in Laos.

Explore Ho Pha Keo, the formal royal temple, now a museum with beautiful examples of Buddhist sculpture.

Photograph the thousands of tiny Buddha images and rows of seated Buddhas at Wat Si Saket; and see Patuxai, a monumental arch inspired by the Arc de Triomphe, but executed with Lao motifs.

Relax over a delicious lunch served in the beautiful surroundings of a training restaurant that helps disadvantaged Laotians to gain employment in the tourism industry.

After lunch visit COPE – a locally-run, non-profit organization founded in 1997 to provide survivors of unexploded ordnance with care and support. This includes access to orthodontic and prosthetic devices, quality treatment and rehabilitation services.

Continue to Carol Cassidy’s textile workshop and gallery located in a refurbished French colonial mansion. Spend time watching the Lao artisans at work at the looms creating beautiful fabrics inspired by traditional techniques and designs.

End the tour with a visit to two temples to understand more about Lao Buddhist traditions. Learn how to make ‘mak beng’ and ‘pasaat peung’, the traditional Lao Buddhist banana leaf and wax flower offerings.

Highlights

• Visit a gleaming golden stupa which is perhaps the most important national monument in Laos.
• Gain an insight into both the ancient and modern sides of the capital city of Laos.
• Learn how to make ‘mak beng’ and ‘pasaat peung’, the traditional Lao Buddhist banana leaf and wax flower offerings.