Join Zoom Vacations on an all gay Laos luxury trip. Still largely untouched by the modern world, Laos is one of the world’s best kept secrets.  It is an inherently peaceful place, free from much of the word’s stresses, and containing effortless beauty, graceful people, and centuries-old traditions and culture.   The pristine, lush landscape’s beauty is matched only by beautiful smiles at every turn.

Zoom suggest combining this with their tour to Vietnam and Cambodia.

• Fully escorted with the services dedicated Zoom Vacations® Concierge guides throughout the trip
• Accommodations at the finest properties
• Welcome cocktail party
• Interact with elephants in our very special elephant sanctuary.
• Explore the magnificently beautiful Kuang Si waterfalls
• Visit a stunning exotic butterfly park
• UNESCO World Heritage Vat Xieng Thong Temple
• Participate in a sunrise Tagbat Ceremony
• Afternoon cruise on and around the Mekong River
• Architectural City tour of Luang Prabang
• Expert guides throughout the trip
• Participate in a unique Baci Ceremony
• Breakfasts Daily
• 2 Lunches
• 2 Dinners
• 4 Nights, in the glorious Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao, Luang Prabang

Itinerary

Day One – Arrival in Luang Prabang

Upon arrival in Luang Prabang you will be met by your guide and transferred directly to the city.

This afternoon, visit Vat Xieng Thong at the top of the peninsula. The oldest and most beautiful temple of the UNESO World Heritage Town dates back to the 16th century. The roof sweeps low to the ground and glass-colored panels adorn the walls of the chapels. See the residential neighborhoods of the peninsula, before continuing to the Royal Palace Museum housing the most important treasures of Laos’ recent past, and climb up to Phousi Hill for sunset to enjoy the unique view over the city and its surroundings.  If you wish you can stop at the ethnic night market to do some shopping.

Welcome Dinner at the best restaurant in Luang Prabang.

Accommodations: Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao – Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day Two – Luang Prabang

7:40 AM: Meet in Lobby Prior to Departure
7:45 AM: Elephant Sanctuary

Beginning in the morning, you will be met at our hotel by an Elephant Specialist Guide and transferred to a beautiful elephant oasis just 40 minutes outside of Luang Prabang. During the shuttle, your guide will give you a brief introduction to himself and the recently opened sanctuary. On arrival, you will meet with one of the directors of the Elephant Sanctuary who will fill you in on more detail with some fascinating stories about the elephants and their refuge. Learn the challenges they’ve faced and how they are learning to improve the situation one elephant at a time. After being regaled we will cross the river by boat where you will be met by 2 adults and a baby Asian elephant! Your guide and the mahouts will help you feed and later bathe these majestic creatures in the river. Next, follow the elephants on a 1-hour trek through rice paddies and meandering creeks during which you will witness the unique bond between the mahouts and their elephants while the guide explains more about the incredible history that Laos has with the elephant. After saying goodbye to your pachyderm friends, you’ll head back to camp and return to Luang Prabang at 12:00 PM.

Baci Ceremony.  This evening, you will participate in the traditional Lao Baci Ceremony.  Baci is an important event such as weddings, births, or for welcoming guests and is a means of expressing goodwill and good luck to others. The ceremony is highlighted by the accompaniment of music and traditional dance – both integral parts of the Baci ritual.

Zoom Vacations Sunset Cruise on the Mekong.  YOu then drive a short distance to the picturesque village of Ban Ou, where your private boat will be waiting to take you up the Mekong River for a sunset cruise back to Luang Prabang while enjoying a glass of prosecco on board.  This stretch of the river is very beautiful.  Arrive back in Luang Prabang by early evening.

Accommodations: Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day Three – Luang Prabang and Kuang Si Waterfall

6:30 AM to 10:30 AM: Buffet Breakfast is served at the hotel.

5:25 AM: Meet in Lobby Prior to Departure
5:30 AM: Takbat Ceremony.  Early morning, when the sun rises, participate in the Takbat ceremony, the monks’ alms offering. This ritual is an important part of Lao people’s life and offers a memorable experience and great snapshots. Your guide will explain how to follow the strict customs and rules involved. After the ceremony, you may have time to visit a local fresh market before returning to the hotel for breakfast.

Luang Prabang Tour.   You walk to the quaint Royal Palace Museum, which gives a good overview of the local history.  You then stroll through the charming lanes, taking in the traditional atmosphere.  You continue our walk to the exquisite Wat Xiengthong and visit this remarkable temple which is the best example of the classical Luang Prabang Style

Lunch at Tangor, a French/Asian fusion restaurant with a contemporary twist.  This casual restaurant offering great food is a favorite among Zoom Vacations travelers.

In the afternoon you drive out to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where we can cool off with a refreshing swim in the turquoise pool or walk along the forest trails.   Next to the falls is a Bear Rescue Center, that does a great job of protecting and rehabilitating the rare Asiatic Black Bear.

Just a few hundred meters from the Kuang Si Waterfall is a Butterfly Park, where you will find thousands of butterflies in a colorful flower garden. Meet the botanists who run this project and learn about the wide variety of Laos’s butterflies, host plants, and preservation because of environmental issues in Laos. Enjoy the 900 m2 netted paradise, which apart from the butterflies also holds hundreds of types of plants and even waterfalls. 

Accommodations: Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day Four – Luang Prabang

6:30 AM to 10:30 AM: Breakfast is served at the hotel.

This morning enjoy our stunning resort or last-minute shopping in town!

Farewell Dinner: Cooking Experience right at the hotel
Your Lao Chef and food guru will guide us through the whole preparation while you all roll up your sleeves and get involved! You will also be told what to use back home in case we are not able to find local ingredients.  Start by collecting raw ingredients from the garden. You will work, have fun, and experience Lao lifestyle while cooking in your modern rustic cooking school. Finally, you inhale the smell of our freshly prepared food and enjoy the dinner we have created.

Day Five – Departure

6:30 AM to 10:30 AM: Breakfast is served at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for your flight.

Meals Included: Breakfast

End of services

Accommodations

Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao – Luang Prabang (4 Nights)

Positioned atop a hill, gazing across the sacred mountains, Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao is an unforgettable place to stay.  Its calm, tranquil ambience echoes that of the sleepy World Heritage town of Luang Prabang—former royal capital of Laos—spread out below.  Designed in a traditional style, this intimate hotel is gemmed with teak, silk and fresh cotton accents. It is famed for its wonderful French-influenced local cuisine and an open-air spa beside a water lily pool.  Relax, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy stepping back into a more gracious era.

Pricing

From $3,599 a person

Air: International and domestic airfare not included.

Passports: Your valid passport should have at least two blank visa pages and should be valid for at least six months after your planned departure from the country you are visiting.
Note: Passport pages titled “Endorsement Pages” are not visa pages.

Visas: Please note that currently US citizens must have a visa to enter Laos. You can get a visa on arrival in Laos if you are traveling for tourism, have two passport-size photographs and pay 35 USD at the following ports of entry: Wattay Airport, Vientiane; Pakse, Savannakhet, and Luang Prabang Airports. If you are not a US citizen, please contact your nearest Laos Consulate to determine your visa requirements.

While Zoom Vacations will assist when possible, please note that passport, visa, and vaccination requirements vary from country to country and are the sole responsibility of the traveler. If you are a US resident, you may click here for more information on passport, visa, and vaccination requirements for various countries.

*Land only Introductory rate, based on double occupancy. Prices are subject to change. Need a roommate? Zoom Vacations® is happy to match you with someone, at no additional charge. Or, you may pay a single supplement and go as a single.

Please read Terms and Conditions prior to booking.

For more information on entry and exit requirements, see here.

Please review Zoom Vacations’ Terms and Conditions before contacting us to book this all gay Laos trip.

Pricing, availability and itinerary for this all gay Laos luxury tour are subject to change. Neither Purple Light Vacations nor Zoom Vacations will be reponsible for any inaccuracies.