Laos Family Retreat

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the city or simply relax.

Introduce your kids to Buddhist culture with a visit to the temples Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Mai and observe monks in saffron robes going about their daily chores. See the former Royal Palace which is now the National Museum, and its halls containing rare religious and cultural artefacts.  Take you marks, get set – race up the 328 steps to the top of Mount Phousi, for panoramic views of the city. Take part in a Baci ceremony where you will have white cotton strings ties around your wrist for good luck. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Working as a farmer for the day at the Living Land Rice Experience, where you will immerse yourself in the daily chores. Let your kids try their hands at the plough, and discover that farm work is no picnic. At the Living Crafts Centre, learn about textiles, crafts and see artisans weaving on traditional looms, then cool down with a dip in the turquoise pools of Kuang Si Waterfall.  End your day out with a visit to a rescue centre for cute furry sun bears.

Enjoy a day out with the elephants, where you will learn all the secrets to look after these gentle giants.  After a quick driving lesson, climb on board your elephant for a ride along a jungle path to the river.  Then the wet and wild fun begins as the elephants take their bath and their trunks turn into water pistols. Next, hop in a boat and head off to nearby Tad Sae Waterfall for a swim.

Morning flight to Vientiane the sleepy Lao capital. After checking into your hotel, you will take a whirlwind city tour starting at Wat Sisaket Vientiane’s oldest-surviving monastery and its thousands of Buddha statues, followed by Hor Pha Ke, a museum with a turbulent history. You’ll see Pha That Luang a national symbol of Laos with its golden stupa and Patuxai, Vientiane’s arc de triomphe, and a window into its French-colonial history. Overnight in Vientiane.

This is a great fun day out for the kids discovering the weird, wonderful and quirky statues of Buddha Park just 25kms outside of Vientiane. The park is the folly of Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, a monk, shaman and mystic of Hinduism and Buddhism. Keep your eye out for the skeleton thin Buddhas, a giant pumpkin with a demon head, a gigantic 40m long reclining Buddha, or Shiva waving his menacing eight arms of swords. Rest of the day is free at your own pace.

Free to stroll around the city to find some handicraft or souvenirs for the way back home before transferring to airport for your flight home. End of services.