3-Nights Tailor Made Laos: Luang Prabang- Luxury Tailor Made Travel — CALL

Abercrombie & Kent: Tailor Made Laos: Luang Prabang

Day 1 LUANG PRABANG, LAOS

Arrive in Luang Prabang, where you are met, and enjoy VIP Fast Track Service before being transferred to your hotel. After checking in, spend the balance of the day at leisure.

Rise before dawn to participate in the daily ceremonial offering of food to the local monks. As a procession of robed monks passes, place a small amount of rice into their alms bowls. This deeply spiritual ritual is a serene part of everyday life. Stop at a local fresh market before returning to your hotel for breakfast. Then, immerse yourself in the rich history of the region with a full-day, guided tour of Luang Prabang, known for its many beautiful Buddhist temples. First, visit the Royal Palace Museum, whose quaint appearance belies its stormy past. Its exhibits trace the story of the seven turbulent centuries of the Lan Xang Kingdom, as well as the colonial era up to the present. Next, visit the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong with its impressive tree of life mosaic and richly decorated wooden columns. And finally, transfer to Wat Khili, an excellent example of architecture from Xiengkhouang Province, which lies to the east. The monastery is said to have been founded for the commemoration of the marriage of a Phuan prince from Xiengkhouang to a princess from Luang Prabang in the early 19th century. After lunch at a local restaurant, view artifacts from the ethnic minorities of the region at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center. Head upriver to visit two artisan villages, as well as a few small traditional Lao villages. Each specializes in a particular handicraft such as woodcarving, papermaking or silk weaving. Finally, tour Wat Visoun, the city's oldest operating temple, and enjoy the sunset at the summit of Mount Phousi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to your hotel, and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Venture out of town to a working organic rice farm, where you learn all about the journey of rice, from seed to restaurant. This community enterprise, organized by local Lao farmers, grows vegetables, salad greens, herbs and rice and supplies them to leading restaurants and hotels in Luang Prabang. Observe or take part in each stage, from plowing the field with the help of the resident buffalo to planting seedlings and harvesting the rice. Learn about the traditional tools used on the farm, giving you a new appreciation for Lao farmers who continue to grow rice without modern machinery. Enjoy lunch on your own, followed by a relaxing afternoon and evening at your hotel.

This morning, set off for the cascading waters of Kuang Si Falls Park. Explore a path that runs alongside a wide multi-tiered waterfall tumbling over limestone formations. Cool off with a refreshing swim, or walk along the forest trails. Cap off your visit at a wildlife rescue dedicated to protecting and rehabilitating the rare and magnificent Asiatic black bear. Transfer to the airport and board your departure flight.