Luang Prabang Cultural, religious and historic sites Trips

Really enjoyed this tour. Our guide Jackie was superb, well organised and always positive. One of the best Explore guides we've ever had! I would slightly change the itinerary on the first day in Vientiane. I would include the Buddha Park as part of the itinerary and go straight there for lunch from the Victory Gate rather than have a 45 minute break at the hotel, as it was too rushed at the Buddha Park.

Apologies for this belated review. The Laos trip was led by the attentive, convivial and competent Quang. It's great to have someone else keep an eye on everything! The three key destinations gave us a bird's eye view of this diverse country. The optional tours were a great idea as it left scope for personal needs and interests. I loved the walks via villages; was moved by the visit to the landmine agency; sparked by the differences in the locations e.g. Luang Prabang sunset and (not all) older tourist hospitality (visited Ikon Bar); the age-old caves and Buddhist temples.

I booked this trip last minute and wasn't disappointed. Highlights of Laos is an unhurried, relaxed trip. Pavements, like in Vietnam and Cambodia, are uneven and could be tricky for those unsteady on their feet; however, unlike those countries, the traffic is very light and easy to negotiate. Taxis to/ from airports are cheap. The Buddha park was great and COPE museum thought provoking. The rail journeys are smooth and comfortable with lots to look at. Limestone cliffs are dramatic and the hot air ballooning worth it. The walks and steps are relatively easy. Early March was hot. Take easy slip on/off shoes for the many varied and interesting temples along with shoulder coverings and below the knee shorts. Our guide, Quang, was lovely but what really made this trip for me was the fabulous bunch of fellow travellers.

We thoroughly enjoyed our week in Laos. Our group was great fun and the guides did a good job, although sometimes it was confusing having a local guide and a lead guide. The itinerary was good and varied. Hotels were OK given standards in Laos, although the one in Vang Vieng was less good. Packing advice from Explore was somewhat bewildering. Never did work out why suitcases were not recommended. We did take our bicycle helmets but nobody else did!

Visiting Laos was everything I had expected. Vivid nature, voluptuous landscapes and a vibrant, hardworking culture. The Highlights of Laos tour with Explore showcased each place perfectly with plenty of things to see and do plus plenty of free time to explore each place. I definitely recommend this tour & I look forward to travelling with Explore again.

Our family had a wonderful 2-weeks trip through Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia. My husband and I loved exploring history and culture of destinations, my kids enjoyed learning to cook Vietnamese meals. Everything was well organized and we had a great time in Southeast Asia.